More cities in one trip from Rotterdam
Rotterdam (Netherlands) is a great base for seeing several cities in one trip: direct low-cost flights arrive from 38 airports, and FlixBus links it directly to 8 cities within about five hours. 3 of them are in another country (Belgium, Germany, France). The most searched are Brussels, Cologne and Lille; the quickest to reach is Antwerp, about 1 h 15 min away. Below you'll find two ready-made loops, with nights split and travel times.
Updated on 9 October 2026
- 8 nearby cities by bus
- 38 airports with direct flights
- 4 countries
Nearby cities by bus from Rotterdam
Cities with a direct FlixBus or FlixTrain connection, most searched first. The time shown is the fastest direct ride we found on a typical day: times are approximate, so check schedules and prices on the FlixBus website.
| City | Distance | Approx. time | Transport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brussels · Belgium | 118 km | 2 h 5 min | Bus |
| Cologne · Germany | 201 km | 4 h 50 min | Bus |
| Lille · France | 174 km | 3 h 5 min | Bus |
| Dortmund · Germany | 208 km | 4 h 15 min | Bus |
| Antwerp · Belgium | 77 km | 1 h 15 min | Bus |
| Eindhoven · Netherlands | 84 km | 1 h 25 min | Bus |
| Duisburg · Germany | 165 km | 2 h 35 min | Bus |
| Ghent · Belgium | 109 km | 2 h 5 min | Bus |
Loop trips from Rotterdam
Land in Rotterdam, get around by bus and come back here for your return flight. The nights are just a suggestion, and the loop works the other way round too.
Rotterdam → Brussels → Antwerp → Rotterdam
- 5 nights in total: 2 nights in Rotterdam, 2 nights in Brussels, 1 night in Antwerp
- About 4 h 5 min of travel in total, over three legs.
| Leg | Approx. time |
|---|---|
| Rotterdam → Brussels | 2 h 5 min |
| Brussels → Antwerp | 45 min |
| Antwerp → Rotterdam | 1 h 15 min |
Rotterdam → Brussels → Lille → Rotterdam
- 5 nights in total: 2 nights in Rotterdam, 2 nights in Brussels, 1 night in Lille
- About 6 h 35 min of travel in total, over three legs.
| Leg | Approx. time |
|---|---|
| Rotterdam → Brussels | 2 h 5 min |
| Brussels → Lille | 1 h 25 min |
| Lille → Rotterdam | 3 h 5 min |
Bus and flight are separate tickets: on the day of your flight, leave at least three hours between the bus arriving and the flight leaving.
Saily →Airport transferHandy when you land at night or the airport is far from the centre.
Kiwitaxi →Luggage storage in RotterdamFor the hours between check-out and your flight home.
Radical Storage →Museums and attractions in RotterdamEntry tickets, often skipping the queue.
Tiqets →Direct low-cost flights to Rotterdam
Airports with direct flights to Rotterdam, by country. Some routes are seasonal only.
France 3
BastiaBergeracToulon St-Tropez
Austria 2
InnsbruckSalzburg
Switzerland 1
United Kingdom 1
FAQ
Which cities can you reach by bus from Rotterdam?
With a direct FlixBus or FlixTrain connection: Brussels, Cologne, Lille, Dortmund, Antwerp, Eindhoven, Duisburg and Ghent. Times are approximate, so check schedules and prices on the FlixBus website.
How long is the bus from Rotterdam to Brussels?
About 2 h 5 min on the fastest direct ride we found, over 118 km. Check schedules and prices on the FlixBus website.
How many nights do you need for a multi-city loop from Rotterdam?
For Rotterdam, Brussels and Antwerp, about 5 nights is enough (2 nights in Rotterdam, 2 nights in Brussels, 1 night in Antwerp), with about 4 h 5 min of travel in total.
Which airports have direct low-cost flights to Rotterdam?
From 38 airports in 10 countries, including London, Rome and Barcelona. With a FlyDown watch you get an alert when a flight to Rotterdam is cheap.