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

Should you visit Rotterdam or Munich?

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 Munich. 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 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 shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Munich

Munich is a high energy, multicultural, and economically thriving 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 Munich: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Rotterdam or Munich?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Munich than Rotterdam. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Munich is more touristy than Rotterdam and is popular for its beer halls (particularly during Oktoberfest), its historic buildings and its castles. It is also well known for The Nymphenburg Palace. Rotterdam is famous for its modern architecture, the cube houses, and the market hall.

How is Rotterdam different from Munich?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Munich 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 Munich?

Munich 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 Munich. Famous sights include the Old Town Hall in Marienplatz, Nymphenburg Palace, and the Munich Residenz.

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 Munich? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Munich is great for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Rotterdam is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Munich has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. Bavaria has some of the best food in Germany. Popular dishes include schnitzel, weisswurst and spätzel.

Rotterdam offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The city's restaurant scene is diverse. There are ethnic restaurants, vegan restaurants, local restaurants, and some popular chains.

Is Rotterdam or Munich Better for Nightlife?

Munich is an amazing city to visit for its evening party scene. Also, Rotterdam is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for nightlife.

Munich has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. The city has a young and vibrant population that keep the nightlife scene active and fun. There are many bars and clubs around town, but the city is also famous for Oktoberfest during the months of September and October.

Rotterdam has plenty to do after the sun goes down. 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.

Is Rotterdam or Munich Better for Music?

Munich is an amazing city to visit for its music scene. However, Rotterdam is not a live music destination.

Munich has become a mecca for musicians from around the world. The city is known for its music festivals, large concerts, and small venues that are diverse enough that there is something for everyone.

Rotterdam is not a live music destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Rotterdam or Munich?

Munich is an amazing city to visit for its shopping areas. Also, Rotterdam is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for shopping.

Many people travel to Munich specifically to go shopping. There are many pedestrian areas and shopping centers where you can find everything from luxury items to bargain finds.

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.

Is Rotterdam or Munich Better for Families?

Both Rotterdam and Munich are great 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.

Munich is a very family-friendly place to visit. Popular kid activities include going to the top of Stadium Roof at Olympic Park, checking out the movie sets at Filmstadt, and taking a paddle boat ride in the city park.

Is Rotterdam or Munich Better for Couples?

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

Munich is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. Couples enjoy exploring the palaces around the city, visiting the Roman baths at Müller's Volksbad, and checking out the many great restaurants around town.

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

Is Rotterdam or Munich Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Munich is an amazing city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Rotterdam is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for backpackers.

A large number of backpackers visit Munich, as it is a very popular city for budget travelers. The city has many fun hostels that often host events and activities for guests. It's easy to meet other backpackers and take advantage of the nightlife around town.

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

Is Rotterdam or Munich Better for Students?

Munich is an amazing city to visit for its student-friendly activities. Also, Rotterdam is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for students.

Munich is a very popular place to visit for students. The city is an economic hub for both Germany and Europe, so it attracts employees from around the world. There are many wonderful university programs, including a great business school in town. The city's multicultural setting makes it great for international students.

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.

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

Munich is an amazing city to visit for times when you don't have a car. Also, Rotterdam is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its public transit.

Public transit in Munich is top-notch. Transit options include a subway (U-Bahn), suburban trains (S-Bahn), trams, and buses.

Many visitors rely on the effecient and affordable public transportation in Rotterdam. There are trams, buses, metros, and even a ferry.

Is Rotterdam or Munich a more walkable city?

Rotterdam and Munich are great when it comes to walkability.

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

Munich is very walkable. While walking tours are a great way to explore, the city is quite large so you'll want to take public transit as well.

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

Should I spend more time in Munich or Rotterdam?

How long in Rotterdam or Munich?

In either Rotterdam or Munich, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Munich than Rotterdam because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Rotterdam, and 2-5 days is enough time in Munich.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Munich than Rotterdam 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 Munich.

One day in Rotterdam or Munich?

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

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

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.

You'll find live music and food around the bustling big city of Munich. 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 Munich?

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.

You'll find food and shopping around the economically thriving city of Munich. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this city makes for a great vacation. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer.

A week in Rotterdam or Munich?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the trendy 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.

Munich 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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Germany, and The Best Walking Tours in Germany.

When comparing the travel costs between Rotterdam and Munich, 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 Rotterdam Expensive? and Is Munich Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Rotterdam or Munich?

Munich has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Rotterdam. When comparing the sizes of Rotterdam and Munich, 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 Munich?

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 Munich in the Summer?

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

Rotterdam is cooler than Munich in the summer. The daily temperature in Rotterdam averages around 17°C (62°F) in July, and Munich fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Munich. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Rotterdam this time of the year. In the summer, Rotterdam often gets less sunshine than Munich. Rotterdam gets 202 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Munich receives 242 hours of full sun.

Rotterdam usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Munich. Rotterdam gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Munich receives 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Rotterdam or Munich in the Autumn?

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

In the autumn, Rotterdam is around the same temperature as Munich. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Rotterdam in October average around 11°C (51°F), and Munich averages at about 11°C (52°F).

Rotterdam usually receives less sunshine than Munich during autumn. Rotterdam gets 105 hours of sunny skies, while Munich receives 115 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Rotterdam usually receives more rain than Munich. Rotterdam gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Munich receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Rotterdam or Munich in the Winter?

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

It's quite cold in Munich in the winter. The weather in Rotterdam can be very cold. In January, Rotterdam is generally much warmer than Munich. Daily temperatures in Rotterdam average around 2°C (36°F), and Munich fluctuates around -1°C (31°F).

In the winter, Rotterdam often gets more sunshine than Munich. Rotterdam gets 47 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Munich receives 30 hours of full sun.

Rotterdam usually gets more rain in January than Munich. Rotterdam gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Munich receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Rotterdam or Munich in the Spring?

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

Rotterdam is much colder than Munich in the spring. The daily temperature in Rotterdam averages around 8°C (46°F) in April, and Munich fluctuates around 11°C (53°F).

Rotterdam usually receives less sunshine than Munich during spring. Rotterdam gets 158 hours of sunny skies, while Munich receives 172 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Rotterdam usually receives more rain than Munich. Rotterdam gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Munich receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Munich and Rotterdam