Tours/Amsterdam/Amsterdam: Light Festival Boat with optional drinks
Amsterdam: Light Festival Boat with optional drinks
4.9(534)Amsterdam1h 15min
VIATOR4.4(18)TRIPADVISOR4.9(516)
+4 photos
At a glance
Duration
1h 15min
Price from
$28 / person
Location
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Rating
4.9 / 5 · 534 reviews
Languages
DE, PT, CMN, EN
Group
Small group, up to 28
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Confirmation
Instant
Ticket
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Operator
Eco Boats Amsterdam
Meeting point
Our location is right in front of Amsterdam Central Station, directly in front of the tram stops by the water. You can recognize us by our dark green beach flag and staff wearing shirts with 'Eco Boats' on it. Please use Google Maps to find the correct location, not Apple Maps.
Description
Until 18th of January the Amsterdam Light Festival takes place. This festival gives artists the chance to show 27 illuminated pieces of art in the canals of Amsterdam. The best way is seeing them is from a canal boat with our English speaking Skipper.
✔️ Drinks optional
Sit back and relax with a wine, beer or soda & Dutch Snacks which you can book optional.
✔️ Small Group
We cruise with a small group of maximum of 28 passengers
✔️ Highlights
Apart from the illuminated works of art. We'll pass by the best highlights in Amsterdam. From The Dancing Houses to the Seven Bridges, onto the Skinny Bridge.
✔️ Guide language
Our skipper speaks English, but we have a digital booklet with guided information in English, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, German, French and Italian.
✔️ Location
We depart right in front of Amsterdam Central Station, in one of our brand new stylish and electric Eco Boats.
Schedule & prices
Runs
Every day
Start times
32 times a day, 4:20 PM–9:45 PM
Season
Starts Nov 26
Next available
Thu, Nov 26
Adult (ages 15+)
$28
Child (ages 4–14)
$19
Infant (ages 0–3)
Free
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
Out at sunset: the 4:20 PM departure is under way when the sun sets, around 5:23 PM in the coming weeks.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 13.
Tour Options
Cruise without a drink
Cruise without any drinks
Cruise with 1 drink
Cruise with 1 drink: Cruise with one cold or hot drink (beer, wine, Soda)
Unlimited drinks
Itinerary
Canal Ring (Grachtengordel)
Pass by
Explore Amsterdam by visiting its UNESCO-listed canals.
We'll pass by the best highlights in Amsterdam. From The Dancing Houses to the Seven Brigdes. On the Amstel and underneath the Skinny Bridge, all to be seen from our canal boat.
Amsterdam Light Festival
Pass by
Great to take photo's of these Art works (they are a limited time in Amsterdam )
St. Nicholas Basilica
Pass by
Paas by this beautiful basilica
NEMO Science Museum
Pass by
The NEMO building as the striking, copper-green shape rising high above Amsterdam's eastern docklands. Architect Renzo Piano had a clear vision for his design of the NEMO building, with its very own piazza 22 metres above water level.
Skinny Bridge
Pass by
Skinny bridge, listen carefully to your local guide who tells you about the legend of the Skinny Bridge
Herengracht
Pass by
The Herengracht; Often referred to as the “Gentlemen’s Canal,” it is renowned for its historic charm and elegant 17th-century canal houses.
Haarlemmersluis
Pass by
The Haarlemmer Sluis is a historic sluice (lock) located in Amsterdam, near the junction of the Singel and the IJ River. It was built to regulate water levels in the city’s canals and to prevent flooding, an essential function in a city below sea level. Dating back to the 16th century, the Haarlemmer Sluis reflects Amsterdam’s long history of water management and engineering innovation.
What's included
Included
Welcome snack
(Hot) drinks can be booked optional
Cruise with the proud winner of TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice 2025!
In Person guide ( English and Dutch)
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.9
534 reviews
5
498
4
26
3
2
2
4
1
4
How it compares in Amsterdam
Starting price $28 is 60% below the typical $70 for tours of similar length in Amsterdam
Excurgo comparison of 2,107 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Departure point right in front of Central Station
The route and duration (75 minutes) may vary each time depending on external factors.
On the day itself (depending on the weather conditions) we decide to cruise with an half open or covered boat (with some shelter for rain).
On cold days, please wear warm, clothes, as cruising on water can get cold
On Rainy days, please wear suitable clothing
We only serve alcoholic drinks for travellers 18 years old and above (proof of ID can be asked for). Minor travellers below 18 years old will be served non-alcoholic drink
Our welcome snack may contain traces of nuts, and these traces might also be present on the boat itself (in case of severe nut allergies)
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Amsterdam: Light Festival Boat with optional drinks take?
Amsterdam: Light Festival Boat with optional drinks lasts about 1h 15min. The itinerary has 7 stops.
How much does Amsterdam: Light Festival Boat with optional drinks cost?
Prices start at $28 per person for this Amsterdam experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 3 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Amsterdam: Light Festival Boat with optional drinks run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, with 32 departures a day between 4:20 PM and 9:45 PM.
How much does Amsterdam: Light Festival Boat with optional drinks cost for children?
Children aged 4–14 pay from $19, adults from $28. Infants go free.
Can I cancel Amsterdam: Light Festival Boat with optional drinks for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Our location is right in front of Amsterdam Central Station, directly in front of the tram stops by the water. You can recognize us by our dark green beach flag and staff wearing shirts with 'Eco Boats' on it. Please use Google Maps to find the correct location, not Apple Maps. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Amsterdam: Light Festival Boat with optional drinks offered in?
The experience is available in DE, PT, CMN, EN, EN, IT, FR, NL, NL, ES.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 28 participants.
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Amsterdam: Light Festival Boat with optional drinks worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.9 out of 5 across 534 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Eco Boats Amsterdam.
Reviews(534)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
H
halljud
April 14, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Great tour and tour guide
The tour was perfect! We are non drinkers so having a choice of tickets with or without drinks was nice. We weren’t crowded, so everyone had a chance to take great pictures and the seats were comfortable. Jack, our Captain was relaxed and provided great commentary as we cruised. His insights were not too much, and not too little…but combined w/ the super quiet electric engine, you were able to hear the sounds of the city around you. Again, for us, that was perfect! I highly recommend this tour.
Operator response
Thank you so much, JHall! We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed the Light Festival tour with Captain Jack. It's great that the option to choose tickets without drinks suited your needs, and we're glad you appreciated the peaceful ambience of our electric boat. We'd love to welcome you back for another perfect cruise in the future!
The Amsterdam Eco Boats crew
C
comicc197
March 26, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Great single ride
We decided spontaneously to go on a tour. Since the weather was not so good, we were the only guests. Our boatmaster Mark was very nice and explained everything we wanted to know. The tour was a lot of fun for us, the boat is very cozy.
Operator response
Vielen Dank für Ihre schöne Bewertung! Es freut uns sehr, dass Sie sich spontan für die Tour entschieden haben und sie so genießen konnten. Eine Fahrt nur für Sie macht das Erlebnis natürlich besonders.
Mark wird sich sehr über Ihre netten Worte freuen. Schön zu hören, dass Sie sich an Bord wohlgefühlt haben und alles nach Ihren Wünschen erklärt wurde.
Wir hoffen, Sie bald wieder bei uns begrüßen zu dürfen!
Freundliche Grüße,
Team Eco Boats Amsterdam
P
Passenger281906
February 7, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Great experience!
Bob gave us an amazing experience. He was very funny, charismatic, and friendly. He did an amazing job! He knew the history and answered all our questions. Loved it!
R
Rajet_V
January 22, 2026 · via Viator
Memorable, beautiful boat ride through famous Amsterdam canals
Awesome, peaceful, and informative boat ride through the famous Amsterdam canals. The light exhibits were very neat! Loved the atmosphere on the boat at nighttime, with snacks and drinks. Mike (captain) and Gerardo (guide) were very knowledgeable, welcoming, and created a memorable atmosphere.
A
alexpearls
January 21, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Lovely canal cruise
We had a great experience during this cruise. We were 4 friends enjoying Amsterdam over a short week end. Mark the captain and Jamie were fun and entertaining. They were quite knowledgeable about the city. We also had a drink included in our trip. The boat was comfortable and it wasn’t too cold.
I
imH5150FT
January 20, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Great Experience
The boat trip was excellent!! We had an amazing and knowledgeable guide and we got a perfect tour of Amsterdam, showing all the main spots.
I
ilike2travel15
January 20, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Great tour and great guides with history and a show
Great tour with history and a show. This was the last weekend for the light show. Julian and Mark were very informative and they made the time go quickly. Great intro to Amsterdam.
9
9vidaa
January 19, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Impressive
We had a lot of fun, I really recommend it if you’re in Amsterdam! The views, the people and the art works were great!!!!!!
7
720marijnt
January 19, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Beautiful
Great experiencee! Would recommend this to anyone who is visiting Amsterdam and looking to see the city from the canals perspective.
A
Alex_P
January 19, 2026 · via Viator
Very nice cruise
Lovely canal cruise during the festival of lights. Mark the captain and Jamie were funny and entertaining. We were offered a hot drink or a soft or an alcoholic drink too. We loved the lights and we definitely choose the right time to do the cruise which was 4:50 pm
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Amsterdam: Light Festival Boat with optional drinks
