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Port of Rotterdam

Port of Rotterdam: Our most recommended tours and activities

Rotterdam: Harbour Boat Tour

1. Rotterdam: Harbour Boat Tour

Embark on a round-trip city cruise of Rotterdam to see one of the world's most innovative ports in the world. See the busy traffic of sea-going and inland ships, listen to informative commentary via an audio guide, and admire the city's impressive skyline as its imposing buildings glide by. Start your boat tour from Willemsplein. Get a unique perspective of the harbor's shipyards, docks, and the hypermodern transshipping of thousands of containers. On the way back, soak in views of the steamship 'Rotterdam', the former cruise flagship of shipping company Holland America Line.

Rotterdam: Harbor Cruise with Live Guide & Optional Coffee

2. Rotterdam: Harbor Cruise with Live Guide & Optional Coffee

Relax and see Rotterdam's most spectacular landmarks as you sail down the Maas River on a round trip boat cruise with live commentary and a bar with drinks and snacks. Find a place inside the cozy salon or sit on the open deck. Start your cruise from the Parkhaven under the Euromast. The boat will pass by the Sint Jobshaven, the Waalhaven, and the Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij, home to Onderzeebootloods. Spot the container ships if you are lucky. See the famous cruise ship SS Rotterdam and the Hotel New York where the Holland America Line used to be housed. Enjoy the skyline of downtown Rotterdam, as you approach one of the most famous city landmarks, the Erasmus bridge.

Rotterdam: RIB Speedboat Sightseeing Cruise

3. Rotterdam: RIB Speedboat Sightseeing Cruise

Feast your eyes from the center of Rotterdam all the way to Schiedam on a thrilling sightseeing cruise aboard a RIB speedboat. Enjoy views of Euromast, Hotel New York, SS Rotterdam, and more as you travel at top speed over the famous Maas River. After boarding the speedboat, dash off on your sightseeing tour. See the old part of Rotterdam, Delfshaven, and take in the city's landmarks as you zoom by. Admire the former steamship SS Rotterdam, the mesmerizing city skyline, and the impressive bridges. Head all the way to the gin city of Schiedam before making the return trip through the old city ports of Rotterdam. Listen to fun facts and information about the places you see from the skipper and feel free to ask any questions. Enjoy a guilt-free experience as the carbon footprint of your speedboat tour will be compensated by Trees for All.

Rotterdam Walking Tour and Harbor Cruise

4. Rotterdam Walking Tour and Harbor Cruise

Your morning or afternoon in Rotterdam will start at your hotel, (river)cruise ship or if you travel to Rotterdam from elsewhere at the train station. Set off in a relaxing pace to make sure you really get to see, feel and learn all about this town. Enjoy a 3-hour private walking tour of the beautiful city of Rotterdam and discover how the destruction of World War II led to an intensive rebuilding process and to Rotterdam becoming one of the most daring examples of modern architecture in the Netherlands. See one of the most fascinating projects in post-war Rotterdam, the captivating cubic houses of famed architect Blom. Blom considered his designs as an abstract tree and the entire 38-cube complex as a dense urban forest, and his imaginative architectural approach is one of the highlights of this tour. Continue your walk through Rotterdam's old harbor and pass the central shopping area. A part of the shopping area is below ground and was nicknamed ‘the sales gutter”. See the few historic building that survived the war: the post office, townhall and Laurens Church. Another highlight is the impressive Market hall, which is the first covered market in the Netherlands. It is a place where good food and unique housing are harmoniously combined in a spectacular arch. This iconic fresh market opened for business on 1 October 2014, after five years of construction. Come and see yourself why Rotterdam has been chosen in 2015 by Lonely Planet as one of the must-see places in the world. After a few hours of walking and exploring, relax yourself on a cruise ship as your enjoy a 75-minute cruise along the lovely Rotterdam harbor.

Rotterdam: Self-Guided City Walking Tour with Audio Guide

5. Rotterdam: Self-Guided City Walking Tour with Audio Guide

Explore the beautiful city-center of Rotterdam at your own pace. This self-guided audio tour will take you to all the well-known spots and undiscovered gems of Rotterdam. The audio guide will tell you all the historical and current ins and outs of each place. 'The Manhattan on the Maas', only Amsterdam is bigger than this city full of skyscrapers. When you think of Rotterdam, the harbors, the Euromast, Feyenoord, the Koopgoot and the Erasmus bridge, hospital and university are often the first thoughts that come to mind. All these features give Rotterdam its own atmosphere and identity. Get a taste of this atmosphere during the audio guided tour of the city and discover typical Rotterdam attractions such as the Great or St. Laurens Church, the Cube Houses, the beautiful White House on the Old Harbour and the Schieland House with the Count of Henegouwen. In addition, you will see a hotel floating on the water and a tower in the shape of a pencil. Go out and get to know the identity of Rotterdam during this self-guided audio tour.

Other Sightseeing Options in Port of Rotterdam

Want to discover all there is to do in Port of Rotterdam? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Port of Rotterdam

Overall rating

4.4 / 5

based on 1,168 reviews

Seeing the harbor was interesting and educational. One note: The audio track was late relative to our position. It took a little while to realize, but when one feature was mentioned, I realized we had already past that point.

Very cold when you’re on deck but a great way to see Rotterdam in one go and also to make a list whilst on board to see where and what you want to see

Very enjoyable, able to sit on top decks in the open or below out of the wind. Nice bar for snacks and drinks.

Nice experience, but get a hat and scarf if you’re going in the colder months.

Very good trip. Lots of info on the port. Left on time. All good.