3 days in Rotterdam

Day by day

1. Day 1: Markthal and Cube Houses and Oude Haven

   Markthal, Cube Houses and Oude Haven and Harbour boat tour, then Erasmus Bridge in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Markthal

      MVRDV's horseshoe-shaped market hall, opened in 2014, wraps apartments around a vaulted food hall.

   2. Late morning

      Cube Houses and Oude Haven

      Visit the Kijk-Kubus to see how residents furnish rooms with sloping walls, then have a drink by the Oude Haven.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Kibbeling

      Fish stalls at the Binnenrotte market, the Markthal and fish shops across the city.

   4. Afternoon

      Harbour boat tour

      Spido boats leave from the Leuvehoofd at the foot of the Erasmus Bridge for tours of about 75 minutes through the inner harbours, past container terminals, shipyards and dry docks, with commentary on the port's history.

   5. Evening

      Erasmus Bridge

      Walk across at dusk and continue to the end of the Wilhelminapier for the classic skyline view.

2. Day 2: Euromast and Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen

   Euromast, Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen and Kunsthal, then Witte de Withstraat in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Euromast

      Combine it with a walk in Het Park below and a harbour tour from the nearby quays.

   2. Late morning

      Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen

      Opened in 2021 in the Museumpark, this mirrored, bowl-shaped building by MVRDV is an art storage building opened to the public.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Raw herring

      Fish stalls and herring carts around the centre and markets.

   4. Afternoon

      Kunsthal

      Check what is on before you go; there are usually several shows at once.

   5. Evening

      Witte de Withstraat

      Start with an early dinner here, then move to the bars on the Nieuwe Binnenweg nearby.

3. Day 3: Het Nieuwe Instituut and Sonneveld House and Delfshaven

   Het Nieuwe Instituut and Sonneveld House, Delfshaven and SS Rotterdam, then Witte de Withstraat in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Het Nieuwe Instituut and Sonneveld House

      The national institute for architecture, design and digital culture holds exhibitions in its Museumpark building, and also runs the nearby Sonneveld House, a 1933 Nieuwe Bouwen villa with its original furniture and fittings.

   2. Late morning

      Delfshaven

      Visit on a weekend afternoon, when the windmill sometimes opens to visitors.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Kapsalon

      Snack bars and shawarma shops across the city, especially late at night.

   4. Afternoon

      SS Rotterdam

      The former flagship of the Holland America Line, launched in 1958, is permanently moored at Katendrecht as a hotel, restaurant and museum ship.

   5. Evening

      Witte de Withstraat

      Bars and restaurants that fill up from early evening and stay busy late.

Before you go

• Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen: Timed-entry tickets are recommended at weekends and in school holidays.

If it rains

• Swap in Fenix (Katendrecht): Climb the Tornado to the rooftop for views of the Wilhelminapier towers.
• Swap in Maritime Museum Rotterdam (Centrum): The indoor play zone is a good rainy-day option with children.
• Swap in Laurenskerk (Centrum): It is a two-minute walk from the Markthal; check whether the tower is open for a climb during your visit.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Centrum keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Kop van Zuid and Wilhelminapier ($$$) suits couples, luxury and first-timers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 15–17 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 7.8 hours in December to 16.7 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Rotterdam
• 2 days in Rotterdam

Questions travellers ask