Amsterdam Light Festival Cruises: The 15 Best Sailings

1.Light Festival Boat with Unlimited Drinks Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,570 reviews Our pick

Spend 75 minutes viewing 20 Amsterdam Light Festival installations from a warm, fully electric canal boat. An English-speaking host explains the art, canals, and city. Choose the unlimited drinks package for beer, wine, glühwein, hot chocolate, soda, and a welcome snack. Guides have included Caitlin, Jasper, Sabrina, Timo, and Eliza.

“A very nice boat trip in Amsterdam. The weather was not perfect, but the guide was very good. I can recommend it.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Light Festival Heated Cruise with Drinks & Snacks

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 1,452 reviews · from $31

Spend 75 minutes on a heated, covered saloon boat viewing Amsterdam’s Light Festival from the canals. Your English-speaking captain and guide share stories about the artworks, bridges, buildings, and canal districts. Drinks are included with selected options, while the snack box is optional. Meet near Central Station by the Victoria Hotel.

“Memorable and fun! Our guide Bobby Brown was very entertaining, incorporating appropriately selected songs for each light exhibit as we sailed through the picturesque canal and Amsterdam night scenery.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Light Festival Heated Cruise w/ Drinks & Snacks

★★★★★★★★★★3.6 · 727 reviews · from $31

Board near Victoria Hotel for a 75-minute English canal cruise past more than 20 Amsterdam Light Festival installations. You’ll ride in a classic heated saloon boat, hear about the art and city, and enjoy beer, wine, mulled wine, soft drinks, and snacks when included. Crew members such as Tom, Sophia, Kevin, Roos, and Captain Jacqueline have been praised for warm, lively hosting.

“We had a really amazing tour and service with Kevin and Roos! Thank you so much, you guys, for the great experience!”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Amsterdam Light Festival Live Commentary & Optional Drinks

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 410 reviews · from $31

Board a covered, heated electric boat near Amsterdam Central Station for a 90-minute Light Festival cruise. Your captain, including the warmly praised Han, explains the artworks in English and Dutch. An audio guide, multilingual brochure, drinks, and stroopwafels are available onboard.

“loved the art work as we went round the canals. lovely way to see more of amsterdam”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Light Festival Cruise with Unlimited Drinks Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 263 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $35

You’ll spend about 75 minutes on a small English-language boat from Amstel 178, passing the Amstel River, Magere Brug, Central Station, NEMO, and Rembrandtplein. Guides such as Sabrina, Roger, Olly, Hannah, and Andreas have led trips, with unlimited drinks options including glühwein and hot chocolate. Bring warm layers.

“Enjoyable experience all the better by our great guide Olly funny and knowledgable hopefully next year will add more lights”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Amsterdam Light Festival: Heated Boat Cruise + Hot Drinks & Bite

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 207 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $26Best value

You’ll spend 75 minutes on Amsterdam’s canals viewing more than 20 festival light artworks from a covered boat. A local skipper and live guide explain the route, while drink packages may include glühwein, hot chocolate, beer, wine, soft drinks, and snacks. Guides Philippa and Andre have been praised for creating a cheerful atmosphere.

“We were a little worried at first that it would be a tourist trap and when we saw the line of people, but we had a great time!! The guide was outstanding!!! Funny and also with some history - very amusing, friendly and we all had a fun trip.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Amsterdam Light Festival: Saloon Boat Cruise + Hot Drinks & Bite

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 147 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $26

Cruise Amsterdam’s UNESCO-listed Canal Ring for 75 minutes while a live guide explains the Amsterdam Light Festival artworks and city sights. The covered saloon-style boat offers drinks such as mulled wine, hot chocolate, beer, wine, and soft drinks when selected, plus a small bite or stroopwafel. Guides have included Kiara, Leon, and Ivan.

“It was my first time in Amsterdam and this canal cruise was one of the best ways to experience the city aswell as enjoy the light festival that’s currently on the staff on board were very knowledgeable and very friendly”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Amsterdam Light Festival: Heated Cruise with Hot Drinks & Bite

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 144 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $26

Cruise Amsterdam’s illuminated canals for 75 minutes aboard a covered saloon boat with a live guide and local skipper. Choose an evening departure and add unlimited beer, mulled wine, hot chocolate, and soft drinks with a small bite or stroopwafel. Guides have included Salim, Celia, Stan, Randy, Eric E, and Edom.

“The canal ride was a great way to see the light show. The boat was off putting as it was named the "Titanic" but since there was no icebergs in Amsterdam we figured we were same. The crew was enthusiastic and helpful.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Amsterdam Light Festival: Canal Cruise + Snack & Unlimited Drinks

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 128 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $47

Cruise Amsterdam’s canals for 75 minutes as 20-plus Light Festival artworks glow along the route. A local skipper and live guide provide commentary, while selected packages add a stroopwafel or small snack and unlimited beer, wine, mulled wine, and soft drinks. The covered boat can feel cold and views may be limited by plastic windows.

“The boat was nice and the guide was very enthusiastic and personable. Some of the art installations were dazzling and complex. Others were simply lovely. They made the canals even more beautiful.”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Amsterdam Light Festival Winter Walk with Stroopwafel Workshop

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 66 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) Top rated

Join a small English-language group for a two-hour winter walk from Dam Square past the Royal Palace, canals, Flower Market, Begijnhof, Jordaan, and Light Festival displays. The tour ends with a stroopwafel workshop, tasting, hot chocolate, and a winter hat. Groups are capped at 15 people.

“This was an enjoyable tour where we learned a lot of information from a native tour guide! The history of the city was interesting and the architecture of the buildings was beautiful. We got to make homemade stoopwafles which were yummy!”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Light Festival Cruise With Drinks & Snacks

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 62 reviews · from $31

Meet the orange-clad crew near Amsterdam Central Station, then board a covered boat for a 75-minute English-language cruise through the Light Festival. You’ll pass NEMO, Magere Brug, the canal belt, and Brouwersgracht. Choose the drinks package for unlimited beer, wine, Glühwein, and soft drinks, with snacks included in the selected option.

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Light Festival Heated Cruise & Unlimited Drinks!

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 61 reviews · 1h 15m · from $49

Cruise Amsterdam’s Light Festival from Central Station aboard a covered, heated electric boat. For 75 minutes, your captain, including Olivier on some departures, explains the light installations and city history while you enjoy unlimited beer, gluhwein, and other drinks. Blankets add comfort, though wet weather can still be a problem.

“Hele leuke tour gehad! Olivier wist veel te vertellen over de kunstwerken en de stad zelf. Ondanks dat ik al 10 jaar in amsterdam woon heb ik toch veel nieuwe dingen gehoord. De boot was erg mooi en lekker warm ondanks dat we maar met een klein groepje waren. Volgend jaar weer!”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Light Festival Boat Tour with Warm Drinks

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 34 reviews · from $31

KINboat’s 75-minute open-boat cruise follows Amsterdam’s Light Festival route, with clear views of illuminated art, warm blankets, tea, and a live guide in English or Dutch. Skipper Dule is one praised guide. Dress warmly, arrive 15 minutes early, and note that the boat is not wheelchair accessible.

“Very nice boat tour! our Skipper was friendly, he gave us a lot of information about the city as well as about the light festival. Free thee onboard and Mulled wine for 3€. Would reccomend!”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Light Festival Heated Cruise with Drinks Option

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 32 reviews · from $31

Meet the orange-clad crew beside Sea Palace, near Amsterdam Central Station, for a 75-minute English-guided cruise through the Amsterdam Light Festival. You’ll view illuminated artworks from a heated, covered boat, with an optional package offering unlimited mulled wine, beer, sodas, and snacks.

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Amsterdam Light Festival Canal Cruise + Unlimited Drinks Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 29 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $33

Board KINboat near Amsterdam Central Station for a private 75-minute evening cruise past Light Festival artworks. Your captain navigates while you enjoy onboard commentary, a heated interior, and the option of drinks. Departures run from 5 to 10pm, though New Year’s Eve has special timing rules.

“De Light Festival boot tour van Kinboat is een perfecte keuze voor wie Amsterdam op een sfeervolle en bijzondere manier wil beleven. Of je nu een local bent of een toerist, deze tour biedt een intieme, milieuvriendelijke en magische manier om de stad en haar kunst te bewonderen. Sterk aanbevolen!”

Check availability →Read our full review