Discover the top five spots in Rotterdam

Discover the 5 coolest (and less touristy) spots in Rotterdam by public transport! In this blog, you'll find the best tips to make your visit to Rotterdam unforgettable.

1. Pannenkoekstraat - breakfast

Start the day with a good breakfast at Picknick. You can get there on tram lines 7 and 8, getting off at the Meent stop. The breakfast platter is highly recommended, but they also serve delicious sweet cakes – and be sure to try the home-made Picknick snickers!

Afterwards, walk on a little further to Pannekoekstraat, the perfect place for shopping. Step inside  Louen, Objet Trouvé or Ginza for beautiful designer clothes. At Depot Rotterdam you'll find inspiration in the shape of the latest living trends. Once you're done shopping, walk back to De Meent where you can hop on tram line 7 towards Willemsplein or tram 8 towards Marconiplein and travel one stop to Pompenburg (you can also walk it in about 9 minutes).

2. Luchtsingel - architecture and a coffee break

You can hardly miss Luchtsingel when you get off at Pompenburg! This yellow walkway connects Rotterdam North to the city centre. Luchtsingel is not just super photogenic – the arches of the former Hofplein station are now home to Rotterdam's most popular hotspots. Such as Bird, FG Restaurant, Opporto and Restaurant de Jong. You'll also find several furniture designers there. Ready for a coffee break? Stop off at Man met Bril koffie, named as the place serving the best coffee in the Netherlands in 2015! And pop into Groos for Rotterdam delicacies, art and clothing by Rotterdam designers.

When you are finished at Groos, walk towards Hofplein and take tram lines 20, 23 or 25 from the Weena stop to travel to your next destination. You'll cross the Erasmus bridge, which offers amazing views!

3. Katendrecht- lunch

Get off at the Wilhelminaplein stop and walk along Wilhelminakade. You'll pass the Cruise Terminal, and at the end of this street you'll see Hotel New York. This is where numerous Dutch people once boarded ships bound for America. These days, cruise ships also regularly dock here at the Cruise Terminal. After a peek inside New York Hotel, cross the Rijnhaven bridge. You can recognise it by the 'love padlocks' hanging from the bridge.

 At the end of the bridge you will find yourself in front of the Fenix Food Factory, and industrial building housing several eateries. For example, you could pick up some rolls from Jordy’s Bakery and a cheeseboard from Booij Kaasmakers, or some tasty sausage or raw ham from Firma Bijten. You can then enjoy your delicious food on the wooden benches with views of Hotel New York.

After a leisurely lunch, you can pay a visit to the  Nederlands Fotomuseum (Dutch Photography Museum – recommended in poor weather). You'll find the museum on the way back towards the Wilhelminaplein subway station. The Nederlands Fotomuseum in Rotterdam is the country's top photography museum, with an impressive collection of more than 5 million images.

Or pay a visit to the ss Rotterdam (recommended in fine weather). Take the water taxi from Hotel New York; it will take you to the historic ship in a few minutes. There you can get guided tours, enjoy a drink on deck and, in really hot weather, paddle in the small pool.

4. Rotterdam Noord - diner

In Rotterdam Noord you'll find charming boutiques and shops such as Elle Aime, Kookpunt, & Designshop, MBR, Volle Kast and Jawol. The lively Rotterdamse Oogst local market is held on Noordplein every month. This is definitely also a good part of town for dining out. You'll find it hard to choose between Tosca, Destino and Mevrouw Meijer. Or if you fancy something simpler, grab a fresh pizza at Speck.

5. Witte de Withstraat – drinks

Fancy a drink after dinner? Then Witte de Withstraat is the place to be! From Noord, take tram line 7 from the Noorderbrug stop towards Willemsplein and get off at Museumpark. From there, it's about three minutes' walk.

Savour a cocktail at Stirr (Eendrachtsweg 29B) – named the Netherlands' best cocktail bar in 2016 – or choose from one of 162 gin & tonics at Ballroom! If you enjoy a good wine, try Wijnbar Het Eigendom. And it's always busy at NRC Café and Café de Witte Aap!

Plan your trip at www.ret.nl  for the latest travel advice and buy your ticket now from the RET web shop. You can also share your experiences on Instagram with #aardigonderweg. Buy your travel ticket here.