Rotterdam is one of the most famous cities in the Netherlands. Unique architecture, nightlife, and etc. attract more than one million travelers per year to Rotterdam. Considering that many people are interested in the Rotterdam trip, we decided to list 12 Instagrammable places in Rotterdam. In this blog, you will learn the best places in Rotterdam: Rotterdam, what to do in Rotterdam, travel from Amsterdam to Rotterdam, which places to visit in Rotterdam for nightlife, and more.
Basics info
Before starting to talk about places to see in Rotterdam, let's get some basic knowledge about the city. Where is Rotterdam? Rotterdam is located in the southwest of the country, and it is a major European port and the second-largest city in the Netherlands. Rotterdam is the most populous city in the country, and it is home to more than 180 various nationalities. Most of the migrants are from Turkey, Suriname, and Morocco. When it comes to the population's religious view, we can see that most citizens identify themselves as non-religious. As residents originated from various parts of the world, finding people who speak more than two languages is very common. Do not worry about communication problems, even if you only have English skills, because data shows that almost 90% of the Netherlands population speaks English. Now it is time to talk about the best places to visit in Rotterdam.
1. Rotterdam Museums
What to do in Rotterdam? One of the first things to do in Rotterdam is visiting the museums of the city. It does not matter that you are interested in museums or not, I assure you that you will enjoy it. All of those museums are charming, but firstly, I would like to mention The Nederlands Fotomuseum. With more than 5.5 million pictures, this place is a dream place for professional and amateur photographs. Here you will see both historical and modern images. Every year, The Nederlands Fotomuseum hosts various famous photographers, such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, Nan Goldin, etc. The Maritime Museum is another example of the best places in Rotterdam. As I said, the largest port in Europe is in Rotterdam, so it is not surprising that there is a specific museum about ships and other marine objects. Most of those objects are from the period of 1850 to 1970. Other museums that you will enjoy visiting are The Wereldmuseum Rotterdam, Museum Rotterdam, etc.
2. The Port Of Rotterdam
There are many ways to discover Rotterdam's beauty, and the Rotterdam port tour is one of them. The best way to have a harbor tour is Spido. Spido has great experience in this field. They have been organizing harbor tours since 1919. During the journey, you will have a chance to see the former cruise flagship of shipping company Holland America Line, Hotel New York, the Euromast, shipyards, and more. The tour lasts for 75 minutes, and the rate for adults is 14,25 and 8,50 EURO for children. Also, Spido ships are wheelchair and pet-friendly. You can purchase tickets and learn about the ship's timeline on the official website. Keep in mind to capture some Instagrammable moments to share in your story.
3. Euromast Observation Tower
Euromast is an observation tower that was built in 1960. Today it is one of the favorite places to visit in Rotterdam for tourists. Despite its excellent view, it offers a restaurant and attraction for adrenaline fans. The restaurant and observation deck are 100 meters high from the ground. If you want to go upper, you can use a revolving lift. After having the meal, observing the charming view, and taking some Instagram photos, you can go down with ropes, but of course, under a professional's guidance. Most visitors say that they took their most liked Instagram photos in Euromast.
4. SS Rotterdam
SS Rotterdam is the former flagship of the Holland-America Line and now moored permanently in Rotterdam's Maashaven. They tried to restore the interior design and artworks as they had in 1950. However, restaurants, hotel rooms, and other facilities are modernized. Besides the restaurant and hotel rooms, there are guided tours on the ship. Up to 20 people can book for a guided tour, and it lasts 1-2 hours. In this tour, you will learn how to live onboard, the ship's history, and more. How to travel to that destination? You can use a private car or public transport to reach the cruise. For example, from the Rijnhaven metro, you can use bus 77. Also, do not forget to take some Instagrammable moments to share with your friends on social media. Undoubtedly, one of those pictures will be your most liked photo on Instagram.
5. The Cube Houses
The Cube Houses are one of the most well-known tourist attractions of Rotterdam. Piet Blom is an architect who designed those buildings, and he said that the main aim of giving such a design is letting people feel how it is to live in a cube. There is not any doubt that Cube Houses are on the top among the places to see in Rotterdam for many people. The houses are open for visitors seven days a week from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Also, there are small-scale businesses, shops, a school, and a children's playground in the vicinity. Also, it is an excellent spot to take some unique and exciting Instagram photos.
6. Markthal
Going to Markthalis taking one of the top places among the things to do in Rotterdam. Of course, you saw plenty of indoor market halls, but I assure you that you have never seen such a market hall in your life before. Firstly, before entering the hall, the exterior design will hypnotize you, and after getting the inside, you will understand that it was just a visible side of the iceberg. Markthal has many beautiful icons, and you can get detailed information about them by taking part in De Rotterdam Tours (which lasts almost one hour). Besides tours, there are many cafes, restaurants to relax and enjoy. On Tuesday and Saturday, you can see the country's biggest outdoor market in front of Markthal. It is a dream spot for taking the most liked Instagram photos.
7. Rotterdam Zoo
Do you want to meet Bokito and his family or African Savanna in Rotterdam? Then go to the Rotterdam Zoo in the district of Blijdorp. The zoo is one of the most exciting places to see in Rotterdam. Besides the gorilla family and savannah, you will have a chance to see thousands of South American butterflies, anacondas, and piranhas. Another feature that makes this spot one of the most exciting Instagrammable places in the city is the butterfly paradise, the largest in Europe. To get more detailed information about animals, monuments, and more, you can download the official Diergaarde Blijdorp app.
8. Witte de Withkwartier
What to do in Rotterdam as an art lover? We have already mentioned many museums that can be exciting for you. If you are searching for another spot to take your most liked photo on Instagram, go to Witte de Withkwartier. This area is known as the Rotterdam art scene's vibrant heart and is famous for its dynamic nightlife. After exploring the city's whole galleries, cultural centers, you may have an enjoyable time in Rotterdam nightlife. De Witte Aap can be a good example to taste the exciting nightlife of Rotterdam. It is one of the most famous pubs in the city. If pubs are so noisy for you, you may prefer Nieuw Rotterdams Cafe. Other spots to have a fascinating time in Rotterdam, Witte de Withkwartier can be Ter Marsch, La Bru, De Schouw, etc.
9. Rotterdam Central Station
Social media is an undividable part of our life, and everyone loves to take some Instagrammable shots to share with friends. Luckily Rotterdam has plenty of Instagrammable places with unique and mesmerizing architecture. Rotterdam Central Station can be an excellent example of destinations to take some most liked Instagram photos. The terminal was opened in 2014, and soon after, it became one of the city's symbols. Also, it connects some other major destinations of the Netherlands. For example, you can use it to travel from Amsterdam to Rotterdam. Of course, there are other ways to have a trip from Amsterdam to Rotterdam, too.
10. Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk
Another example of Rotterdam's best places where you can take many Instagram photos is Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk. It is the only remaining piece of medieval architecture in the city. The church dates back to 1449. Decorated arches, high vaulted ceilings, and charming religious decoration of the church will hypnozoite you.
11. The Witte Huis
The Witte Huis is the first high-rise building in Europe and is one of several buildings that survived from blitzkrieg in WW2. The outstanding architectural style of the building makes it easily noticeable. The popularity of the Witte Huis took video game makers' attention, and they included this building in a game called Battlefield V.
12. Beautiful Parks
What to do in Rotterdam? After exploring the city and having an enjoyable time in Rotterdam, you may need a relaxing spot. Fortunately, the city has many charming parks such as Zuiderpark, Museumpark, Arboretum Trompenburg, etc. Of course, besides resting, each of these parks offers plenty of things to do in Rotterdam. Check Netherlands visa requirements for your nationality and travel to Rotterdam - the land of amazing nature but also architecture.
