Should I Visit Rotterdam or Koh Phi Phi? Which is Better for Couples, Backpackers, Nightlife, and Families? Which is Cheaper? Which is More Expensive? | Budget Your Trip (2024)

Should you visit Rotterdam or Koh Phi Phi?

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 Koh Phi Phi. 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. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Koh Phi Phi

Koh Phi Phi is a tropical, dramatic, and stunning island. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. It's also popular because of the food, scuba diving and snorkeling, and beaches.

Rotterdam and Koh Phi Phi: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Rotterdam or Koh Phi Phi?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Koh Phi Phi. Although Rotterdam and Koh Phi Phi are both popular with visitors, Koh Phi Phi has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Koh Phi Phi is more popular for its resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, and impressive beauty, while Rotterdam is known for its museums, shopping, and big city activities. Koh Phi Phi is more touristy than Rotterdam and is known for its stunningly beautiful beaches, world-class snorkeling and diving, and wild booze cruises. It is also home to Koh Phi Phi Leh and Maya Bay. Rotterdam is popular for its modern architecture, the cube houses, and the market hall.

How is Rotterdam different from Koh Phi Phi?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Rotterdam is a popular place for its historical sights. However, Koh Phi Phi is not a good destination for its sights and museums.

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.

Koh Phi Phi offers a few options for museum-goers. It's an island paradise with world class beaches and stunning natural beauty, but if you're looking for museums, temples, and culture, then you'll likely want to head farther north to Northern Thailand.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Rotterdam and Koh Phi Phi 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.

Koh Phi Phi offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. Most dishes feature seafood, and you'll find the highest concentration of restaurants around Tonsai Village. There are also restaurants dotting the way to Long Beach. Many restaurants offer outdoor seating, or a combination of an indoor/outdoor setting. Tropical fruit is also abundant on the island and adds to that tropical paradise atmosphere.

Is Rotterdam or Koh Phi Phi Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is superb in both Rotterdam and Koh Phi Phi.

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.

Koh Phi Phi has plenty to do after the sun goes down. Despite its smaller size, there is still a party vibe and tons of nightlife on the island. Backpackers have long flocked to this island, building on the reputation it earned from movies like "The Beach." Booze cruises and all night beach parties are the norm here, so it won't be hard to find a party that lasts until sunrise.

Is Rotterdam or Koh Phi Phi Better for Resorts?

Koh Phi Phi is an amazing island to visit for its luxury resorts. However, Rotterdam is not a resort destination.

Vacationers flock to Koh Phi Phi for its luxury resorts. Despite it's popularity with backpackers and small size, this island also has some of Thailand's most luxurious resorts. Head to Long Beach or Laem Tong to appreciate the quieter side of the island.

Rotterdam is not a resort destination.

Is Rotterdam or Koh Phi Phi Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Koh Phi Phi is an amazing island to visit for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Rotterdam is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

People travel from around the world to go scuba diving and snorkeling in Koh Phi Phi. The dramatic limestone cliffs and colorful coral make this a top scuba diving and snorkeling destination in Thailand. There are countless vendors who offer scuba diving or snorkeling trips from the island. You might even see sharks, sea turtles, or seahorses during your trip. Head to the reef at dusk for the best chance of seeing black tip reef sharks.

Rotterdam is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Rotterdam or Koh Phi Phi Better for Beaches?

Koh Phi Phi is an amazing island to visit for the beach. However, Rotterdam is not a beach destination.

Koh Phi Phi offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around the world. This island has some of the most dramatic beauty in Thailand and the beaches will not disappoint. Although it's usually referred to as an island, Koh Phi Phi is actually a small archipelago with Koh Phi Phi Don being the only inhabited island. Nearby Koh Phi Phi Leh is famous as the filming place of the movie "The Beach" (which you'll hear playing at hotels around the island every night). The beaches are beautiful with white sand and clear water. It truly is a tropical paradise.

Rotterdam is not a beach destination.

Is Rotterdam or Koh Phi Phi Better for Hiking?

Koh Phi Phi is great for hiking. However, Rotterdam is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors go to Koh Phi Phi for the hiking trails. With its dramatic cliffs, this area has beautiful, but challenging hikes that take you to stunning viewpoints. The dramatic photos that you see of the islands often require a hike, but the reward at the end is well worth it.

Rotterdam is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Rotterdam or Koh Phi Phi?

Rotterdam is great for its shopping opportunities. However, Koh Phi Phi is not a good destination for its shopping areas.

Rotterdam is well-known for its shopping. 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.

Koh Phi Phi has some shopping areas for those that seek them out. Shopping is limited on the island but you'll find a few souvenir shops with trinkets that you can purchase. Because it's an island, you can expect prices to be high.

Is Rotterdam or Koh Phi Phi Better for Families?

Rotterdam is great for its kid-friendly activities. However, Koh Phi Phi is not a good destination for its family-friendly activities.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Rotterdam is very family-friendly. Fun activities for kids include Miniworld Rotterdam, the Kids Marina, and Fun Forest, which has ziplines and a ropes course.

Koh Phi Phi is not the most family-friendly destination. This island is on the smaller side and it has a remote tropical island atmosphere. The best side of the island for families is the north end where you'll find the quietest and most beautiful beaches. It's best to avoid the area around Tonsai which has the highest concentration of backpackers and day trippers.

Is Rotterdam or Koh Phi Phi Better for Couples?

Koh Phi Phi is an amazing island to visit for couples. Also, Rotterdam is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for romance.

Koh Phi Phi is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. Stunning beaches, dramatic landscapes, excellent snorkeling and scuba diving, and a remote tropical atmosphere make this is a great place for couples and honeymooners. Head to the quieter north side of the island where you'll find the better resorts and less backpackers, as well as the best beaches.

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

Is Rotterdam or Koh Phi Phi Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Koh Phi Phi is an amazing island 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 Koh Phi Phi, as it is a very popular island for budget travelers. Most people visit this island as a day trip, but for those who linger, they'll be rewarded with dramatic landscapes and beautiful beaches. Most backpackers hang out around Tonsai where things are the cheapest, but the quality can also be very poor.

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 Koh Phi Phi Better for Students?

Rotterdam is great for its student-friendly activities. However, Koh Phi Phi is not popular with 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.

Koh Phi Phi is not popular with students.

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

Rotterdam is great for times when you don't have a car. Also, Koh Phi Phi is not as popular, but is still a nice island for its public transit.

Rotterdam has some very good public transit options. There are trams, buses, metros, and even a ferry.

Koh Phi Phi has a few public transit options. There are water taxis and private boats that you can hire.

Is Rotterdam or Koh Phi Phi a more walkable city?

Rotterdam is great for its high level of walkability. Also, Koh Phi Phi is not as popular, but is still a nice island for its ease of walking around.

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

Koh Phi Phi is a somewhat walkable port city. You can't walk all of the way around the island because of the cliffs, but you can walk from Tonsai to Long Beach.

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

Should I spend more time in Koh Phi Phi or Rotterdam?

How long in Rotterdam or Koh Phi Phi?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Rotterdam and Koh Phi Phi. You can spend similar amounts of time exploring each one. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Rotterdam, and 2-3 days is enough time in Koh Phi Phi.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Koh Phi Phi 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 Koh Phi Phi.

One day in Rotterdam or Koh Phi Phi?

Rotterdam is a high energy port city where you can fill many days. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this port city has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

You'll find food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the island of Koh Phi Phi. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. 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 Koh Phi Phi?

Rotterdam is a high energy big city where you can fill many days. This port city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

You'll find scuba diving and snorkeling and nightlife around the dramatic destination of Koh Phi Phi. 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 island has to offer. This island offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Rotterdam or Koh Phi Phi?

The trendy port city of Rotterdam offers shopping and museums. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the remote island of Koh Phi Phi. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. It's also a relaxing resort destination. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Rotterdam or Koh Phi Phi?

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Rotterdam. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Koh Phi Phi is a popular choice for travelers. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. 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, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Thailand, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Thailand.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Rotterdam and Koh Phi Phi, we can see that Rotterdam is more expensive. And not only is Koh Phi Phi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Rotterdam is in Europe and Koh Phi Phi is in Asia, 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 Koh Phi Phi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Phi Phi 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 Rotterdam would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rotterdam than you might in Koh Phi Phi.

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

Which is Bigger, Rotterdam or Koh Phi Phi?

Rotterdam has a larger population, and is about 600 times larger than the population of Koh Phi Phi. When comparing the sizes of Rotterdam and Koh Phi Phi, 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 Koh Phi Phi?

Rotterdam has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Phi Phi experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Rotterdam or Koh Phi Phi in the Summer?

Both Koh Phi Phi and Rotterdam are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Rotterdam this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Phi Phi because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In July, Rotterdam is generally much colder than Koh Phi Phi. Daily temperatures in Rotterdam average around 17°C (62°F), and Koh Phi Phi fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

It's quite sunny in Koh Phi Phi. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Rotterdam. Rotterdam usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Koh Phi Phi during summer. Rotterdam gets 202 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Phi Phi receives 206 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Phi Phi. In July, Rotterdam usually receives less rain than Koh Phi Phi. Rotterdam gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Koh Phi Phi receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Rotterdam or Koh Phi Phi in the Autumn?

Both Koh Phi Phi and Rotterdam during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Rotterdam for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Phi Phi year-round.

Rotterdam is much colder than Koh Phi Phi in the autumn. The daily temperature in Rotterdam averages around 11°C (51°F) in October, and Koh Phi Phi fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

In the autumn, Rotterdam often gets less sunshine than Koh Phi Phi. Rotterdam gets 105 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Phi Phi receives 181 hours of full sun.

Koh Phi Phi gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Rotterdam usually gets less rain in October than Koh Phi Phi. Rotterdam gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Koh Phi Phi receives 304 mm (12 in) of rain this time of the year. December to March is the dry season in Koh Phi Phi. May to November is the rainy season in Koh Phi Phi.

Should I visit Rotterdam or Koh Phi Phi in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Rotterdam and Koh Phi Phi. Many visitors come to Rotterdam in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Koh Phi Phi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Rotterdam can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Rotterdam is much colder than Koh Phi Phi. Typically, the winter temperatures in Rotterdam in January average around 2°C (36°F), and Koh Phi Phi averages at about 28°C (82°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Koh Phi Phi this time of the year. Rotterdam usually receives less sunshine than Koh Phi Phi during winter. Rotterdam gets 47 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Phi Phi receives 287 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Rotterdam usually receives more rain than Koh Phi Phi. Rotterdam gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Koh Phi Phi receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter. December to March in Koh Phi Phi is the dry season.

Should I visit Rotterdam or Koh Phi Phi in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Rotterdam as well as Koh Phi Phi. Most visitors come to Rotterdam for the activities around the city during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Phi Phi throughout the year.

In April, Rotterdam is generally much colder than Koh Phi Phi. Daily temperatures in Rotterdam average around 8°C (46°F), and Koh Phi Phi fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Koh Phi Phi. In the spring, Rotterdam often gets less sunshine than Koh Phi Phi. Rotterdam gets 158 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Phi Phi receives 249 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Koh Phi Phi. Rotterdam usually gets less rain in April than Koh Phi Phi. Rotterdam gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Koh Phi Phi receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain this time of the year. May to November in Koh Phi Phi is the rainy season.

Typical Weather for Koh Phi Phi and Rotterdam