Rotterdam 1-Day Public Transport Ticket

Getting Around Rotterdam by Metro, Tram and Bus

Rotterdam has one of the most complete public transport networks in the Netherlands. Five metro lines cross the city and reach the suburbs, a dense web of tram lines covers the centre and older districts, and buses fill the gaps. How to get around Rotterdam is simple with a day ticket: no need to count rides, just check in and go. Metro trains run frequently through the day, and trams are the best way to see the streets as you travel.

The key rule is to check in when you board each metro, tram or bus and check out when you leave, including at every transfer. Hold the e-ticket on your phone against the reader and wait for the confirmation. Open the ticket in the mobile app; a PDF or a screenshot will not work at the readers. With that habit, your Rotterdam day ticket gives you complete freedom from morning until late at night.

Markthal and the Cube Houses at Blaak

Blaak metro station puts you at the foot of two of Rotterdam's most photographed buildings. The Markthal, opened in 2014, is a giant horseshoe-shaped arch of apartments sheltering a covered food market, its ceiling covered by a vast colourful artwork of fruit, flowers and insects. Next to it stand the Cube Houses, tilted yellow cubes on pillars built in the 1980s, one of which can be visited inside.

This is the best place to start a day of Rotterdam sightseeing, with food stalls for breakfast or lunch and the old harbour of Oude Haven just around the corner. The Markthal opens daily from morning until evening, and arriving early gives you the hall at its quietest. From Blaak, trams and metros connect quickly to the rest of the city.

Erasmus Bridge and Kop van Zuid

The white Erasmus Bridge, nicknamed the Swan for its elegant asymmetric pylon, links the city centre with the Kop van Zuid district across the Nieuwe Maas river. Trams cross the bridge itself, giving you a great view of the river and the skyline, and metro stations Leuvehaven on the north bank and Wilhelminaplein on the south bank are a short walk away.

Kop van Zuid is Rotterdam's showcase of modern architecture, with high-rise towers, the old cruise terminal from where emigrants once sailed to America, and riverside promenades with views back to the city. Late afternoon is the best time to visit the Erasmus Bridge, when the light falls on the river and the towers begin to glow.

Historic Delfshaven

Delfshaven is one of the few corners of Rotterdam that survived the destruction of 1940, and it feels like a small Dutch harbour town within the city. Brick warehouses, gabled houses, an old church and a working windmill line the narrow harbour, with historic boats moored along the quays. Delfshaven metro station is a short walk from the water.

Plan around an hour to stroll along the harbour, cross its little bridges and enjoy the cafes, galleries and small shops. It is also one of the most atmospheric spots in the city for photos at golden hour. It is a perfect contrast to the modern skyline you see elsewhere, and with a day ticket you can easily combine it with the Euromast and the Museumpark nearby by tram.

Euromast, Het Park and the Museumpark

The Euromast tower rises 185 metres above Het Park, a green park by the river, and its viewing platform offers the best panorama of the city and the port. Trams stop near the park, and from there it is a pleasant walk to the Museumpark, the cultural heart of Rotterdam with art, architecture and natural history museums.

With your Rotterdam public transport ticket you can travel between these sights as often as you like, then continue to the zoo in Blijdorp or back to the centre in the evening. Remember that the ticket is valid until the end of the day's timetable but not on night buses, so plan your last ride before services finish.