Rotterdam Highlights Bike Tour: Modern Architecture & Harbor

See Rotterdam's architecture and harbor the way locals do, by bike.

A bike tour of Rotterdam lasting 2.5 hours with a professional guide in English or Dutch, covering the city's modern landmarks, harbor history and pre-war buildings. The tour includes a bicycle, a rain poncho, and a coffee break in a former warehouse. Children from age 8 are welcome, and a minimum of two people per booking is required.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen4m
2. Cube Houses5m
3. Markthal15m
4. Church of St. Lawrence10m
5. Erasmus Bridgepassing by
6. Rotterdam City Hall10m

Explore Rotterdam by bike

• Join local bike tour
• See Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen
• Visit Cube Houses
• Explore Markthal for art and food
• View building by Rem Koolhaas
• Learn about Church of St. Lawrence
• Discover port of Rotterdam history
• Take coffee break in former warehouse
• Cycle over Erasmus Bridge
• See Rotterdam City Hall

The experience

The tour starts with your guide pointing out what's shaped Rotterdam in the last few decades: the Cube Houses, the first example of the city's bold modern architecture; the Markthal, where art and food collide under a vast arched roof; and Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, a pot-shaped mirror building holding thousands of artworks in storage. You'll ride past the Rotterdam City Hall, one of the few buildings that survived World War II, scattered with small statues and shields that mark the city's layered past.

The route takes you along the harbor, where your guide explains the port's history and the new architecture rising there now. You cycle over the Erasmus Bridge, locals call it the Swan, and stop at the Church of St. Lawrence, a building with its own checkered history. Somewhere in the middle, there's a coffee break in a sweet little shop tucked inside a former warehouse, a chance to step off the bike and catch your breath.

The whole ride runs 2.5 to 3 hours depending on how many questions come up and how long you linger at each stop. You get a bicycle for the day and a rain poncho if the weather turns. The guide speaks either English or Dutch depending on which tour you book, and they're there to answer anything about the buildings, the history or the way the city works now.

What’s included

• Professional guide in English or Dutch.
• bicycle for the full 2.5 to 3 hours.
• rain poncho if weather turns wet.
• coffee break at a shop in a former warehouse.

Options for this experience

2 options

Bike tour of Rotterdam in Dutch10:30 and 14:00Gazelle city bike. Important notice: this tour is in Dutch! Please choose another date for English-language options.

English-spoken bike tour10:30English-speaking guide: Explore Rotterdam with a local guide who speaks fluent English and will point out all the highlights and hotspots!

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:30 and 14:00Last departure this season: 30 Dec

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (8 to 15 years) · Under 8: can't be booked

GroupUp to 120

Live guideEnglish and Dutch

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by seeRotterdam

Is this one for you?Book the English tour if you want a guide who explains Rotterdam's architecture and harbor in English. Choose the Dutch option if you speak Dutch or want to hear the city from a local perspective in the local language. Either way, you're cycling instead of walking, which means you cover more ground and see the harbor, the modern skyline and the old city center all in one morning without the fatigue of being on foot.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

In Dutch, at 10:30 and 14:00. In English, at 10:30.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (8 to 15 years). Children under 8 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the Cube Houses and why does the guide point them out?

The Cube Houses were Rotterdam's first example of crazy modern architecture, and they mark the moment the city started building in a completely new way after World War II. Your guide explains what makes them stand out and how they fit into Rotterdam's transformation.

Do I need to be an experienced cyclist to do this tour?

You should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness, since you'll be riding for 2.5 to 3 hours. The tour is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health, but it's designed for people who can handle a steady pace on a bike.

Is there food included, or do I need to bring my own?

Food and drinks are not included in the tour price. There's a coffee break at a shop in a former warehouse where you can buy something if you want, and the Markthal stop has plenty of food options around it, but you'll need to pay separately for anything you eat or drink.

How many people need to book together for this tour to run?

A minimum of 2 people per booking is required for the tour to operate. You can book as a pair or bring a larger group, but the tour won't depart with just one person.