A perfect day in Rotterdam City Centre

10.00 am: a relaxed start with a coffee

Start your day in one of the many coffee spots in the city centre. Choose a place where you can ease into the day before heading out into the city. A popular spot among locals is Served on Coolsingel. The ideal place to begin your day, thanks to its central location.

Take a moment here to plan your route for the day; everything is within walking distance. Tip: also download the free city map on your phone straight away.

11:00 am: discover the shopping heart of Rotterdam

After a good cup of coffee, you should be full of energy to go shopping! Fortunately, Served is very centrally located, as from here you can walk straight into the Koopgoot and onto the Lijnbaan. Here you will find countless major stores, such as a huge ZARA, the J&D flagship store, a mega-sized Primark, and much more.

A suit from OGER? A watch from Rolex? Or a perfume from Maison Francis Kurkdjian? Then you need to be on the Kruiskade. But that is not the only place where you can shop high-end in Rotterdam. View the complete high-end shopping route via the button below.

Don't forget the local boutiques, concept stores, vintage shops, and smaller side streets either. Walk to the Van Oldenbarneveltstraat, for example, where you will find countless unique shops. Then turn off onto the Karel Doormanstraat, towards the Oude and Nieuwe Binnenweg, because you will find plenty of gems there as well.

1:00 pm: lunch in the city centre

Time for lunch. In Rotterdam Centre, you have a wide variety to choose from: from quick bites to elaborate lunch spots – it just depends on what you're in the mood for. A good tip is Bertmans. The location is very central, so you won't have to search for long when your stomach starts rumbling.

Prefer a (quick) sandwich? On Binnenwegplein you'll find Picobello Fresh and Trattoria Panini – ideal for grabbing something to go. Do you have time to sit down for a bit? Walk to Oude Binnenweg for a tasty lunch at Barista.

2.30 pm: soak up some culture

After lunch, it’s time to see the city centre from a different perspective. Rotterdam offers plenty of culture: from street art and museums to impressive architecture.

• Visit one of these great museums in Rotterdam
• Discover the street art spread across the city
• The Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen is not to be missed

5.30 pm: time for a drink

The city shifts pace: it becomes cosier, warmer and more vibrant. Especially in the warmer months, terraces fill up quickly.

• Take a seat on one of these lovely terraces
• If it’s cold, there are also plenty of heated terraces
• Fancy a cosy café? This is where you need to be
• Get your cocktails here!

7:30 PM: Dinner in the heart of the city

End your day with dinner in Rotterdam City Centre. Whatever you are in the mood for and whatever your budget, the choice is vast. A tasty bowl of ramen is always a good option, for instance at AJISAN on the Coolsingel. Prefer to linger over cocktails? Then we recommend JAQ, centrally located and with a super trendy interior. Prefer something even more chic? Then reserve a table a few doors down at Joelia, a delicious Michelin-starred restaurant.

9.00 pm: evening stroll or keep the party going

If you like, you can end the evening calmly with a short walk through the city centre. For example, past the historic City Hall. Or continue on towards the Maas river for a stunning view of the Erasmus Bridge.

Not ready to call it a night yet? On weekends, there’s plenty to see, hear and experience. The place where most locals can be found is, of course, Witte de Withstraat. With its many bars, you’re always in the right place here. Fancy dancing? Head to THOMS Underground Bar, where you can dance in the basement until 3 am.