2 Days in Rotterdam: The Perfect Rotterdam Sightseeing Guide

Table of Contents

Is Rotterdam worth visiting?

Absolutely! Often overshadowed by Amsterdam, from where I had travelled, Rotterdam is one of the most underrated destinations in Europe, despite being full of fascinating sights. It is a perfect city break destination.

Notable attractions include the striking, geometric yellow houses, which initially drew me to the city; the distinctive Markthal, full of global cuisine; and the mirror-fronted Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum, a wonder of modern architecture. Additionally, as a lover of historic places, I adored picturesque Delfshaven, the only part of the city that remained untouched during World War II.

Is two days enough in Rotterdam?

Yes, spending two days in Rotterdam provided the ideal amount of time for me to explore this remarkable Dutch city. If I had only visited Rotterdam on a day trip from Amsterdam, I would have been limited by time and would have had to forfeit seeing sights further away from the central hub. There was no way I was going home without experiencing Rotterdam's highlights, so a two-day visit worked out perfectly for me.

Read on and discover why Rotterdam needs to make it onto your travel list.

Rotterdam Itinerary at a glance

Day 1 - Explore Delfshaven, including lunch and a beer flight at the brewery.

Day 2 - Visit the Cube Houses, Markthal, Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk, Oude Haven, Erasmus Bridge, Witte de Withstraat and The Depot.

circular museum building in Rotterdam covered in mirrors which have the reflection on them of the city skyline.. — The Depot.

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Impressions Of Rotterdam

Having travelled from Zaandam on the outskirts of Amsterdam, I was looking forward to sampling a different part of the Netherlands, and Rotterdam had piqued my interest.

After purchasing rail tickets, I hopped on the 40-minute train journey from Amsterdam Central Station to Rotterdam Central Station. From there, I walked to my accommodation, Le Marin Boutique Hotel, where I stayed for two nights.

My first introduction to Rotterdam was its ultra-modern train station, which looks more like a futuristic museum than a transport hub. The Eurostar has a base here, which is one reason I visited Rotterdam. Holland's second city was the last stop on a two-week European trip, and catching the Eurostar meant returning to London without needing to fly.

Rotterdam is a sizeable, multicultural city. Having not read much about immigration in the Netherlands, I was unaware that it is home to large communities, mainly from Turkey, Morocco, and the Middle East. As I found out in the area of Middelland where I stayed, you'll never go hungry for a decent mezze, kebab, or falafel!

Of course, I must mention the incredible architecture in Rotterdam. There are so many sights to see, from the Yellow Cube Houses to the mirrored Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen museum and Markthal; there seems to be a 'WOW' moment around every corner.

So, without further ado, let me tell you about the best things to do in Rotterdam during your visit.

Explore Historic Delfshaven

Delfshaven was my favourite place in Rotterdam. It oozed history, culture and utter gorgeousness.

Wooden boats are anchored along a picturesque canal lined with historic buildings, including a windmill and the church from which the founding fathers of America left, and you can see why Delfshaven is so special. Add to that a brewery, a pinball museum, a few pieces of street art, and some charming restaurants, and you can see why I loved Delfshaven.

If you want to learn more, please read my Delfshaven travel guide, which provides more detailed coverage of the area.

Traditional Dutch buildings beside a canal in Delfshaven.

wooden boat anchored on the canal in Delfshaven.

See Inside A Yellow Cube House

I had seen these geometric yellow houses on various social media sites and knew I had to visit them myself. No visit to Rotterdam is complete without at least seeing them, but I wanted to go one further and go inside one, and guess what? I did just that!

They are pretty spacious and aren't some architectural experiment - people live in them. There are many of them, and there's even the StayOkay Cube Hotel, which I would definitely have stayed in if I had known about it before my trip.

Want to learn more? The good news is that I have written a complete travel guide to visiting Rotterdam's Cube Houses. This guide will provide you with all the information you need, including how to find the "show house," the cost to enter, and what else you can see in the Cube House neighbourhood. Thank me later!

Tall hexagonal building next to yellow cube houses in Rotterdam.

Interlocking yellow cube houses in Rotterdam.

Feast On Global Cuisines At Markthal

I'm not going to fib and say I visited Markthal for the food because it was actually the interior roof I wanted to see, which is absolutely beautiful. However, once inside, I was like a kid in a candy shop with all the choices.

From pastries and sweets to curries and burgers, the smells wafting around the stalls took me back to the countries I had visited in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. It's the most popular place to eat in Rotterdam, and I can see why. Don't miss out on seeing and tasting the food and drink at Markthal.

If you are a bit of a foodie, you can also book a tour of Rotterdam's food hotspots, which includes Markthal and Witte de Withstraat.

Colourful interior roof with fruits and vegetables in vibrant colours.

See Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk

Standing silent beside its modern-day counterparts is the Medieval Church of St Lawrence, the only remnant left of Rotterdam's medieval past. It seems almost out of place amidst the hustle and bustle of central Rotterdam, and yet it was here well before the other kids on the block joined the skyline.

Stroll Around Oude Haven

Rotterdam's old harbour is a good place to capture images of the cube houses. It used to be the heart of Rotterdam's seafaring trade and is now home to several historic wooden ships and a few smaller modern vessels. There are also restaurants and bars around the harbour with outside terraces, so on a nice day, it is a pleasant place to sip a beer or enjoy a glass of wine.

wooden boats in harbour with yellow cube houses in the distance.

Colourful fishing boat with a smaller vessel next to it moored on a canal in Rotterdam.

Spot The White House

Oude Haven also has a tall white Art Nouveau building called Witte Huis beside its waters. You can't miss it, as it looks out of place against the modern, dynamic architecture nearby. This early 19th-century building, which is 43 metres high, was once the tallest skyscraper in Europe.

Rotterdam skyline with a tall white Art Deco building beside modern buildings and by a canal.

Walk Across Erasmus Bridge

A bridge is not typically on my list of things to do in a city, but this one continually appears in travel guides due to its shape, which is meant to resemble a swan's neck. Would I agree? Well, if you know what it is meant to look like and then close one eye, I guess you can see an outline of a swan's neck.

The bridge is close to Oude Haven, so as we were near, we had to see what all the fuss was about. If you're short on time, skip this landmark, or if you're not bothered to walk to it, opt to see it from the water on a Rotterdam Harbour Cruise.

Witte De Withstraat

Being a street art addict, I had to see the murals in Witte de Withstraat. It's made it onto my list of Europe's best street art cities, as it has some great pieces. My favourites were the two shown in these photographs: the colourful, abstract man's face with his purple hat, and the white-and-brown horse sharing wall space with whimsical, abstract characters.

Colourful mural showing a horse running along.

Witte de Withstraat is famous for more than just street art; it's a hip, happening area filled with clothing shops, bars, and restaurants, with a somewhat laid-back vibe. I visited during the day, but I've heard it is the place to be at night when the locals come out to socialise.

Street with the word Witte hanging across it.

See Yourself In The Mirrored Depot Museum

A trip to a museum might not be your thing, but what makes Museum Boymans-van Beuningen's "The Depot' so unique is that its exterior is as fantastic as its interior. Within this architectural phenomenon is the holy grail of art, an unrivalled collection of over 145,000 objects.

Full disclosure - I didn't go inside. After seeing The Depot online, I wanted to see myself, the surrounding trees, and the sky in this oversized, goldfish-bowl-shaped, 360-degree mirrored building. It didn't disappoint, and I recommend including "The Depot" on any Rotterdam itinerary.

Why not book a city highlights walking tour to see Rotterdam's architecture with a guide?

My final thoughts on Rotterdam

Rotterdam was different from how I thought it would be. Its architecture was much more 'out there' than I expected, even after seeing images online. I had previously encountered Holland's creative streak at the Cube Hotel in Zaandam. I stayed for four nights while exploring Amsterdam's highlights, so I knew the Dutch had a flair for more abstract architecture.

Rotterdam felt very different from Amsterdam. It felt like a city that encouraged unconventional thinking with its futuristic skyline and wacky art installations, and that's precisely what I loved about it.

So, if you enjoy modern architecture, good food, a laid-back vibe, and waterways, why not book a trip to the Netherlands' second city and discover these sights in Rotterdam yourself? Here are some guided tours you might like to book:

Rotterdam one-hour sightseeing 'Splash' tour.

Rotterdam Highlights - 2.5-hour bike tour.

Rotterdam Pancake Cruise.

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