THE BEST CANAL CRUISE IN AMSTERDAM
the best way to see
amsterdam
One of the best ways to see Amsterdam is cruising through its canals by boat. As you can imagine there are a lot of companies offering tours but as I mentioned in my post 10 things you must do in Amsterdam, not all tours are created equal. After researching various companies, I found a major difference which I’ll share below, along with my favorite tour and the one I recommend you book.
which boat to book?
there are different styles
You will want to book an open boat, which is the main difference between other companies and the company I booked. Most companies don’t offer an open boat but instead a glass top boat, which is completely enclosed with tiny windows, so your view of Amsterdam’s historic monuments is obstructed. I’ll explain the differences a bit more below, and add a few companies that offer open boat tours with a local.
WHY NOT TO BOOK A GLASS-TOP BOAT
In addition to an obstructed view, glass-top boats are also much larger, so they’re limited to which canals they can cross under due to strict water rules. Amsterdam is a boat city so much like driving cars; boats use signals to let one another pass, and there is unspoken boat courtesy and etiquette that take place.
The company I chose offers glass-top boats with an audio guide in 21 languages (free earphones supplied), but I recommend spending a few euros more for their open boat tour, where you’ll hear live commentary from the guide/boat driver, not earphones.
WHY YOU SHOULD BOOK AN OPEN-BOAT
Remember, these boats are smaller, which allows them to cross under every bridge, giving you an authentic experience. I especially loved that my boat offered a basket of blankets so that everyone could get cozy during the 75-minute canal cruise.
I highly recommend arriving early to grab a seat on the bow of the boat (across from the driver) for maximum obstruction-free views. For reference, all of the photos and videos in this post were taken while sitting there.
more amsterdam posts
to help you plan your trip
10 Things You Must Do In Amsterdam
This city is surprisingly pretty romantic! The canals, greenery, museums, and Dutch Canal houses, truly make this city special. Here are 10 things you must do in Amsterdam.
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6 Dutch Foods To Try in Amsterdam
These are the 6 Dutch foods to try in Amsterdam. The first is Amsterdam’s most popular treat, Stroopwafel, and this shop has the most authentic Stroopwaffle in the city!
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Visiting The Anne Frank House
A complete guide to visiting the Anne Frank House. Which ticket to purchase and tips for visiting the Museum and Secret Annex in Amsterdam.
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