Rotterdam Transportation Tips by sachara Top 5 Page for this destination

Bicycle....

The fastest way to travel in the citycentre of Rotterdam is to take a bicycle. At several places you can rent bicycles in Rotterdam. You can find your own way, but there are also guided bike tours. For example you can rent a bike at a few minutes walk from Central Station at the Conradstraat 6 at your right hand side coming out of the building. Costs are 6 euro for a day, 5 euro for every day extra. A guided cycletour for 2 or 3 hours will cost 15 or 17 euro for groups starting from 6 persons.

At the waterbus you can take your bicycle for free to several suburbs and towns in the neigbourhood of Rotterdam like to the famous mills of Kinderdijk. Here you can make for example the mill cycle tour of 43 km.

Mode: AROUND

Other Contact: info@rotterdambycycle.nl

Phone: + 31 10 2409158

Type: Bicycle

Central Station

Rotterdam is well connected by train to the Dutch railroad system and has some international connections as well. Coming from the north of the Netehrlands I usually visit Rotterdam by intercity train. I come also by train to Rotterdam to catch the high speed Thalys train to Paris or sometimes an international train to Belgium.

The actual building of the Central Station is from 1953. The Central Station and the Stationsplein are under reconstruction. In the station you will find several shops and a bank. I like the AH supermarket with fresh bread, fruits, fresh fuirt juices, other drinks and snacks, which is also open in the evening.

Besides the main station Rotterdam has six other railway stations within its boundaries. The intercities don't stop here, but the local trains do.

Mode: TO

Type: Train

Website: http://www.ns.nl

Tired of walking....?

If you are tired of walking and dont'want to ride a bicycle yourself or take public transport, you can take the velotaxi. Like in many other European cities this western riksja 'the velotaxi' is also introduced in Rotterdam. Last year I saw them in Vilnius in Lithuania as well.

If you see a free velotaxi, you can ask the driver for a ride and start your journey. You can also call to order a velotaxi. You can choose your own route or make a guided tour with a special theme. It's a nice and relaxed way to explore the city, while having direct contact with the outside world of the daily citylife. En route you can stop everywhere you like.

The Velotaxis in Rotterdam citycentre are operating from may till october everyday from about 10.00am till 18.00 pm. The price is 1 euro pro person for three minutes. For kids there are lower or free rates.

Mode: AROUND

Other Contact: Rotterdam@velotaxi.nl

Phone: + 31 10 44 343 52

Type: Bicycle

Watertaxi, waterbus, fast ferry

One of the most great ways to travel around in Rotterdam, being a harbour- and watercity is by boat. There are watertaxis and waterbusses/fast ferries.

Watertaxi
If you want to cross the Nieuwe Maas, you can take the Water Taxi. This speedboat can bring you from the north to the south bank, to the the Northern Island and many other places along the river. Along the Maas between Dordrecht and Hoek van Holland are about 250 landingstages, also in all Rotterdam harbours. 'Watertaxi Rotterdam' these watertaxiservices and roundtrips as well. You can call the water taxi, telling at which landing stage you like to embark and where you want to go. The fares are calculated with a taximeter. It's about 25-30 euros for 15 minutes.

Watertaxi HNY
Between Hotel New York and the Leuvehaven and the Veerhaven is the ferryservice of the classic Watertaxis HNY. During most part of the day these Watertaxis HNY sail off and on, about every 10 minutes, so you don't need to call. Outside these busy hours you have to call. The fare is 2.50 euro.

Waterbus/ fast ferry
With the Waterbus you can travel between Rotterdam, Ridderkerk, Krimpen a/d Lek, the mills of Kinderdijk and Dordrecht . The Waterbus is a big catamaran, sailing very smoothly. There is one route in Rotterdam (starting from the Erasmus bridge) and two connecting routes outside of Rotterdam. In the catamaran is space for 130 passengers and 60 bikes. An 'one day ticket' is 10.50 euro for passenger and bike together.

Mode: AROUND

Phone: +31 10 4030303

Type: Ship/Boat

Website: http://www.watertaxirotterdam.nl/english/index.html

Tram & bus

The public transport system in Rotterdam is well organized. Except the subway, there are trams and busses. Travelling by tram in the citycentre is quick and easy. There are many lines, stopping all over the city.

The busses are less frequent than the trams or metros, but a good alternative if you travel outside the citycentre, to the suburbs or surrounding towns.

For the busses and trams you need a 'strippenkaart' to buy at the stations, postoffices and several newspaper and tobacco shops. This strippenkaart is valid for all public transport in the Netherlands. Buying a ticket in the tram or bus from the driver or conductor is possible as well.

At the Willemsplein, not far from where the Spido boattrips depart, I saw different types of historical trams, making tourist trips through the citycentre.

Mode: AROUND

Type: Other

Metro

Rotterdams subway has two lines, the Erasmus line and the Caland line. The Erasmus line has its terminal at the Central Station in the north. Two stations away from the Central Station the both lines connect at station Beurs. In the south both lines have their terminal far into the suburb of Spijkenisse, sharing five stations along the line. The Caland line ends in the north in the suburb Capelle a/d IJssel. During the day the metro or subway departs about every 5 minutes, in the evening every 15 or 30 minutes.

For travelling by subway or using other public transport you need to buy a 'strippenkaart'. Every time you take the subway or bus and tram you have to stamp one strip for every zone and one extra strip. You can buy the 'strippenkaart' in the train- or subwaystation, but also in newspaper stalls or tobacco stores. You can buy a ticket in the tram or bus from the driver or the conductor as well, but it's more expensive.

Mode: AROUND

Type: Subway/Metro

Website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Metrokaart_Rotterdam.png