Top Amsterdam Water Tours

If there's one must-do activity for first-time visitors to Amsterdam, it's a scenic sightseeing cruise along the city's UNESCO World Heritage-listed canal ways. Unlike the popular party boats, this cruise prioritizes a quieter and more comfortable experience. Settle into the cushioned seats, tuck into some traditional Dutch snacks, or purchase a drink from the onboard bar as you glide past Amsterdam's waterfront landmarks.

Glide through Amsterdam’s canals in style and comfort aboard a 100% electric luxury boat. Enjoy a relaxed cruise past top landmarks such as the Anne Frank House and the Jordaan district, while your live guide and skipper share stories about the city’s history and culture and pour you drinks from the onboard bar (if option selected). In summer, cruise on an open boat and take in the views with a drink from the onboard bar. On colder or rainy days, stay warm and comfortable on a covered saloon boat, with blankets provided.

See Amsterdam at your own pace with a hop-on hop-off bus or boat tour, including the option to combine both onto one ticket. Select a 24- or 48-hour ticket with several stops around town, enhanced by optional sightseeing around Amsterdam’s postcard-perfect network of waterways on the canal cruise. Pass by the Anne Frank House, National Maritime Museum, Heineken Experience, and eclectic neighborhoods like Jordaan and the historical Red Light District, where you can disembark to explore.

Cruising down Amsterdam’s iconic canals is one of the most popular activities in the city. Join this exciting small-group cruise guided by local skippers who share the city's most beautiful spots. Sip on an optional drink (alcoholic or soft drink), as you pass highlights like The Dancing Houses and the Skinny Bridge. The skipper provides commentary in English, with digital guides available in multiple languages.

Admire Amsterdam's UNESCO–listed canals from the water's edge—and enjoy a fun-filled way to get the party started at the same time—on this open-air boat tour. Explore the neighborhoods and iconic views of Amsterdam, all while enjoying two complimentary alcoholic drinks provided on board. This tour is also smoke-friendly, so you're welcome to bring your coffee-shop purchases with you.

This award-winning Amsterdam canal cruise departs in the early morning, before the city comes alive. Marvel at the clear, mirrored reflections of canal homes on the water while you float past landmarks and your Amsterdam-raised captains narrate. You'll cruise on a historic, electric boat from 1928 that's hosted royals and has an open-air sundeck. Coffee, tea, and snacks are provided along with a cozy atmosphere on this small-group tour.

Want to see the sights of Amsterdam from a boat, yet avoid the tourist crowds? Step aboard an electric sloop with a small group and enjoy unobstructed views of the city's landmarks. Enjoy Dutch snacks like bitterballen, stroopwafels, and local cheese as well as drinks from the open bar—including beer, wine, mulled wine, hot chocolate, and Dutch jenever—while your captain shares stories about the secrets of the city.

Cruise Amsterdam’s scenic canals in a fully electric boat, while your hosts give you a glimpse into modern Dutch life. Enjoy an open bar with local goodies like craft beer, wines, and nonalcoholic beverages. A snack platter with fruit, cheese, cookies, and sausages is also provided. This peaceful, scenic cruise is a great choice for first-time visitors and those who want to escape the crowds on land.

Discover the Dutch countryside on this full-day tour to Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam, and Marken. Round-trip transfer from central Amsterdam ensures a hassle-free trip. See windmills, waterlands, cheese makers, and clog factories up close. Discover the region's rich history firsthand from a professional guide. The price includes tasters of cheese and other local produce, as well as interior tours. There's also an option to embark on a 1-hour canal sightseeing tour right after the tour, which ends at Amsterdam Central Station.

You’ve seen the canals—now it’s time to get on the water. During this 1-hour cruise, you pass all of the Dutch capital's waterfront highlights. As you listen to stories from your guide or an audio guide, you float past islands, beautiful bridges, Centraal Station, historic warehouses, churches, and more, leaving with a deeper appreciation of this historic city than you'd get if you tried sightseeing alone.

Get a feel for Amsterdam, without getting sore feet as you explore the city, with this canal cruise. Simply board your boat, and let your skipper-guide handle the navigation and the route. Enjoy an itinerary that passes historic buildings and lively neighborhoods, as you listen to insightful commentary along the way.

Relax after a busy day of sightseeing on a private evening cruise of Amsterdam’s historic canals. Take in views of the historic waterways at sunset, travelling through areas including the UNESCO-listed Canal District and De Wallen, and benefit from a customizable itinerary according to the group’s interests. Gain insight into the landmarks and routes from you local skipper, and choose a tour time that suits your schedule.

Elevate your Amsterdam canal cruise when you book this experience aboard a fully covered, 19th-century wooden saloon boat. Cruise along the UNESCO-listed canals and see bucket-list sights like the Anne Frank House, the Rijksmuseum, and the picturesque Jordaan district while listening to commentary from your onboard guide—you get the stories behind the sights that you'd easily miss if you explored alone.

Pair pizza with an evening cruise along Amsterdam’s canals and you have this dream of a dinner, perfect for the family. Admire Amsterdam’s top attractions from the water as you dig into delicious pizza and unlimited drinks. Onboard audio commentary and the city’s twinkling lights illuminate your Amsterdam canal cruise.

Hit three Netherlands signature scenic areas in a group of no more than eight travelers on this action-packed day tour, with an itinerary you couldn’t hope to cover on public transport. Tour a cheese factory and a clog factory and watch a diamond-cutting demo in Zaanse Schans, take pictures at the Enclosing Dike (Afsluitdijk), and enjoy a boat cruise and free time in Giethoorn, the Venice of the Netherlands.

As the sun goes down over Amsterdam, take in its illuminated waterfront and history on an atmospheric canal cruise. Savor a 4-course gourmet dinner with wine, beer, soft drinks as you drift past historical attractions including the Anne Frank House and the Bloemenmarkt, while listening to informative commentary. Please note only available Wed -Sat

Discover the UNESCO-listed Amsterdam Canal Ring (Grachtengordel) on a cruise captained by Amsterdam native Captain Bow (or one of his friends). You’ll explore in a group limited to only 12 passengers, so you enjoy an intimate experience and receive personalized attention from your guide.

See Amsterdam's highlights from a unique, waterside perspective with this sightseeing canal cruise. The weather won’t affect your comfort as you sit in the sun or under a covered deck as you cruise the UNESCO-listed Amsterdam Canal Ring, taking a route and seeing sights that you might otherwise miss. Celebrate the occasion by adding unlimited drinks, or opt for a booze-free experience.

Explore Amsterdam and glide along its iconic waterways on this small-group canal cruise with a twist: your boat is adorned with colorful tulips. With only 10 seats available, this intimate experience lets you enjoy picturesque views without the crowds. Sip a drink from the bar—extra cost—as you sail through the city and pass landmarks including the Dancing Houses and the Seven Bridges viewpoint.

See a different side of Amsterdam as you admire its beautiful canals by night on this cruise. Give your body a break from a day of exploring and relax as you pass by landmarks such as the Westerkerk and Rijksmuseum. As you cruise, learn more about the city’s history via an audio guide, available in multiple languages so you can listen in your native language.

The best way to explore the UNESCO-listed Amsterdam Canal Ring is indisputably by a small electric boat that can access the narrow historic canals that larger tour boats can't reach. Get a different perspective of the Dutch capital while avoiding the crowds on land during this relaxing cruise through the Red Light District, Anne Frank House, and the Skinny Bridge (depending on the route chosen). When the weather is good, enjoy an open-air boat ride as well as heated seats during the winter or bad weather.

The Anne Frank House covers the annex and the diary, but little of the city around it. A walking route through the Jewish Quarter fills that gap, passing the Portuguese Synagogue, the Jewish Historical Museum, and the Auschwitz Monument. A guide sets out the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, the February Strike, and the Winter of Hunger. The route ends outside the Anne Frank House.

Amsterdam has many canal cruises to choose from, but most of them aren't smoke-friendly. This coffee shop cruise lets you enjoy the sights in a more relaxed environment. You can learn about local coffeeshop history from your host while on board, including how marijuana was decriminalized and how the city's coffeeshop scene evolved, or simply enjoy the ride. Drinks, including alcoholic beverages, are not included but can be purchased on board.