The Best Canal Cruises in Amsterdam – Only the TOP 10
We listed only the very best of the best Amsterdam Canal Cruises
A visit to Amsterdam without a canal cruise is unthinkable. Because Amsterdam canal cruises are so essential and popular, there are so many options. To help you quickly find which of Amsterdam’s canal cruises is best for you, we present our personal best list!
The Best Canal Cruise in Amsterdam for You
In a hurry? Discover the BEST Amsterdam canal cruise for you in 5 clicks. Among more than 40 canal cruises in Amsterdam, you can find the best option for your trip. We have categorized them according to price range, drinks and food included, information in English or other languages, and different routes. Don’t waste your time! Find the best canal cruise in Amsterdam for you in less than 1 minute.
Answer the questions to find selected canal cruises for you:
Which navigation route do you prefer?
The Route of Amsterdam's Historic Canals
The historic canal route passes through the most famous sights of Amsterdam. The route runs through the historic center and under numerous bridges. Because of the shallow depth of the canals, the boats that travel this route are shallow and smaller.
The IJ River Route
The IJ River route takes you into deeper waters between the south and north side of Amsterdam. This route gives you a great view of the Amsterdam skyline. Here, you can see the north side, including many of the city's modern sights. The boats on the IJ River route are larger, with many having double decks and a more spacious structure.
Answer the questions to find selected canal cruises for you:
What price class of canal cruises are you looking for?
On Budget - Options between 15 and 25 euros
Moderate Prices - Options from 25 to 40 euros
High Class - Options from 40 to 100 euros
Deluxe Standard - Options above 150 euros
I don't care! My budget is open.
Answer the questions to find selected canal cruises for you:
Do you want a canal cruise in Amsterdam with drinks included?
Yes, a glass of wine or a cold beer makes the experience more pleasant.
No, not really. I can have a drink before or after my canal cruise in Amsterdam.
Answer the questions to find selected canal cruises for you:
Would you like something to eat on board your Amsterdam canal cruise?
Yes, definitely. Cruising always makes me hungry, and I would love to have something to eat on my boat ride.
No, thank you. Eating on board makes me nauseous.
Answer the questions to find selected canal cruises for you:
All canal cruises in Amsterdam offer information on board. How would you like to get this information?
I prefer a real guide in English.
I like an audio guide in English or in other languages: German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian and other languages.
Answer the questions to find selected canal cruises for you:
Who do you want to accompany you on your canal cruise in Amsterdam?
Shared. I don't mind meeting new people on board.
Private. I want to sail through the Amsterdam waters only with my traveling companions.
Our List of the Best Canal Cruises in Amsterdam
The Loving Travel team has been to Amsterdam many times. We have tested low-cost canal cruises, thematic cruises, and even more luxurious options. The best canal cruises in Amsterdam occur day and night, with food and without food, and with guides on board or audio guides many languages. There is something here for every type of traveler. That is why you will find OUR list of the best canal cruises in Amsterdam here.
No matter what you decide, you won’t go wrong with any of the options listed!
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01
Amsterdam Canal Cruise with Cheese & Wine
Boat tour in Amsterdam
Amsterdam meanders 160 canals, so a charter tour is perfect for sightseeing because, in no time, you can discover the city’s best highlights aboard a small boat! This boat tour is perfect for those with little time but do not want to miss it to sail through the UNESCO World Heritage Site! A Live guide provides you (in English) with all the essential information about the culture and history of the world-famous city. Depending on how it suits you, you can choose the main station or opposite the Anne Frank Museum as Boarding-points.
Our Tipp: If you want to upgrade your classic Amsterdam boat tour. Here you can even include cheese and wine in your experience.
- Duration: 1 Hour
- Infos on Board: Only live English-speaking Guide
- Extra: Upgrade with Cheese & Wine
- Price: 16 Euro (Regular Cruise) 34 Euro (w/ Wine & Cheese)
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02
Low-Budget Canal Cruise in Amsterdam
Boat tour in Amsterdam Old City
This is a great option for an Amsterdam Canal Cruise. The boat has a very modern style, with a glass ceiling, and a nice interior space. In the summer the roof is open. In the winter, the boat is well insulated.
The tour lasts one hour. Another great advantage of this Amsterdam Canal Cruise is the boarding point. Here you have three options, all very well located in the center of Amsterdam: in front of the Anne Frank House, near Central Station, and also near Leidse Square.Tip: This cruise is included in the I Amsterdam Card. With this City Card, you can enjoy other attractions in addition to this one without paying anything extra than the price of your City Card.
- Duration: 1 hour
- Infos on Board: Free Audio-guide in many Languages: Spanish, Thai, Turkish, Catalan, Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Arabic, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Korean, Czech, Croatian
- Extra: –
- Price: 16 Euro
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03
Summer Canal Cruise with Open Bar
Boat tour in Amsterdam
In a party mood, this one-hour canal cruise takes you to see the main sights of Amsterdam. Accompanied by a live guide in English, you will learn all the curiosities and information about the city.
The boarding takes place at the Red Light Dririct and you have unlimited beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages on board.
This boat tour in Amsterdam does not include an audio guide in other languages nor does it include food.- Duration: 1 Hour
- Infos on Board: Only live English-speaking Guide
- Extra: Unlimited Wine, Beer and Soft Drink
- Price: 28 Euro
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04
Summer & Winter Canal Cruise in Amsterdam
Boat tour in Amsterdam
Is there a better Amsterdam activity than a cruise through the city’s numerous canals? I think not! A canal cruise is the best way to explore the many canals and an absolute must for every Amsterdam visitor. Especially this canal cruise is incredibly popular with visitors, because here the price-performance ratio is simply right.
During the 75-minute ride through the narrow canals, you will see in the Gouden Bocht some of the most beautiful gabled houses of the city. In addition, you pass under numerous bridges, including the Magere Brug. By the way, it is said that couples who kiss here stay together forever! During the canal trip you will learn many other stories and interesting facts. The commentaries are in many languages with an audio-guide!
Tip: This Canal Cruise is also included in the I Amsterdam Card.
- Duration: 75 min
- Infos on Board: Audio guide included (Spanish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Turkish, Traditional Chinese, Chinese, Croatian, Czech, Hindi, Indonesian, Arabic, Korean, Polish, Portuguese)
- Extra: Upgrade with Snack-box
- Price: Regular Cruise 15 Euros, With Snack-Box 25 Euro
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05
Party vibe aboard this Canal Cruise
Boat tour in Amsterdam
Late afternoon in Amsterdam? This Amsterdam Canal Cruise starts at 5 pm and has options until 7:30 pm. So you can plan this Amsterdam canal cruise after a long day of sightseeing. The boat is great for the summer since it is open-air. Included are unlimited drinks. The duration of the tour is 1 hour and there is a live English-speaking guide. The tour does not include audio guides in other languages. The boarding point is very central, inside the famous Red Light District.
- Duration: 1 Hour
- Infos on Board: Only live English-speaking Guide
- Extra: Unlimited Wine, Beer, and Soft Drink
- Price: 29 Euro
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06
Family & Kids Friendly River Cruise
Boat tour in Amsterdam
Please be aware: This is not a Canal Cruise option, but a River-Cruise! The route of this boat tour does not go through the canals of Amsterdam’s historic city center but instead sails along the River IJ. The route allows you to see the sights of Amsterdam, including the northern side of the city such as the Eye Film Museum, the magnificent A’DAM Lookout Building, and the Historic Central Station.
In addition to a special navigation route, this boat tour takes place on a much larger, double-decker ship. On Board, you will have incredible traditional Dutch pancakes. You can fill your pancakes with various sweet and savory options.Drinks are not included in this tour but are available for purchase.
Another big attraction is the children’s area with a large ball pool and recreational activities for young passengers to keep them entertained. As this is a larger ship than a traditional Canal Cruise, it is important to know that the boarding point is on the north side of Amsterdam. You take the F4 ferry „NDSM“ from Central Station to NDSM. The ferry is free of charge and leaves every 30 minutes.
- Duration: 75 min
- Infos on Board: Presentation in English via the Audio-system.
- Extra: All-can-you-eat Dutch pancakes with sweet and savory fillings
- Price: 22 Euro
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07
Luxury Dinner-Cruise
Boat tour in Amsterdam
A special experience for your trip. This Amsterdam Dinner Cruise offers a 3 course-dinner accompanied by wine, beer, and soft drinks.
When booking, you choose from a meat, fish, or vegetarian menu. All options include soup for starters and a delicious tiramisu with Dutch Stroopwafels for dessert.
The Boarding takes place in the center of Amsterdam very close to the Central Station.- Duration: 2 hours
- Infos on Board: Only live English-speaking Guide
- Extra: 3-course Dinner and Unlimited Wines, Beers, and Soft-drinks
- Price: 79 Euro
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08
Private Canal Cruise with Drinks & Barbecue
Boat tour in Amsterdam
On my first visit to Amsterdam, I was still wistfully watching the many locals cruising the canals of Amsterdam in their private boats in the summer and enjoying life. With this beautiful tour you can do just that: Grab family and friends and enjoy a (hopefully sunny) afternoon with a BBQ or vegetarian menu on board, plus unlimited (alcoholic) drinks and of course lots of good mood!
Also the sightseeing does not come too short, because as with all other boat trips you sail past the Anne Frank House, the Rijksmuseum and over the most important canals of the city. Note: The price is valid for up to 10 people!
- Duration: 2 hours
- Infos on Board: Only live English-speaking Guide
- Extra: Barbecue Meal with unlimited beer, wine and soda
- Price: 295 Euro (Up to 10 people)
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09
Evening Canal Cruise
Boat tour in Amsterdam
Amsterdam’s numerous canals are perfect for a canal cruise. If you’re looking for something unique to do in Amsterdam, an evening canal cruise will hit the mark. If you have the time, I recommend one trip during the day and one in the evening. During the evening ride, there is a romantic atmosphere as you admire the city’s sparkling lights, passing under illuminated bridges. Generally, this ride has a very relaxed atmosphere, with bar service on board. During the ride, you will also listen to the history of Amsterdam and cool facts. This mixture makes the 1-hour cruise one of the most popular Amsterdam canal cruises.
- Duration: 1 hour
- Infos on Board: Audio-guide (Spanish, Thai, Turkish, Catalan, Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Arabic, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Korean)
- Extra: —
- Price: 16 Euro
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10
Romantic, Luxurious & Private Canal Cruise
Boat tour in Amsterdam
Even if Amsterdam is not like Paris as the city of love, the mood at night is incredibly romantic and there is probably no better place to enjoy this than in togetherness with your sweetheart / your loved one on a boat trip through the canals of the city. Alright, a skipper might already be there, but this one makes the whole pleasure just a little bit nicer for you, I promise: blankets and pillows, a glass of champagne or mulled wine in winter, and some snacks. So, if you want to surprise someone on your trip to Amsterdam with a very special moment or there is something to celebrate you are definitely at the right address with this tour!
- Duration: 1,5 hour
- Infos on Board: Only live English-speaking Guide
- Extra: Glass of Mulled Wine in Winter and a Small bottle of Prosecco in Summer, Grapes, Crackers, and Waffles
- Price: 215 Euro
How to Save Money on Amsterdam Canal Cruises?
If you want to save money on your Amsterdam vacation, you should use one of the Amsterdam cards: The I Amsterdam Card and the Amsterdam Go City Pass. If you want to know which one would work best for you, follow our guide HERE.
If you use your pass correctly, you can save up to 50% off! To help you quickly find out which Amsterdam Card is the best for you, we have compared them with each other. We’ll also explain step by step how they work so you’re fully prepared!
to the amsterdam card comparison
Even more about Amsterdam
You haven’t had enough of Amsterdam yet? Then you will find many more interesting articles here:
Frequently Asked Questions about the Best Canal Cruises in Amsterdam
Is the Amsterdam canal cruise worth it?
Yes, a canal cruise in Amsterdam is one of the most significant activities on a trip to the Dutch capital. Besides being a historical tour, it is also a beautiful experience that leaves behind great memories.
What is the price of an Amsterdam canal cruise?
The price of a canal cruise in Amsterdam starts at 15 euros and can go up to 300 euros. The most economical options last one hour and offer nothing on board. Meanwhile, the most luxurious Amsterdam Canal Cruise options offer dinner, drinks, and a private tour.
Where do the best Amsterdam canal cruises depart from?
The boarding points for the Amsterdam canal cruises change according to the operating company. When booking, you can already check the departure point. Most canal cruises depart from the Historic Centre of Amsterdam near the Anne Frank Museum, the Central Station, or the Rijksmuseum.
Is it possible to smoke on an Amsterdam canal cruise?
No. However, there is the Smoke Amsterdam Canal Cruise. On this themed boat trip in Amsterdam, you can smoke, rent a Shisha, or even bring marijuana on board.
What is the best Amsterdam canal cruise?
The best canal cruise in Amsterdam is the Cheese and Wine Canal Cruise. Besides a modern boat, you can opt for the regular cruise or with a cheese and wine upgrade on board.
What are the best Amsterdam canal cruise with drinks?
There are many options for canal cruises in Amsterdam with drinks. However, we believe the best canal cruise in Amsterdam with unlimited drinks is the Open Bar Red Light District Cruise.
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