The 15 Best Things to Do in Delft

1.Canal Cruise with Guided Commentary

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 990 reviews · from $15Our pick

Spend 45 minutes cruising Delft’s narrow canals with a captain-guide speaking Dutch, English, or German. You’ll pass old canal houses, churches, bridges, and historic sites while hearing about Delft Blue, Johannes Vermeer, the Dutch East India Company, and the city’s patriotic past. The covered boat runs from Koornmarkt 113 and returns there.

“The tour guide had a very in depth knowledge of delft and he was incredibly funny!”

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2.Royal Delft: Delftblue Factory and Museum

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 588 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $21

At Royal Delft, founded in 1653, you follow a self-guided audio tour through the museum and working factory. Watch painters decorate earthenware, see clay poured into molds, browse antique and modern Delft Blue, and finish with coffee or lunch at Brasserie 1653. Audio is available in eight languages, and the site is wheelchair accessible.

“Very interesting and beautiful. It was so great to experience the process of making these beautiful things to learn about the history, and to see what is done today.”

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3.Entrance Ticket for the Old and New Churches

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 229 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $11Best value

Visit Delft’s New Church first, then the Old Church, using one $11 ticket. See royal tombs, William of Orange’s mausoleum, Vermeer’s grave, historic stained glass, a grand organ, and the famous leaning tower. Allow about 90 minutes, and check opening times before you go.

“prachtige kerk, veel historie. de plattegrond die je meekrijgt geeft al veel info. de " rondwandeling " om het praalgraf is fantastisch gedaan. Middels videoschermen ( en ook geschreven tekst) worden historische tijdlijnen en personen besproken. heel mooi gedaan. De maquette van de grafkelder was ook erg mooi en verhelderend.”

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4.Vermeer Centrum Delft Museum Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 189 reviews · 1 day · from $14

Visit Vermeer Centrum Delft for a one-day admission ticket, an audioguide, and 37 full-size reproductions of Vermeer’s paintings. You’ll watch a short film, explore his working methods with lenses and a camera obscura, and study hidden love messages in his art. Plan on about one hour.

“me ha impresionado mucho el estudio profundo que se hace de su obra para sumergirse en el mundo del pintor.”

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5.Royal Delft: Delftblue Factory and Museum Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 145 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $20

Visit Royal Delft, the Netherlands’ last working Delftware factory founded in 1653. Follow a self-guided museum route with an eight-language audio tour, watch painters at work, see royal ceramics and the 480-tile Night Watch, then browse the shop or enjoy the brasserie.

“Great opportunity to visit Delft. Nothing else more to say. Cant write enough for all characters req”

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6.City Center Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 88 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $24

Walk Delft’s historic center for 90 minutes with a live guide in English, Dutch, or German. Starting at the New Church, you’ll see the royal square, town hall, Vermeer Centrum, Prinsenhof, canals, and lopsided Old Church. Frans and Astride are among the guides praised for clear explanations, good pacing, and personal recommendations.

“The guide told us very interesting facts and really made us feel so comfortable”

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7.Craft Beer Tasting in Medieval Brewery with Snacks

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 67 reviews · from $18

At Delfts Brouwhuis in central Delft, you’ll taste four beers from the Delftse Brouwers brewery in a medieval cellar dating to 1300. Bavarian pretzels come with homemade cheese-beer dip and mustard. You may sit in the cellar, beer garden, or beside the brewing area, though no guide is included.

“The service was very polite. The building itself is pretty cool. We also bought an additional beer. All the beer was very good. My only concern was the pretzel was REALLY hard, but the dip was tasty! I would recommend this activity.”

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8.One Way Boat Ticket to or from Delft

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 52 reviews · from $17

Ride a covered boat between The Hague and Delft for 1.5 hours, then continue exploring on foot. A Dutch-speaking skipper and guide point out sights, local stories, and history along the canals. Board at Bierkade in The Hague or Oostsingel by Delft’s Oostpoort. The small group holds up to 15 people, with a toilet on board.

“A nice relaxed cruise along the canal(s) from Delft to Den Haag. The guide was very friendly and informative.”

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9.Dive into the Golden Age on a Private Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 16 reviews · 2 hours

Walk Delft’s old center with a private local guide for two hours, following the footsteps of Vermeer, William of Orange, and Antonie van Leeuwenhoek. Meet at Hugo Grotius’s statue on Market Square, hear local stories, cross historic bridges, and set your own pace. Guides speak English, Dutch, German, French, Spanish, or Italian.

“We kregen een rondleiding van enthousiaste gids Sterre. We hebben op een leuke ontspannen manier iets geleerd over de rijke historie van de stad Delft. We hebben ervan genoten en de toer is zeker aan te raden!”

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10.Get the best out of Delft by creating memories during our private walking tour!

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 15 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $162Top rated

Walk through Delft with a private English-speaking guide, following William of Orange, Johannes Vermeer, leaning church towers, quiet hofjes, and the old city gate. The tour includes coffee or tea, covers the main sights in about 2.5 hours, and leaves church and museum admission up to you.

“Niels was an excellent tour guy. Out of the 10 tour guides we’ve had in Europe he w as the best. Knowledgeable and very accommodating”

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11.Step/scootertour in and around the city

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 9 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $32

Start at De Delf on Oude Delft 113 for a 1.5-hour guided step scooter tour with a small group of up to 10. Guides such as Frans and Kevin lead you through modern Delft, Mill de Roos, Agnetapark, Hofje van Pauw, the Eastern Gate, Markt, and the Old Church. The scooters are non-electric, so expect short riding stretches between stories and stops.

“Leuke route, enthousiaste gids, goed verhaal. Je komt op plekken buiten het ‘standaard centrum’.”

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12.Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 9 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $217

Spend 2.5 hours exploring Delft with a private guide in English, German, Dutch, French, or Spanish. See Vermeer’s old town, Agnetapark, the Prince’s Court, New Church, and Delft Blue pottery spots. Guides such as Annique, Harold, Skip, and Nails have led engaging tours, though the $217 price suits travelers who value private attention.

“Ontzettend goed bevallen. Gids had veel goede , duidelijke informatie.”

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13.Christmas Walk with Oliebollen and Glühwein

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 8 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $24

Explore Delft with guide Astrid on a Dutch-language Christmas walk through the old center. Visit the Christmas Shop, Delft City Candle Factory, and Cookie Bakery De Glimlach, then hear about the New and Old Churches before ending with an oliebol and hot chocolate or glühwein at Stads Koffyhuis.

“Het was een hele leuke wandeling langs bijzondere winkeltjes in Delft. De eigenaren vertelden allemaal hun verhaal. De begeleiding door Astrid was goed en relaxed. We hebben Delft nog een stukje beter leren kennen. Mooi ook met alle verlichting onderweg.”

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14.Private Historical and Cultural Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $135

Spend 2.5 hours exploring Delft with a private guide in your choice of English, Dutch, German, French, Spanish, or Japanese. You can shape the route around your interests, then see William of Orange’s mausoleum, Vermeer’s hometown, old canals, hidden courtyards, and Delft Blue pottery workshops.

“Sehr informative Tour mit erfahrenem Reiseleiter. Als ehemaliger Lehrer ist sein Wissen fast unerschöpflich. Sehr zu empfehlen.”

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15.Canal House Museum ‘Paul Tetar van Elven’ Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 6 reviews · 1 day · from $14

Visit Paul Tetar van Elven’s 19th-century canal house on Delft’s Koornmarkt. See his lavish salon, painted ceiling, studio, library, paintings, antique books, Delft blue pottery, and Far Eastern porcelain. An English or Dutch host helps bring this preserved artist’s home to life. Allow time to look closely rather than rush.

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