Most Amsterdam canal cruises cost €17,50 – €25 per person. Special cruises with food, drinks or private boats range from €30 to €150+. In this guide, I’ll compare prices, explain which cruises are worth the extra money, and share my tips on where to book tickets with a discount.
A canal cruise in Amsterdam is one of the best ways to explore the city. There are dozens of canal tour companies in Amsterdam: Lovers, Blue Boat, Stromma, Amsterdam Circle Line Sightseeing, Starboard Amsterdam, Smidtje Canal Cruises, KINboat, Mokum Open Boat Tours, Captain Jack and many more. Let’s have a look!
- Which Amsterdam canal cruises to choose?
- My best experiences with canal cruises in Amsterdam
- Canal cruises prices in Amsterdam in 2026
- Rent a boat in Amsterdam
- Where to book Amsterdam canal cruises tickets with discount?
- Do I need to book a canal cruise in advance?
- Evening canal cruises in Amsterdam
- Hop on Hop off cruises in Amsterdam
Tips!
- Join a seasonal tulip boat canal tour in Amsterdam.
- Cruise like a local in an open boat in Amsterdam.
- High-end 3-course dinner canal cruise in Amsterdam.
Which Amsterdam canal cruises to choose?
If it’s your first time in Amsterdam and you are looking for an affordable boat tour, I suggest Lovers canal cruises. They have modern, comfortable boats, convenient departure locations, and an audio guide. Plus, booking tickets online is quick and easy.
Here’s my quick guide how to choose the best cruise for you:
| If you are | Best canal cruise | Price in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| First-time visitor | 1-hour classic canal cruise | €15,50 – €25 |
| Couple | Evening or wine & cheese cruise | €35 – €60 |
| Family with children | Standard daytime or pancake cruise | €15,50 – €25 |
| Food lovers | Dinner cruise | €89 – €142 |
| Special occasion | Small luxury boat cruise | €40 – €100 |
| Group of friends | Private boat rental | from €150 |
When it comes to the choice of a canal cruise company, my advice is: don’t overthink Whether you choose Captain Jack, Stromma or another well-known operator, the canals are largely the same. Focus on the experience you want rather than spending hours comparing companies.
My best experiences with canal cruises in Amsterdam:
I’ve been living in the Netherlands since 2012 and taken canal cruises dozens of times. These are the ones I would definitely do again:
- a usual one-hour Lovers cruise made me fall in love with Amsterdam during my first visit in 2012
- Starboard Amsterdam, evening cruise during SAIL Amsterdam 2025 was unforgettable (check photos and video)
- on a sunny day in June my friend rented a boat for her birthday – it was one of the best days ever!
Canal cruises prices in Amsterdam in 2026
The cost of Amsterdam boat cruises varies depending on the duration of a tour and any extras (for example included drinks, pizza, or dinner) offered onboard. Prices differ slightly between boat companies, but here are the average prices for your general impression:
| Type of cruise | Ticket price in 2026 | Duration | Canal cruise tickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classical canal cruise | € 17,50 | 60 minutes | Online discount |
| Evening canal cruise | € 17,50 | 60 minutes | Book tickets |
| Hop-on hop-off cruise | from € 27,50 | 24 – 48 hours | Book tickets |
| Pizza cruise | from € 37,50 | 75 minutes | Book tickets |
| Dinner cruise | from € 89 | 120 minutes | Reservation required |
Prices verified and updated on 15 June 2026.
A standard 1-hour cruise with an audio tour in Amsterdam costs from € 20 (price at the counter) or from € 17,50 (online). You can often get even a bigger discount during special promotions:
Where to book Amsterdam canal cruises tickets with discount?
Most canal cruises cost around € 20, if you buy tickets on the spot. But you can always get a discount online.
I also recommend you to consider buying a combi-ticket for canal cruises and Amsterdam museums and attractions. It’s a good way to get an extra discount:
- Rijksmuseum + canal cruise
- Van Gogh museum + canal cruise
- Heineken Experience + canal cruise
- Madame Tussauds museum + canal cruise
- Amsterdam public transport ticket + cruise
- NEMO museum + canal
- WONDR Experience + canal cruise
- Artis Royal Zoo + canal cruise
You can also take a canal cruise for free if you have the I amsterdam City Card. Here you can check the most up-to-date list of participating cruise companies in Amsterdam. I can hear you asking, if buying the I amsterdam Card is worth it. And these are my tips:
| If you plan to visit… | Cheaper option |
|---|---|
| Only an Amsterdam canal cruise | Buy a separate canal cruise ticket |
| A canal cruise + 1-2 museums | Compare individual tickets and combi-deals |
| A canal cruise + 3-4 museums | I amsterdam City Card is often cheaper |
| Several museums + public transport + canal cruise | I amsterdam City Card is usually the best value |
Evening canal cruises in Amsterdam: are they worth it?
Amsterdam looks completely different after dark! You can take an evening 1-hour cruise, or combine your tour with dinner or wine arrangement on board.
Rent a boat in Amsterdam in 2026
If you are looking for more privacy, you can rent your own boat and relax with your friends or family. Private boat rentals require an online reservation.
Hop on Hop off cruises in Amsterdam in 2026
You can also choose a hop on, hop off boat, the so called water taxi, and navigate through the city by canals.
My tip! Hop on, hop off boats are nice, but I would avoid booking a hop on hop off bus in Amsterdam. Buses are not allowed to enter Amsterdam center, so you won’t see main attractions.
Hop-on hop-off boat tickets and prices in 2026:
- 24 hours – ticket costs € 27,50. Tickets >>
- 48 hours – ticket costs € 35. Tickets >>
FAQ about canal cruises and prices in Amsterdam in 2026
You don’t need to book tickets well in advance (unless you have a specific date in mind). However, we would advise you to book your tickets one day before the cruise. This will guarantee a spot and save time at check-in.
Most of Amsterdam cruises operate all-year-round. There are also special Watercolors canal cruises, running during the Amsterdam Light Festival (from 27 November 2025 to 18 January 2026). In a heated canal boat can listen to the audio guide and from an open boat you can experience the artworks form up-close. Book your festival cruise tickets in advance.
Read more about types of Amsterdam Light Festival canal cruises, prices and departure locations.
Generally, smoking in a cruise boat is not allowed. But there are special canal cruises focused on the coffeeshop history where you are allowed to smoke (you have to bring your own cannabis or tobacco, it’s not possible to purchase in onboard):
> Amsterdam: Smoke-Friendly Canal Cruise
> The Bulldog Smoke-Friendly Boat Tour – 2 drinks (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) are included.
Here you can check the official list of participating cruise companies in Amsterdam. At the moment of publication (January 2026) it includes 7 canal boat companies in Amsterdam: Lovers, Blue Boat, Stromma, Amsterdam Circle Line Sightseeing, Smidtje Canal Cruises, Amsterdam Boat Cruises, Mokum Open Boat Tours. You can also take a free cruise in Haarlem and Volendam.
Have fun exploring Amsterdam!
Related articles:
- 2-day Amsterdam itinerary for first-time visitors
- Evening cruises in Amsterdam
- Lovers cruises in Amsterdam: tickets and departures
- 15 best things to do in Amsterdam
- KLM houses walk in Amsterdam
- Amsterdam public transport tickets
- Things to do in Amsterdam with kids
- Amsterdam Light Festival cruises
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