How to get there

One of the fastest and easiest ways to get to Rotterdam is to travel by train.

Intercity trains hailing from every corner of the Netherlands make a stop at Rotterdam Central Station, including the high-speed train. The fastest connection between Amsterdam, Schiphol, Rotterdam and Breda is the NS Intercity Direct. It runs twice per hour. When travelling between Schiphol and Rotterdam, you will have to pay an Intercity Direct surcharge.

When travelling from France, Belgium, and UK you should take Eurostar.

Approximate travel times from various cities, domestic and abroad:

• Amsterdam - 50′
• Schiphol - 25′ - 50′
• Breda - 25′
• Antwerp - 32′
• Brussels - 1 h 10′
• Paris - 2 h 40′
• London - 3 h 30′

You can find more information about routes, departure times and prices on www.ns.nl (domestic travel), www.NSinternational.com (from and to destinations abroad), and www.eurostar.com (France, Belgium, UK).

• Rotterdam The Hague Airport
  

An increasing number of European cities provide direct flights to Rotterdam The Hague Airport. Operators Transavia, British Airways, TUIfly Belgium, TUIfly Nederland and Corendon fly to the second regional airport in the Netherlands. Check the websites of the operators for more detailed information.

From Rotterdam The Hague Airport, you can reach the very heart of Rotterdam very quickly, travelling by car, taxi or public transport:

• Car/taxi: 10-15’
• RandstadRail: 15’
• RET (bus 33): 20-25’

More information at www.rotterdamthehagueairport.nl

• Alternative Airports

If you are unable to find suitable flights to Rotterdam The Hague Airport, you can also consider flying into nearby airports and then traveling to Rotterdam:

• Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS): Approximately 50 minutes away by train. There are frequent trains from Schiphol to Rotterdam Central Station.
• Brussels Airport (BRU): About 1.5 hours away by train. You can take a direct train from Brussels to Rotterdam.
• Eindhoven Airport (EIN): Around 1.5 hours away by train and bus.

There are several ways how to reach Rotterdam by bus, depending on your starting location and preferences.

• From Nearby European Cities

Amsterdam to Rotterdam

Bus Operator: FlixBus

Duration: Approximately 1.5 hours

Frequency: Multiple departures daily

Route: Direct from Amsterdam Sloterdijk bus station to Rotterdam Centraal

Brussels to Rotterdam

Bus Operator: Eurolines or FlixBus

Duration: Approximately 2-3 hours

Frequency: Several departures daily

Route: Direct from Brussels North station to Rotterdam Centraal

• From Major European Hubs

Paris to Rotterdam

Bus Operator: FlixBus or BlaBlaCar Bus

Duration: Approximately 6-7 hours

Frequency: Multiple departures daily

Route: Direct from Paris Bercy Seine bus station to Rotterdam Centraal

London to Rotterdam

Bus Operator: Eurolines or FlixBus

Duration: Approximately 8-10 hours (including ferry crossing)

Frequency: Several departures daily

Route: From London Victoria Coach Station to Rotterdam Centraal, typically with a ferry crossing from Dover to Calais

• From Smaller Towns and Regional Cities in the Netherland

Utrecht to Rotterdam

Bus Operator: FlixBus

Duration: Approximately 1 hour

Frequency: Frequent departures throughout the day

Route: Direct from Utrecht Centraal to Rotterdam Centraal

The Hague to Rotterdam

Bus Operator: Local transit (RET or Connexxion)

Duration: Approximately 30-45 minutes

Frequency: Frequent local buses throughout the day

Route: Direct or with one transfer, typically starting at The Hague Central Station

• Using International Bus Services
  

Berlin to Rotterdam

Bus Operator: FlixBus

Duration: Approximately 10-12 hours

Frequency: Daily departures

Route: Direct or with one transfer, starting from Berlin Central Bus Station (ZOB) to Rotterdam Centraal

Prague to Rotterdam

Bus Operator: FlixBus or Eurolines

Duration: Approximately 13-15 hours

Frequency: Daily departures

Route: Direct or with one transfer, starting from Prague Florenc bus station to Rotterdam Centraal

Major international brands, as well as local providers, have offices conveniently located throughout the city, including at Rotterdam The Hague Airport, and Rotterdam Central Station. Some of the well-known car rental companies include:

• Hertz
• Avis
• Enterprise
• Sixt
• Budget
• Thrifty

To ensure you get the best deal and the vehicle that suits your needs, it's advisable to book your rental car in advance. You can easily compare prices and book online through the rental company's website or through comparison sites like Rentalcars.com or Kayak.