9
Amsterdam 2 hour canal cruise
Our tour was simply amazing, a must for everyone coming to Amsterdam who wants an intimate, fun, and knowledgeable experience of the city! Oliver was amazing!!
Amsterdam travel guide: tickets, best time & real costs
Ultimate Amsterdam Light Festival Cruise
+6 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 1h 30min–2h
- Price from
- $120 / person
- Location
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Rating
- 4.8 / 5 · 54 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 24
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Pure Boats
- Meeting point
- This is a 2 hour cruise onboard the Pure Spirit or Danique.The starting part is on a small dock outside of Keizersgracht 106.Please be at the dock about 5 minutes before departure time, since we cannot wait for late arrivals.
Description
Join us for the 15th edition of Amsterdam Light Festival and experience the illuminated canals from the comfort of one of our boutique boats. Choose between our 90-minute cruise aboard Stan Huygens or spend more time on the canals with our 2-hour experience aboard Danique or Pure Spirit. Every cruise includes an open bar with beer, wine, soft drinks and warm mulled wine, together with stories about the artworks and Amsterdam from your local captain or host. Our small group cruises are designed for guests looking for a more personal and relaxed way to experience Amsterdam Light Festival, without the atmosphere of a large sightseeing boat.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 4:30 PM, 7:00 PM, 7:15 PM, 9:15 PM, and 9:30 PM
- Season
- Starts Nov 27
- Next available
- Fri, Nov 27
- Adult (ages 14+)
- $95
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
Out at sunset: the 4:30 PM departure is under way when the sun sets, around 5:06 PM in the coming weeks.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 22.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Amsterdam
As an official partner of the Amsterdam Light Festival 2023/ 2024, join this cruise to see a showcase of the winter art works of this enchanting city, aboard Your warm and cozy boats (with mulled wine!). The Light Festival is on from 30 November 2023 until 21 January 2024. During the Amsterdam Light Festival Boat Tour, 20 artists showcase their installations along a route of the canals, which is of course best seen on one of Your luxurious heated boats on this 1.5hr small group tour. With a focus on quality and service, we strive to show you the best possible time in a refined but relaxed setting, aboard high end, customised boats. Beginning in the famous canal district (Keizersgracht), we invite you aboard one of Your handcrafted, classic electric canal cruisers to experience a unique Amsterdam Light Festival boat tour. We stick to a small group of guests to ensure a spacious and personalised experience.
Amsterdam Light Festival
During this 1.5 hours cruise we will cruise the Amsterdam Light Festival route past the 20 light artworks, which illuminate the canals. Your captain will be your guide, as well as tell you all about the impressive artworks by renowned artists.
What's included
Included
Light Festival fee included in the ticket price
A sharing platter with typical Dutch nibbles
Selection of non-alcoholic beverages are included
Your selection of local Amsterdam beers & European wines and mulled wine, are covered in a high-end self service open bar
Not included
Gratuities
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.8
54 reviews
How it compares in Amsterdam
- Starting price $120 is 75% above the typical $69 for tours of similar length in Amsterdam
Excurgo comparison of 2,120 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
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 Ultimate Amsterdam Light Festival Cruise take?
Ultimate Amsterdam Light Festival Cruise lasts about 1h 30min–2h. The itinerary has 2 stops.
How much does Ultimate Amsterdam Light Festival Cruise cost?
Prices start at $120 per person for this Amsterdam experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 2 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Ultimate Amsterdam Light Festival Cruise run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 4:30 PM, 7:00 PM, 7:15 PM, 9:15 PM, and 9:30 PM.
Can I cancel Ultimate Amsterdam Light Festival Cruise 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 This is a 2 hour cruise onboard the Pure Spirit or Danique. The starting part is on a small dock outside of Keizersgracht 106. Please be at the dock about 5 minutes before departure time, since we cannot wait for late arrivals. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Ultimate Amsterdam Light Festival Cruise offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 24 participants.
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Ultimate Amsterdam Light Festival Cruise worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.8 out of 5 across 54 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Pure Boats.
Reviews(54)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
9
Thank you Olivier
Excellent experience, very pleasant, informative and fun. One of the best ways to discover Amsterdam for sure.
7
Great!
What a beautiful boat! Micha was a nice skipper and had devised a nice sailing route along most of the highlights. As requested beforehand, there were plenty of local beers cold and the drinks boxes were delicious. Back on the deck we could smoke, which was also top. Also ideal was the toilet on board. Very nice experience and we will definitely do it again!!
A
Ultimate Amsterdam Light Festival Cruise
The Light tour was so much fun! The guides were knowledgeable, entertaining, and very nice. Seeing the lights and learning more about the festival was really cool. Plus the boat we were on was enclosed and heated which was appreciated since it was quite cold out. The open bar (which included beers, wines, non-alcoholic drinks, and gluhwein) also helped with the cold lol. Highly recommend this tour!
V
Amazing boat cruise
The boat trip was the highlight of our visit. The boat was beautiful, the staff was knowledgeable and helpful and the views were incredible. We highly recommend it.
6
A Canal tour on the Lucy is a true gem.
Our nighttime canal tour on the Lucy was a true gem - mostly because of our Captain and the Lucy herself - both exceeded our expectations. The Light Festival itself left a little to be desired but that's a minor compliant - the trip itself was a fun and unique experience for us. I imagine that any day or night outing on the Lucy through the canals is a trip worth taking - much different and more personal than the larger tour boats.
M
Amazing group tour
The captain was amazing. She showed us all the sites, unlimited drinks on board which is so unexpected for this price. Love Amsterdam, created the best atmosphere.
L
Worth Every Penny!
This was one of the best things we did in Amsterdam. Really liked the intimate setting of only 16 people on the boat with all drinks included, I had 3 glasses of mulled wine which made the experience feel so festive. We had a nice selection of cheese, crackers, grapes, olives and nuts which went lovely with the drinks. We had Micha (Captain Mouse) who was a great host with comedian personally. As we passed other boats crammed full of people we knew we had made the right decision booking with Pure Boats. If you are reading this and undecided on what boat to book on, hopefully this will make your mind up as I certainly wasn’t disappointed.
B
Lights were not impressive
The crew was amazing! However, the lights were not great. The lights were not very festive. The light sculptures were more modern interpretive art rather than holiday fun. There were not that many lights. It was not impressive at all. It was difficult to take good pictures because of the glare on the windows and because the boat was low and you mostly saw the wall of the canals. Again, the crew was amazing and very friendly and informative.
W
Very disappointing
The Light - and Art in Light festival was extremely limited. It was more a night “rondvaart”, than an Inspiring Light Festival. The tour guides were mixed. The Dutch guy knowledgeable and calm, the Eastern European lady extremely basic in her knowledge and throwing disrespectful cliches about Dutch culture and hysterically annoying
Compare similar tours in Amsterdam
- Lowest price: Amsterdam Light Festival Winter Walk with Stroopwafel Tasting — $21
- Best rated: The Ultimate Amsterdam Canal Cruise - 2hr - Small Group with Drinks & Snacks — 4.9 (1,079 reviews)
- Shortest: Light Festival Private Cruise incl Snacks and a glass wine — 1h 15min
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ultimate Amsterdam Light Festival Cruise | 1h 30min–2h | 4.8 (54) | $120 | |
 Light Festival Private Cruise incl Snacks and a glass wine | 1h 15min | 4.8 (41) | $257 | View |
 Amsterdam: Light Festival Boat with optional drinks | 1h 15min | 4.9 (534) | $28 | View |
 The Ultimate Amsterdam Canal Cruise - 2hr - Small Group with Drinks & Snacks | 2 hours | 4.9 (1,079) | $111 | View |
 90-min Amsterdam Light Festival Tour | 1h 30min | 4.9 (72) | $160 | View |
 Amsterdam Light Festival Winter Walk with Stroopwafel Tasting | 2 hours | 4.8 (67) | $21 | View |
 Amsterdam Light Tour and Family Canal Cruise | 2 hours | 5.0 (2) | $481 | View |
from$120
4.8(54) Free cancellation