Amsterdam Canal Cruise Tours

Explore the city’s picturesque maze of canals on your Amsterdam Canal Cruises. Admire the city’s beautiful skyline on a glass-topped boat tour, a dining cruise, or in your own rented pedal boat and discover a unique perspective of the city’s UNESCO-listed Canal Ring district. The canals of today are a beautiful marker of times gone by and serve as a key form of residential and tourist transport throughout the city. Experience Amsterdam Canal Tours to get up and close to the city’s remarkable attractions such as Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum.
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Our tips for Amsterdam Canal Cruises

  • See the canals in action. Many of the canals lock close three times each week to allow fresh water from the Ijsselmeer Lake to be pumped into the waterways. Head to the Amstel River’s Amstelsluizen canal to see this process up close.
  • Get tunnel vision. As a result of intricate design and construction, have a peek down the waterway through the arches of the Seven Bridges. This iconic scene comes to life after nightfall when gold lights sparkle and illuminate the bridge’s arches.
  • Get your skates on. A popular pastime during winter months, ice-skating on the canals is a truly enchanting experience. Be sure to only skate where there are others in the crowds doing so. At some parts of the canals, the ice may be thin and not safe for skating.
  • Save those pennies. Depending on what you’re after, Amsterdam canal cruises vary in cost, and if you book in advance, can be quite cheap. If you fancy a more personal canal experience, hiring your own boat for a day may be a good option money-wise, especially if you’re sharing costs with a few friends.

Good to know

When you think of Amsterdam, nothing springs to mind more than Holland’s famous canals. From its humble beginnings as a fishing village to the vibrant and eclectic Amsterdam of today, this city has always been connected to its river ways.

With 165 canals covering 100km, Amsterdam actually has more canals than Venice. The canals crisscross 90 islands and span 1281 bridges, making exploring these intricate waterways an epic and interesting feat.

Bike fishing is a necessary task for authorities. Each year more than 12,000 bicycles are fished from the canals. It is believed that this must be a result of theft or vandalism, and bicycle owners are encouraged to always safe lock their bikes, just in case. There are around 2,500 houseboats floating down the canals, most are residential properties, though some are available for holiday rentals.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Q: What is the best time to book Canal Cruise Amsterdam?
    A:

    The city is busy year-round, with a tourist frenzy reaching its peak in the summer months. For Amsterdam River Cruises, the best time to visit the city is in the spring months, when the weather is pleasant and the city streets are lined with beautiful tulips.

  • Q: How do I get there?
    A:

    Spanning 100 kilometers of waterways in the city, a visit to Amsterdam means a visit to the canals themselves. No map is necessary as you can’t miss these striking feats of historical engineering.

  • Q: How to pick the best Amsterdam Canal Cruise?
    A:

    Depending on your preference for the route you wish to sail through and amenities, you can pick from a range of Amsterdam Canal Cruises that have something to suit every mood and occasion. Evening cruises are great to experience the dream-like ambiance of the city. Try culinary cruises for indulgence in Dutch cuisine and combos to save time and make the most of your sightseeing experience.

  • Q: Is a Canal Tour of Amsterdam worth it?
    A:

    Canal Tours Amsterdam offers unobstructed views of UNESCO-listed canals and the remarkable bridges spread across the banks of the city. It is an excellent way to enjoy the best of both worlds -the 17th-century renaissance architecture and modern-day Amsterdam.

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