Amsterdam canal cruise: the main boat types
An Amsterdam canal cruise takes you along the historic canal ring on a boat that is covered, open or somewhere in between. Day cruises and evening cruises run on the same water, but the experience differs with the light, the boat and the length. Your choice comes down to three things: when you go, how much weather you want to feel, and what you want on board.
The prices below are for 2026. Check the date, the ticket type and the extras before you decide, and read how the offer shows the city levy.
Our picks: canal cruises
Open boat or covered boat, and a longer cruise with host. Pick the open boat for the view and the covered one if the weather is uncertain.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Canal cruise in an open boat
- Open boat
- Live commentary from the skipper
An hour on the water in an open boat, so you see the canal houses without a roof overhead. The commentary comes live from the local skipper.
Check availability →Canal cruise with skipper and host
- Live commentary
- Local skipper and host
A canal cruise with live commentary. Unlimited drinks and small snacks belong only to the option that includes them, so pick that option when you book.
Check availability →
75-minute canal cruise with audio guide
- Audio guide in 20+ languages
- Panoramic windows
- Wheelchair-accessible on request
A covered boat with panoramic windows and an audio guide in more than 20 languages. Children get their own audio story with a booklet and binoculars.
Check availability →Amsterdam canal cruises
Day cruises, evening boats and open boats, with live prices and availability.
Amsterdam canal tour: covered boats and open boats
The boat decides how the trip feels.
Covered glass-roof boats
Covered and heated boats keep wind and rain out. They suit winter, rain and anyone who wants to sit still and look.
Open boats
Open boats put you closer to the water and to the bridges. Heating and toilets are not on every open boat, so do not assume them. In cold months, ask whether blankets are provided.
Cruises with drinks
Some offers add drinks on board, either in the price or as an option. Read what the ticket includes. A cruise with drinks is a different product from a plain sightseeing cruise.
Private group boats
Groups can hire a whole boat for themselves. These are priced for the group and not per seat, so they do not compare with a single ticket.
An evening trip has its own page. See evening and dinner cruises for the after-dark options, or boat rental if you would rather steer yourself.
Amsterdam boat tour: what a ticket costs
A day cruise of 75 minutes starts from €18.50 in 2026, and an evening cruise of 90 minutes starts from €20.80. Other cruises cost more or less, and the price on your date can differ.
The city levy for boat passengers is €2.70 per person. Some offers show it as a separate line, so a base price can look lower than the final total. For the 90-minute evening example, adults from 12 years pay from €20.80 plus €2.70, which is €23.50, and children aged 5 to 11 pay from €16.30 plus €2.70, which is €19.00. Children from 0 to 4 years pay €0, and the levy shown for them is also €0. Age limits and surcharges differ by cruise, so check the one you choose.
Rules that shape the cruises
Why boats look the way they do.
Paid passenger transport on the water needs an operating permit. The city names zero-emission operation of passenger and transport shipping from 1 January 2025 as a condition for that permit. That does not mean every boat in every fleet is electric. Hydrogen and muscle power are also allowed, and transition permits exist.
At night the city requires proper boat lighting. The city also asks for no music and no disturbing noise on the canals, because the canals are a home for the people who live beside them.
What to look for from the water
Routes differ by boat, so the list below is a guide to the setting, not a fixed route.
The three main canals
The Herengracht, the Keizersgracht and the Prinsengracht form the core of the canal ring. The Singel is the older city moat. Read more on the canal ring page.
Gables
Step gables date from about 1600 to 1665, spout gables from about 1620 to 1720, neck gables from about 1640 to 1770 and bell gables from about 1660 to 1790. These are approximate periods and not exact build years. See canal houses.
Bridges
Bridges frame the view at almost every turn. The Magere Brug over the Amstel is a white wooden double drawbridge. See bridges for the Blauwbrug and others.
Houseboats
About 750 houseboats lie within the Singel. Converted cargo ships are called woonschip, and houses built to float are called woonark. See houseboats.
Canal cruise types compared
Two cruises and the boat types around them.
| Type | Example length | Example price in 2026 | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day cruise | 75 minutes | From €18.50 | A first overview in daylight |
| Evening cruise | 90 minutes | From €20.80 | Lit houses and bridges after dark |
| Covered boat | Varies | Varies | Rain, wind and winter |
| Open boat | Varies | Varies | Fine weather and photos |
| Private group boat | Varies | Varies | Groups that want their own boat |
For most visitors, a covered day cruise of about 75 minutes is the easiest first choice. Pick an evening cruise if you come mainly for the lights, and an open boat if the weather is dry and you want to be close to the water.
Plan the rest of your trip
Where the cruise fits.
Amsterdam canal cruise: frequently asked questions
How long is an Amsterdam canal cruise?
It depends on the product. A day cruise can take 75 minutes and an evening cruise 90 minutes. There is no fixed length or route for all cruises.
How much does a canal cruise cost?
A 75-minute day cruise starts from €18.50 and a 90-minute evening cruise from €20.80 in 2026. The city levy of €2.70 per passenger may be shown separately.
Is the boat covered or open?
Both exist. Covered and heated glass-roof boats run next to open boats. Heating and toilets are not on every open boat, so read the details of the cruise you pick.
Do children pay less?
On a 90-minute evening cruise, children aged 5 to 11 pay from €16.30 and children from 0 to 4 years pay €0, and the levy shown for them is also €0. Age limits differ by cruise, so check the one you choose.
Are all boats electric?
Not necessarily. The city names zero-emission operation as a condition for the permit, but hydrogen, muscle power and transition permits are also part of the rules.