Cycling in Rotterdam a self-guided bike tour
Rotterdam is finally proving itself as a tourist destination, on par with many of the world’s big cities; and what do popular tourist destinations have in common? A good public transport system and some excellent sights to keep visitors occupied and entertained. If you’re visiting Rotterdam this year, the easiest and most enjoyable way to navigate our streets is to rent a bike and enjoy a self-guided cycling tour. Here are some tips and places to visit to ensure you get the best of our gorgeous city.
Cycling in Rotterdam
To write about cycling in Rotterdam is akin to writing about the cafes in Paris or the pubs in Dublin, its impossible to cross town without meeting one. Cycling in Rotterdam is hugely popular; 80% of people living in Rotterdam own a bicycle. 25% of residents (approximately 160,000) cycle daily and 32% cycle weekly. Bike usage is growing steadily with a 60% increase in the past ten years. As with Amsterdam’s biking culture, our road users have little patience for inexperienced or rude cyclists so make sure you are confident on the road, follow the rules and treat fellow cyclists with courtesy and respect.
Bike Rental Rotterdam
Visitors often comment on how widely set the city is and how difficult it is to see the sights by foot without becoming tired. Public transport is frequent and reasonably priced in Rotterdam, but it involves a lot of waiting around and hopping on and off. When you rent a bike in Rotterdam, it gives you the freedom of the city. Many commuters and visitors use OV-Fiets, the public bike rental scheme. When you register, you can pick up the blue and yellow bicycles at the main train and metro stations and ride an unlimited distance for 24-hours for just €3.25. There are other private bike rental outlets to choose from, look at BimBimBikes and choose the one you like. If you’re not as fit as you’d like to be, you might even consider an electric bike. Don’t forget to rent a helmet too – safety first!
Nieuwe Maas Trail
The best self-guided trail in Rotterdam is the excellent 28km Nieuwe Maas Trail, which follows the river through the city. The trail takes cyclists around some of the most iconic sights, like the Rijnhavenbrug pedestrian and cyclists bridge. The bridge which was opened in 2012 was immediately nicknamed in typical Rotterdam fashion. De Hoerenloper, translates to ‘to the hookers’, which is a reference to the former red-light district in Kattendrecht, which is long since gone! The bridge created an easy cycling connection from Kattendrecht neighbourhood to the city centre, leading to Kattendrecht becoming one of the more gentrified and ‘hipster’ parts of the city.
Roaming Rotterdam Trail
For a more leisurely 10km trail with plenty of stops along the way, you might want to stay in the city and enjoy the Roaming Rotterdam trail. This 10km route will take you past iconic architecture and the highlights of Rotterdam and the guide is available from our tourist office. You’ll witness the best of the city taking you through the old and new sights that we are famous for, from the late-Gothic Laurenskerk to the futuristic Markthal. You’ll also see the iconic Cube Houses on the Blaak and the gleaming high-rises at Kop van Zuid.
The Scenic Routes
If you’re less interested in the man-made and more interested in witnessing the wonders of nature, the Park Route is the one for you. This 37km route brings you through the junctions of Rotterdam, taking in parks, forests, mills and rural roads. The Polderpad route (30 km) also lets you see the scenery around Rotterdam, first heading straight through the city centre then on to Polder Schieveen, with its farms and pastures with cows. The looped route then heads to Midden-Delfland, the dykes between Rotterdam, Delft and The Hague and, via the river Schie you’ll end up back in Rotterdam. There are many scenic routes to take outside of the city, maps for many of which are available for free on the cycle route app.
If you’re planning a cycling trip to Rotterdam, you’ll need somewhere central to rest your head that also offers enough space to store your valuable biking gear. PREMIER SUITES Rotterdam offers enough space, comfort and facilities that you’ll really feel at home. Don’t forget to book your stay directly with the hotel for our best available rates every time.
