Amsterdam Canal Cruises

We paid 60 euros for two tickets to the Amsterdam Light Festival, expecting an impressive experience based on the promotional photos showing luxurious light displays. Unfortunately, the reality was very different. The route through East Amsterdam included only around eight light installations, and the large illuminated arch featured in the brochure photos was nowhere to be seen. Overall, the experience did not match the advertising and felt misleading. For the price paid, we expected much more. Sadly, it was not worth it.

This cruise will get you around Amsterdam City. The boat captain will give you a glimpse of Amsterdam buildings and histories. It's a smooth sailing along the canal and open bay. Great ride.

For any first time visitor to Amsterdam, a cruise on Amsterdam's canals is a must. By opting for it early in your trip, you stand to get a broad idea about city and the attractions it holds for you.

When you are tired from walking around Amsterdam then why not just take a boat tour. This tour is quite nice as they have so many languages to choose from and we were quite surprised that there is Thai language too. Our boat has the glass roof which is quite nice when it’s cold outside. The window can be open if you feel too warm. To be honest, I would recommend to go with open air boat if it’s nice weather and not too cold. The audio guide will explain you each highlight spot which is quite good + on the table is the map so you know where is it located or at least you know where you are. At some point, it could become boring as you just sit inside the boat. Anyway, our boat rider is quite funny and sarcastic which make us don’t feel so sleepy.

The canal boat tour in Amsterdam is an absolute must-do, even in winter, thanks to the covered and heated boats. The one-hour ride offers breathtaking views of the city’s iconic canals, charming bridges, and historic architecture. As you glide through the waterways, you’ll also get to listen to fascinating stories about Amsterdam’s history. It’s a relaxing and scenic experience perfect for families and a great way to see the city from a unique perspective.

Pleasant cruise on the canal with very little wait time. Staff is excellent. The boats are well kept up so you can enjoy the view from the large windows.

It was nice experience after a full of adventures day when you feel tired and want to just sit, relax and enjoy the view around. We didn’t buy tickets in advance and it was fine. The shipman was friendly and helpful.

We had bought bus and boat tickets. The boat tour started from outside Centraal station. I think it was the last tour of the day and the captain was not looking interested because the route he took us through did not have any iconic attractions like Red Light District, Heineken, Vondelam Park, Anne Frank, Opera House on the way. It might be due to the free ticket with bus ride. It is much better to take other company boats and if possible then one with dinner or wine to enjoy beautiful city.

Months in advance we booked a canal ride with cruise like a local. We learned that Amsterdam essentially emerged from a swamp. The city was founded along the banks of the Amstel River and built on reclaimed marshlands through an extraordinary feat of water engineering. We were oriented to the Canal Belt (the Grachtengordel), the central district with a system of canal rings, water locks and bridges. Captain Dave took us on an elegant wood skiff with an open bar and assorted nibbles. It disembarks from the Keizersgracht, one of the quieter canal rings, traverses the Canal Belt and took us through the Old Center. We peered at the red-light district and had glorious views of the Dutch National Opera & Ballet, and the famous Magere Brug (Skinny Bridge).

It was a great deal for 16 €. The cruise was a little more than an hour, and our pilot was interesting to listen to. The views were nice and I overall felt that it was a value! It was comfy and enjoyable. I wish I could put more and videos!

Beautiful day on the canal with great views And the information was very good. Relaxing and a great way to see Amsterdam!

The experience was unbelievably unforgettable. The moment we went inside the boat, we knew that we will be going to have the best time of our life. The cruise was about 60 minutes long but we felt that it was short as we were having a good time with the rest of our tour group. The view of the city from the canal was amazingly captivating, even though it was raining during the visit, we were safely covered and the boat has transparent windows for viewing pleasure. We were served with the meal (pizza or chicken) and drinks (beer or wine) of our choice. There was a fun game that has been held during the trip by the pleasant staff, the prize was not bad at all. The sail was smooth, credit to the captain. Credit also to our tour guide for an arrangement of a wonderful cruise trip.

Daaaaaamn, that guide really did not like my comments. And by the way, let me get one thing straight - I was not even being a jerk. I was actually just giving my cousin who was visiting extra information. While the guide was being a good basic boat driver with some standard Amsterdam information, he was really not an immaculate guide. When I added something to what he was saying, he was definitely not thrilled. I meant no disrespect, yet I was getting attitude. But, all right, I get it, don't meddle in the man's business. Later, however, I had a question about a building, and instead of an answer, I got a snippy "Pff, I don't know". I mean, I am not saying you need to know everything, but it is the delivery that makes for a good customer experience. What I liked: You can get onto a small boat, 9 people max, and enjoy a more intimate cruise.I think this is definitely better, especially on a sunny day, than squeezing in a big 50 person boat. Also nice - if you want to bring something of your own to munch and sip on, that's cool. What I did not like: The guide was not really good at being a guide, and was not really pleasant.

Really enjoyed riding the canal for a light show they had during the time I was there. For 19 euros, we were able to take a 75 minute canal ride and view all the different lights they had on, along with some history. The captain was nice, but his voice was really monotone, so it was easy to tune him out. We were around a bunch of obnoxious people that brought beer with them, even though it clearly said no drinks or food, which we quickly finished at a nearby table. Overall, a great experience, and would recommend if you are visiting Amsterdam!

There's lots of options but I loved this one so much I did it twice in a weekend. The open air, the beautiful scenery, it was just amazing. Great price and right on schedule - everything you could ask for.

My first time in The Netherlands, and Amsterdam for that matter. Traveling alone I wanted to get the most out of my trip and I realized that its ok to be touristy! You can hop on a canal boat almost anywhere because the city is built pretty much on the water, but the boathouse where I bought my ticket offered a deal that if you include a ticket to the Heineken Brewery tour it would save you some Euros - (38) total price. Great because you beat the traffic rather than doing a bus tour, or a bike tour (there are over 500,000 bikes in Amsterdam at anytime, this makes for brutal traffic congestion). And the spoken tour is recorded in 3 or 4 different languages so it doesn't leave anyone out The whole route lasts about 45 min - 1 hour depending on how many people get on and off each spot BUT the only issue is I had to wait for about 3 boats to pass to get on one because they fill up quick and seating is not guaranteed. That was about 30 minutes extra waiting. But once you're on its great!

Visit Date: March 17, 2015 The canal cruise is an awesome way to tour Amsterdam. We didn't even know we were doing it until we got to Amsterdam and our mom's friend told us she bought us tickets for the cruise tour. It was cold when we visited but the boat had a glass top and was heated so it was a pretty comfortable way to be on the water. Amsterdam has a lot of canals so to get around while touring it's best to take the trolley, boat tour, or get on a bike if you're in a car you might not get that far.

If you do the Heineken Experience, they will give you a boat cruise to their store!! Good way to see the city! Would be good if you have a short time but want to do something fun.

After paying $45, my family and I were asked to move to the back because the captain didn't want to hear children. So we move and none of the jacks work at the table we're sitting at. But there is nowhere else to sit so we're just out the money and stuck on this terrible boat tour for an hour. Save yourself the headache and go to Bruges, Belgium and pay $15 to take an AMAZING boat tour! If you're not leaving Amsterdam, walk up the street and there's a cute little square with a fountain and lots of shops for beer and snacks! (Be warned, the salami is served almost raw on the Dutch style platter!). I would NOT recommend this boat tour and I'm getting off this boat (that I'm on right now) and asking for a refund.

Went on an evening canal cruise to see the Art Light Installations and ride through the canals. Not much beauty due to few lit up bridges and some unimpressive modern neon pieces. Compared to Hong Kong or Shanghai, it is very paltry. If you want a leisurely boat ride and see the city, I think a day trip may actually show more of the color of the city. Nice people ran the business and it was pleasant enough. Just not a wow experience by any means. Good hot wine for sale in the line. Forgot the Finnish name.

This was my favorite thing we did in amsterdam!!! The staff made the cruise so enjoyable and relaxing.

It's obviously touristy, but what a good way to get an overview of the city. The canal cruise takes you winding through spots you probably wouldn't have made it to otherwise. Weather permitting, they open the tops of the boats which is quite pleasant. An excellent way to start your tour of town.

This was part of our tour package, so I can't weigh in on the value. It wasn't the best canal cruise but I enjoyed it and would recommend it unless you have a packed itinerary with more exciting things to do.

If you are ever in Amsterdam, make sure to take a canal cruise. There are many companies and you can usually get a good deal with so much competition. The canal cruises are definitely a must. The entire cruise is and adventure and you get to learn so much in such a short amount of time. Love it.

Went on the light tour with my girlfriend a few friends. Was a really lovely boat ride, and definitely worth the money. Some very pretty canal spots and light displays. Enhanced by a trip to the coffee shop before hand.

Kinda pricey, but another to-do list item.. It does offer a different perspective than just walking or biking along the streets of Amsterdam.

This was one of the better ways to travel to Amsterdam sites. We were able to stop at one of the many stops and soak in the culture. This is highly recommended over the bus routes since there is no traffic to contend with whilst traveling the canals.

You gain a whole new perspective when you take a canal tour as opposed to walking around Amsterdam. Things look different from the water and you notice many places that you never saw when walking by. I took the longer tour (about an hour to do the loop) and it was very informative. We went by the old harbor, old neighborhoods, a windmill and market areas. Be aware that the boat stops at each location and you can exit and others can enter. It can get quite crowded so if you get on at a later stop then you might not find a good seat. There are plenty of photograph opportunities; we took some great shots of the windmill. If you buy an all day pass, you can hop on and off at various stops and visit several tourist areas. We got off at a market and had a great time. The price is reasonable, especially if you use it multiple times, and safety is never a concern. I definitely recommend taking a canal tour!