The 15 Groningen Tours to Shortlist

1.City Canal Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 895 reviews · 1 hour · from $20Our pick

Join family-run Rondvaartbedrijf Kool for a one-hour cruise through Groningen’s canals. You’ll pass the Martinitoren, Groninger Museum, Tasman Tower, medieval houses, and handsome bridges while an audio guide explains the city’s maritime past. Choose an open roof in good weather or a heated closed cabin in rain or winter, with drinks and snacks available aboard.

“The cruise and service were really good. The audio commentary on various landmarks along the cruise was recorded in several languages. Unfortunately for us when it came to English the land mark had already passed and was lost on us. Still would do again.”

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2.Climb the Martinitower

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 365 reviews · 1 day · from $7Best value

Climb Groningen’s Martinitoren, known locally as d’Olle Grieze, with admission for $7. You’ll tackle more than 250 narrow steps, pause at a 39-metre gallery, watch a short history film, see the bells and clock faces, and finish with wide views over the Grote Markt and surrounding city. Exchange your voucher at Groningen Store inside Forum Groningen.

“Well when I Darius.N.Fernandes thought of climbing it with a friend who is a portrait photographer in Groningen I thought it was just going to be steps and a lovely view on the top Little did I know that I had these lovely stops and galleries that I could visit along the way, I feel it was worth it”

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3.Terrace Boat Experience with a Cozy Bar

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 307 reviews · 1 - 1.5 hours · from $18

Board Terrasje Speciaal beside Groningen Central Station for a relaxed 1 to 1.5 hour cruise on a floating terrace. Buy beer, wine, or warm vegetarian snacks at the onboard bar, then settle into cushioned seating beneath an open or closed cabriolet roof. This is a social boat ride, not a guided historical tour.

“Schönes Schiff mit super Personal. Sehr lieb und zuvorkommend. Um diese Zeit trotz Heitstrahler, an Bord etwas kalt. Daher etwas mehr anziehen.”

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4.Open Boat City Canal Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 250 reviews · 1 hour · from $27

Board Boot Groningen at Schuitendiep 82 for a one-hour open boat ride through Groningen. Your English-speaking skipper, such as Jan, Dheis, or Paulina, shares stories about canals, architecture, and local life while drinks are included. Expect low bridges, a large step into the boat, and no sailing if rain is forecast.

“Clean boat, our guide was knowledgeable, well Spoken and interactive brilliant time spent would go again”

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5.Walking Tour with Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 202 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $22

Explore Groningen’s old center on a 1.5-hour, 1.5-kilometer walk with a local guide. See Martini Tower, the Grote Markt, Folkingestraat, the A-church, old harbor, and major civic buildings. Guides such as Margret and Wessel add history, modern culture, and local stories. Dutch, German, and possibly English options are offered.

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6.Open Boat City Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 154 reviews · 1 hour · from $26

Spend one hour on the spacious electric Pronkjewail, cruising Groningen’s old canals between the railway station and Groninger Museum. You’ll receive one drink, such as water, Pepsi, Sisi, beer, or wine, while an audio guide explains the city in English, Dutch, or German. The boat is open, though a covered boat may replace it in rain when space allows.

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7.Historical Canal Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 60 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $25Top rated

Set out from Schuitendiep for a one-hour English-language boat tour through Groningen. You’ll see the Oosterhaven, Central Station, Groninger Museum, old trading warehouses, Noorderhaven houseboats, and the 1594 Prinsentuin. Guides such as Maarten add local stories, and the boat holds no more than 25 people.

“De kussens waren zo nat dat ik na de rondvaart een zeiknatte broek had Geen verhaal bij het paard van ome Loek! Op internet staat dat het afkomstig is van het lied Gids zou meer bijzonderheden moeten kunnen vertellen”

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8.City Highlights Bike Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 59 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $32

Ride through Groningen with a local guide at an easy pace, covering the Groninger Museum, Martini Tower, Grote Markt, university, Oosterpark, and Noorderplantsoen. Guides speak English, Dutch, or German. A standard bike is included, while an e-bike costs €10 extra when available. The tour suits confident riders age 10 and up.

“Unsere Guide war sehr sympathisch, hat auf alle Fragen sehr gut geantwortet.ich würde sie auf jeden Fall wieder buchen”

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9.Evening Cheese and Wine cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 54 reviews · 1 hour · from $35

Spend one hour cruising Groningen’s canals with an English-speaking guide, an open bar, and a cheese platter. See Central Station, Hoge en Lage der Aa, and the living boats of Noorderhaven. Guides including Huib and Jelle keep the trip friendly and informative. Expect a small boat, a step aboard, and cancellation if rain is forecast.

“Het was een erg leuke rondvaart. De gids vertelde vol passie over de stad Groningen en wij vonden het erg leuk en leerzaam! De kaas en wijn was ook top! Wij zouden het zeker aanraden en wij willen Jelle enorm bedanken voor deze leuke ervaring!”

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10.Terrace Boat Experience with a Cozy Bar: 1 hour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 35 reviews · from $17

Board a cozy bar boat at Oosterhaven for a one-hour cruise past Groningen’s harbor, Central Station, Peerd van Ome Loeks, and the Groninger Museum. Drinks and snacks cost extra, with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free choices available. There is Wi-Fi, music, a restroom, and a roof that folds open in good weather.

“Very nice and unique experience on the water of Groningen. Because of the good weather we stayed 3 hours on the boat. The vibe is relaxt and the personal is very friendly. Would recommend this for everyone who wants to enjoy drinks aRead more”

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11.City canal cruise (with unlimited drinks)

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 29 reviews · 1 - 1.5 hours · from $27

Join De Borrelvloot at Schuitendiep 1022 for a 1 to 1.5 hour Groningen canal cruise with Dutch or English guidance, music, and unlimited drinks. You’ll pass historic city sights while your skipper shares local stories. Add a snack platter, barbecue, or beer tasting for a private celebration or group outing.

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12.Terrace Boat Experience with a Cozy Bar: 1.5 Hours

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 29 reviews · from $22

Spend 90 minutes on Groningen’s first floating terrace, cruising past Oosterhaven, the central station, Peerd van Ome Loeks, and the Groningen Museum. Order drinks and hot snacks from the onboard bar, enjoy WiFi and a toilet, and open or close the roof as the weather changes. This is a scenic social cruise, not a guided tour.

“It was an hour with a boat that sailed in the most boring canal outside the city center, until a point, then did a U turn and came back... no guide, no interesting sights, loud music, a stolen hour that costs a lot... the team however were nice”

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13.e-Scavenger hunt Groningen: Explore the city at your own pace

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 28 reviews · 3 hours (approx.)

You explore Groningen with Qula’s self-guided app, solving location-based questions and search tasks across 16 stops. Start, pause, and finish when you like during the roughly three-hour route. The private game costs $37.21 per group of up to six, but you provide your own smartphone and mobile data.

“Leuk om te doen, duidelijke keuzes en vragen, afwisselend en soms echt een 'zoektocht'. Erg leuk om zo een stad (weer) te leren kennen!”

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14.Pieterburen: Wadden Sea Mudflats Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 14 reviews · from $14

Join Dijkstra’s Wadlooptochten for an 8-kilometer guided walk across the Wadden Sea mudflats near Westernieland. Follow salt marshes, sandbanks, channels, Noordpolder, and Zijltocht canals while watching for migrating birds and harbor or grey seals. Bring warm, waterproof clothing and expect muddy conditions.

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15.Welcome to Groningen: Private Tour with a Local

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 11 reviews · from $63

You get a private, customized walking tour of Groningen with an English-speaking local host. Start at your hotel, Airbnb, or a central meeting point, then focus on food, groceries, transport, local customs, or sights that fit your interests. Tours last 2 to 6 hours, with public transport and attraction fees paid separately.

“It was amazing and would do it again for sure!”

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