Canal Cruise in Amsterdam - The Ultimate Guide

A canal cruise is the best way to discover the beautiful old town of Amsterdam. The perspective from the canal opens up completely new views as you glide across the water. Prices, tour operators and routes - in our guide, you will learn what you should pay attention to.

There are many ways to discover Amsterdam via the canals. They say there are almost 100 providers. From the somewhat silly water bike, to pedal boats, to luxurious private boats - we present you the most sensible canal trips with the best price-performance ratio.

Canal cruise: 1-hour canal trip in a canal boat with a glass roof. Our tip for a beautiful city tour at a fair price. There is always a guide on board who will give you entertaining stories and information about Amsterdam. Well-known providers are P. Kooij and Lovers, for example. Prices are around 15€. All information below.

Hop-on – hop-off boats: Like buses on the water, so to speak. The boats run the whole day on two lines, every 20 - 30 minutes. Get in or out at any station. This way, you can explore the sights one by one, without bursting your feet. 25€ per day. All information below.

Special canal cruises: These adventure tours are suitable if you have a little more time and want to enjoy life on the canals. Everything is possible - candle-light dinner, museum tour and also some wacky variants like the pancake roundtrip. Prices between 20€ and 120€. All information below.

Your Tour Recommendations

Canal Cruise at a Fair Price - Our Tips

For the one-hour city tours, there are several providers with different docks around the old town. You can get in every full or half hour. We have marked all the docks on our map.

Our insider tip is the Reederij Kooij at the Rokin. Here, the boats are not as crowded, and things are a little more relaxed than at the main station.

Reederij Kooij is a long-established family business. This can be seen in the traditional logo and the decorated wooden boats. During the trip, a guide will provide you with exciting information and anecdotes about the sights along the canals. The price-performance ratio is really great.

There is a substantial discount for groups. From 20 persons you pay only 8€ per person. In addition to the standard canal cruise, Reederij Kooij offers various adventure cruises and private boats for group trips and parties for hire. You will find another dock directly at the central station.

Another traditional provider is Reederij Lovers. This company is slightly larger and is located directly at the main station. During the trip, you will receive information via a headset. The ride takes one hour. However, the prices are slightly higher.

Hop-On – Hop-Off Boats - Buses on the Water

Imagine the hop-on - hop-off canal boats like buses on the water. Just get in and glide comfortably to the next sightseeing spot. With all the traffic in the city center, the boat lines are a real insider tip.

The canal buses take a fixed route. Stops are conveniently located at places of interest and important points. With a day ticket, you can get in or out at any time.

We recommend the boats of the provider Stromma. The modern boats run on two lines, every 20 - 30 minutes. The main dock in the center is marked above on the map. Here, you will find an overview with all routes and stops.

Read on and learn all about special canal cruises: Pizza round trip or Candle-Light Cruise - in Amsterdam you will find many unusual tours that you will never forget.

Special Canal Cruises - Museum Tour & Dinner Cruise

It is early evening, and the lights of the old town are reflected in the canals. Finally, the city comes to rest. The perfect time for a romantic round trip with candlelight and delicious dinner. In Amsterdam you will find boat tours on many different topics - here is our overview.

Evening Canal Cruise: Our absolute favorite. With candlelight and matching music, you glide through the beautifully lit canals. A romantic evening you won't forget. We recommend Blue Boat at Stadhouderskade 30 (departure: Every half hour between 7 pm and 10 pm, ca. 22€ per person) - Book online.

4-Course Dinner Cruise: Enjoy this exclusive canal cruise with 4-course menu. The romantic tour is a little more expensive at 80€ per person, but worth every cent. The price includes an excellent dinner. Address: Prins Hendrikkade 25, in front of the main station. Reservations must be made in advance, sold out quickly. Book online.

Pancake Cruise: A little crazy but delicious! During the Amsterdam harbor cruise on the "Pannenkoekenboot," you can stuff yourself with pancakes as much as you like - as many you can handle. The trip takes 75 minutes and costs 27.50€ (adults); 22.50€ (children). Address: Ms. van Riemsdijkweg, 1033 RD Amsterdam. Website: www.pannenkoekenboot.nl

Cocktail Cruise: During the 2-hour round trip, you get two delicious cocktails and small snacks. Afterward beer and wine, as much as you like. A great price-performance ratio, if you know the beverage prices in Amsterdam. Our tip for the start into the nightlife. Daily at 9:00 pm, from November 8:30 pm. Price: 42.50€ - Book online.

Rijksmuseum Cruise: What could be nicer: During the one-hour round trip, you will be amazed by the historic old town. Afterward, you will visit one of the most beautiful museums in the world. In the Rijksmuseum, you can learn all about the exciting history of Amsterdam and experience original works by masters such as Rembrandt and Vermeer. Departure from the central station. Price for the combi-ticket: 35€ - Book online.

That was our big overview about canal cruises in Amsterdam. Do you have any questions or tips for other travellers? Or would you like to tell us something else? We are looking forward to your comments.

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