Amsterdam Canal Cruises
Exploring Amsterdam’s canals
…is one of the best ways to see the city’s beautiful attractions.
There are a lot of ways to experience the canals of Amsterdam .
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The most popular is going on a standard tour offered by several canal busses.
These tours are usually available from March to November…
and are open from 9am – 5 pm everyday depending on the weather conditions.
There is no need for reservations for individual passengers but you need to line up for your ticket which costs from 7.50 to 9.00 euros for a 1-hour tour. Advanced booking is required for big groups.
An automated commentary in Dutch, English and French would guide you aboard as you see the different sites.
The route varies from company to company and there are those that…
offer different routes to choose from like the Canal Bus where you can hop in and get off to any of its 14 stops and hop in to the next Canal Bus if you want to move on.
The routes however will almost always pass through the must-see….
Sea Palace Floating Restaurant
……..attractions like churches, museums, historical houses, buildings,
St. Nicholas Church
Nemo Science museum
House of A Thousand Windows
Haarlemmer Stuis - former sea lock
…….. and within the canal itself… like the smallest canal shown below
and the famous 7 arches canal named after the seven bridges that traverse
the canal and can be seen on water level as seven consecutive arches.
Seven Arches Bridges
However, better way to explore the canals is by renting private boats.
You could stop anywhere, tie the boat on the canal sides… get off …
…explore the surrounding area and return to your boat as you please.
Three hours to four hours is the best range of time to rent a private boat.
This way you could enjoy and relax and see the attractions at your own pace
and maximize the use of the boat to your heart’s content.
The view from the water is splendid as you see these attractions…
…from a different perspective.
Some locals also rent boats for a birthday bash or even wedding receptions.
Others just want a private celebration of sort.
There are those who have their own boats and enjoy cruising the canals quietly…
leaving everything behind to relax and take advantage of the nice weather.
There are also companies that offer private boats cruises with dinner on board….
….a wine and cheese tasting cruise , or a pancake cruise and as the name suggests, that’s what you get to eat on board… of your own choosing.
Another way of exploring the canals is by renting canal water bikes.
But it would take two pairs of strong legs to maneuver them specially
on turns and corners that if you do not plan to get tired or is simply not up to it you would be better off renting a small boat so you could enjoy the experience fully.
Otherwise take the regular standard tour if you don’t have much time and simply
want to have a souvenier photo of yourself taken.
in case you’re wondering who this is…
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Another informative and insightful post on a city I passed through in my travels but never made the time to explore. Thanks for helping me get a small glimpse of what I could have experienced, clearly I missed the boat on Amsterdam.
I lived in Amsterdam for four months. Renting a boat can be nice, but the best way to see the city is by bike.
hello aaron,
i totally agree with what u said…. but its also nice to see the city from a different perspective and i try to give my readers a glimpse of amsterdam in different ways, besides cruising the waters is totally a relaxing experience especially if u are on a private boat ..it actually feels decadent and luxurious….which a bike could never do. btw, i bike everyday but boating is something i couldn’t do all the time.. thus.. the experience alone of being on a boat is worth already the time spent.
thanks for stopping by.. have a good day!
mizdi
hi Panor,
im glad u found my posts informative and insightful.. that’s exactly what i hope to share.. insights on amsterdam… and don’t despair, who knows maybe there would be a next time for a visit.. you will never know…
keep you fingers crossed. cheers!
mizdi
Hi Mizdi,
As always, I enjoy your sharing of the city of Amsterdam! This way I can enjoy what I may never experience otherwise! Thank you my friend.
Fernando´s last blog ..http://jito.stumbleupon.com/review/34482123/
Hello jito,
pardon me for calling u Jito but i think that name is cute….and that’s how i’ve known u first.. thank you for sharing your thoughts… it gives me a sense of fulfillment when i know friends like you do enjoy my posts, i really appreciate your visting again and leaving a comment. Godbless!
NICE. & it’s nicer coz i was there too! lol
hehehehe…but of course!
Wow excellent pictures! They are so beautiful, I really like the one in which the cruise ship reflects against the water and looks almost 3D! I have always wanted to go to Amsterdam, props to you for going!
Whitney Segura´s last blog ..Summer Garden Tips
Awesome photos! Makes me want to go to Amsterdam. Been seeing tons of commercials on tv for Amstel Light. Of course their showing with a partying place it is with all the good times. Does anyone over there really drink this beer? Hope all is well on your side of the world. Ready to travel after your wonderful pictures. All the best…LL
hi lorenzo,
wow… nice to know them pictures made u want to travel in Amsterdam. i assure you, what u see is what u get. you’ll fall in love with the place with all its unique characteristics…. and yes we do drink Amstel beer and 39 other Dutch beers some 20 German beers and about 10 British beers and some others coming from Belguim and Czech Republic .. which i think i should write another article about coz i can’t list them all here.. ..yes.. we are beer drinkers, absolutely! Hic!