A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Dover vs. Rotterdam for Nightlife, Families, Couples, and Attractions

Should you visit Dover or Rotterdam?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Dover and Rotterdam can help you decide which place is right for you.

Dover

Dover is a stunning, natural, and breathtaking town. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. It's also popular because of the museums, food, and hiking.

Rotterdam

Rotterdam is a high energy, modern, and trendy port city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping.

Dover and Rotterdam: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Dover or Rotterdam?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Rotterdam. Although Dover and Rotterdam are popular destinations, Rotterdam has more sights and attractions for tourists. Rotterdam is very popular for its nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Dover attracts visitors for its hiking and impressive beauty. Dover is more touristy than Rotterdam and is popular for the famous White Cliffs of Dover as well as the ferry connection to mainland Europe. Rotterdam is famous for its modern architecture, the cube houses, and the market hall. It is also well known for The Cube Houses.

The Cube Houses

How is Dover different from Rotterdam?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Rotterdam and Dover. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Dover or Rotterdam?

For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Dover or Rotterdam.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Dover. Aside from the iconic White Cliffs of Dover, there is the Dover Castle, the South Foreland Lighthouse, and the Grand Shaft.

Rotterdam is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Although many of the historic buildings around town were destroyed during World War II, there are still a number of sights worth checking out. Head to the Old Harbor and Marine Museums, the Museum Boijmans-van Beuningen, or the Wereldmuseum to see some interesting places.

Is the Food Better in Dover or Rotterdam? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both Dover and Rotterdam both to be nice destinations.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Dover area. The town has a growing food scene that includes waterfront restaurants and local dishes. Find a restaurant with a view to make sure you take full advantage of the setting.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Rotterdam. The city's restaurant scene is diverse. There are ethnic restaurants, vegan restaurants, local restaurants, and some popular chains.

Is Dover or Rotterdam Better for Nightlife?

Rotterdam is a well-known place for its evening party scene. However, Dover is not a good town for nightlife.

Rotterdam offers plenty to do in the evening. It is a trendy city with an active nightlife. You can relax with a beer or hit up one of the clubs around town. Popular options are Club Vibes, Toffler, and Club Vie.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Dover. The nightlife has a relaxed atmosphere with wine bars and microbreweries.

Is Dover or Rotterdam Better for Hiking?

Dover is great for hiking. However, Rotterdam is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors go to Dover for the hiking trails. There are many beautiful countryside walks that take you through the rolling hills and along the iconic white cliffs. Some of the best hikes in the area include The England Coast Path, The North Downs Way Saxon Shore Way.

Rotterdam is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Dover or Rotterdam?

Rotterdam is a well-known place for its shopping areas. However, Dover is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Rotterdam. You'll find fashion and clothing shops in the area around Lijnbaan and Beurstraverse. This is also where you'll find the shopping mall of Bijenkorf.

Dover is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Dover or Rotterdam Better for Families?

Rotterdam is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Dover is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Rotterdam is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. Fun activities for kids include Miniworld Rotterdam, the Kids Marina, and Fun Forest, which has ziplines and a ropes course.

Dover is a family-friendly town. There are a few kid-friendly museums like the Dover Transport Museum and the Dover Castle. Also make sure you check out the South Foreland Lighthouse.

Is Dover or Rotterdam Better for Couples?

Dover is great for couples. Also, Rotterdam is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for romance.

Dover is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. The White Cliffs of Dover are an iconic sight and perfect for a romantic trip away. Also make sure you check out St. Margaret's Bay Beach and the Kearsney Abbey Gardens.

Rotterdam is a nice destination for couples. It is a modern city with good restaurants and some fun activities.

Is Dover or Rotterdam Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Dover and Rotterdam are nice destinations for backpackers.

Dover is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. You'll find several nice hostels to choose from in the town.

It's common for backpackers to visit Rotterdam. There are a number of hostels around town as well as a good nightlife that appeals to backpackers.

Is Dover or Rotterdam Better for Students?

Rotterdam is a well-known place for students. However, Dover is not popular with students.

Rotterdam is very popular with students. The city has a great job market and a lot of activities that appeal to international students.

Dover is not popular with students.

Is Dover or Rotterdam Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Rotterdam is a well-known place for its public transit. However, Dover is not a good town for times when you don't have a car.

The public transit in Rotterdam can get you to most places easily. There are trams, buses, metros, and even a ferry.

Public transit is mostly limited in Dover. There are public buses through the district.

Is Dover or Rotterdam a more walkable city?

Rotterdam is a well-known place for its ease of walking around. Also, Dover is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its walkability.

Rotterdam is a very walkable destination. There are broad streets with wide sidewalks that are pedestrian friendly.

Dover is somewhat walkable. You can wander around the countryside, but prepare for rolling hills and great views.

For even more information, also check out Is Dover Worth Visiting? and Is Rotterdam Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Rotterdam or Dover?

How long in Dover or Rotterdam?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Dover and Rotterdam. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Dover than in Rotterdam. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Dover, and 1-3 days is enough time in Rotterdam.

Families should spend more time in Rotterdam than Dover. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Rotterdam, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Dover than Rotterdam. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Dover that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Rotterdam than Dover if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Rotterdam.

One day in Dover or Rotterdam?

You'll find food and museums around the town of Dover. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Each neighborhood in Rotterdam has its own distinct appeal, so there are pleny of areas to explore. This port city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

A weekend in Dover or Rotterdam?

You'll find museums and food around the breathtaking destination of Dover. Hikers are also drawn to this area. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Rotterdam. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Five days in Dover or Rotterdam?

Travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the stunning town of Dover. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Rotterdam is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the big city destination of Rotterdam. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Dover or Rotterdam?

Dover is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

You'll find food and shopping around the modern big city of Rotterdam. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours in United Kingdom, The Best Bicycle Tours in United Kingdom, The Best River Cruises from Amsterdam, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Netherlands.

When comparing the travel costs between Dover and Rotterdam, we can see that Rotterdam is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dover Expensive? and Is Rotterdam Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Dover or Rotterdam?

Rotterdam has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Dover. When comparing the sizes of Dover and Rotterdam, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Dover or Rotterdam?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Dover or Rotterdam in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Dover as well as Rotterdam. Many visitors come to Dover in the summer for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Rotterdam for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Dover is around the same temperature as Rotterdam in the summer. The daily temperature in Dover averages around 17°C (63°F) in July, and Rotterdam fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Rotterdam. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Dover this time of the year. In the summer, Dover often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Rotterdam. Dover gets 212 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rotterdam receives 202 hours of full sun.

Dover usually gets less rain in July than Rotterdam. Dover gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Rotterdam receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Dover or Rotterdam in the Autumn?

Both Rotterdam and Dover are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Dover for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Rotterdam because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Dover is a little warmer than Rotterdam. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Dover in October average around 12°C (54°F), and Rotterdam averages at about 11°C (51°F).

Dover usually receives more sunshine than Rotterdam during autumn. Dover gets 119 hours of sunny skies, while Rotterdam receives 105 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Dover usually receives less rain than Rotterdam. Dover gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Rotterdam receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Dover or Rotterdam in the Winter?

Both Rotterdam and Dover during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Dover because of the museums and the cuisine. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Rotterdam this time of year.

It's quite cold in Rotterdam in the winter. The weather in Dover can be very cold. In January, Dover is generally much warmer than Rotterdam. Daily temperatures in Dover average around 4°C (40°F), and Rotterdam fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).

In the winter, Dover often gets more sunshine than Rotterdam. Dover gets 57 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rotterdam receives 47 hours of full sun.

Dover usually gets less rain in January than Rotterdam. Dover gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Rotterdam receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Dover or Rotterdam in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Dover and Rotterdam. The natural beauty are the main draw to Dover this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Rotterdam for the activities around the city.

Dover is a little warmer than Rotterdam in the spring. The daily temperature in Dover averages around 9°C (47°F) in April, and Rotterdam fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

Dover usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Rotterdam during spring. Dover gets 162 hours of sunny skies, while Rotterdam receives 158 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Dover usually receives less rain than Rotterdam. Dover gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Rotterdam receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Rotterdam and Dover