I went on a European getaway over the Christmas and traveled to four different cities. City number two was Rotterdam. It was a very modern city and rather quiet but I later found out that it has a huge underground scene so that might explain things. A nice place to see and it can all be packed into one night.

Flights: I travelled to Rotterdam from Cologne. There are no direct flights to Rotterdam from Dublin so use it as an excuse to see more of Europe. Fly into one city and out of another.

Accommodation: Rotterdam has loads of reasonably priced hotels. The Art Hotel is where I stayed for around €50 for one night. It’s a 4 star and a very quirky spot. Breakfast wasn’t included and was an extra €10 per person. I’d recommend going out for food somewhere else. It’s right beside Metro Station Maashaven so easy to get to.

Transport: Seeing as I didn’t fly to Rotterdam, I got a train from Cologne. It took four trains and four hours but brought us through Eindhoven and loads of towns and villages. Book early to avail of cheaper prices! The Metro system in Rotterdam is great so I would advise getting a metro card for however many days you will be in town. Then you can use as much as you want. You can also use the trams with this card.

Food: Market Hall was highly recommended in Rotterdam, a huge architectural masterpiece located in the heart of the city. There are loads of food stall to choose from as well as fresh produce if you have a self catering apartment. Along the outside are a range of restaurants. But I wanted to try the stall out but unfortunately the one I chose, which was sat on the second level overlooking the market stopped serving food quite early so it was just appetisers on offer.

Things To-Do: With a short time in Rotterdam I checked online for the best things to do and here’s what I recommend:

1. Market Hall: It’s a real trendy modern structure and where the buzz of the city lies. There are loads of stalls to choose from but I would recommend getting in early.
2. Euromast: It was built in the late 50’s and offers a 360 view of the city. There is a glass observatory that takes you right to the top and it rotates explaining everything before you.
3. Cube Houses: These are a sight to be seen – a housing estate in the city in the shape of cubes. They are located behind the market hall. The are bizarre looking and seem like a headache to live in but you can head inside some of them for a gawk.
4. Erasmusbrug: This is a bridge nicknames the swan. It’s another modern piece of art but quite similar to the Samuel Beckett in Dublin.
5. Shopping: I found Rotterdam really good for shopping. If you get off at Rotterdam Centraal and wander around you will see loads of shops and the Market Hall is at the end so food to refuel.