Most Amsterdam canal cruises cost €15,50 – €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, Captain Jack, Eco Boats, Amsterdam Circle Line Sightseeing, Starboard Amsterdam, Smidtje Canal Cruises, KINboat, Mokum Open Boat Tours and many more. Let’s have a look!
In this guide
Tips!
- Join a seasonal Aperol Spritz Cruise in Amsterdam.
- Cruise like a local in an open boat in Amsterdam.
- Avoid crowds: here is a small group tour (max 10 people) with Dutch snacks and drinks.
- Rent your own boat & cruise at your pace.
- Luxury experience: High-end 3-course dinner canal cruise in Amsterdam.
Canal cruises prices in Amsterdam in 2026
A standard Amsterdam canal cruise cost €15,50 – €25 per person. The final price of Amsterdam boat cruises depends 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:
Standard 1-hour canal cruise price in 2026
The standard 1-hour canal cruise is the most popular option, and it’s the one I recommend for most first-time visitors. It starts from €15,50 per person online, and includes an audio guide and a covered boat departing from Central Station. If you buy at the counter instead, expect to pay closer to €20, so booking online is simply the better deal.
What’s your budget per person?
Select a range to see the best cruises for your budget.
Prices verified August 2026. Online prices are lower than at the counter.
Prices verified and updated on 16 August 2026.
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.
Not sure which cruise to pick? Answer two quick questions and I’ll recommend the best option for you:
Which canal cruise is right for you?
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1. Who’s coming?
2. What kind of experience?
| 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 |
Popular canal cruise operators in Amsterdam
- Lovers Canal Cruises: the classic choice. Offers a 1-hour daytime cruise from €15,50, plus themed cruises like Pizza (from €42,50) and Wine & Cheese (from €35).
- Flagship Amsterdam: known for its fully electric open-air boats and live guides. Standard cruises start around €18-€20, while their popular unlimited-drinks cruise starts from roughly €33,30.
- Stromma: runs the iconic 100 Highlights covered-boat cruise from €13,50, alongside a Cheese & Wine cruise from €29,50 (online price).
- Captain Jack: a small-group (max 20) 90-minute cruise with a local skipper, from €23,95, with an all-inclusive unlimited drinks & snacks option from €35.
- Eco Boats: silent, fully electric boats with a live local skipper that can slip into narrower side canals. 1-hour cruise from €22, with an optional drinks package.
- KINboat: another fully electric, silent fleet, departing from Central Station, Anne Frank House, or Rosewood Hotel. 1-hour cruise from €20, with an unlimited drinks option available.
When it comes to the choice of a canal cruise company, my advice is: don’t overthink it. 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 2013 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 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!
Where to book Amsterdam canal cruises tickets with discount?
Money-saving tips
- Book online: most operators charge €3-€5 more if you buy on the spot. Booking in advance through Tiqets or GetYourGuide almost always gets you the lowest price.
- Use a city pass: if you hold an official I amsterdam City Card, you get one free 1-hour canal cruise included with your pass.
Tiqets, GetYourGuide, or booking direct: which site has the best deals?
I get asked this a lot, so here’s my honest answer: prices for the same cruise are usually very close across Tiqets, GetYourGuide and booking directly with the operator, so it’s not really about who’s cheapest.
It’s about which platform has the cruise you want. I use Tiqets for the classic Lovers cruises because their checkout is quick, cancellation is easy and they often offer combi-deals on cruise + museum.
I use GetYourGuide for the smaller, more unique cruises, like Captain Jack or Starboard Amsterdam, since a lot of these operators only list there. Booking directly on the operator’s own site rarely gets you a better price, and you usually lose the free cancellation that resellers offer. My advice: pick the cruise first, then book it wherever it’s listed with free cancellation.
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 whether buying the I amsterdam Card is worth it. Here 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
Do I need to book a canal cruise in advance?
You don’t need to book tickets weeks in advance (unless you have a specific date in mind). However, it makes sense to book your tickets one day before the cruise. This will guarantee a spot and save time at check-in.
Can I go on a canal cruise in Amsterdam in winter?
Most Amsterdam cruises operate all-year-round. There are also special Watercolors canal cruises, running during the Amsterdam Light Festival (from 26 November 2026 to 17 January 2027). In a heated canal boat you can listen to the audio guide, and from an open boat you can experience the artworks up-close. Book your festival cruise tickets in advance.
Are there smoke-friendly canal cruises in Amsterdam?
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 onboard): Amsterdam: Smoke-Friendly Canal Cruise and The Bulldog Smoke-Friendly Boat Tour (2 drinks included).
Which canal cruises are free with I amsterdam City Card?
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.
Which site has the best deals on an Amsterdam canal cruise?
There isn’t one single site with the best deals across the board. Prices are usually similar on Tiqets and GetYourGuide, so the better strategy is to pick the cruise you actually want first, then check which site lists it with free cancellation.
Should I book directly with the cruise company or through a site like Tiqets?
Booking directly rarely saves you money, and you usually lose the free cancellation that resellers like Tiqets and GetYourGuide offer. I book through these platforms myself for that reason.
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
About the author
My name is Anastasia Dudina, founder and editor of Holland Explorer and Amsterdam Explorer. I’ve been living in the Netherlands since 2013 and helping travellers plan their Amsterdam trips for over 11 years.
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