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

Should you visit Dundee or Rotterdam?

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

Should I visit Dundee or Rotterdam? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Dundee

Dundee is a historic, coastal, and cultural city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Rotterdam

Rotterdam is a modern, trendy, and high energy port city. It's a large city with plenty of activites for visitors as well. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Dundee and Rotterdam: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Dundee or Rotterdam?

You'll generally find more things to do in Rotterdam than Dundee. Rotterdam is bigger than Dundee, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Dundee is well known for its maritime and manufacturing history as well as its focus on design. Rotterdam is well known for its modern architecture, the cube houses, and the market hall. Also, Rotterdam is famous for The Cube Houses.

The Cube Houses

How is Dundee different from Rotterdam?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Both Dundee and Rotterdam have notable landmarks and museums for visitors.

Dundee is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. On the waterfront you'll find a couple of nautical museums such as RRS Discovery, and HM Frigate Unicorn. Other museums and sights include V&A Dundee, Tay Rail Bridge, Camperdown Wildlife Centre, and Glamis Castle.

Rotterdam offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. 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 Dundee or Rotterdam? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Dundee and Rotterdam can be difficult as they are each notable in their own way.

Dundee offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. There are a few local dishes that the city is known for. These include Dundee Cake, Dundee marmalade, and Angus beef.

Rotterdam has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. The city's restaurant scene is diverse. There are ethnic restaurants, vegan restaurants, local restaurants, and some popular chains.

Is Dundee or Rotterdam Better for Nightlife?

Rotterdam is a well-known place for nightlife. Also, Dundee is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife and partying.

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.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Dundee. The vibrant student population heavily influences the city's nightlife. There are a number of clubs and bars where you can hang out late into the night.

Is the Shopping Better in Dundee or Rotterdam?

Rotterdam is a well-known place for shopping. However, Dundee is not a good city for its shopping opportunities.

Rotterdam is an extremely popular place for shoppers. 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.

If you're looking to go shopping, Dundee has some nice offerings. There are shopping centers and a few independent shops that are worth checking out. Head to Overgate Shopping Centre for the standard brands or Dundee's Farmer's Market for some local produce.

Is Dundee or Rotterdam Better for Families?

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

Rotterdam is 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.

Dundee is a family-friendly city. Head to the Dundee Science Center or check out Discovery Point. There's also the Dundee Treasure Trail as well as climbing walls and other outdoor activities for when the weather's nice.

Is Dundee or Rotterdam Better for Couples?

Rotterdam is a popular place for romance. However, Dundee is not a good city for its romantic activities.

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

Most people don't think of Dundee as a couple's destination. The coastal city has some nice outdoor spaces and interesting restaurants that couples can enjoy.

Is Dundee or Rotterdam Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Rotterdam is a popular place for backpackers. However, Dundee is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Rotterdam. There are a number of hostels around town as well as a good nightlife that appeals to backpackers.

Dundee is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

Is Dundee or Rotterdam Better for Students?

Rotterdam is a well-known place for students. Also, Dundee is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its student-friendly activities.

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

Plenty of students visit Dundee. Its affordability and authenticity make this a nice option for students. It's also a very safe city.

Is Dundee 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. Also, Dundee is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Visitors to Rotterdam can move around easily with public transportation. There are trams, buses, metros, and even a ferry.

Dundee has some public transit options. The city has a public bus system.

Is Dundee or Rotterdam a more walkable city?

Rotterdam is a well-known place for its walkability. Also, Dundee is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its high level of walkability.

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

Dundee is a somewhat walkable place. There are a number of walks through the town.

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

Should I spend more time in Rotterdam or Dundee?

How long in Dundee or Rotterdam?

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Rotterdam than Dundee 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 Dundee or Rotterdam?

You'll find food and museums around the city of Dundee. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Dundee has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Rotterdam is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Dundee or Rotterdam?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the cultural destination of Dundee. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Rotterdam is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Dundee or Rotterdam?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the cultural city of Dundee. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Rotterdam. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Dundee or Rotterdam?

Dundee is a popular choice for travelers. 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.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the high energy big city of Rotterdam. This port city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from London, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Edinburgh, The Best River Cruises from Amsterdam, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Netherlands.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dundee and Rotterdam, we can see that Dundee is more expensive. And not only is Rotterdam much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Rotterdam would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rotterdam and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Dundee would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dundee than you might in Rotterdam.

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

Which is Bigger, Dundee or Rotterdam?

Rotterdam has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Dundee. When comparing the sizes of Dundee 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 Dundee 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 Dundee or Rotterdam in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Dundee as well as Rotterdam. Most visitors come to Dundee for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Rotterdam because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Dundee is generally cooler than Rotterdam. Daily temperatures in Dundee average around 14°C (58°F), and Rotterdam fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Rotterdam. In the summer, Dundee often gets less sunshine than Rotterdam. Dundee gets 184 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rotterdam receives 202 hours of full sun.

Dundee usually gets less rain in July than Rotterdam. Dundee gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Rotterdam receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Dundee or Rotterdam in the Autumn?

Both Rotterdam and Dundee are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Dundee because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Rotterdam this time of year.

Dundee is cooler than Rotterdam in the autumn. The daily temperature in Dundee averages around 10°C (49°F) in October, and Rotterdam fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

Dundee usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Rotterdam during autumn. Dundee gets 100 hours of sunny skies, while Rotterdam receives 105 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Dundee usually receives less rain than Rotterdam. Dundee 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 Dundee or Rotterdam in the Winter?

Both Rotterdam and Dundee during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Dundee this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Rotterdam for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Rotterdam. It's quite cold in Dundee in the winter. In the winter, Dundee is much warmer than Rotterdam. Typically, the winter temperatures in Dundee in January average around 3°C (38°F), and Rotterdam averages at about 2°C (36°F).

In the winter, Dundee often gets more sunshine than Rotterdam. Dundee gets 58 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rotterdam receives 47 hours of full sun.

Dundee usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Rotterdam. Dundee gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Rotterdam receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Dundee or Rotterdam in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Dundee and Rotterdam. Many travelers come to Dundee for the activities around the city. Furthermore, many visitors come to Rotterdam in the spring for the activities around the city.

In April, Dundee is generally around the same temperature as Rotterdam. Daily temperatures in Dundee average around 7°C (45°F), and Rotterdam fluctuates around 8°C (46°F).

Dundee usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Rotterdam during spring. Dundee gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Rotterdam receives 158 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Dundee usually receives less rain than Rotterdam. Dundee gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Rotterdam receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Rotterdam and Dundee