RunCity

Rotterdam on foot: a self-guided walking route

This route takes you past 9 of Rotterdam's best-known sights, including Rotterdam Centraal, Laurenskerk, Markthal and more. It is about 8 km on foot, roughly 2.5 hours at an easy pace with short stops. Follow the list on your own, or play it as a free GPS checkpoint game with RunCity and race the clock on the Rotterdam leaderboard.

  • 9Stops
  • about 8 kmDistance
  • 2.5 hoursWalking
  • about 66 minRunning
Play Rotterdam in RunCity

Free during launch. Runs in your phone's browser; the app is in English, German and Hungarian.

Rotterdam
Photo: Rob Oo · CC BY 2.0

Rotterdam was rebuilt after 1940, and this route of about 8 km shows the city's modern architecture next to what survived. It starts at the angular steel front of Rotterdam Centraal and passes the Laurenskerk, the Gothic church that came through the bombing. The Markthal, a giant arch of apartments with a painted food market inside, and the tilted yellow Cube Houses stand side by side.

The Oude Haven, with old ships and the White House, one of Europe's first skyscrapers, leads to the Erasmus Bridge and Hotel New York, the old shipping-line headquarters on the Wilhelmina Pier. The route ends at the Euromast in the park and the bonus stop, Delfshaven, an old canal harbour where the Pilgrim Fathers set sail in 1620. Water taxis cross the Maas in minutes, and the city is flat and made for bikes.

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Download the route as GPX (for Komoot, Strava or a watch)

The stops

A suggested order. In the game you can visit them in any order.

  1. Rotterdam Centraal

    Rotterdam Centraal

    The angular steel-and-glass station front from the square.

    Photo: Spoorjan · CC BY-SA 3.0

  2. Laurenskerk

    Laurenskerk

    The big Gothic church that survived the war bombing.

    Photo: GraphyArchy · CC BY-SA 4.0

  3. Markthal

    Markthal Photo

    The giant arched market hall seen from its open end.

    Photo: Exmpletree · CC BY-SA 3.0

  4. Cube Houses

    Cube Houses Photo

    The tilted yellow cube houses on their stilts.

    Photo: GraphyArchy · CC BY-SA 4.0

  5. Oude Haven

    Oude Haven

    The small old harbour with its historic ships and the White House.

    Photo: rene boulay · CC BY-SA 3.0

  6. Erasmus Bridge

    Erasmus Bridge Photo

    The white cable-stayed bridge over the Maas.

    Photo: Martin Falbisoner · CC BY-SA 4.0

  7. Hotel New York

    Hotel New York

    The old shipping-line headquarters on the Wilhelmina Pier.

    Photo: F.Eveleens · CC BY 3.0

  8. Euromast

    Euromast Photo

    The slim concrete tower rising above the park.

    Photo: F.Eveleens · CC BY-SA 3.0

  9. Delfshaven

    Delfshaven Bonus Photo

    The old canal harbour and the Pilgrim Fathers' church.

    Photo: Leo Luijten from Netherlands · CC BY 2.0

Play Rotterdam in RunCity

Leaderboard

    Questions

    Can you see Rotterdam on foot in one day?

    Yes. The 9 stops on this route add up to about 8 km, roughly 2.5 hours at an easy pace with short stops. Some stops are far apart, so you may want public transport for a leg.

    Is this self-guided walking tour free?

    Yes. The route and map on this page are free, and the RunCity game for Rotterdam is free during launch.

    How does the RunCity game work in Rotterdam?

    Open Rotterdam in RunCity, walk to a stop and tap Validate: your phone's GPS confirms you are there. Some stops also ask for a photo. Timed runs go on the Rotterdam leaderboard.

    Where does the route start?

    This page suggests starting at Rotterdam Centraal and finishing at Delfshaven. In the game you can take the stops in any order.

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