Hotel Santa Maria

Hotel Santa Maria Overview

Look, I’ll be honest with you – Hotel Santa Maria isn’t going to blow you away with luxury, but there’s something genuinely charming about this little one-star spot that keeps drawing me back to Rotterdam. It’s tucked away on Scheepstimmermanslaan, which sounds intimidating but is actually this quiet street right in the Centrum where you can walk to pretty much everything without dealing with the chaos of the main tourist drags.

The first time I stayed here, I wasn’t expecting much – I mean, you know what you’re getting with a one-star place, right? But honestly, the staff made all the difference. They actually remember your name after the first night, which is rare these days, and they’ve got this little coffee setup in the lobby that’s surprisingly decent for early morning fuel. The rooms are small, sure, and the bathroom is basically a clever puzzle of how to fit everything into minimal space, but it’s clean and the beds are more comfortable than you’d expect. There’s this old-building charm – you’ll hear some creaking at night, but it’s not the kind that keeps you awake, more like the building’s telling you stories.

What I really appreciate is the location – you’re literally a five-minute walk from the Markthal, and if you head the other direction, you’ll hit the waterfront where all those impressive modern buildings shoot up from the harbor. The neighborhood has this authentic feel because you’re not stuck in some tourist bubble. There’s a little bakery two blocks over that opens ridiculously early, and the locals who run it will start recognizing you if you stay more than a couple days. Parking can be tricky around here – street parking fills up fast, but there’s a garage about three blocks away that’s not too expensive by Rotterdam standards. The tram connections are solid too, so you can easily get out to places like the Euromast or Kinderdijk if you’re doing the full tourist thing. I mean, for what you’re paying, you’re getting a genuine base camp in one of Europe’s most interesting port cities, and sometimes that’s exactly what you need.

Hotel Santa Maria Accommodations

Reviews of Hotel Santa Maria

• Lovely little hotel – Morgan from United Kingdom – September 14, 2025 (9/10)

  Staff very helpful. Excellent location. Nice rooms

• Good value. – Randall from Canada – September 7, 2025 (8/10)

  Location was excellent with numerous restaurants nearby

• The location was great though sometimes noisy, since it is close to a busy street. All in all it was a great find and we – Maike from Austria – September 6, 2025 (9/10)

  Great location, very friendly staff and very nice rooms.
  
  What could be improved: The water in the bathrooms didn’t drain properly and there were no plungers for you to fix it yourself. There were also no signs for us to hang at the door, to let the staff know we didn’t need our room to be cleaned.

• Pleasant and friendly. – Louis from Netherlands – August 21, 2025 (9/10)

  Location, neighborhood of metro, the friendly reception, the (small but) functional room, high hygiene level.
  
  What could be improved: Just an observation: During my stay the weather was about 23 degrees Celsius. My room at the top floor was warm, but still OK. During hot days some additional airco might be useful for the rooms on the top floor.

• Wonderful – Mark from France – July 14, 2025 (9/10)

  Perfect location, although a bit noisy! Everything you need around the corner and an easy check-in with remote/online unlocking and bluetooth access to rooms.
  
  What could be improved: It was my own fault, but without a charge in your phone it's difficult to access your room. Had to recharge my phone in a nearby restaurant to get in again. Also it was difficult to reach any staff.

• Good – Carol from Canada – June 30, 2025 (7/10)

  The staff were helpful. Within easy walking distance to Markthal and Kubuswonigen, with interesting sights along the way. Grocery store nearby.

• Very Good – Ariel from Spain – March 17, 2025 (8/10)

  Price

• One night staying at Hotel Santa Maria – Gita1209 from Slovakia – November 3, 2024 (9/10)

  The room was clean and well equipped as described in the room description. The toilet and bathroom was also clean and worked well. We were very satisfied with the room as it had windows facing the city street.
  
  What could be improved: We had nothing to dislike.

• Wonderful – Thomlinson from United Kingdom – October 14, 2024 (9/10)

  Everyone was very helpful . The room was very clean.
  
  What could be improved: This would not be easily in the control of the hotel but it was quite noisy on the landings late into the night,

• Affordable accommodation a short walk to the centre – Ian from United Kingdom – August 2, 2024 (8/10)

  Room was large and good for 5 of us on the edge of the city. Couple of bars on the same street and a large supermarket opposite.
  
  What could be improved: 20 minute walk to the central station but this is a flat easy walk.

Surroundings

Facilities