Where to stay in Rotterdam? What are the best hotels and most quirky places to stay? Our home town Rotterdam is home to the best luxury hotels, most unique places to stay and stunning hostels. How about staying in award-winning architecture? Or in a suite in one of the famous Rotterdam icons? Or in a boat hotel in the Rotterdam harbor? To help you find the perfect place to stay in Rotterdam, we will tell you about the best neighborhoods in our town and give you our top 14 best hotels in Rotterdam.
- Most popular hostel in Rotterdam: King Kong Hostel
- Suites in a famous Rotterdam icon: Euromast
- Museum-like concept hotel in Rotterdam: Hotel Not Hotel
- Best family friendly hotel in Rotterdam: Room Mate Bruno
- Budgetproof stay in Rotterdam: CityHub Rotterdam
Where to stay in Rotterdam
The best sights and attractions of Rotterdam are spread all over the city. As Rotterdam no longer has an historic city center, you won’t find the best places to visit conveniently concentrated around the old area as you are used to in other Dutch cities. The Rotterdam city center is a mix between businesses and homes, combined with modern architecture, shopping streets and restaurants. The Rotterdam attractions are almost hidden in this local life. The historic parts of Rotterdam have been preserved in some of the neighborhoods close to the center. Make sure to visit those upcoming areas, tourist attractions and great accommodations in these less-visited districts as well! Or even choose it as you base to explore Rotterdam and book one of the unique accommodation options in those neighborhoods.
Rotterdam Centrum
Centrum is the heart of Rotterdam with sights like as the Markthal, the Cube Houses, the historic City Hall and the modern Central Station. The Oude Haven is one of the best parts of the center to settle down on a terrace for a drink or bite. This restaurant area with its old buildings and historic boats will give you a glimpse of the old Rotterdam. The Witte de Withstraat should also be on your to-do list for your Rotterdam trip. This is the hippest street in the city with many bars, restaurants, galleries and street art.
Rotterdam-West and Delfshaven
West of the center is the Museum Park with the famous museums of Rotterdam. The Kunsthal has changing exhibitions of modern art and the Boijmans Van Beuningen is famous for its new but already iconic Boijmans Depot. Head to Het Park to visit the well-known Euromast with the best views of Rotterdam. Even more to the west is the charming, historic Delfshaven with its centuries-old buildings and historic windmills.
Rotterdam-Zuid
One of the most upcoming neighborhoods in Rotterdam is the Kop van Zuid. Or maybe this neighborhood is already so popular and well-known that you can no longer speak of upcoming. The Kop van Zuid is the topmost point of South Rotterdam. Crossing the Maas river via the Erasmus Bridge, you’ll arrive at the Wilhelminapier. This is the best-known part of the Kop van Zuid. This pier has many iconic skyscrapers, museums, restaurants, theatres, terraces, a cinema and a number of Rotterdam’s unique hotels. A little further to the south is Katendrecht with its cool hotspots around the Deliplein.
Rotterdam-Noord
Noord is one of our favorite neighborhoods in Rotterdam. You will rarely see tourists here, but locals love to come here for its village vibe and great hotspots. This neighborhood is known for its vintage shops, coffee spots, a local beer brewery, cool hotspots and art galleries. There aren’t any great places to stay in Rotterdam-Noord, but you should definitely make sure to visit this district during your stay.
Read more: best places to visit in Rotterdam-Noord.
Kralingen
East of the center is the chic district of Kralingen. This neighbourhood is known for its beautiful mansions and monumental buildings. Kralingen also has beautiful country estates – something you wouldn’t expect in the heart of Rotterdam. When Rotterdam was still a much smaller city and this area was the outskirts of town, the wealthy locals built their summer residences in Kralingen. The Trompenburg Museum Park in Kralingen is an old garden park of one of these country houses and is now open to visitors. Another big attraction of Kralingen is the Kralingse Plas with its lake, beach, forest, deer park, petting zoo and historic mills.
14 most unique places to stay in Rotterdam
Where to stay in Rotterdam Centrum
#1 Hotel Not Hotel
“We’re not a hotel, we’re not a museum, and at the same time we’re both.” That is how Hotel Not Hotel describes itself and you’ll immediately understand the museum reference when stepping into this uniquely designed hotel. This concept hotel right next to the Central Station offers unique room options for every budget and every hotel dream. The hotel is like a museum with a bright red hotel bar and hotel rooms in cuckoo clocks, a candy house, a castle, a bookcase or a vertical swimming pool. No joke. There are also more regular rooms, although the colorful design is still very unique.
Check the current prices and availability of Hotel Not Hotel.
#2 Wikkelboat
What is a better place to stay in a port city like Rotterdam than a hotel boat on the water? This unique tiny house of the water is exactly that. There are two Wikkelboats in the Wijnhaven water between the Markthal, the Cube Houses and the Willemsbrug. The front part of the boathouse has a small kitchen, a tiny bathroom with even a mini dishwasher and a desk. It is not very luxurueous, but it offers exactly what you’ll need during your stay. The back part is the most beautiful part of the Wikkelhouse. It has a large sofa and the fold-our bed with a beautiful view of the water. Doors open to the water terrace with a barbecue!
The Rijnhaven in the Kop van Zuid district also has Wikkelboats now with splendid river views: Wikkelboat 1, Wikkelboat 2, Wikkelboat 4 and Wikkelboat 5.
Check the current prices and availability of the Wikkelboats in the Wijnhaven.
#3 Stayokay Hostel
How about a unique place to stay in the iconic cube houses of Rotterdam? Stayokay Hostel is located in one of the largest cubes. The dormitories are located in the most special part of the cube and have those typical sloping walls, making this one of the most quirky places to stay in Rotterdam. The unique hostel has a colorful interior and is equipped with a bar, terrace, bicycle rental and breakfast room with a daily breakfast buffet. Sights in Rotterdam Center such as the Markthal and the Oude Haven are just around the corner. Private rooms and family rooms are also available.
Check the current prices and availability of Stayokay Hostel Rotterdam.
#4 Hotel Unplugged
Hotel Unplugged makes you feel like you are stepping into the perfect Instagram feed. With the hippest furniture, pastel shades and sleek design, this hotel is extremely insta-pretty. The hotel has a shared lounge and spacious rooms. They are all equipped with a seating area, air conditioning, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom. Most rooms have a shower, but the Deluxe even has a bath.
Check the current prices and availability of Hotel Unplugged.
#5 King Kong Hostel
This is probably the most famous hostel in Rotterdam. It is centrally located in the busy Witte de Withstraat with all its bars, restaurants and beer cafes. De Witte Aap – which has been listed by Lonely Planet as one of the best bars in the world – is just around the corner. Despite this great location for nightlife, King Kong isn’t the party hostel you might expect. It is a unique design hostel. The eclectic decor has light colours, wood and natural materials. Most rooms have a private bathroom with a rain shower. There is a movie lounge with Netflix, an espresso bar, a shared kitchen and a games room. King Kong’s breakfast restaurant is also popular with non-hostel guests.
Check the current prices and availability of King Kong Hostel.
#6 CityHub Rotterdam
This unique hotel in the Witte de Withstraat is not for the claustrophobic visitors of Rotterdam! CityHub offers sleeping pods – or ‘hubs’ – for two people. With a mobile app, guest can control their room and chat with the CityHosts. Each private sleeping cabin with a king-size double bed offers a shared bathroom with a rain shower. But you probably won’t spend much time in your hub, as CityHob is located in the heart of Rotterdam’s vibrant nightlife.
Check the current prices and availability of CityHub Rotterdam.
#7 H2OTEL
The unique H2OTEL Rotterdam is located on a boat in the Wijnhaven in the heart of Rotterdam. This stylish hotel also has an art exhibition, a bar and a lovely lounge area. Each room is decorated differently, but they all have a wonderful view of the water. Guests can rent a picnic boat from H2OTEL to make breakfast, lunch or dinner an extra special moment of the day. With sunny weather, the terrace deck is a wonderful place to have a drink and enjoy the view over the water.
Check the current prices and availability of H2OTEL.
Where to stay in Rotterdam-Zuid
#8 Room Mate Bruno
Bruno is one of the newest additions to Rotterdam. This boutique hotel is located in a historic tea warehouse on the Wilhelminapier. The same building also houses the Foodhallen, where you can enjoy a drink or bite at one of the stands with Rotterdam street food. Room Mate Bruno has an amazing roof terrace with views over the historic Wilhelminapier. It also offers guests its own spa, gym, bar and parking. There are also great family rooms.
Check the current prices and availability of Room Mate Bruno.
#9 SS Rotterdam
The SS Rotterdam offers the most special place to stay in Rotterdam. The SS Rotterdam is an old steamship of the Holland-America Line, now permanently docked in Rotterdam-Zuid. It used to have steamship cabins for its crew, but they are now cool hotel rooms in a fifties style. There are also guided tours on the ship to learn about the ship’s history. And did you know that the ship even has its own restaurant and a lounge deck with a swimming pool and lounge chairs? Even if you’re not staying in one of the hotel suites, you are welcome to visit both the restaurant and pool deck.
Check the current prices and availability of SS Rotterdam.
#10 Hotel New York
One of the historical icons of Rotterdam is Hotel New York at the head of the Wilhelminapier. The restaurant and terrace are among the most popular in Rotterdam, but it is also a beautiful hotel. Rotterdam is known as a modern city with sleek architecture, but this historic building gives you a glimpse of the old Rotterdam. The building was once the head office of the Holland-America Line. The most special rooms are the two in the typical green turrets of the building, Torenkamer Maaszijde and Torenkamer Rijnhavenzijde. A wrought iron staircase takes you in those rooms to your own viewpoint over the river water and the city.
Check the current prices and availability of Hotel New York.
#11 Nhow Hotel
Would you like to spend the night in the award-winning De Rotterdam building with a view of the famous Erasmus Bridge? You don’t need to own one of the luxury apartments in this skyscraper, but you can book a stay at the Nhow Hotel. This modern hotel has a unique location in De Rotterdam on the Wilhelminapier, offering super comfortable rooms with a view of the famous Erasmus Bridge. What a place to fall asleep after a busy day of sightseeing! And if you still have some energy, make sure to head to the bar for a cocktail.
Check the current prices and availability of Nhow Rotterdam.
#12 ART Hotel
The ART Hotel Rotterdam is located in one of the most special pieces of architecture in the Netherlands. The beautiful building offers a view of the harbor and the skyline of Rotterdam. The interior is very colourful, eclectic and eccentric with many different styles, colours, antique furniture, modern design and cheerful patterns. The rooms are less eccentric, but still stylishly furnished. They offer a magnificent view of the river Maas and the city of Rotterdam. All rooms have a private bathroom.
Check the current prices and availability of ART Hotel Rotterdam.
Where to stay in Rotterdam-West
#13 Euromast
The most iconic place to stay in Rotterdam is the Euromast tower. This special icon can be visited for a beautiful panoramic view of Rotterdam, but you can also enjoy lunch or dinner in the restaurant and spend a luxurious night in one of the suites. The two suites are located at a height of 100 meters and tower high above Rotterdam. Both have balconies with spectacular views of the city center and harbour. One suite has a whirlpool bath and the other has a walk-in rain shower.
Check the current prices and availability of Euromast.
Where to stay in Kralingen
#14 The Student Hotel
The Student Hotel is the best place to stay in Kralingen. This eccentric hotel is known for its colorful rooms and common areas. All colorfully and playfully decorated rooms have a private bathroom and some even have a small kitchenette. There is a lounge, workstations, gym and recreation room with table tennis and billiards. The restaurant The Commons not only welcomes hotel guests, but is also popular with locals. Use the bike rental or the tram that stops in front of the door to get to the center in a few minutes.
Check the current prices and availability of The Student Hotel Rotterdam.
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