Welcome to my cultural travel blog. My name is Amy and I have recently spent a fabulous two weeks in Rotterdam. I explored Rotterdam quite extensively and used it as a base to travel around the Netherlands as well. Rotterdam, in my opinion, is seriously overlooked and underrated. It does still have the beautiful historical area of Delfshaven, where you can see the Dutch style houses overlooking a canal, but it is also bursting with art, music and modern architecture. The other thing to mention is that it is completely unlike any other Dutch city, and so Rotterdam is worth visiting for that reason alone. Today, I am here to share my ideas on how to see Rotterdam in 2 days.
Is 2 days in Rotterdam enough?
Seeing Rotterdam in 2 days will be enough to get a feel for the city, see the main sights and maybe one or two museums, depending on your stamina! You can spend one day seeing the modern architecture and another day enjoying historic Delfshaven and some of the art museums. It would be great to combine it with other Dutch cities (such as Amsterdam, The Hague or Leiden) or even use Rotterdam as a base to explore the Netherlands, like I did.
Reasons to spend more than 2 Days in Rotterdam
Remember, though, that if you are eager to explore all of the art galleries and museums, you will need longer. It would easily be possible to spend 4-5 days here to see all the main sights, all the galleries and museums and maybe enjoy a music concert as well.
If you were heading to Rotterdam for one of the festivals then you could easily spend a week or more to enjoy this modern and exciting city. There is plenty going on throughout the year in Rotterdam, including…
- The NN North Sea Jazz Festival
- Rotterdam Unlimited Zomercarnaval (Carribean inspired)
- MOMO Festival (Indie music, experimental arts and pop-ups)
- Rotterdam Art week (5 day art event in March)
- A Day in the Park (end-of-summer electronic and house music festival)
- International Film Festival Rotterdam
What is the best time to go to Rotterdam?
I went to Rotterdam in May and it was the perfect time regarding the weather – not too hot and not too cold! However, even July and August in Rotterdam can be warm rather than intensely hot, at around 22-25°C, and so summer (anytime from May through to September) is definitely the best time to visit.
Obviously, if there is a particular festival that you want to see, you need to consider the timing of that, You might want to book at the same time as the art festival, the Jazz festival, Rotterdam Unlimited or the International film festival. If any of these do interest you, arrange your visit around your desired festival, and then tag your 2 days of sightseeing on the end or at the beginning.
What to pack for 2 days in Rotterdam
For just 2 days in Rotterdam, you can pack fairly light and also consider travelling hand luggage only if you are travelling on one of the cheap airlines such as Ryanair or Easyjet. This will keep your flight cost down. Here are the essentials that you should pack for 2 days in Rotterdam…
Essentials
- Passport and ID in a travel belt or cross body bag.
- Wallet (bank card and some cash in €).
- Phone and phone charger – I like my iPhone because I can easily edit my photos and videos.
- Adapter – The plugs are European style Type C or Type F so you may need an adapter if travelling from the UK or USA.
- Travel tickets/reservations – most will be digital these days so a power bank would also be a good idea.
- Any medication and personal items needed.
Clothing
- 2/3 tops, 1 or 2 dresses, 1 pair of trousers or jeans.
- Underwear (2–3 pairs) and socks (2–3 pairs).
- Pyjamas or nighty.
- Light jumper or zip down hoodie.
- Waterproof jacket (Rotterdam weather can change quickly).
- Comfortable walking shoes or walking boots – I like my Converse!
Toiletries
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Shampoo/body wash (travel size)
- Hairbrush or comb
- Moisturiser and lip balm
Extras
- Reusable water bottle – there are plenty of drinking water fill up stations in Rotterdam.
- Sunglasses and small umbrella (I do not like them but you might!).
- Guide book – I took the Pocket Rotterdam Guide and found it easy to transport and helpful
If you’re visiting in cooler months, add a warm coat, scarf, and gloves. If you’re travelling in summer, pack lighter clothing (vest tops and cotton trousers or skirts) and sunscreen.
How to see Rotterdam 2 days
I would recommend that you start in Central Rotterdam near Blaak station and see the modern architecture, Markthaal and the Erasmus bridge on your first day. Then the second day can be spent exploring one of the art museums (such as the Fenix or Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen), walking through the parks, going up the radio tower and ending up in historic Delfshaven.
Rotterdam Day 1
Maritiem Museum, Markthaal, Kubuswoningen, Laurenskerk and Erasmus Bridge.
9am Maritiem Museum – Head straight to the Maritiem Museum first thing, to find out about the city of Rotterdam’s maritime history. You will need 2 to 3 hours to fully experience the Maritime Museum Rotterdam. This is sufficient to explore the indoor interactive exhibitions, view the historic ships, and stroll through the museum harbor. It even has an ‘offshore experience’ where you ‘work’ on an oil rig! As Rotterdam is Europe’s largest port, this is considered a must-see. Book your tickets online in advance here to avoid disappointment.
12 noon Markthaal – Next you are going to step into the futuristic Markthaal. This indoor food market has food from all over the world including China, Portugal, Mexico, France and Spain. You can also try some of the famous battered Dutch fish pieces called ‘Kibbeling’ – I got addicted to this! Once you have had your fill, walk towards the centre and look up at the spectacular colourful and artistic ceiling of the hall.
1pm Kubuswoningen – After lunch, head to the interesting architectural delight of Amsterdam’s Kubuswoningen, which are right next to Blaak station. These yellow cube houses were part of the reconstruction of Rotterdam after it was completely destroyed in the Blitz of WW2. There is one furnished cube house that is now a museum and you can pay just €3,50 to go inside.
2pm Laurenskerk – Your next stop is Laurenskerk, the only medieval building left standing in the city of Rotterdam. It was carefully restored after the 1940 bombing and it is a symbol of the city’s resilience. The gothic architecture of Laurenskerk is a striking contrast to the modern architecture that surrounds it. Note that Laurenskerk is closed on Mondays.
3pm Erasmus Bridge – From Markthal, walk towards the river and head to the Erasmus bridge. This 802 metre cable-stayed bridge is nicknamed ‘The Swan’ because of its’ asymmetrical white pylon. This is a great place to have a riverside walk and get pictures of the Nieuwe Maas (New Meuse) river.
6pm Witte de Withstraat – After all that site seeing, you will almost certainly need to eat and drink again. This time, you will head to Witte de Withstraat, which is a lively bar and restaurant lined street around 15 mins East of Blaak station. I would highly recommend Café Witte Aap and Bierboutique. Many of these bars stay open until 4am in the week and 5am on the weekend! Just remember to preserve some energy for more sightseeing on your second day!
Rotterdam Day 2
Today, start with an art museum of your choice and then go to explore the parks. In the afternoon, head up the Radio Tower for a panoramic view and end up ion Historic Delftshaven.
9am Your choice of Art Museum – You really are spoilt for choice regarding art museums in Rotterdam. My favourite is the Fenix because its ultra-modern architecture reminded me of the Guggenheim in Bilbao and it explores the theme of migration through modern and contemporary art. Other good options are the Depot of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen (the world’s first publicly accessible art storage facility) and the Kunsthal Rotterdam (forgotten cultures, photography, fashion and design). There are 17 art museums in Rotterdam, so choose wisely and stay for much longer if you have a burning desire to explore them all!
11.30am Museumpark and Het Park – After getting your art fix for the morning, head to Museumpark and Het Park, two distinct parks that are crucial to the landscape of Rotterdam. Take some time for photography in Het Park (look for the herons!) and head up the Euromast for a stunning panoramic city view and arial photography.
1pm Lunch at Zeezout – No doubt you will have worked up an appetite by now, and if you like seafood, I recommend that you eat lunch at Zeezoot. It is highly recommended to book a table in advance because it is a popular Michelin-starred seafood restaurant.
Next take the metro from Leuvehaven to Delfshaven (in the direction of Schiedam Centrum) to explore the historic district.
3pm Historic Delfshaven – You have arrived in Delfshaven, the historic district of Rotterdam, where the Dutch style houses line Voorhaven canal. If you are interested, there is a Dutch Pinball museum where you can play all the old pinball machines – its operating hours are 12-5pm on Wednesdays, and 12-6pm on Saturdays and Sundays. I would also recommend a visit to the Pilgrim Fathers Church (pictured). It generally opens on Fridays and Saturdays from 12-4pm, but check the official Open Church Schedule before visiting, as opening times can shift depending on weather or private rentals. Delfshaven is a great place for photography and relaxing by the canal with a beer.
6pm Dinner at Het Eethuisje van Delfshaven – For dinner, head to Het Eethuisje van Delfshaven for great service and traditional Dutch food, served with a smile. As it is a small and local eatery, it is recommended that you book your table in advance.
Further Reading on Travel in the Netherlands
After 2 days in Rotterdam, you might also like to think about exploring some other destinations, such as Leiden, Den Haag, Delft and Amsterdam. If you are looking for onward travel inspiration then these blogs might help…