Travelling in Rotterdam

Metro

The metro is a fast and efficient way to travel through Rotterdam and the surrounding region. There are five lines, marked with the letters A through E, that connect different parts of the city and region. Station Beurs is the main hub, where all subways converge. Line E (RandstadRail) connects Rotterdam to The Hague, while line B travels from Nesselande to Hoek van Holland Haven. Check the RET website for further information about routes and stops.

Tram

The trams are ideal for a ride through the city center and connect popular destinations. Many lines run through the city and converge at Rotterdam Central Station. This makes the station the perfect boarding point to take the tram. Check the RET website for further information about routes and stops.

Bus

The RET provides several bus routes which connect the centre with several city districts, neighbourhoods and the greater metropolitan area. Check the RET website for further information about routes and stops.

How to pay in public transportation

With the Rotterdam City Card, you can travel unlimited on RET public transport for 1, 2, or 3 days. In addition, you'll enjoy a 25% discount or more at attractions, museums, tours, and restaurants.

OVpay
Without the Rotterdam City Card, you can still easily pay for public transport using your contactless debit card, credit card, or mobile device—this system is called OVpay. This also works if you have a non-Dutch bank account, as long as it’s with Maestro, V PAY, Mastercard, or Visa. Check the instruction video and the link below for more information.

Other payment methods are the OV-chip card or the RET Barcode app. With the app you can use your phone to request a mobile ticket for bus, streetcar and metro. 

You can also buy various public transport cards:

• RET 1 day: on sale at Rotterdam Tourist Information (Central Station and Hoek van Holland), RET service stores and service points. Full fare € 11.00 / RET 1 Day Ticket Child € 5.50.
• RET 2-hour : on sale and rechargeable at sales and recharge points in metro stations, on sale from bus driver (pay only with pin), in streetcars (pay both pin and cash), Rotterdam Tourist Information (Central Station and Hoek van Holland). € 5.00.
• RET Tourist Day Ticket: 1 day of unlimited travel throughout South Holland (bus, streetcar, metro, waterbus) for € 17.00: on sale at Rotterdam Tourist Information (Central Station and Hoek van Holland), RET service stores and service points and the Vending & charging machines in metro stations.

Waterbus 

The Waterbus is the largest fast ferry service in the Rotterdam and Dordrecht region, offering a regular timetable along several stops on the river. From the Rotterdam Erasmus Bridge stop (north side), Line 20 departs towards Dordrecht (Merwekade), stopping at Krimpen aan den IJssel, Ridderkerk, Alblasserdam, Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht and Papendrecht. From Dordrecht, there are connections to Zwijndrecht and the Biesbosch National Park. The Waterbus operates on both a summer and winter timetable.

For a direct connection to Kinderdijk, you can take the WaterShuttle at weekends. This tourist service runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from Rotterdam (Willemskade stop) directly to Kinderdijk in about 30 minutes.
If you’re travelling on a weekday, you can take Waterbus Line 20 towards Alblasserdam or Ridderkerk. From there, transfer to the Driehoeksveer ferry or continue by bike to reach the windmill area of Kinderdijk.

Watertaxi & veerpont

Nothing is more spectacular than a ride on a fast Watertaxi. With some 50 stops, it is also an easy way to get from A to B. The stops are in Rotterdam and Schiedam, and the sailing area is divided into three fare zones: East, West and Center. In and between these zones, there are fixed fare prices per person. The eight- and twelve-seater watertaxis are available on demand. You can make a reservation via the app, website or by phone.

On weekends, you can also enjoy a special experience with the Water Taxi: the Circle Line. This route offers passengers a scenic trip along Rotterdam's beautiful waterways. It is a popular option for both tourists and locals looking for a unique way to spend their weekend.

The ferry services operated by the Watertaxi are:

• in zone West, this is the route RDM/Heijplaat - Marconistraat /M4H
• in zone Center Charloisse Hoofd - Katendrechtse Hoofd
• in zone East Plantagelaan - Piekstraat

VMR provides the ferry between Maassluis and Rozenburg and deploys 2 ferries for this purpose:

• Ferry Blankenburg: for cars, trucks, buses, motorbikes, heavy traffic, bicycles and walkers.
• Ferry Jorina: for cyclists and pedestrians only.

Hoeksveer provides the connection over water between Hoek van Holland and Maasvlakte 2:

• The small ferry operates from April to October and is only for cyclists and walkers, connecting (inter)national long-distance routes.

Rotterdam has a good network of taxis, ideal for when you want to travel quickly from one place to another. Here are some taxi providers:

• Rotterdamse Taxi Centrale (RTC): 010 462 60 60
• Rotterdam Airport Taxi: 010 262 04 06
• Taxi St-Job: 010 425 70 00
• Stadstaxi Rotterdam: 010 818 28 23
• Fietstaxi (a sort of covered bicycle) 010 411 02 22 of 06 15295901

For more information on the requirements taxis must meet and where to find them, you can visit the Municipality of Rotterdam’s website.

Shared Transport or Shared Mobility is a flexible and economical way of travelling, where you do not need your own means of transport. Instead, you only pay for the use of a shared vehicle, such as a shared scooter, shared bike or shared car, and for the number of kilometres you cover. When you reach your destination or one of the many Shared Mobility Hubs, you park the vehicle so that the next user can benefit from it again. This makes it ideal for short trips around town or for longer distances within the region. For greater flexibility, you can also rent a car or scooter from various rental companies, which give you the freedom to explore the city or surrounding area at your own pace.

Planning your route within Rotterdam by public transport, car, bike or on foot? Check Rotterdam Bereikbaar. This page will also keep you informed about traffic diversions and works in Rotterdam.