How to Choose the Best Canal Tour in Amsterdam

The best way to discover Amsterdam is from the water. With over 165 canals, more than 75 kilometres of waterways and over 1,700 bridges, a canal cruise is the perfect way to experience the city. During a cruise, you’ll sail past iconic landmarks, charming canal-side houses and hidden gems that you often miss when walking the streets.

What is the best canal cruise?

There are so many options, such as classic canal cruises, open boat cruises, romantic dinner cruises, cosy pizza cruises and many more unique experiences on the water. Which one suits you best depends on what you’re looking for: relaxed sightseeing, a romantic evening, a fun activity with friends, or a typical Dutch experience on the water. As one of Amsterdam’s largest cruise operators, we know the canals like no other. That’s why we’re happy to help you find the best canal cruise for your visit to Amsterdam. 

Relaxing canal cruise past Amsterdam’s highlights

Would you like to discover Amsterdam’s most famous sights in a relaxed way? Then a Classic One Hour Amsterdam Canal Cruise is an excellent choice. From a comfortable covered boat, you’ll sail past famous landmarks such as the Anne Frank House, the Skinny Bridge, the Westerkerk and the Seven Bridges. You’ll also sail through well-known canals such as the Prinsengracht, Herengracht and Keizersgracht. Along the way, you’ll enjoy unique views of historic canal-side houses, charming bridges and everyday life in the city. As locals sit on terraces, cyclists ride across the bridges and boats glide by, you’ll discover Amsterdam at its most beautiful.

A Classic Canal Cruise is highly recommended both during the day and in the evening. By day, the green trees, lively streets and convivial atmosphere create a picture-perfect Amsterdam scene. In the evening, the city transforms into an atmospheric setting full of illuminated bridges, twinkling windows and beautifully lit canal-side houses. During the cruise, you can listen to an audio guide featuring interesting stories and facts about the city. This is available in nineteen languages, including Dutch, English, German, Spanish, French, Chinese and Arabic. The boats depart from various central locations in Amsterdam, such as Central Station, the Rijksmuseum, Leidseplein and near the Anne Frank House. This makes it easy to combine the canal cruise with other activities in the city. For the Classic One Hour Canal Cruise, we have a discount code available for you: LOVERS10.

Cruising in a luxury open boat with a drink in hand

Want to experience Amsterdam just like the locals do? Then opt for an open boat cruise with Lovely Cruises. In our opinion, this is the best luxury canal cruise in Amsterdam! As soon as the sun comes out, Amsterdammers flock to the water, and with this cruise, you can experience that for yourself. The small, luxury, open boats create a cosy and relaxed atmosphere. With a maximum of thirty people on board, the experience feels personal and intimate. What’s more, you’ll sail through narrow canals that large canal boats cannot access. This allows you to discover the quieter and lesser-known parts of the city, making this cruise extra special.

During the trip, you can enjoy a drink. You can opt for a ticket including unlimited wine, beer and soft drinks. Cocktails and spirits are also available for a fee. Alternatively, you can book a standard ticket and simply order drinks on board during the cruise. An added bonus: the boats are fully electric. This means you glide silently through the canals, allowing you to fully appreciate the surroundings. In inclement weather, the boats can be covered, and blankets and umbrellas are provided. Dogs are also welcome on board, provided they are kept on a lead.

Enjoying the water with good food

Looking to turn a canal cruise into a memorable evening with great food and atmosphere? Choose from the Wine & Cheese Cruise, Dinner Cruise, Pizza Cruise or Pancake Cruise for a unique and relaxing experience on the water.

A culinary wine and cheese experience on board

For the best romantic cruise in Amsterdam, the Wine & Cheese Cruise by LOVERS is the place to be. During this cruise you combine three delightful things: cruising, drinking wine and tasting cheese. As you glide through the atmospheric canals, you’ll enjoy a selection of cheeses, including well-known Dutch varieties such as Old Amsterdam and Reypenaer. A selection of red, white and rosé wines is served to accompany the cheeses. This cruise is ideal for couples, groups of friends or anyone who loves a good time and good food.

Enjoy a 4-course dinner on the water

This atmospheric Dinner Cruise is undoubtedly one of the best dinner cruises in Amsterdam. During this two-hour cruise, you’ll enjoy a sumptuous four-course dinner whilst the city slowly glides past you. You can choose from a meat, fish or vegetarian menu, accompanied by wine, beer, soft drinks and water. Meanwhile, you’ll sail past beautifully lit canals, historic bridges and impressive buildings. The dinner cruise is perfect for a romantic evening, a special occasion or simply a unique experience in Amsterdam.

A tasty pizza cruise

The New York Pizza cruise comes highly recommended. During this enjoyable cruise, you’ll enjoy a fresh pizza whilst sailing through Amsterdam’s canals. You can choose from various flavours, such as margherita, pepperoni, Hawaiian, chilli chicken and Californian veggie. The pizzas are delivered fresh on board, so you can enjoy them straight away whilst cruising through the canals. Ideal if you want to combine sightseeing with a casual dinner and are looking for the best canal cruise for a group in Amsterdam.

Enjoying pancakes during a boat trip

You can find pancakes all over the world, and everywhere people put their own spin on them. But have you ever tried real Dutch pancakes? On Amsterdam’s Pancake Cruise, you can combine eating unlimited pancakes with a special boat tour. This boat doesn’t sail through the canals, but across the IJ. This wide stretch of water separates Amsterdam-Noord from the city centre and offers a beautiful view of the city. During the trip, you’ll see a more modern and industrial side of Amsterdam.

On board, you can enjoy an unlimited supply of freshly baked Dutch pancakes. The chefs prepare them in plain, apple and bacon flavours. You can then top them yourself with all sorts of delicious toppings from the buffet, such as fresh fruit, cheese, jam, syrup, icing sugar and much more. This enjoyable cruise is perfect for young and old alike and is the best family cruise in Amsterdam, partly thanks to the fun ball pit where children can play.

Explore Amsterdam with the Hop-on Hop-off boat

If you’d like to admire several sights from the water but don’t want to worry about public transport timetables or long walking distances between locations, then the Hop-on Hop-off boat is perfect for you. With a 24- or 48-hour ticket, you can cruise through Amsterdam’s canals entirely at your own pace. You simply hop on at one of the stops and hop off whenever you want to have a look at something, grab lunch or pop into a shop. Then you can just as easily hop back on at the next stop nearby. This way, you combine sightseeing with ultimate freedom.

Along the way, you’ll pass famous highlights such as the Rijksmuseum, the Amstel and the Westerkerk. This way, you can see a lot of the city in a short time, without rushing. The Hop-on Hop-off boat runs daily, so there’s always a departure time to suit your schedule. An audio guide is available on board in nineteen languages, featuring entertaining stories and background information on what you see along the way. This allows you to discover Amsterdam in a relaxed and informative way.

The best canal cruises can be found at LOVERS Canal Cruises

Whichever canal cruise you choose, this is an experience you really shouldn’t miss during your visit to Amsterdam. Whether you’re in the city for a day, a weekend, a week or longer: the canals are inextricably linked with Amsterdam. There’s simply no better way to discover the city than from the water. With this guide, we hope you’ll have a better idea of which canal cruise suits you best.