So many things to do and so little time! To make the most out of your stay and discover the best of Rotterdam, we have put together a list of 'must-see' museums and things to do in town. For more Rotterdam highlights visit the website of the Rotterdam Local Tourist Board.

Cube houses (Kijk-Kubus)

The Kijk-Kubus in Rotterdam or cube homes were designed by Piet Blom. He saw his design as a tree and the entire complex as a forest. Blom’s idea was to design a kind of village within a big city, a safe oasis where various functions could come to fruition. The Kijk-Kubus is the fully furnished museum home in the Blaakse Bos. The interior was specially designed to give visitors an impression of how you can live in a cube home. Models, photo panels and screens offer additional information. For more information visit the website of the Cube houses. 

Netherlands Architecture Institute

The Netherlands Architecture Institute (NAI) is more than just a museum. The NAi owns one of the world’s largest architectural collections, offers educational programmes, and has its own library and study hall, a bookshop with an extensive selection of books on architecture and a cosy museum café.

The NAi is located in a striking building designed by architect Jo Coenen, located on the Museumpark in Rotterdam. In more than fifteen exhibitions in five exhibition rooms, the NAi gives the public an attractive introduction to historical and contemporary architecture. The showpiece of the collection is the museum home Huis Sonneveld, a hyper-modern villa from 1933, filled with light, air, space and a surprising amount of colour. The home, based on a design by architects Brinkman & Van der Vlugt, is one of the best-preserved examples of the New Building school of architecture. The interior design, with its modern, tube-based furniture and many technical gadgets, shows what modern life looked like in 1933. An audio tour makes the experience complete! Visit www.nai.nl for more information

Spido cruises

A visit to Rotterdam would be incomplete without a trip round its world-famous harbour. Peek behind the scenes and get an up-and-close view of Europe’s largest port, by taking a 75 minute harbour cruise. See the shipyards, docks and quays up close and be a part of the heavy traffic of seagoing vessels and inland sailing ships on a river that brought glory to Rotterdam. The Rotterdam Harbour Cruise offers information in French, English, German and Dutch and departs daily at 1.15 pm. For more info on Spido Cruises click here.

Rotterdam Port Experience

A brand new attraction, situated next to the Erasmus Bridge, opened its doors in Rotterdam. The Rotterdam Port Experience is an interactive introduction to Europe's largest port. Visitors can experience the magnificence of the port area on an enormous aerial photograph in the Port Terminal or by an amazing port Ride. Screens display panoramic images of the city and its port and also special developed games are designed to let visitors discover more about the port of Rotterdam. Visit rotterdamportexperience.nl   

Kunsthal Rotterdam

An exhibition hall that houses some 25 expositions annually. The Kunsthal displays culture in the broadest sense of the word: traditional art, new art, design, photography, from elitist to popular. The Kunsthal often experiments with themes that have never been used for an exhibition before. This approach produces a fascinating and widely varied repertoire. Its permanent collection consists of a repertoire highlighting master-forger Han van Meegeren, Leonardo da Vinci, the Hague School of painters, Jewels of the Orient, Pop-art and impressionism. In total, the Kunsthal has 3300 m2 of exhibition space in a striking building, designed by Rem Koolhaas and a true work of art all on its own. See Kunsthal's website for more information. 

Railz Miniworld

The largest indoor model railroad layout of Holland is situated in the city centre of Rotterdam. You certainly don’t have to be a model railroad enthusiast to have a great day out with the whole family. The model railroad layout is the biggest part of the attraction, but you can also see how parts of the layout are built in the open workshop and how the model layout is controlled in the command centre. Also there are tours behind the scenes, a cinema, restaurant and gift shop. www.railzminiworld.nl

Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen

Wandering through this many-sided museum you will journey through the history of art, from the Middle Ages until the present day: works by artists such as Bosch and Rubens, top works such as Bruegel’s Tower of Babel and Rembrandt’s Titus. You can also see the genesis of Impressionism and Modernism, with works by Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet and many others. Through works by Andy Warhol amongst others, you will experience the diversity of modern art. For more information: Museum Boijmans van Beuningen's website

Walking tour: once around Rotterdam

‘Once around Rotterdam’ is a 2-hour walking tour through the centre of Rotterdam, past the many architectural and cultural highlights, providing you with surprising tips on the route, such as fun shops and extraordinary restaurants. The tour is supported by existing pedestrian signposting in the city. The brochure is available free of charge at many locations, such as the VVV Rotterdam Store (Tourist Information Office, Coolsingel 5), VVV Rotterdam Info Café (next to Central Station) and many hotels, attractions and museums. Click here to download 'Once around Rotterdam'.

Euromast

Treat yourself to a dazzling view of Rotterdam and step into the elevator of the Euromast. Within a second you are outside, on the platforms. At a height of 100 meter you can see the magnitude of the harbours, the skyline of a real big city and ‘celebrities’ such as the Kuip, Hotel New York and the Erasmus Bridge. Feel like more excitement? Get on the Euroscoop for a ride to 185 meters! For more information www.euromast.nl

Maritime Museum Rotterdam

From a modest model room in 1874, the Maritime Museum has grown and developed into a museum of stature, with contemporary exhibitions for both young and old. Hop on board the museum ship ‘the Buffel’ and discover everything about the lives of sailors or reminisce on the permanent exhibitions of the ‘Holland-America Line’ or the ‘Schatten van Nedlloyd’, showing magnificent objects from the offices of the world famous shipping company. Visit their website for more information.

Blijdorp Zoo

The Rotterdam Zoo (Diergaarde Blijdorp) has become one of Europe’s most beautiful zoos. Dive into the fully covered Oceanium; the domain of sharks, king penguins, sea otters and jelly-fish. Walk through the Asian Swamps and meet with the elephant family in tropical forest ‘Taman Indah’. Jump into the Ice Cave and have a magnificent view on the polar bears under water in Arctica! In the summer you can stroll around the African savanna endlessly; come face to face with the giraffes and meet with other savanna inhabitants at a safe height. More information: www.rotterdamzoo.nl

Nederlands Fotomuseum

The Nederlands Fotomuseum is the centre for photography. The museum dedicates itself to photography in the widest sense of the word, represented in an interesting mix of exhibitions, publications, lectures and workshops. With also its library, print shop, film lounge and fabulous book shop the museum is highly recommended for everybody who loves photography.  
www.nederlandsfotomuseum.nl