A Day Trip to Rotterdam | 24 Hours in Rotterdam, Netherlands

When we planned our trip to The Netherlands, we were originally just going to visit Amsterdam. But when our friends who live in Rotterdam suggested we come there for the day, we decided to go! Rotterdam is only a 40 minute train ride from Amsterdam, and the city has a totally different vibe. A lot of Rotterdam had to be rebuilt after World War II, so there is a mix of historic and modern architecture around the city. We explored almost the whole city in one day, and we think it’s a perfect day trip to do from Amsterdam. Keep on reading to see how you can spend a day in Rotterdam on your trip to the Netherlands.

How to Get to Rotterdam

We took the Intercity Direct train from Amsterdam Centraal to Rotterdam Centraal. The Direct makes only two stops, Schipol Airport and then Rotterdam and only takes 40 minutes. We bought roundtrip tickets and I believe they were around €40 each. You can also take the regular Intercity train if you want to save money, but it will take longer to get into Rotterdam. The trains run multiple times an hour so you should be fine whenever you want to arrive or leave.

Once you arrive in Rotterdam you will be able to walk almost anywhere you want to go! If you don’t want to/can’t walk you can take the trams the get around the city. We paid for the trams with tapping our card (or Apple Pay) so it was very convenient to use!

Best Things to Do in Rotterdam

Check out the Cube Houses - these houses in Rotterdam are famous for their unique slanted-cube design. They are actual houses people live in, and there is a museum if you want to go inside one and see what it looks like!
Stroll around the Rotterdam Market Hall - an indoor market hall with tons of different vendors, shops, and local food!
Walk around Delfshaven - Delfshaven is an area of Rotterdam that didn’t have to be rebuilt after the war, so it still has that traditional Dutch charm. We loved walked around this area so much, theres canals, traditional Dutch houses, and even a windmill!
Take a water taxi to Hotel New York - Water taxi is such a fun way to get around Rotterdam and see the city from a totally different perspective! The water taxi has different routes and it’s easier to book online to get tickets. We went to Hotel New York (and old hotel in Rotterdam) and thought that area was so beautiful! You can also get a great view of the bridges in Rotterdam from the Hotel new York pier.
Grab a craft beer at Kaapse Brouwers - Kaapse is a local craft brewery near Hotel New York. The area is super cool and industrial and if it’s a nice day you can sit outside near the water to drink your beer!