Rotterdam is a really unique place. Especially the architecture is fascinating, as well as its many urban cultural projects which transformed Rotterdam into a buzzing, modern city.
Stay: The Urban Residences are most central, right in the middle of the shopping area in a new high-rise building. They are modern and sleek apartments with kitchen, living space and balconies. Especially the suites on the higher floors have an amazing view all over the city.
Do: Explore the architecture. There are so many buildings you wouldn’t think could actually exist, for example the central station. Especially around the Grotemarkt you find such incredible buildings like the markthal, the cube houses, or the Timmerhuis. The markthal itself is worth a visit for sure. Another neighborhood is Kop van Zuid, connected to the center by the Erasmus bridge. Here, the historic building of Hotel New York is joined by skyscrapers like the Montevideo building and De Rotterdam, designed by Rem Koolhaas. You can come here also via ferry, explore the area and sit by the water. Witte de Withstraat is a pretty and relaxed street with many great shops and especially pubs, bars and restaurants. Here, you can also visit the centre for contemporary art. You find more great museums in the city, all very close to each other. There is Het Nieuwe Institute a centre for architecture and design, Kunsthal that shows modern art and Huis Sonneveld, which is a preserved home in the Dutch Functionalist style. Another great urban space is Luchtsingel. It includes all kinds of things, a wooden bridge, an urban garden, the old Hofbogen, with cultural space, shops and cafes and a park.
For all sorts of the latest events check We Own Rotterdam.
Eat: Picknick is a delicious, cozy cafe for breakfast. Parqiet is a beautiful cafe right in Het Park with tables right under the trees. A little bit off the center, right next to an actual gym you find Gym&Gin. It’s a beautiful place that serves all sorts of delicious food all day long. Having lunch or dinner at Bazar gives you the feeling of sitting in a middle eastern market with all its bright walls, lamps and delicious, simple oriental food. Around the corner is Dertien, a busy but cosy restaurant and food bar with an always interesting menu. On sunny days you can grab a craft beer and sit by the river outside Fenix Food Factory, an old warehouse with several small food and drink stalls. You can also find delicious suriname and asian food, for example at Kiem Foei on West-Kruiskade.
Shop: The main shopping area is around Lijnbaan, where you find most bigger brands. Close by is also the great store Shoebaloo. A nice shopping street is Van Oldenbarneveltstraat with boutiques like T0K10, but also Witte de Withstraat offers some pretty shops, as well as Meent. It’s also nice to stroll the Centrummarket on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Getting around: It’s best and most fun to rent bikes. At Urban Residences you can get bikes from the hotel, but there are also many shops like Centrum bikes, Zwaan bikes or the Obikes all over the city. Walking and using public transportation RET with tram, metro or ferries is also easily possible.
There are many more fantastic places in the Netherlands and Belgium! See the travel guides for Amsterdam, South Holland , Maastricht, Flanders, Ghent and Antwerp.
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