Rotterdam Flights and Travel Guide

When some people book flights to Rotterdam, they might expect to endure the same ancient time warp that other European cities offer. A visit to Amsterdam brings back centuries of architecture, artwork, and infrastructure; a weekend in Paris conjures dreams of the Revolution; and a villa in Athens summons ideas of the ancient Greeks. 

Rotterdam though, sparks none of the above. Its physical past has eerily been erased, and what is there now has only developed within the last 70 years. Before World War II, Rotterdam existed as a dreary industrial town, good only for its ports. When bombs dropped here in the 1940’s though, all that changed. The entire city disappeared, along with its two-dimensional reputation. What happened after that put Rotterdam on the map for much more that its port. New, modern architecture sprung up in every corner of the city, from apartment buildings to courthouses, to business parks, museums, restaurants, and even tourist areas. Sleek, straight lines, bold colors, and inventive new angles became the new face of the city. 

Today, travelers flock from every corner of the globe booking flights to Rotterdam to see the new and improved metropolis. Gone are the winding little Dutch streets, quaint villages, and small-town structures. Now, efficiency and modernity have replaced the city with a clean slate, a new personality, and a fresh new outlook. Book flights to Rotterdam to see a city reborn.

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Rotterdam Climate

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When to Fly to Rotterdam

In order to really enjoy the waterfront, its best to book flights to Rotterdam in the summer time, when the warm days and cool evenings are perfect for outdoor strolls. 

Peak Season:

By far, the most pleasant time of year to plan Rotterdam flights is during the summer time. Restaurants open patios for al fresco dining, and you can walk along the pier to see just how impressive the ports in this town truly are. 

Off-peak Season:

While winter in Rotterdam can be nasty with lots of cold wind and rain, many international travelers book cheap flights to Rotterdam in January to see the acclaimed Rotterdam International Film Festival.

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Getting Around Rotterdam

When you travel to Rotterdam, getting around town is relatively easy. The RET runs a metro system that starts in the center and covers most of the downtown area. Onboard, strip tickets are issued, and your payment depends on how far you’re going. Once you’re really in the heart of the city though, you won’t need to use public transportation because everything is within walking distance. 

Buses also run toward the outskirts of the city, and taxis will take you pretty much anywhere you need to go. Pedestrians should be careful on foot in Rotterdam, because biking is almost as common as any other vehicle, and some roads have separate side aisles and even stop lights specifically to accommodate them. When you’re watching for traffic, you’ll need to account for cars, bikes, and above ground metros.

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Rotterdam Insider Information

Walk of Fame: One of the fastest growing attractions in Rotterdam, the Walk of Fame entices people to book Rotterdam flights to see international and national celebrities’ hand and footprints in the sidewalk. You’ll see many tourists posing for pictures by big names, and matching their fingertips to the concrete version of the celebrity of interest. A-listers like Cliff Richard, John Denver, Carlos Santana, Shirley Bassey, Everly Brothers, Dionne Warwick, Carl Lewis, Tina Turner, Gloria Estefan, Toto, and Johnny Cash have all made their mark – quite literally – on this memorable sidewalk. 

Oude Kerk: Once you’ve spent a few days in Rotterdam, its plainly obvious how modern and new the whole city is compared to its existence before the Second World War. For history buffs booking flights to Rotterdam in search of its courageous past, look no further than Oude Kerk – one of the only districts to survive the war. As you wander through it, you’ll notice the 18th century windmill that overlooks the water. This is the spot where Dutch pilgrims left Holland for America on July 22, 1620. Their boat, however, malfunctioned, and they had to stop in England to join some other outbound travelers on the Mayflower. The rest is history.

Rotterdam Film Festival: Film junkies from all over the globe book flights to Rotterdam to see the massive collection of short films, documentaries, and features celebrated at the Rotterdam Film Festival every January. Competitive and noncompetitive installations, performances, and special presentations make up the 600 final entries that are shown, and if you’re interested in a certain genre, then film packages are available as well. Even though the winter weather is less than spectacular, you’ll be able to experience high cultural and artistic expressions when you book flights to Rotterdam in January. 

Modern Architecture: As soon you step off your Rotterdam flight, you’ll be enthralled by the newness of all the architecture. Even just outside of Central Station, you can see Nationale Nederlanden, the city’s highest skyscraper, and Down Coolsingel, the city’s World Trade Center. A little beyond, is a funny-looking cube-shaped building known as the Overblaak, and even further are the two ultra chic (but not identical) bridges that cross the Nieuw Maas River. In the middle of the city’s center square, enormous steel structures that look like jointed red desk lamps move around on their own, and add a little fun to nighttime lighting.

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Rotterdam Airports

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