Rotterdam is easily reached from anywhere in the world either by a short train ride from Schiphol Airport (Amsterdam) or at a more leisurely pace by boat as it boasts the world’s busiest seaport.
At Rotterdam Airport flights are also continually landing from the major cities of neighbouring countries. Inside the city, a network of buses, trams, water taxis and metro maintains excellent connections.
By plane
The city is served by its very own airport, which is just 8 km / 5 miles north-west of the city centre. Rotterdam Airport is relatively small and features regular flights to many European cities such as London, Hamburg and Paris. Transavia and VLM Airlines offers direct flights to Rotterdam Airport.
Rotterdam Airport
Transavia
VLM
Regular bus transport is on hand and provides a cheap way to travel into the city centre, with a journey time of no more than 20 minutes.
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is also relatively close to Rotterdam and Linked by trains in just under one hour or under 30 minutes by the fast train for a small surplus.
Schiphol
NS
By Boat
From the UK you can reach Rotterdam easily by boat. In Hook of Holland, the Stena Line from Harwich docks travellers can be at Rotterdam Central Station within half an hour. P&O Northsea Ferries from Hull arrives on the Maasvlakte, where a direct bus to Rotterdam is ready and waiting for foot passengers. Once in Rotterdam, the Fast Ferry brings you to the surrounding ‘Drecht’Cities. A water taxi offers you the opportunity to travel easily within the cityscape seen from the water.
P&O North Sea Ferries
Stena Line
By Train
From France, there are up to 7 trains a day connecting Paris to Rotterdam in 3hr. 10 min. From Belgium, the Thalys network covers all the main Belgian cities (offering also a special fare ‘all Belgian stations’), providing easy connections.
Thalys
The Eurostar is the ultimate high-speed train for daily connections from Lille, Ebbsfleet and London to Brussels-South. From the Channel Tunnel to Brussels, the Eurostar travels at 300 km/h. This journey takes only 21 minutes. Eurostar departs from London St. Pancras International to Brussels-South and vice versa 8 to 10 times a day.
Eurostar
The Fyra of NS Hispeed is the comfortable train that travels over the high-speed rail line. This offers the fastest connection between Amsterdam and Rotterdam via Schiphol Airport. On working days the Fyra boards once every hour and takes you from Amsterdam to Rotterdam in less than 43 minutes. If you are travelling from Schiphol Airport, then you will arrive in Rotterdam within 26 minutes. When travelling with the Fyra, you need an NS ticket plus Fyra ticket supplement. This paper ticket supplement is available via NS Hispeed, NS self-service ticket machines, the NS Service Desk, the NS Hispeed Desk, NS Hispeed Telesales and travel agents. For timetables and more information, go to NS Hispeed.
NShispeed
NS