Evening City Lights Cruise

Evening City Lights Cruise is one of thirteen canal cruises compared on this site, it runs 1 hour 30 minutes, and the live listing opens at $21 a person. It carries 4.4 from 23,214 reviews, reproduced here exactly as the operator publishes it.

Overview

This is a 90-minute evening canal cruise run by Blue Boat Company, Gray Line Amsterdam, timed so you see the canals after dark. You board a covered, all-weather boat with panoramic windows and glide through the historic waterways while bridges, canal houses and waterfront scenes are lit up around you. An audio guide in more than 20 languages plays through provided headphones.

The route runs through the centre and along the Amstel: past the Westerkerk, Haarlemmersluis and Amsterdam Centraal Station on the water, then the EYE Film Institute Netherlands and the A'DAM Tower, back past Het Scheepvaartmuseum, over the Blauwbrug and the Magere Brug, along the Amstelsluien, by Royal Theater Carre and the Amstel Hotel, through the Golden Bend, and past the Rijksmuseum before returning to one of two drop-off points.

One reviewer described the night ride as peaceful and not crowded. Wine, beer and snacks are available as a paid upgrade on board; the base ticket includes the cruise, seating and audio guide only.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at the dockThere are two possible meeting points, and which one you use depends on the option you select. The listing directs you to check availability for the details.
2. Board the boatYou take a seat on a covered, all-weather boat with panoramic windows. Headphones for the audio guide are provided.
3. Cruise the centreThe boat passes Amsterdam-Centrum, the Prinsengracht, the Westerkerk, Herenmarkt and the Haarlemmersluis, with scenic views on the way.
4. The IJ waterfrontThe route continues past Amsterdam Centraal Station, the EYE Film Institute Netherlands and the A'DAM Tower.
5. Amstel stretchYou pass Het Scheepvaartmuseum, cross the Blauwbrug and the Magere Brug, and go by the Amstelsluien, Royal Theater Carre, the Amstel Hotel and the Golden Bend, then past the Rijksmuseum.
6. DisembarkThe cruise finishes at one of two drop-off locations, depending on the option selected. Optional drinks and snacks are paid for separately on board.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points before you book, drawn from the listing and from what travellers report back.

• Dress warm. The boat is covered and all-weather, so you are shielded from the elements. A layer is sensible even in warmer months.
• Bring your own earphones. Headphones are provided, but the listing itself suggests using your own earphones to listen to the audio commentary and reduce waste.
• Skip the darkest slot. One traveller found their chosen time a little too dark and would pick an earlier slot next time, so the city lights read better against the sky. If your dates allow, compare the available time slots on the booking page.
• Go to the back deck. One reviewer noted you can step out the back of the boat to take pictures. Bring a camera or phone that handles low light, since bridges and lit canal houses are the main photo subjects.
• Consider the upgrade. The wine and cheese package drew direct praise from a traveller who called the choice of cheeses and wine great. Drinks and snacks are not in the base fare, so budget for them if you want a drink in hand.
• Arrive a little early. One group arrived early and was invited onto the departing boat, which saved them a wait. Arriving ahead of your slot worked out well for them, though it is not a guaranteed swap.

Common issues. The most common complaint in feedback concerns the audio: some travellers found the commentary sparse or out of sync with what they were passing, so treat it as background rather than a detailed guided tour. There is no hotel pickup; you make your own way to one of two meeting points depending on the option selected. Drinks and snacks cost extra. One reviewer described a fellow passenger playing music over the shared audio, which is beyond the operator's control but worth knowing if you rely on the commentary. On the plus side, the cruise is wheelchair accessible if you contact the reservations department to reserve a wheelchair seat.

Questions People Ask