17 Best Canal Tours in Amsterdam, ranked by a local
There’s one thing I can’t get enough of: Amsterdam’s canals. Whether in the rain or sunshine, strolling around with friends, or on a solo walk, I always admire the beauty of the canals. And my favorite way to explore them is on a boat! After eight years of living in Amsterdam, I have enough experience to know the best ways to explore them, and I’m ranking every type honestly — prices, crowd levels, and who each one is actually worth it for.
Quick answer if you’re short on time
- Best overall: Canal Cruise with Local Host, Drinks & Bite Option — book here
- Best for families: 75-Minute Classic Canal Cruise & Snack Option — book here
- Best splurge: Private Canal Tour — book here
Amsterdam is known worldwide for many things: its fairy tale architecture, the exciting music scene, bicycles and tulip fields, and its people’s liberal attitude. But when someone asks me what comes to mind when I think about Amsterdam, the canals always come first. They’re such a dear image in my head; I have wonderful memories that all take place on or near the canals.
How I Ranked These
I judged every tour on five things: price versus what you actually get, crowd size (a packed boat changes the whole experience), route quality (does it actually go somewhere interesting, or just loop the tourist strip), how good the guide/commentary is, and whether it’s the kind of thing worth genuinely recommending to a friend visiting rather than just the one that pays the most. Where I haven’t personally done a specific tour, I’ve cross-checked it against hundreds of verified traveler reviews rather than guessing.
Comparison Table
| Tour | Price | Duration | Best For | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canal Cruise with Local Host, Drinks & Bite Option | €20-23 | 1 hour | Best overall | 4.7 (5,995 reviews) |
| 75-Minute Classic Canal Cruise & Snack Option | ~€13-14 | 75 min | Families | 4.7 (300 reviews) |
| Private Canal Tour | €245/group (up to 6) | 1–2 hours | Small groups, splurge | 4.9 (231 reviews) |
| High-End 3-Course Dinner Canal Cruise | €128–142 | 135 min | Romantic evenings | 4.7 (237 reviews) |
| Small Group Canal Cruise incl. Snacks & Drinks | €60 | ~2 hours | Avoiding crowds, quieter canals | Strong, guide-praised reviews |
| Canal Cruise with Unlimited Drinks & Bite Option | €20-24 | 1–1.5 hours | Bachelor(ette) parties, boozy fun | Strong reviews |
Browse all Amsterdam canal cruises here
The Full Ranked List
1. Guided canal tour — Best Overall
This is a classic, and it’s always a safe choice when in doubt. The top pick here is the Canal Cruise with Local Host, Drinks & Bite Option — 4.7 stars across nearly 6,000 reviews, which tells you this isn’t a fluke, and it’s one of the most affordable options at €20-23. You often have a wide range of options for the audio commentary (allowing you to fully understand the guide’s explanation in case English is not your first language), plus boats are often covered, which is perfect in bad weather. It might feel a bit crowded and less intimate than others, but for the price and consistency, it’s the default recommendation.
2. Evening canal tour
This is the best way to relax at the end of a day spent walking around. It gives you the chance to admire the thousands of lights that illuminate the bridges and canal houses. These are often very popular, so don’t expect the coziest, most private vibe — book the same Canal Cruise with Local Host, Drinks & Bite Option for an evening departure slot if this is your priority.
3. Rent your own boat tour
If you’re a bit more adventurous and less into the city’s history, you can always rent your own boat! For about €95, you can rent your own 6-person boat (no boat license needed) for 2 hours. This is definitely the best way to explore the canals on your own terms, although you need to be careful during those sunny summer days when boat traffic is high. Mokumboot is a favorite, but there are many others you can check out.
4. Dinner cruise — Best Romantic Pick
If you want a unique dining experience, this should be on your list. No other city offers Amsterdam’s romantic vibe at night quite like a dinner cruise. The pick here is the High-End 3-Course Dinner Canal Cruise — 4.7 stars, 135 minutes, and genuinely a full evening out rather than just a boat ride with a snack. It’s a splurge at €128–142, but it’s the one to book for an anniversary.
5. Open boat tour
If the weather allows it, you should always prefer an open boat tour. It’s the perfect opportunity to take great pictures and enjoy the breeze. However, once on an open boat tour, there’s no chance to stay dry if it starts raining, so check the weather forecast before booking.
6. Family-friendly boat tours — Best for Families
Keeping children entertained and relaxed during sightseeing can be tiring, but this is the one category with a clear, specific pick: the 75-Minute Classic Canal Cruise & Snack Option has a dedicated kids’ audio track that turns them into a “Fresh Water Pirate,” complete with a booklet, binoculars, and a goodie bag, while the adults get the regular history commentary. It’s rated 4.7 across 300 reviews and specifically called out as family-friendly rather than just tolerating kids. Pairs well with our full Amsterdam with kids guide for the rest of the day.
7. Windmill tour
While this tour takes you outside of Amsterdam’s canals (specifically, the Windmill Village at Zaanse Schans), it’s still a great way to see one of the most famous Dutch heritage features. The pick that keeps it boat-based rather than turning into a bus trip is the Boat Cruise to Windmill Village at Zaanse Schans — you sail out of Amsterdam past the polder landscape rather than driving, which fits the “canal tour” spirit better than the coach tours.
8. Luxury boat tour — Best Splurge
Feeling glamorous and wanting to enjoy the canals while comfortably sitting on a beautifully restored boat sipping a drink? The pick is the Private Canal Tour — at 4.9 stars, it’s the highest-rated tour on this entire list, and at €245 for a private group of up to 6, it works out reasonably per person if you’re traveling with friends or family. If you’re staying in one of the most upscale hotels, it’s also worth asking if they offer their own private boats.
9. Sunset cruise
Nothing beats ending a day cruising along the canals, a cold glass of white wine in hand, watching the sun go down between houses and trees. Book any of the guided cruises above for a sunset departure slot, or hold on to your own rental boat (see #3) until then — either way, it’s totally worth it.
10. Brewery boat tour
Amsterdam is home to one of the most famous beer brands (Heineken), and many boat tour providers pair a canal cruise with a visit to the Heineken Experience Museum. If you’re a beer lover, make sure to also visit the Brouwerij ‘t IJ brewery in Amsterdam Oost — it looks nothing like the average brewery, and it offers its own beer-tasting experience.
11. Rent a SUP board
Another fun and different way to explore the canals is to rent a Stand-up Paddleboard with Canal Sup. It’s perfectly safe and an excellent way to burn off the beers and bitterballen you’ll enjoy afterward.
12. Boozy boat tour
Are you in Amsterdam for a bachelor(ette) party? This should be on your list. The pick here is the Canal Cruise with Unlimited Drinks & Bite Option — live guide, option for an open or covered boat depending on weather, and genuinely strong reviews for the guides keeping the energy up. Or book the Amsterdam Beer Bike — for €29 p.p., you’ll get one hour and one barrel of beer (or Prosecco) while you bike across town with your friends.
13. Hop-On Hop-Off boat tour
Hop-On Hop-Off is a very popular way to visit any city, but only a few offer the chance to do it on a boat. In Amsterdam, you can see the city via bus and boat, which is a nice way to cover more ground at your own pace.
14. Themed cruises
Amsterdam Canal Cruises offers, among the most traditional tours, some themed activities such as a “Pizza Cruise” and “Candlelight Cruise.” If you’re looking for something different than usual, you’ve found it.
15. Breakfast boat tour — Best Small Group Pick
Already have plans for the evening and can’t make it to the dinner cruise? Get a different chance to enjoy a meal while cruising the canals with an all-you-can-eat pancakes boat tour, or for a quieter, more personal experience generally, book the Small Group Canal Cruise Including Snacks & Drinks — smaller boats mean it can access the quieter, narrower canals the big tour boats can’t reach, and reviewers consistently single out the named local skippers by name, which tells you the guides are genuinely good rather than just reading a script.
16. Day trip boat tour
If you’re visiting Amsterdam for more than three days, you might want to explore outside the city. Why not reserve a boat tour to Giethoorn, a picturesque town just outside Amsterdam where you can admire the restored old houses and tiny canals?
17. Eco-friendly canal tour
The canals are beautiful, but to keep them that way, the city needs everyone’s help. Plastic Whale organizes boat tours where passengers are asked to “fish” plastic and other waste from the canal’s water. You do your part for the environment and get to explore the city in the most Dutch way possible.
Best Canal Tour by Situation
- Best for families: The 75-Minute Classic Canal Cruise & Snack Option — dedicated kids’ audio and goodie bag.
- Best on a budget: The 75-Minute Classic Canal Cruise & Snack Option, at €13-14 gets you the most reviewed, most consistently rated experience on this list without paying dinner-cruise prices.
- Best for a romantic evening: The High-End 3-Course Dinner Canal Cruise — a full evening, not just a boat ride.
- Best if you hate crowds: The Small Group Canal Cruise Including Snacks & Drinks — smaller boats reach quieter canals the big tour boats can’t.
- Best free/self-guided alternative: Skip the boat entirely and walk the canal ring yourself — see our one day in Amsterdam city center guide for a route that covers much of the same scenery for free.
A Bit of History (and Favorite Canals)
The UNESCO World Heritage Amsterdam canals were constructed in the 17th century during the Dutch Golden Age to support the city’s trade, defense, and water management. The canal system consists of concentric rings radiating from the city center, giving the town its unique shape — and earning it the nickname “Venice of the North.”
When you join a canal tour, you’ll quickly realize that Amsterdam’s canal system is mainly composed of 3 main canals — Herengracht, Keizersgracht, and Prinsengracht — which radiate from the city center, with many smaller ones crossing and linking the three main canals. Each canal, bigger or smaller, has its own character and story. A personal favorite is Bloemgracht (for the unique combination of trees, houses, and bridges that creates a gorgeous view coming from the west side) and Entrepotdok (the canal surrounding ARTIS, Amsterdam’s zoo, since you can often see the animals or hear their noises directly from the boat).
There are more than 1,200 bridges in Amsterdam, each with its own story, and you’ll see most of them on a canal tour. The most famous is Magere Brug (Skinny Bridge), located on the Amstel River and particularly loved for pictures. Some of the lower bridges mean people on boats have to duck — keep an eye out so you don’t knock your head!
One more thing you’ll encounter on your boat tour is houseboats. They’re not unique to Amsterdam, but the Dutch have taken the concept to a whole new level — not just in number, but in variety and character. Often adorned with flowers, plants, and other decorations, they’re a small window into how many Amsterdammers consciously choose an alternative way of living.
Making a Day of It
A canal tour is 60 to 90 minutes, so it pairs well with almost anything. Start with brunch somewhere in the neighbourhood you are sailing from, or spend the morning on a bike tour of the city and the countryside and take to the water afterwards. Getting between the two is easier than it looks — see how to get around Amsterdam for what trams cost and when a ride is worth it. On a short trip, a cruise is built into day two of our 2 day Amsterdam itinerary. If you are planning an evening rather than a day, several of the boats above turn up on my list of the best date ideas in Amsterdam.
Practical Tips
- Book ahead in peak season (spring through early autumn) — the best-reviewed tours listed above do sell out days in advance.
- Check the weather before committing to an open boat — covered options exist for every category above if rain is likely.
- Bring a light layer even in summer — it’s noticeably cooler on the water than on land.
- If you only do one thing on this list, make it the overall pick above — it’s the best balance of price, reviews, and flexibility.
FAQ
How much does a canal tour in Amsterdam cost?
The giant tour boats can run as low as €13. The guided open boats (better experience) start around €20. Dinner cruises run €128. Private tours for small groups start around €245 for up to 6 people.
Do I need to book a canal tour in advance?
For the most popular options — especially the top-reviewed ones above — yes, particularly in peak season (May–September). Off-season, walk-up availability is more common.
Is there a free way to see Amsterdam’s canals?
Yes — a self-guided walk along the canal ring covers much of the same scenery. See our one day in Amsterdam city center itinerary for a free route.
What’s the best canal tour for families with kids?
The 75-Minute Classic Canal Cruise & Snack Option — it’s the only one with dedicated kids’ audio commentary and a goodie bag.
How long does a typical canal tour last?
Most standard tours run 60–90 minutes. Dinner cruises run over two hours, and day trips to Zaanse Schans or Giethoorn can take most of a day.
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