One Day in Rotterdam Itinerary: The Best Travel Guide

On our trip to the Netherlands, we took a day trip to Rotterdam from The Hague and really enjoyed our brief visit to the city. With only one day in Rotterdam, we were only able to experience so much, but Rotterdam definitely left us wanting more.

This one day in Rotterdam itinerary showcases both highlights and hidden gems of the second-largest city in the country. It includes our initial travel plans, as well as the places we stumbled upon when in Rotterdam.

You may choose to base yourself in Rotterdam when visiting other cities and small towns in the Netherlands. In our case, we based ourselves in The Hague (Den Haag) and ventured out to Rotterdam for the day.

Regardless, even if you only see Rotterdam in a day, you can cover quite a bit of ground. We’ll show you how.

Getting There

Rotterdam is easily accessible by car, train and taxi/Uber from many other destinations. The Netherlands isn’t that big of a country, and it’s really easy to get from place to place. We love traveling by train in the Netherlands.

From Den Haag Centraal to Rotterdam Centraal, it’s about a 30 minute train journey. There are many direct trains between the two cities, although we had to transfer in Gouda when we visited. It was an easy transfer that lined up rather perfectly.

You can use your tickets any time of the day. I suggest getting them ahead of time on the Dutch Railways website. Download their mobile app so you can easily bring up your tickets to show the staff when they come around to check them.

There are also trains between Amsterdam and Rotterdam with a travel time between 45 minutes and 1 hour. You can also rent a car in the Netherlands to get from point A to point B. I always recommend comparing car rental prices online to find the best rates. We always book with Discover Cars as we’re always able to find reputable car rentals at the best prices.

One Day in Rotterdam: Nieuwe Delftse Poort

When Justin and I walked from Rotterdam Centraal towards Rotterdam City Centre, we stumbled upon this massive art piece called Nieuwe Delftse Poort. Mind you, it was pouring rain when we visited, so it says something that we still took the time to stop and check this one out.

This modern gate represents one that used to stand in this same spot back in 1545 as part of Rotterdam’s fortification walls. As time went on, Rotterdam didn’t require the Noorderpoort and its protection, though it remained as part of the city’s history.

The original gate was rebuilt on three occasions and the last incarnation of it, the Delftsche Poort, became the most famous monument in Rotterdam. As the city expanded and became more developed, the municipality decided to move the gate to another location.

This never ended up happening. Amidst WWII, the gate was badly damaged in 1940 and completely removed. Long after the war, artist Cor Kraat constructed a modern art piece in the place of the original gates. Built using orange beams, this gate is merely a skeleton of what was once there, demonstrating that Rotterdam is in a constant state of rebuilding.

One Day in Rotterdam: Markthal (Market Hall)

Our first main stop in Rotterdam was Markthal, or Market Hall, located inside an iconic horseshoe-shaped structure. This indoor covered market boasts nearly 100 fresh food stalls featuring authentic flavors from all over the world. There’s also a supermarket and several restaurants.

There’s a beautiful, massive mural splashed across the walls and ceiling inside this circular building. The artwork by Arno Coenen and Iris Roskam is called “Horn of Plenty” or “Cornucopia”.

It details large imagery of flowers, fruits, vegetables, seeds and insects with a nod to Dutch still-life paintings from the 17th century. This art is a sharp contrast to the building’s gray exterior. It’s also been called “the largest artwork in the world” and “the Sistine Chapel of Rotterdam”.

I suggest walking around and sampling dishes from several stalls. There’s something for every taste. As for the vegan options at Markthal, try Tofu Heaven (delicious tofu snacks and dishes!), Umi Sushi Ramen & Pokebowl for veggie sushi and ramen, or 55 Bombay Street (samosas, pakora, chickpea paratha, chana dhal and more).

Please be advised that there aren’t any vegan stroopwafels at Markthal. Trust me, I looked, I asked, and no one had vegan versions of this famous Dutch cookie. You’ll need to go to Didi’s Stroopwafels in town to find vegan stroopwafels (more on this in a bit!).

Let me tell you, on a rainy Saturday in Rotterdam, this place was packed! We made the mistake of visiting around lunchtime as well, so it was very crowded. There were long waits for food from most booths. Not only do you need to pay to use the toilet, but there will be a lengthy line as well.

To avoid this situation, I suggest visiting earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon. The crowds did let up quite a bit as we were leaving, so I think we should have timed this one out better.

One Day in Rotterdam: Cube Houses

The Cube Houses of Rotterdam, also known as Kubuswoningen, are great to visit after your time at the Market Hall. After all, the Cube Houses are directly across the way with a walking distance of only a minute or two.

If you love interesting architecture or quirky places to visit, the Cube Houses are a worthy addition to your one day in Rotterdam itinerary. Architect Piet Blom designed this collection of unique homes that you won’t see anywhere else in the world.

After World War II, Rotterdam needed to be completely rebuilt. City officials thought that it would be a good opportunity to modernize everything. The concept behind the yellow Cube Houses was to not only add bright and cheery modern buildings to the city, but to also optimize the space inside the homes.

These striking Cube Houses are a village themselves within the city. Each house has three floors and grow much wider towards the top, resembling trees. Together, these “tree” homes form a forest and gained the nickname, “Blaak Forest”.

As you can imagine, this little neighborhood is quite popular and draws quite a crowd. It’s important to be respectful as these are actual homes where people live. It’s also the home of the Stayokay Hostel Rotterdam – yes, you can stay the night in the Cube Houses!

At the same time, you can take a tour inside one of the homes if you’re interested. We saw quite a few people advertising this tour, and there are also signs pointing you towards the Kijk-Kubus (Show-Cube). It’s open seven days a week from 11:00 to 17:00 and costs a small fee to go inside.

One Day in Rotterdam: Lijnbaan

Lijnbaan is the main shopping street in Rotterdam. After you visit the Cube Houses, go for a stroll down the Lijnbaan as you make your way towards Delfshaven, the historic area of the city. This is the main shopping promenade with many popular retail outlets.

There’s an intriguing history behind Lijnbaan, too. After Rotterdam was entirely flattened after the Second World War, the city planners set out to create a modern and meaningful street design. Built in 1953, the Lijnbaan became the first dedicated pedestrian-free street in Europe, closed off completely to cars.

This was a foreign concept at the time. Business owners felt that their shops would only be visited if people could drive up in their cars. However, it proved to be the opposite. From its beginnings, Lijnbaan became a place where residents could go for a wander, meet with their friends, and gaze into shop windows.

Didi’s Stroopwafels

While located south of the Lijnbaan, I’m including this notable stroopwafel shop in this one day in Rotterdam itinerary because they sell vegan stroopwafels. This was the only vegan-friendly stroopwafel shop I could find in Rotterdam. Please add others in the comments section below, if you know of any!

While the fresh stroopwafels that the staff members make before your eyes are not free of animal products, there are packages of vegan stroopwafels on the shelves. Make sure you ask a member of staff or purchase a package marked with a “V” in black marker on the bottom of the package.

One Day in Rotterdam: Dutch Pinball Museum

The Dutch Pinball Museum is unlike any museum we’ve ever visited. It’s dedicated entirely to pinball machines from their inception through to present day. Best of all, there are more than 100 playable pinball machines to play an unlimited amount of times with your ticket.

First, I highly recommend purchasing a ticket to the Dutch Pinball Museum ahead of time. This is a very popular place to visit in Rotterdam and tickets often sell out. Your ticket covers a two hour time slot.

Upon arrival, the first room you’ll visit is filled with the most old, antique and rare pinball machines. These are the only ones that you won’t be able to play, and they date back to 1853. This room functions as a true museum where you will see the evolution of pinball machines over time.

Then, the rest of the museum is yours to explore. Wander through the various rooms on a couple of different levels to play different themed pinball machines. There are pinball machines for bands and musicians, movies and more. Not only that, but there’s also movie and music memorabilia to match the pinball cabinets.

Our favorite room was the Big Lebowski room. This smaller room is full of Big Lebowski memorabilia, art, and of course, a pinball machine dedicated to the movie.

My favorite pinball machine is Funhouse as I have memories of playing this one when I was younger. While there are a considerable amount of guests entering the museum at the same time, there are always machines free to play. You might have to wait to play your favorite one, but it won’t be for too long.

Two hours is the perfect amount of time to play pinball to your heart’s content. The Dutch Pinball Museum is located in the middle of Delfshaven, the most historic area of Rotterdam. Once you’re finished, it’s time to go for a wander around Delfshaven.

One Day in Rotterdam: Delfshaven

This one day in Rotterdam itinerary wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Delfshaven. This is one of the few areas of Rotterdam that wasn’t bombed during World War II. Dating back to 1389, this area used to be its own municipality (“Port of Delft”) before becoming part of Rotterdam in 1886.

Justin and I went for a walk along the cobblestone streets lining the old marina. There’s a reconstructed 18th century flour windmill that’s one of the largest in the Netherlands. It is possible to take a tour here and purchase products made of flour.

Furthermore, I suggest stopping by Stadsbrouwerij De Pelgrim, a brewery that makes traditionally brewed Pilgrim beer with pure Rotterdam water. This is one of three breweries in Rotterdam.

There’s a history of pilgrims in Delfshaven. The old church (Oude Kerk) in Delfshaven is called the Pelgrimskerk (Pilgrim Fathers Church). It was named as such after Pilgrims left Delfshaven in 1620 to travel to America.

One Day in Rotterdam: Witte de Withstraat

On your way back towards the city center, go for a walk on Witte de Withstraat. This is a trendy area of town with colorful murals and street art covering the walls and alleyways. There are cool bars and restaurants, hip art galleries, and all around good vibes.

Check out a patio, go people watching, and sample artisanal food and drink. Pop into a speakeasy cocktail bar or check out the nightlife if you plan to stay in Rotterdam well into the evening. If you have time in your schedule, this is a must visit spot to add to your Rotterdam travel plans.

Vegan Junk Food Bar

Just at the edge of Witte de Withstraat is one of the best restaurants, Vegan Junk Food Bar. Their first location is in Amsterdam, and I’ve wanted to visit for ages now. I was so happy to learn of their second location in Rotterdam!

This is the place to be for vegan comfort food, whether you follow a vegan diet or not. I think that everyone will agree that this food is absolutely delicious. We ordered locally brewed beer, burgers, wings and dipping sauces. Everything was so tasty and overall, the place had impeccable vibes.

It was the perfect end to our day in Rotterdam before walking back to the train station to head back to The Hague. Despite the rainy weather (to be expected in the Netherlands in the spring), Justin and I had a really wonderful day exploring Rotterdam.

There are quite a few other places we could visit in Rotterdam on our next trip, including the Euromast Tower, Fenix Food Factory, several museums and galleries, and some of Rotterdam’s beautiful parks. Feel free to add any of these to your Rotterdam itinerary if they pique your interest.