A Day in Rotterdam

Rotterdam is a bustling place. Not only is it the second-largest city in the Netherlands, its port is one of Europe's busiest.

Rotterdam's citizens - dose to 600,000 in total - live a cultured life. The city is home to many museums art galleries and shopping districts. It may have a wealth of cultural and entertainment attractions, but the actual size of the city center is quite small. This makes it the perfect destination for tourists. You can take a cab to the museums and galleries, you can rely on the excellent transit system. But by far the easiest way to tour the city is on foot.

Whether you walk, bike or inline skate, be sure to leave your hotel room behind - Rotterdam has much to offer. Much of Rotterdam's medieval architecture was damaged in WWII. So while the rest of the country shares a common architectural style, Rotterdam breaks the mold.  The Erasmus Bridge and the Cube Houses in Black. You can start your tour of Rotterdam in Delfshaven, in the city's west end. As the sun comes up, visit Oude Kerk where, at Voorhaven 210, a reconstructed 18th-century windmill charms tourists and locals alike.

To leam more about the city's history as a port, visit the nearby De Dubbelde Palmboom. The museum's displays, all featuring artifacts from Rotterdam's colorful history, are housed inside an 1826 warehouse. Euromast is perhaps the city's most popular tourist attraction. From the top of this 185-meter tall building, you can admire the 360-degree views of the city. you can ride to the top in style; the rotating "Euroscope" takes visitors up to the near-summit.

Once your feet are an eclectic shopping area. You can have a late breakfast at one of the many coffee shops or elegant restaurants, or you can look for a one-of-a-kind find at a small vintage clothing shop. The Netherlands' unique brand of architecture is known the world over. No museum celebrates traditional Dutch architecture more than the Nederlands Architectuur Instituut. Its many exhibits aim to educate visitors about the development of the country's architecture throughout history.

Once you've toured the museum's many halls, journey over to Kunsthal, a popular art gallery and museum. Its rotating exhibits feature every type of artwork imaginable, from the avant-garde to the mainstream. The Museum Boijmans van Beuningen is one of Europe's greatest museums. The permanent collection of art spans the ages; Renaissance Italy is well represented, as are the French Impressionists. With over 120,000 works of art on display, you would need an entire week to see it all.

But if you have a couple of hours to spare, you can view one of the museum's most popular exhibits, the Surrealist Wing, and its collection of works by Salvador Dali. The Dali collection is one of the largest outside of Spain and France. Works by the group known as the other surrealists"- including Marcel Duchamp, Man Ray and Rene Magritte - are also worth viewing. Next, walk over to the Nederlands Fotomuseum to view their many photographic exhibits. Yet this museum is more than just a display house of stunning photography; the Fotomuseum is also home to a comprehensive archive that will entertain all photographers, amateur and professional alike, for hours.

Once you are finished touring the museum, head over to The Lijnbaan, a shopping district featuring popular shops and pavement cafes. In existence since 1951, The Lijnbaan was the first car-free pedestrianized shopping arcade; countries around the world have since copied its blueprint to create their own shopping destinations. A little exercise is in order after a decadent lunch, so head to the Rotterdam Walk of Fame, where celebrities the likes of Bryan Adams, Willie Nelson and Dizzy Gillespie have pressed their hands into the pavement of the sidewalk.

Every tourist enjoys finding a famous handprint that matches their own. Just a short walk away is the Maritime Museum Rotterdam. The country and the city both have a rich maritime history, and this museum explores that past through its many exhibits. The museum's intricate models of boats will entrance any child or sailor. More of the city's history is on display at Historisch Museum Het Schielandhuis.

17th-century buildings, the exhibits here showcase everyday history. Among the artifacts is what some believe to be the world's oldest wooden shoe.