A day out in Rotterdam: plan your perfect day around the Markthal
A day out in Rotterdam is only truly successful when your day is well-planned: a great start, a few highlights, good places to eat, and a nice finish. For that, there is one place in Rotterdam you'll keep coming back to: the Markthal. Here you can start with coffee, have lunch with something from another cuisine, and end with drinks or dinner. In between, you can explore the city around it.
Here you can read how to plan a day out in Rotterdam with the Markthal as your base. There are day programs for every type of group, tips for a small budget, and practical information to arrive and head home without any hassle.
Why the Markthal is the ideal base in this vibrant city
On a day out, you don't want to spend all day looking for a parking spot, a good lunch spot, or a dry place if it starts to rain. The Markthal takes care of all that for you:
- An experience in itself: with its colorful ceiling artwork and unique architecture, the Markthal is a landmark in its own right.
- Easy to reach: Rotterdam Blaak station is right next door, and there is a parking garage located under the building.
- Food for every moment of the day: from breakfast to dinner, and from a quick snack to a full meal.
- Rain or shine: the hall is covered, so your day won't be ruined if it starts to rain.
- In the heart of the city: the Cube Houses, the Old Harbor, the Laurenskerk, and the shopping district are just around the corner.
Your day at the Markthal: from morning to evening
Morning: a quiet start
Start your day out with a cup of coffee and a treat. In the morning, it's often a bit quieter in the hall, so you can look around at your leisure and take photos of the ceiling and the arch. It's a good time to decide what else you want to see that day.
Afternoon: tasting for lunch
You don't have to choose just one restaurant in the Markthal. Get something savory at one stall, something sweet at the next, and share everything. This way, your lunch becomes a small journey of discovery through flavors from around the world.
Late afternoon: drinks and shopping
After an afternoon in the city, the Markthal is a nice place to sit down for a drink and a snack. Take something home with you too: cheese, nuts, spices, or a delicacy you discovered along the way. That way, you take a piece of your day out home with you.
Evening: dinner in the center
Don't want to go home yet? Stay for dinner in the Markthal, or start your evening there with an aperitif before heading to the Old Harbor or the illuminated Maas river.
The best outing for every group
For couples
Choose a relaxed pace: breakfast in the Markthal, a walk along the Old Harbor and the Maas, and a museum or boat trip in the afternoon. Finish with a dinner for two and an evening stroll towards the Erasmus Bridge.
For families
Children don't have to sit still at the table in the Markthal. There's plenty to see, from huge fruits and animals on the ceiling to stalls full of treats. Everyone chooses what they want to eat, so there's no argument about the menu. Combine your visit with the Cube Houses across the street, a water taxi from the Old Harbor, or a day at Blijdorp Zoo or the Maritime Museum.
With friends
Make it a culinary tour: taste your way through the hall together, share dishes, and vote on who had the best find. Then head into the city for a boat tour, shopping, or terraces, and return in the evening for drinks.
With older visitors
The Markthal is easily accessible, covered, and has plenty of places to sit. Because Blaak station and the parking garage are directly attached to the building, walking distances are short. It's a pleasant place for a quiet day out.
With a group or for a company outing
Looking for an outing for colleagues, family, or a club? In the Markthal, everyone can eat what they want, and you have a central point to gather before the group heads into the city. You can also book a guided tour at Markthal, or if you're coming with a group and want your visit or day in Rotterdam to be fully organized, you can contact Around Rotterdam.
A day out in Rotterdam on a budget
A fun day out doesn't have to be expensive. The Markthal is free to enter, so looking around, admiring the ceiling, and soaking up the atmosphere costs nothing. You decide how much you spend, and with a few small dishes to share, you can have a varied lunch for very little money. Combine that with free walks past the Cube Houses, the Old Harbor, and the Maas, and you have a complete day without high costs.
Practical information for your day out
- By train, metro, or tram: get off at Rotterdam Blaak station and you'll be right at the Markthal.
- By car: park in the garage under the Markthal. Book in advance to get a discount! Coming on a busy day? Then a P+R on the edge of the city with the metro to Blaak is a good alternative.
- Opening hours: view the current times for the hall and the restaurants.
- Quiet visit: if you want to avoid the crowds, it's better to come on a weekday or early in the day.
Three day programs with the Markthal as your base
Classic Rotterdam
- Morning: coffee in the Markthal, then to the Cube Houses and the Old Harbor.
- Afternoon: lunch in the Markthal, then a walk to the Erasmus Bridge and the Kop van Zuid.
- Evening: back to the center for dinner and drinks.
Water and the Rotterdam Harbor
- Morning: breakfast in the Markthal, then walk to the Old Harbor for a water taxi.
- Afternoon: a 75-minute Spido harbor cruise, where you experience the maritime history of Europe's largest port city, or a visit to the Maritime Museum, where you can see historic ships and cranes in and around the museum harbor, or the SS Rotterdam.
- Evening: dinner by the Maas or back in the Markthal.
Culture and shopping
- Morning: the Laurenskerk, including the tower if it's open.
- Afternoon: tasting lunch in the Markthal, then shopping on the Meent, the Lijnbaan, and in the Koopgoot.
- Evening: a museum in the Museumpark or a performance, followed by a late bite.
Veelgestelde vragen
Combineer eten, architectuur en water. Begin in de Markthal, bekijk de kubuswoningen en de Oude Haven, en maak een wandeling of boottocht over de Maas. Zo zie je in één dag de belangrijkste kanten van de stad.
Ja. Er zijn plekken waar je ‘s ochtends terechtkunt voor koffie en ontbijt. Zo begin je je dag in het centrum met een goed gevulde maag.
Wil je in het centrum zijn, dan parkeer je in de garage onder de Markthal, direct onder je eerste stop. Wil je het centrum met de auto vermijden, dan kun je bij een P+R parkeren en met de metro naar station Blaak reizen.
Ja. Iedereen kiest zijn eigen eten en je hebt een centrale ontmoetingsplek midden in de stad. Bekijk hier meer over het bezoeken van de Markthal met een groep.
Ga naar plekken die overdekt zijn, zoals de Markthal, musea en de winkels in de Koopgoot. Door station Blaak en de parkeergarage onder de Markthal hoef je nauwelijks buiten te lopen.