Spend an Epic One Day in Rotterdam
In the Netherlands, Rotterdam is the second-largest city after Amsterdam and a buzzing trade hub with it being the world’s largest port. The city is known for being built from the ground up after the war. This has led to Rotterdam being recognized as a modern and architecturally compelling city, attracting tourists from all over the world. For travelers, there are countless ways to spend a day in Rotterdam.
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Get The Most From One Day in Rotterdam
Rotterdam offers a wide range of things to do for visitors. From visiting century-old museums to taking bike tours around the city. From enjoying a river cruise to taking a peaceful walk around the flower field with a loved one. Experiencing the digital art scene in the city to taking a peek at the uniquely built cube houses – the options are limitless for an adventure-filled day in Rotterdam. To help you plan your day, here is a list of interesting things to do when visiting Rotterdam.
Take a One Hour River Cruise Tour
One way to start your 24 hours in Rotterdam is to enjoy an hour-long relaxing river cruise tour as you sail along the Maas River and take in the beauty of the city of Rotterdam at a leisurely pace. Enjoy this perspective and revel in the feel of floating on water as you witness the beautiful skyline and the many ports, a major part of Rotterdam’s attraction, along with the iconic Erasmus Bridge.
The Erasmus Bridge, nicknamed The Swan due to its structure, spans the Maas River and connects Rotterdam's northern and southern districts. The bridge artfully reflects Rotterdam's industrial character, adding to the city's narrative. Its structural magnitude and design articulation have made it a prominent feature of the surrounding skyline.
An eager live tour guide, who can speak in English, German, and Dutch is there to inform you of all the major and minor details of every place you pass by on your cruise journey. Also included is an audio guide in Spanish and French.
Some of the places that you will see are Kop van Zuid, the majestic Hotel New York, the stunningly bright red Willems Bridge, the White House, the striking Euromast, and many more stunning places. You can enjoy your time inside in the comfortable salon or take a seat on the sun deck.
Rotterdam Highlight Bike Tour
See Rotterdam in a day like a local. Bike around the city in a small group of 12 as you witness and take in the beauty of Rotterdam and its marvelous sights and hidden attractions. For a traveler who is not familiar with the city, it might be difficult to discover places that are not popular tourist hubs and there is a chance you miss out on some amazing places. Because of that, a bike tour is a perfect way to explore the unknown as you move along the streets and through Rotterdam.
Enjoy the city in the classic Dutch way as you are guided around the ins and outs of each tour highlight. There will be fun facts and amusing anecdotes about the history of the city and the modern-day architecture will leave you in awe of its splendor. You can consider your guide a friend you have brought along on this exploration journey. They are a friend full of love for the city and is eager to share it with you as you discover new places. With this interactive bike tour, you will come to Rotterdam as a tourist but will leave as a local.
Have Lunch At the Markthal
Markthal, otherwise known as the Market Hall is a wonder of Rotterdam that you can not miss out on. Built in 2009, it serves as an office building, buzzing marketplace, and delicious food hall, and is crowded with tourists and locals alike. An example of modern-day architecture, the Markthal is beautiful both inside and out with its interior being adorned by spectacular artwork showcasing vibrant flowers, fruits, plants, and much more. It is one of the largest artwork in the Netherlands. You can find a wide variety of food and drink options in the market section from stalls and bars to restaurants, all offering special delicacies.
If you are a food lover or somebody who loves experimenting with new things, Markthal is the best place for you to spend a good day in Rotterdam. Away from home but craving that flavor, you can find it here. Ingredients and cuisines from all over the world find their home in the Markthal and people all gather together to enjoy the bustling atmosphere. Highlighting more than 100 food stalls, and 8 restaurants, the choices for lunch are endless and you can always try as many as you want as you stroll along in the majestic masterpiece, known as the Markthal, which is a world on its own to discover.
Remastered: The Digital Art Audiovisual Experience
Art brings people together just like food. Perfect for any day (but especially a rainy one), Remastered is an indoor activity where you get to experience a mesmerizing display of digital art that is bound to ignite the curious souls while blurring the lines of perception and reality. Witness the reimagination of legendary artworks of renowned Dutch artists in this brilliant exhibition. From Van Gogh’s vibrant color palette to Jeroen Bosch’s bizarre creatures, this exclusive one-hour experience consists of various interactive wonders that will leave you coming back for more.
Take a walk through a waterfall as you are guided by LED waves or create your very own 3D digital masterpiece which will be showcased on the indoor LED screen. If you are an underworld sea enthusiast, dive in without the added equipment and connect with hundreds of digital fish and revel in tranquility. Take a walk through the digitally curated fluff clouds and marvel at the dancing flock of birds. An hour spent in this beautifully crafted digital art experience is a day well spent in Rotterdam.
Cube Houses in Rotterdam
As the name suggests, Cube Houses are a bunch of houses in the shape of yellow cubes connected to make interesting shapes. Designed by the well-renowned artist Piet Blom, these eccentric and peculiar-looking houses are all tilted at a 45-degree angle and are a must-see attraction for many tourists visiting Rotterdam. The housing block is unlike any other and is an amusing concept to witness in person because the whole time you are wondering what it’s like to live inside a cube-shaped house with its slanted windows and walls. An open house is available for you to take a tour and experience it yourself. The interior depicts the creation process from photos and models projected on a presentation.