Amsterdam Canal Cruises Prices

Amsterdam is, with Venice's permission, the city of canals par excellence. These canals are the arteries of the city and cruising along them is the best way to see what there is to see in Amsterdam. There are different cruises that navigate through its more than 160 canals and give us the opportunity to live the most genuine Amsterdam experience. Here is everything you need to know.

The price of Amsterdam canal cruises varies depending on the route and the extras you book. The cheapest option costs 17 euros and thereafter prices go up depending on the length of the route and other factors.

Night cruises are a very interesting option in a city that transforms at night. So here you have all the information about the best night cruises in Amsterdam.

In this link you can see which are the best cruises in Amsterdam and the fares are summarised below:

What Amsterdam canal cruises include

The basic canal cruises take place on semi-open boats with a capacity of about 70 people. The basic tour lasts 1 hour and takes you along the main canals on the banks of which are some of Amsterdam's most famous landmarks, such as the Anne Frank House Museum, the Van Gogh Museum and the imposing façade of the Rijksmuseum.

All cruises include audio guides in almost every language with explanations of the canals, the history of the city and the sights you see on the tour. As an extra on some evening cruises, dinner can be included on board. Private cruises can also be arranged for small groups with an open bar.

The basic price for the cruise is 17 euros, but children get a discount. Children between the ages of 4 and 12 years pay 8 euros and for children under 4 years admission is free.

If you are travelling with babies, please note that some ships are not accessible with pushchairs. However, in these cases, you can leave them on the pier and the company staff will keep them until the end of the tour. However, most cruise ships are prepared to take baby carriages, even if they have to be carried on the lap of a parent.

When you buy the I Amsterdam City Card you can take a cruise on the canals. Plus, when you buy this card you get added benefits such as unlimited use of public transport, entry to 70 museums and attractions in Amsterdam, bike rental for 24 hours and much more.

The price of the card for 24 hours is £50, but you can choose to have it active for 48, 72, 96 or 120 hours, depending on your tastes and needs.

In addition to the basic cruise, another popular option is to book it together with tickets to some of Amsterdam's most important museums and sights. This is a cost-saving alternative and comes at a variety of options and prices:

There are several companies that operate on the canals and offer different services for canal cruises. The main ones are:

• Canal Bus: Has 19 piers located near the museums and tourist sites.
• Holland International: Specialises in dinner cruises.
• Blue Boat: Offers basic cruises and organises events on board.
• Reederij Kooij: A company with cruises every 30 minutes.
• Rederij Plas: Offers many departures every 20 minutes and even 15 minutes during peak periods.
• Lovers: One of the oldest companies with the widest range of services.

Basically all the cruises of these companies offer the same tours at similar prices. The difference lies in the schedules and frequency of departure, as well as the extras that can be contracted separately. The main embarkation points for these companies are at the Central Station, the Leidseplein, the Anne Frank House and the main museums in Amsterdam.

Sadly, no. It used to be possible to cruise the canals of the Dutch city for free thanks to the non-profit organisation The St. Nicolaas Canal Boat Club, a group of volunteers who were dedicated to restoring old small boats that also allow you to go on the smaller canals that are not accessible by cruise ships.

Since 2014, only sightseeing cruises have been available and, although there is no possibility to do it for free, there are plenty of offers and very cost-effective options for canal cruises.

There are several ways to save money on Amsterdam canal cruise tickets. The best way is to buy your tickets in advance and online. This way we can find special offers and it also has the great advantage of saving us the queues to get the tickets at the docks.

Another option is to buy a pack that includes entry to a museum. In these packs you can save a few euros, as both tickets are more expensive separately.

Finally, there is the I Amsterdam card. Buying this card gives you free access to the basic 1-hour cruise tours. It also includes other advantages such as free entrance to museums, access to public transport, etc. Depending on the individual case, it may or may not be worthwhile to purchase this card.