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

Should you visit Rotterdam or Houston?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Rotterdam and Houston. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Rotterdam

Rotterdam is a trendy, high energy, and modern port city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Houston

Houston is a diverse, sprawling, and southern city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. It's also popular because of the live music, food, and shopping.

Rotterdam and Houston: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Rotterdam or Houston?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Houston than Rotterdam, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Houston is more popular for its museums, music, and big city activities, while Rotterdam is known for its shopping. Rotterdam is popular for its modern architecture, the cube houses, and the market hall. Houston is popular for its sprawling size, its local Texas restaurants, and being the home to NASA. It is also home to The Space Center Houston.

How is Rotterdam different from Houston?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Houston is great for its historical sights. Also, Rotterdam is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its sights and museums.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Houston. Head to Houston's Museum District to explore 19 different museums in a walkable area. A highlight of a trip to the city is a visit to the Space Center, but other popular museums include the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Houston Children's Museum.

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 Rotterdam or Houston? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

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

Rotterdam is becoming an appealing option for foodies. The city's restaurant scene is diverse. There are ethnic restaurants, vegan restaurants, local restaurants, and some popular chains.

Houston offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The city is famous for its Texas barbecue, Mexican food, and a wide diversity of other different ethnic foods. It's a surprisingly diverse city and this is reflected in the restaurant selection around town.

Is Rotterdam or Houston Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is excellent in both Rotterdam and Houston.

Many people head to Rotterdam for the nightlife scene. 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.

Houston has plenty to do after the sun goes down. The nightlife is at its best on weekends when bars, dance clubs, and concert halls come to life. There are a diversity of venues around town including dance clubs, Honky Tonks, and cocktail bars. Some of the most active nightlife areas are Downtown, Midtown, Montrose, Washington Avenue, and Rice Village.

Is Rotterdam or Houston Better for Music?

Houston is a good destination for its music scene. However, Rotterdam is not a live music destination.

You don't have to look far to find a unique music venue in Houston. Popular music venues include Fitzgerald's, Walter's Downtown, and The Continental Club.

Rotterdam is not a live music destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Rotterdam or Houston?

Rotterdam is well known for its shopping opportunities. Also, Houston is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

Rotterdam is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. 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.

Houston has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There are a number of upscale malls and shopping centers that have brand names, chain stores, and the occasional local shop where you can pick up items.

Is Rotterdam or Houston Better for Families?

Both Rotterdam and Houston are excellent family-friendly destinations.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Rotterdam. Fun activities for kids include Miniworld Rotterdam, the Kids Marina, and Fun Forest, which has ziplines and a ropes course.

Houston is a very family-friendly place to visit. It is a large city with plenty of things that kids can enjoy including museums, theaters, a zoo, and even the Space Center. The Children's Museum of Houston is perfect for a rainy day. For science loving kids there's the Health Museum and the Museum of Natural Science. Houston also has a Six Flags nearby which the whole family can enjoy.

Is Rotterdam or Houston Better for Couples?

Rotterdam and Houston both good destinations for a couple.

Rotterdam is a good port city for couples to visit. It is a modern city with good restaurants and some fun activities.

Houston is a nice destination for couples. There's a surprising diversity of restaurants around the city. There are also performing arts productions and many outdoor parks and gardens.

Is Rotterdam or Houston Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Rotterdam is a good destination for backpackers. However, Houston is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

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

Houston is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

Is Rotterdam or Houston Better for Students?

Rotterdam is well known for students. Also, Houston is still popular, but not quite as popular for its student-friendly activities.

Many students visit Rotterdam. The city has a great job market and a lot of activities that appeal to international students.

It's common for students to visit Houston. It's a large city with a number of universities and a large student population.

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

Rotterdam is well known for its public transit. However, Houston is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

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

Public transit is mostly limited in Houston. The system includes buses and a limited light rail. Houston is known as a car-centric city and you really need a car to fully experience it.

Is Rotterdam or Houston a more walkable city?

Rotterdam is well known for its high level of walkability. However, Houston is not particularly known for its ease of walking around.

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

Houston is generally not a very walkable port city. The most walkable neighborhood is the historic Houston Heights, but most parts of the city aren't very walkable.

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

Should I spend more time in Houston or Rotterdam?

How long in Rotterdam or Houston?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Rotterdam and Houston. In our opinion, Rotterdam has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Rotterdam than Houston. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Rotterdam, and 2-3 days is enough time in Houston.

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

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

Because Rotterdam is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. This port city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

You'll find nightlife and live music around the city of Houston. 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.

A weekend in Rotterdam or Houston?

Because Rotterdam is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Rotterdam has to offer.

You'll find live music and food around the sprawling big city of Houston. 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.

Five days in Rotterdam or Houston?

Rotterdam is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the sprawling city of Houston. 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.

A week in Rotterdam or Houston?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Rotterdam. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Rotterdam. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Houston 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best River Cruises from Amsterdam, The Best Bicycle Tours in Netherlands, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rotterdam and Houston, we can see that Houston is more expensive. And not only is Rotterdam much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Rotterdam is in Europe and Houston is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Houston would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Houston 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 Rotterdam Expensive? and Is Houston Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Rotterdam or Houston?

Houston has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Rotterdam. When comparing the sizes of Rotterdam and Houston, 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 Rotterdam or Houston?

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 Rotterdam or Houston in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Rotterdam as well as Houston. The summer months attract visitors to Rotterdam because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Houston this time of year.

In July, Rotterdam is generally much colder than Houston. Daily temperatures in Rotterdam average around 17°C (62°F), and Houston fluctuates around 84°F (29°C).

It's quite rainy in Houston. Rotterdam usually gets less rain in July than Houston. Rotterdam gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Houston receives 4.8 inches (122 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Rotterdam or Houston in the Autumn?

Both Houston and Rotterdam are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Rotterdam this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Houston for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.

Rotterdam is much colder than Houston in the autumn. The daily temperature in Rotterdam averages around 11°C (51°F) in October, and Houston fluctuates around 71°F (22°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Houston. In October, Rotterdam usually receives less rain than Houston. Rotterdam gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Houston receives 4.2 inches (107 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Rotterdam or Houston in the Winter?

Both Houston and Rotterdam during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Rotterdam for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Houston in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Rotterdam. In the winter, Rotterdam is much colder than Houston. Typically, the winter temperatures in Rotterdam in January average around 2°C (36°F), and Houston averages at about 52°F (11°C).

Rotterdam usually gets less rain in January than Houston. Rotterdam gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Houston receives 3.6 inches (91 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Rotterdam or Houston in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Rotterdam and Houston. Many visitors come to Rotterdam in the spring for the activities around the city. Also, most visitors come to Houston for the activities around the city during these months.

In April, Rotterdam is generally much colder than Houston. Daily temperatures in Rotterdam average around 8°C (46°F), and Houston fluctuates around 70°F (21°C).

In April, Rotterdam usually receives less rain than Houston. Rotterdam gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Houston receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Houston and Rotterdam