Tuesday, April 9, 2024

The 7 Best Amsterdam Canal Cruises 2024 Reviews

best canal boat cruise amsterdam

For uninterrupted views of Amsterdam’s historic canal-side architecture, this open boat tour is hard to beat. If you travel as a family or with friends, joining a private tour with a guide, who is also your captain, is a great idea. A day cruise offers better visibility, and the natural light during the day provides excellent lighting conditions for capturing the city’s beauty. You might have some questions about Amsterdam canal tours; I have listed them here. The boat’s personal audio system delivers commentary in Dutch and English, and German speakers can get their commentary through the Blue Boat Company’s free guide app.

– Amsterdam Dutch Wine and Cheese Candlelight Cruise

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“De Pannenkoekenboot” or pancake boat is the best Amsterdam canal tour for you! The boat tour will take you on a cruise over the IJ River, while you can enjoy an all-you-can-eat traditional Dutch dish. The Dutch pancakes are served with toppings of choice, including syrup,  fruit, chocolate, and marmalade, as well as savoury toppings such as bacon, Dutch cheese, and more! The boat departs from the Northern part of Amsterdam, which can easily be reached by the free ferry (NDSM F4) departing every 30 minutes from Amsterdam Central Station. The all-you-can-eat concept is a strongly recommended feast for both adults and kids!

Amsterdam Smoke and Lounge City Boat Cruise

As you’ll get to see so much of the city, once you’re on land you’ll find that navigating around is much easier. The Romantic Canal Tour with Bubbly is one of the best if you’re looking for a great way to spend time with your significant other. What’s great about this tour is that you can customize it, depending on your specific interests. For an unforgettable stay, browse through the list of the best Amsterdam hotels with canal views or the best luxury hotels in Amsterdam. As superb as this already sounds, you’ll have all of this with Amsterdam’s iconic scenery as your backdrop.

best canal boat cruise amsterdam

Luxury Canal Cruise with Unlimited Drinks

During the relaxing cruise, you’ll pass through the city’s most enchanting areas. Enjoy the morning fog and sunlight while cruising through the calm canals—delight in the drinks and snacks provided with the tour in the cosy atmosphere with your small group. You’ll explore the city side along the Amstel River, where you’ll discover the renowned dancing houses and share intriguing stories about the tilted buildings. Relax on board the classic wooden saloon boat as you take in the stunning cityscape.

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There are audio guides available in over 18 different languages. Purchasing tickets for your Amsterdam canal tour online will save you a couple of bucks and waiting in the queue. There’s something about seeing the city all lit up at night that almost feels unreal. So, if you want a unique evening experience, look no further than the Pure Boats small-group nighttime canal cruise. This river tour experience will blow you away as you take in the scenery of the city all lit up and watch Amsterdam descend into a night of excitement. In these small electric vessels, you’ll be able to sit back, relax and enjoy some of the most amazing views of the historic city centre of Amsterdam.

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I especially like Friendship Amsterdam Cruises and Starboard Cruises. Unfortunately, it was inadequately covered, so the water leaked in several places. Our skipper was a middle-aged gentleman who added to the experience with his informative commentary, calm storytelling style, plus a lot of back-and-forth conversations. The audio guides are interesting and high quality, but it would be better if the narrations were more frequent, longer, and identified the points of interest. Even a simple “to your left/right you can see…” would suffice. The seats are comfortably padded with pillows; however, the boats weren’t insulated well in the winter, nor were they heated, and I was cold.

Best Overall and Family-Friendly: Captain Jacks (My Favorite!)

For those with a penchant for fine wines and gourmet cheeses, a wine and cheese cruise in Amsterdam offers an unforgettable evening of indulgence. I’ve covered everything from budget-friendly hour-long tours to luxurious private cruises. It’s a really good option with an engaged skipper and great commentary on a nice boat if private is too expensive. This tour is 90 minutes, which is a perfect time (unless you have drinks or snacks when a bit longer is better). Other open-boat providers also offer a bar and better commentary.

best canal boat cruise amsterdam

In case you’re in a rush, here are my top hotel recommendations for different budgets. If you want to read more about the best areas to stay in the city, make sure to check out our in-depth post about where to stay in Amsterdam. You’ll sample four of the tastiest Dutch beers across this 90-minute, fun-filled outing that will stay with you long after you’ve headed home. You’ll be glad to know that the rain can’t interfere with your date night, as each boat has a detachable roof to ensure nothing puts a dampener on your plans. With a huge range of time slots, you’ll have no problem fitting this boozy activity into your schedule.

Amazing Small-Group Evening Canal Tour: Pure Boats

Many options exist, but I like Captain Jack Canal Cruises after taking big and small boat tours. He is extremely knowledgeable about Amsterdam and had a ton of offbeat insights to share, which made the tour more memorable. He was very hospitable and generous as well, sharing local cheese and beer along with his stories. This cruise runs year-round and offers blankets to keep warm in chillier weather so that you can still see the beauty of Amsterdam from the water.

As you snack on your plate of Gouda and Edam, your hosts and skipper will be on hand to unravel the rich history behind sites like the Damrak Canal Houses and the Skinny Bridge. I joined this tour with some colleagues a few years ago, the atmosphere was cozy, and it was an evening I will never forget. If you prefer a luxury boat with a maximum of 30 guests, this tour is for you.

Your captain provides commentary onboard, so you’ll learn about the unique Amsterdam way of life. I recommend this private romantic canal tour with Prosecco and snacks. They operate charming, solar-powered electric boats – basic, but eco-friendly, and it offers a fantastic open view of the canals.

As a local who lives here, I’m here to guide you between all the options. Our skipper, an older gentleman, added to the experience with his entertaining and informative commentary, making the trip even more memorable. The stakes are high — no one wants a poor choice to ruin an otherwise unforgettable vacation, especially in a city like Amsterdam, which for many is a once-in-a-lifetime trip. To keep your thirst and hunger at bay, they provide mulled wine and authentic Dutch snacks like the “bitterballen” and “stroopwafel” which are delicious and perfect if you like sweets! Start out in the old quarter of the Jordaan, which is arguably one of the prettiest areas. We really enjoyed the configuration of this boat, which is open on the ends but has a glass covering to keep you protected just in case of rain (which can happen even in the summertime!).

This canal ride and dinner cruise is both a treat for the eyes and the taste buds. The main stops are strategically located in the historic city centre (see map above). The stops at the central station are easy to reach and offer a wide choice. With a relaxed and cosy atmosphere onboard, this cruise is an excellent choice for pizza lovers and anyone seeking a memorable dining experience on Amsterdam’s scenic canals. A canal cruise in Amsterdam is an ideal way to see the city from a new perspective — and these five cruises really make it worth it. For those mindful of time or budget, the classic one-hour tours offer a good taste of Amsterdam’s canal charm without overcommitment.

Avoid the hectic crowds on land tours in this relaxing open boat tour and enjoy the perks of having unlimited Heineken beer, wine, and soft drinks for a budget-friendly price. Try this Amsterdam canal cruise if you want to see and learn a lot within an hour. It’s also more convenient because it offers three different boarding locations; choose the best option. When you join the tour, you embark on one of the best Amsterdam canal cruises, starting and ending in the charming Jordaan neighbourhood.

Click on the following link to see the full list of Amsterdam canal cruises. Combine your Amsterdam canal ride with drinks in one of the coolest places in the city, the Xtracold Icebar, which is made entirely of ice, even the glasses. With this combination ticket, you can take the tour in one go or each option separately. Also included with this canal tour combo ticket are two drinks at the Heineken attraction.

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