“So you want to party in…” is a new “party tourist guide” article series at ALIVE AT NIGHT.

With great parties like Knockout and Loudness and locations like the Factory 010 as well as the legendary Maassilo Rotterdam is an absolute must-see for every party lover. So you bought your ticket, but where to stay? How to get there? What to eat and how to kill time?

How to travel?
With airplane you might arrive at Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport or the small, but cozy Rotterdam-The Hague airport. Trains and most long-distance busses (e.g. Eurolines) stop at Rotterdam Central Station. Book your trip early! Transavia and a lot of smaller airlines fly to Rotterdam at affordable prices, but in a lot of cases you might have to settle with Amsterdam and a 30-50min train trip. You can purchase train/bus tickets and OV cards at both airports.

It’s wise to purchase a disposable or rechargeable OV-chipkaart at first. If you just party in NL once a year or so a disposable one (e.g. 24 or 48hrs) is a good choice, when you’re in NL more often a rechargeable chip card might be your call! You can also use the chip cards (not the disposable RET cards) for trains and busses all over the Netherlands! When traveling with a rechargeable chip card please make sure to always check in and out and have a minimum of 4€ (bus/tram) or 20€ (train) on your card. When going from Amsterdam to Rotterdam by train watch out what train you are taking!! Direct trains require a supplement for your train ticket. When you arrive at R’dam Central or your hotel/hostel make sure you get a map which features the metro/bus/tram network!

Attention: Public transport rides from 7:00-0:00, in some cases even just 8:00am to 11pm. Rotterdam’s early morning and night transport is awful. Most night bus lines just ride once every hour/half an hour and are stuffed. My advice is to either sit in a cafe until 8am or call a taxi. (From the Maassilo to R’dam Central it’s about 17€). Another option would be organized event travel busses (e.g eventtravel.nl).

Important metro stops & the locations:
Maashaven (Maassilo, Factory 010)
Zuidplein (The Ahoy)
Marconiplein (FerroDome)
Rotterdam Alexander (Eclipse)

public transport links:
www.ns.nl
www.9292ov.nl
(english language options are on the top right!)

Where to stay?
My personal favorite amongst Rotterdam’s accommodation possibilities is the StayOkay Hostel, which is located in Rotterdam’s famous cube houses. You can book at room with your friends or go there alone and meet new people from all around the world! Early booking is advised, since the hostel is also very popular among school groups. If you have a Hostelling International card or a student pass you get a reduced fee per night. Prices start at around 28€/pP&N and include an amazing breakfast!
https://www.stayokay.com/de/hostel/rotterdam

Another (more luxury) gem in Rotterdam is the Inntel Hotel Rotterdam, a beautiful designed hotel with an amazing lobby and suites that have breathtaking views on the Maas river. The hotel is very modern and also perfect for couples. Prices start around 75€ here.
https://www.inntelhotelsrotterdamcentre.nl/

A very central option (close to lots of shopping possibilities and the town hall) is the NH Atlanta Rotterdam, which is located in a wonderful, old Art-Deco building. On request you can have a smoker’s room here or REALLY long late-checkout! Depending on the room and date, prices at the NH Atlanta start around 60€.
https://www.nh-hotels.nl/hotel/nh-atlanta-rotterdam

As always: book as early as you can and compare prices on different online portals!

What to do?
So let’s say you arrive at Schiphol at 9am, you’re in Rotterdam by 10am. What to do until the party starts? Are you hungry? Wanna go shopping? You like architecture or museums or just really, really want to to see a coffeeshop? You mom wants you to bring real dutch waffles as a souvenir? No problem – we got you covered!

If you want to go shopping, the Lijnbaan shopping street and the Zuidplein mall you will find international brands (from G-star to Primark) and supermarkets. If you like cozy boutiques, thrift shopping and coffee shops you should check out the Nieuwe Binnenweg! On Saturdays and Tuesdays there is a HUGE (really huge) market in front of the new market building and the cube houses in Blaak. If you you walk into a supermarket in Rotterdam, bring some stroopwaffles, hagelslag or other small edibles back to your loved ones! You want to see great modern architecture? Going south is the right thing to do! But also the town hall and the old town at Delfshaven are worth checking out! If you get hungry on the go, check out some typical dutch fast food like bitterballen or kaassouffle and in case you need more than music for your daily dose of art there’s lots of galleries and museums like the Boijmans van Beuningen or the Rotterdam Kunsthal. A cool thing to to before a party might also watching a movie at the Schouwburgplein (theatre square) Cinema Pathé (most movies are in English with dutch subtitles!) and then eating dinner close by, the square and it’s neighborhood are filled with nice bars and restaurants! Another secret tip is the pancake boat where you can eat pancakes and enjoy a boat ride along Rotterdams skyline!

But most of all:

Enjoy your stay in Rotterdam, party hard and party safe!