Are you wondering about the best way to get from Amsterdam to Rotterdam?
You’re in the right spot. I’m a Dutch local, and I travel this route often. I’ve written this extensive post for you to answer these questions and many more.
I dive deeper into questions like what is the best way to travel between these two cities and what is the fastest way. What are alternative modes of transportation, and what is the distance and travel time between Amsterdam and Rotterdam?
Rotterdam is the 2nd largest city in The Netherlands. And one of the most traveled routes. As you might expect, there is more than one way to get there, but I know from my experience that one is more comfortable than the other.
Table of Contents
Why Travel To Rotterdam
Rotterdam is an anti-dote to the Dutch cute. As the 2nd largest city in the Netherlands, it’s the complete opposite of Amsterdam. And that is precisely why it’s such an exciting place to visit.
If you’re visiting the Netherlands for canal houses and cute bridges only, Rotterdam is not your city. If you’re looking for a vibrant, modern, buzzing city instead, Rotterdam is your place.
The first thing you’ll notice when you arrive in Rotterdam is: “Oh, this is a ‘real’ city.” It’s modern, has a skyline, and is a bit rougher than Amsterdam (still safe). But above all, Rotterdam has a lot to offer.
Rotterdam has the largest harbor in Europe, which you can tour. You’ll also find excellent museums and an exciting mix of restaurants. Please find some of our tips for this city in this post: One-day itinerary for Rotterdam.
How To Travel From Amsterdam to Rotterdam, what is the best way?
Choosing how to get from Amsterdam to Rotterdam is a bit harder. Because there are many options, you can travel by high-speed train, regular trains, long-distance buses, car, or even by taxi.
For most people, the high-speed Amsterdam to Rotterdam train will be the best choice because the train is faster and more comfortable than any other mode of transport. Period. Departures are frequent, and city center to city center.
When I go to Rotterdam, I always travel by train. I prefer the high-speed train. There is a small surcharge for this, but it saves you alot travel time. You get there twice as fast.
I also prefer to travel in first class. This is a busy route, and I prefer the extra comfort of a larger seat and a relatively quieter area. If you opt for this too like me, take a seat in the compartment with only red seats, this is the 1st class section.
The bus can be an ok choice when you’re traveling on a budget or your hotel is closer to the bus terminal. But it’s not the preferred method of travel for most people.
If you travel by car, you have more flexibility, but the drawback is heavy traffic between these two cities, parking issues, and high parking rates. Trains are faster.
Taxis or an Uber will be expensive, but you’ll travel in solitude, and deals can be found to reduce costs. Still, travel time is at least twice as long as a trip by train, so you won’t be faster.
Looking for the best way to get around Rotterdam once you get there? Here is my “Rotterdam Public Transport Simplified: In-Depth Guide 2023“
How To Get From Amsterdam To Rotterdam By Train
Usually, taking a train in the Netherlands is straightforward. You either take an intercity service for longer distances (with fewer stops) or a local train, which is slower due to more stops. These serve mainly as feeder trains to the main Intercity network. But they’re also convenient for people in a wheelchair because these slower trains have no barrier entrances.
Prices are always the same. That applies to all destinations in Holland except for the trip between Amsterdam and Rotterdam.
That is because the domestic high-speed option, IC Direct, has a supplement of a few euro for time-saving. Regular train services have the normal tariff structure.
IC direct trains run over a separate track at higher speeds, making the journey much faster. I always take the IC Direct train between Amsterdam and Rotterdam.
Then there are also international high speeds trains like Thalys and Eurostar (soon to be one company called Eurostar) to Brussels, Paris, and London. They stop in Rotterdam, but these international trains are not meant for domestic travel.
So, which one to choose? I’ll walk you through each option below.
There are four kinds of train services between Amsterdam and Rotterdam:
- The Intercity Direct trains – recommended
- Regular Intercity trains
- Thalys and Eurostar international high-speed trains
- Sprinters
The Fastest Way From Amsterdam To Rotterdam
The fastest way to travel to Rotterdam from Amsterdam is by taking the Intercity Direct train.
There is a small supplement of a few euros for using the Intercity Direct trains on top of the regular fare.
Other Train Options Available Between Amsterdam And Rotterdam
Regular Intercity trains run twice per hour between Amsterdam and Rotterdam and take 75 minutes.
The only reason you might want to use this option is when you want to save the small supplement for the Intercity Direct train. Or when the Intercity Direct trains are not running. But for most people, it won’t be worth the extra 30 minutes.
High-Speed Thalys And Eurostar Trains
In theory, buying a ticket between Amsterdam and Rotterdam on the Thalys or Eurostar high-speed trains is possible. I don’t advise you to do this. It’s not worth the trouble.
Prices are 30% higher (at least) than the Intercity Direct option, while comfort and travel times are precisely the same. And you’re stuck with a specific train. You can’t change your booking, hence no flexibility.
While the IC Direct trains give you full flexibility on the same travel day, when you take an Intercity Direct train, you can travel on any train throughout the day. With International high-speed trains, you can not.
International trains are meant to travel to Brussels, Paris, or London, not for the short domestic leg between Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Unless you’re a train aficionado and want to travel once on the Thalys or Eurostar, you probably want to avoid these trains for regular trips. If you want to travel on one, you can book your ticket here.
Sprinter Trains
Sprinters are local all-station stopping services. Funny enough, the travel time is the same as the regular intercity trains (1h15min). That seems odd, but it’s because they take a different (shorter) route.
However, they stop every few minutes and have less comfortable seating. We would not recommend them for travel between Amsterdam and Rotterdam. They’re meant for local short distances. They can be of use, though, for passengers with mobility issues.
Find A Place To Stay In Rotterdam
This super handy map helps you search for accommodation on different platforms like Booking.com and VRBO (AirBNB but then cheaper). TIP: Update your (intended) travel dates to see accurate prices. And zoom out on the map (-) for more options.
What Station To Use When Traveling To Rotterdam?
Rotterdam has several railway stations (Rotterdam Central, Blaak, Noord, Zuid, Lombardijen, and Alexander). Which one to choose?
For most travelers, I would recommend traveling to Rotterdam Central Station. It’s closest to most attractions and a central hub for other public transportation options like the metro, buses, and trams.
I also like to stop at Station Rotterdam Blaak because it is the best station to travel to if you want to get closest to the yellow cubical houses and the Market Hall. Literially when you exit the station, you see the iconic yellow cubical houses and the Rotterdam Market Hall.
In general, local commuters use the other stations in suburban areas. You won’t use them unless you stay in one of those areas.
How Much Does A Train Ticket Between Amsterdam and Rotterdam Cost?
Train ticket prices are updated regularly. It’s best to check current prices on the NS website. It’s intuitive to use and available in English. Just enter your departure station and arrival station and search. Prices are displayed on the next page. To give you an idea: one-way tickets are between €20 and €35 depending on the class of travel and which train you take.
How To Buy A Ticket For Your Journey From Amsterdam To Rotterdam?
You can buy your train ticket in a few different ways.
I’ve written a comprehensive post about buying a train ticket in the Netherlands. In this post, I give you a rundown of all the different options and tips to save money on Dutch trains.
But in short, the easiest way to get a train ticket from Amsterdam to Rotterdam is by buying it through the NS app (if you want to travel 1st class) or by checking in directly at the entry gates with your contactless credit or debit card.
Things To Know About Train Tickets In the Netherlands:
- Tickets are not train-specific but day-specific. You can take any departure you like*.
- Unless you travel on international high-speed trains, seat reservations are not possible.
- Prices stay the same. They do not fluctuate per departure*.
- Purchased tickets can not be refunded. Only buy a ticket when you’re sure you’ll travel.
- Since pricing for one-way is precisely half of a return fare, it’s better to buy separate tickets.
- A return ticket is only valid for same-day travel.
- You can get an e-ticket up to the moment before you enter the platform.
- The supplement for the Intercity Direct must be bought separately from your train ticket.
- Tickets purchased via the website must be printed. A digital PDF copy or screenshot is not valid. If you have no printer, always buy tickets inside the mobile app to avoid this requirement or travel by directly checking in with your contactless debit or credit card (2nd class only).
*Some restrictions may apply if you’ve purchased a discounted fare. Most discounted tickets, for example, won’t allow you to travel on rush-hour services. Please check the conditions of a ticket before you go. This only applies to special tickets. You can travel on any departure for regular tickets purchased in the app.
Here are more Netherlands train tips. I answer questions like how to board a train (like how to open the doors), how to find your correct class of travel, what silence zones are, and much more.
How To Plan Your Journey From Amsterdam To Rotterdam By Train?
You can use the NS App on your phone or the NS website to plan your journey. Both are available in English. The app is more complete, but it takes a little bit of time to get used to because it has so many options. I find the regular website the quickest for looking up departure times.
I use the website for timetable-related questions and the app for buying tickets.
Both planning tools can also show other modes of transport in addition to train services only. Handy if you want to plan door-to-door.
Another great option is to plan your journeys on Google Maps. It has a separate tab for directions by public transport. I also like using Google Maps when I am on a bus to follow my journey in real-time, so I see when my stop is approaching. Apple maps now cover some transit options, but Google is still more complete.
The Cheapest Way To Travel Between Amsterdam and Rotterdam
A long-distance bus is the cheapest way to travel between Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Flixbus or Eurolines (now one company) operates long-distance buses from Amsterdam to Rotterdam. Tickets can be very cheap, starting at €5.
Buses leave from the Amsterdam Bijlmer Arena station or Amsterdam Sloterdijk station. Neither is in the city center of Amsterdam. Consider the extra time and costs you incur when departing from these locations compared to train tickets.
Buses leave about hourly. Remember that bus tickets are only valid for a specific departure. They’re not flexible, like a train ticket.
The bus could work if you’re traveling on a low budget or staying near one of these departure locations when it would not make a lot of sense to go to Amsterdam Central first. But in general, I would advise against this mode of transport. This is where you find Coach ticket prices.
Travel From Amsterdam to Rotterdam By Car
It’s easy to get from Amsterdam to Rotterdam by car. Just take the A4 and the A13 freeways. Please note that Rotterdam has paid parking in the city center and it’s not cheap. Prices change, so look for current Rotterdam parking rates here (use Google Translate).
Park and Ride locations are available around Rotterdam (cheaper or free parking if you use public transport to the city center).
How far is Amsterdam from Rotterdam?
The distance by road is 48 miles (78 kilometers), which is relative here because travel speed is much more important. It can vary from 40 minutes to 90 minutes, depending on the mode of transportation.
For most people, the train is the best option to travel between Amsterdam and Rotterdam.
Still, there could be many reasons a car would be more convenient.
If you’re looking for a rental car, Rentalcars.com is my favorite platform. I find they most often always have the best rates. Discover cars is an alternative. Check them both for the best comparison. Rental Cars is the company I use when renting a car anywhere in the world.
Travel Between Amsterdam And Rotterdam By Taxi
Taking a taxi or Uber between Amsterdam and Rotterdam is also possible. But it’s more costly. A one-way trip costs about €200 for a maximum of 4 people.
However, you can find a much better deal with local firms when you book in advance. Google is your friend here.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rotterdam
How Far Is Rotterdam From Amsterdam?
The distance between Amsterdam and Rotterdam is 78 kilometers (48 miles). The journey time can vary greatly depending on the mode of transport you choose. It’s fastest by the high-speed IC direct train connection.
What is the travel time to Rotterdam from Amsterdam
It depends. If you choose to travel by high-speed train, the journey time is only 41 minutes from the city center to the city center. This is the fastest way to get to Rotterdam.
If you travel by regular train, that time doubles to 1h and 15 minutes. If you travel by car, travel time can be between 75 minutes and two hours, depending on traffic.
What Is The Fastest Way To Travel From Amsterdam To Rotterdam?
The fasted way to travel from Amsterdam to Rotterdam is hands down, the high-speed IC direct trains. These trains require a supplement of just a few euro which is a separate purchase.
How long is the train from Amsterdam to Rotterdam?
The travel time between Amsterdam and Rotterdam is just 41 minutes with the IC Direct trains, 34 minutes faster than regular Intercity services. And at least twice as fast as traveling by car. Trains leave every 15 minutes at most times of the day.
Did This Post Helped You Make A Choice?
I’d love to hear your thoughts: Do you plan to use the IC Direct High-Speed rail link between Amsterdam to Rotterdam? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and let’s start a conversation 💬.
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