Netherlands

Rotterdam Transportation: How to Get There & Get Around

Updated March 24th, 2019

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They say first impressions are important and I think that is true for visiting new destinations. I can usually tell pretty quickly how much I am going to like a new city. It was love at first sight with Rotterdam. It was the first city I visited this year that I could actually see myself living in. No place can compare to NYC, but there was a similar vibe to Rotterdam. The locals all spoke English so it was a comfortable city to navigate and explore. Yet, at the same time there was a diversity and energy in both the people and food. A variety of activities could be found and there was a sense of innovation as well. After only my first day in the city I felt at home. I got on a tram to head back to my hotel and it was as if I was commuting home.

How to Get to Rotterdam

Rotterdam is very easy to reach from the Amsterdam Schiphol airport. The train station is directly inside of the airport and easy to find by following the airport signs. My flight landed in Amsterdam at 10:30pm and I was able to buy a ticket (from machines right inside the station before going down the escalators to the train tracks) and catch the 10:53pm train! I wasn’t sure if I would make that train or not so I waited to buy a ticket. I checked trainline ahead of time to know the departure times. Make sure to validate your ticket, by sticking it inside the little box, before going down the escalators to the train tracks.

Trains run frequently throughout the day and evening (every 5 – 20mins). It only takes about 30 minutes to get to Rotterdam. It was as easy and cheap to get there as it is to get from the airport in one city to accommodation within the same city.

During the middle of the night they run about once every hour and usually include a transfer. Therefore they take longer than the direct route, about one hour and 20minutes. Taking a private transfer between the two cities is also an option, but a much pricier one.

Rotterdam is also easily accessible by train from the central train station in Amsterdam and other train stations across the Netherlands.

How to Get Around Rotterdam

Tram/Bus/Metro

Rotterdam Transportation is really easy and convenient to use. I recommend buying the Rotterdam Welcome Card from the visitors center which gets you discounts to attractions and free transportation for the number of days on your card (1, 2, or 3 days). I mostly used the card for transportation and I saved money for sure. Granted I had a good discount because I was attending the Traverse travel blogging conference, but if you are there for primarily sightseeing you will have more time to use the other discounts to make the card worthwhile as well.

You can directly use the Welcome Card as a tram/bus/metro pass. On the trams and buses make sure to validate (tapping against the little machine inside the doors) when entering AND when exiting. Officers are usually on board to scan your pass to check that it is valid.

You can also buy your fare directly on the bus or tram from the worker on-board or before entering the metro.

Water Taxi

I enjoy most cities I visit, but I always seem to the love the ones with water. Rotterdam has so many waterways that they have a water taxi system with over 50 possible pick-up points! I didn’t use the water taxis, but I thought that would be a fun way to get around. You can find more information here.

Bicycle

Be like the locals and rent a bike or go on a bicycle tour. I have never been in a city with so many people riding bicycles. You have a better chance of being run over by a bicycle than a car. It seemed like every single road and path had a bicycle lane. Even though I wanted to make use out of my improved biking skills thanks to the Sound of Music Bicycle tour in Austria, I didn’t use a bike.

Bicycle Parking

Walk

Sometimes the best way to get around is your own two feet. If you are staying fairly central in the city, you may not need other forms of transportation. The city is very walkable and I loved exploring it on foot to see all the architecture and have time to stop and take pictures.

However you get around Rotterdam, it is a great city to explore!

More About Rotterdam

Read my Visit Rotterdam Guide for ideas on what to do, where to eat and where to stay.


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