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Complete Rotterdam: free self-guided audio tour of Rotterdam
Complete Rotterdam is a free self-guided audio walking tour of Rotterdam, Netherlands: 7 stops in about 2 h 20. The Itinerarly app walks you from one stop to the next and plays a short narrated story when you arrive, in English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese.
| Stops | 7 |
|---|---|
| Duration | about 2 h 20, including time at each stop |
| Difficulty | Challenging |
| Distance | about 8.2 km in straight lines between the stops (a little more on foot) |
| Start | Rotterdam Centraal |
| Finish | Delfshaven |
| Price | Free (some sights charge their own entry ticket) |
| Languages | English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese |
From Station to Delfshaven
The stops, in order
- Rotterdam CentraalWelcome to Rotterdam Centraal, much more than a mere train station: it is the city's futuristic gateway. Opened in 2014, this architectural marvel impresses with its bold triangular shape of steel and wood, with its point seemingly lunging toward the city center. Its monumental roof is covered with thousands of solar panels, highlighting Rotterdam's commitment to sustainable development.
- Maisons CubesWelcome to the Rotterdam Cube Houses, one of the most fascinating architectural sights in the Netherlands. Designed by architect Piet Blom in the early 1980s, these yellow and gray dwellings are tilted at 45 degrees atop hexagonal pillars. The concept involves an 'urban village' where each house represents a tree, and the entire complex forms a forest.
- MarkthalThis is the Markthal, Rotterdam's modern gastronomic cathedral. This spectacular horseshoe-shaped building, opened in 2014, is a feat combining a covered market, apartments, and shops. Looking up, you will discover the largest artwork in the Netherlands: 'The Horn of Plenty', a titanic 11,000-square-meter fresco depicting fruits, vegetables, and flowers falling from the sky.
- Erasmus BridgeWelcome to the Erasmus Bridge, affectionately nicknamed 'The Swan' by locals due to its 139-meter-high white asymmetric pylon. Completed in 1996 by architect Ben van Berkel, this 802-meter-long cable-stayed bridge has become the undeniable emblem of Rotterdam's skyline. It connects the historic center to the modern Kop van Zuid district on the left bank of the Maas River.
- EuromastWelcome to the Euromast, Rotterdam's pinnacle, soaring proudly to 185 meters. Built in 1960 for the Floriade exhibition, this lookout tower was for a long time the city's tallest building. Its design evokes a ship's mast, honoring the city's rich maritime heritage.
- Depot BoijmansThis is the Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, a unique architectural and museological revolution. This curved mirror-clad building, resembling a giant bowl, is not a traditional museum but the world's first publicly accessible art depot. Opened in 2021, it houses the entire Boijmans museum collection—over 151,000 artworks carefully preserved.
- DelfshavenWelcome to Delfshaven, a historic district and one of the few to have miraculously survived the devastating bombings of 1940. Strolling along its canals lined with 17th-century brick houses, you will take a true journey back in time. This picturesque marina has deep historical significance: it was here that the Pilgrim Fathers spent their last night in Europe before embarking for the New World in 1620.
How to take this tour
- Install the free Itinerarly app on iPhone or Android and create a free account.
- Open Guided tours, choose Rotterdam, then Complete Rotterdam.
- Start whenever you like: the app guides you to Rotterdam Centraal and the story plays when you arrive at each stop.
Other audio tours of Rotterdam
Frequently asked questions
- Is the Complete Rotterdam tour in Rotterdam free?
- Yes. It is one of 4 free self-guided audio tours of Rotterdam in the Itinerarly app. Some sights charge their own entry ticket.
- How long does the Complete Rotterdam tour take?
- About 2 h 20 for 7 stops, including time at each stop.
- Where does the Complete Rotterdam tour start and finish?
- It starts at Rotterdam Centraal and finishes at Delfshaven.
- Which languages is the narration in?
- English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese, with natural-sounding synthetic voices.