15 Amsterdam Light Festival Tours in Amsterdam Worth Your Time

1.Light Festival Boat with Unlimited Drinks Option

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

Cruise Amsterdam’s Light Festival aboard a cozy electric boat for 75 minutes, passing about 20 illuminated artworks from the Golden Bend to NEMO and Magere Brug. Your English-speaking host explains the art, canals, and city. Choose the drinks package for unlimited beer, wine, glühwein, hot chocolate, soft drinks, and a welcome snack.

“We had an amazing time onboard with our guide Sabrina from Australia and Mike who controlled the boat (I'm sure it's not called a "boat", but I'm pretty clueless). The Glühwein was delicious and Sabrina kept up the great atmosphere. She also was very knowledgeable about many things aside from the Lights Festival. There was enough space for everyone and it was pretty cozy. We also had a good laugh at some of the stories and jokes Sabrina told. Full recommendation!”

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2.Light Festival Heated Cruise with Drinks & Snacks

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

Take a 75-minute evening cruise from Amsterdam Central Station on a heated, covered boat. See Light Festival artworks, bridges, houseboats, and canal views while your English-speaking captain and guide explain the sights. Drinks are available, with unlimited drinks and a snack box included in selected options. Guides may include Bobby Brown, Elysian, Sofia, or Lieke.

“Amazing experience! The light installations were stunning, and the cozy boat with warm blankets and drinks made it perfect. The guide was friendly and shared great insights. A must-do during the Amsterdam Light Festival!”

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3.Light Festival Heated Cruise w/ Drinks & Snacks

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

Spend 75 minutes on Amsterdam’s canals aboard a classic heated saloon boat, passing more than 20 Light Festival artworks. Your English-speaking host explains the installations, bridges, and city history while beer, wine, mulled wine, soft drinks, and optional snacks are served. Guides such as Tom, Sophia, Kevin, Roos, and Captain Jacqueline have been praised for lively commentary.

“Loved the city facts, history and of course the innovate art installations. The guide was interactive, attentive and inclusive. the boat was warm and cosy and the journey was steady and pleasant. Highly recommend! 10/10 across board!”

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4.Amsterdam Light Festival Live Commentary & Optional Drinks

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

You’ll cruise from Badhuiskade on a covered, heated electric boat, following a route through the IJ, Herengracht, Amstel, and central canals. Your captain provides live English or Dutch commentary, with audio guides in German too. Look for Han as captain, though crew assignments can vary, and buy drinks or stroopwafels onboard.

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

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5.Light Festival Cruise with Unlimited Drinks Option

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

Cruise Amsterdam’s canals and Amstel River for about 75 minutes while guides such as Sabrina, Roger, Olly, and Andreas explain the light installations, city history, and architecture. The small boat holds up to 26 people, with unlimited drink options including gluhwein and hot chocolate. Bring warm layers, since open windows can make the ride chilly.

“I was disappointed there were not much lights to see, the boat ride was nice but very few lights . If they are going to really show case Christmas make it more festival .”

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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 a covered Amsterdam canal boat following the Light Festival route and its 20-plus artworks. A local skipper and live guide explain the sights, while your selected package adds a small bite or stroopwafel and drinks such as hot chocolate, glühwein, beer, wine, or soda. The boat holds up to 45 people.

“It was the 1st night of 2023 Lights Festival and the crew was great. I went on the last cruise of the night & a few minutes late getting lost on my walk to the boat, but they waited which was awesome! There were blankets and plenty of Gluwein to keep you warm.”

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

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

Spend 75 minutes on Amsterdam’s canals viewing Light Festival installations from a covered boat. A local skipper and live guide provide commentary, while selected options include unlimited beer, wine, mulled wine, hot chocolate, soft drinks, and a small bite or stroopwafel. Boat design and visibility can vary.

“While the canal tour was lovely, this booking platform is the spammiest most awful experience I've had in a long time. I have tried to get them to stop messaging me but their system persists. I have no doubt they are also selling my contact information to other entities and it feels like I have ruined my email account by engaging with this product. Extremely disappointing. 😔”

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

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

Cruise Amsterdam’s Light Festival for 75 minutes in a covered saloon boat with a live guide and local skipper. Choose an evening departure, then add unlimited beer, wine, mulled wine, hot chocolate, and soda with a small bite or stroopwafel. Guides such as Salim, Celia, Stan, and Randy have earned high praise, but visibility and crowding can vary.

“Wonderful experience with a great crew Eric E and Edom were great and informative on the canal and about Amsterdam. Friendly and warm”

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

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

Cruise Amsterdam’s Light Festival for 75 minutes with a local skipper and live guide. You’ll pass more than 20 art installations from a covered boat, with a small snack or stroopwafel and unlimited beer, wine, mulled wine, and soft drinks available on the selected package. Expect a chilly ride and check the boat type before booking.

“The tour guide was in experienced and didn’t really know what to say to each art piece. I don’t think we saw half of the art pieces as there was over 20 and we may have seen maybe 10 at most. It felt very cheap and would benefit from better service focus. I would try find a better company next time.”

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10.Amsterdam Light Festival Winter Walk with Stroopwafel Workshop

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

Walk central Amsterdam in a group of up to 15, starting at Dam Square and visiting the Royal Palace, Munttoren, Flower Market, Begijnhof, Spui, Nine Streets, and Jordaan. Your guide adds city history and Light Festival views, then you make and taste stroopwafels with hot chocolate.

“Very little content and information for a lot of walking! No winer hat or rain poncho as stated in trip itinerary and although we did get a “warm” drink at the end of the walk, the cafe owner wasn’t very happy on our arrival and we were mad to feel like an inconvenience!! Definitely give it a miss 👎🏻”

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11.Light Festival Cruise With Drinks & Snacks

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 62 reviews · from $31

Join an English-speaking host and skipper near Amsterdam Central Station for a 75-minute covered-boat cruise through the Light Festival. See illuminated art from the canals, pass NEMO, Magere Brug, and the historic canal belt, and choose an option with unlimited beer, wine, Glühwein, soft drinks, and snacks.

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12.Light Festival Heated Cruise & Unlimited Drinks!

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

Board a covered, heated electric boat near Amsterdam Central Station for a 75-minute evening cruise through the canal belt. Your captain shares stories about the Light Festival, while you enjoy unlimited drinks such as gluhwein and beer. Olivier has led some departures, and boats may be named Mosi Jo or Zaza.

“really nice skipper, and the heating was a good help!”

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13.Light Festival Boat Tour with Warm Drinks

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 34 reviews · from $31

Spend 75 minutes on KINboat’s open canal boat, viewing Amsterdam Light Festival installations from the water. An English or Dutch guide, including captain Dule on some departures, explains the art and the Rituals theme. Blankets and tea are included, with mulled wine available for an extra charge on some tours.

“The skipper was super cool, knew a lot and the light sculptures became even more scenic after a cup of tea.”

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14.Light Festival Heated Cruise with Drinks Option

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 32 reviews · from $31

Join an English-speaking guide aboard a heated, covered boat for a 75-minute cruise through Amsterdam’s Light Festival. See illuminated artworks reflected on historic canals, hear the stories behind them, and choose an upgrade with unlimited mulled wine, beer, sodas, and snacks. Meet by Sea Palace, five minutes from Central Station.

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15.Amsterdam Light Festival Canal Cruise + Unlimited Drinks Option

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

Join KINboat at Amsterdam Central Station for a 75-minute private canal cruise past Light Festival installations. Choose a departure between 5 and 10pm, listen to live English commentary, and enjoy a heated boat when available. On December 31, the package includes snacks and unlimited drinks, though late departures are restricted to 5pm for safety.

“Disappointed in the Light Festival Canal tour. The light displayed were not holiday oriented and very spread out. When we got to the location we were told to get on a specific boat. It was not fully enclosed as the picture shows. There ended up only being 3 of us on the boat. It appeared KIN had other boats,with more people, so not sure why we were put on this one. I will say our Captain/Tour Guide was very knowledgeable and did a good job.”

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