RIVER & CANAL CRUISES
Reviewed, compared and ranked by the people aboard.
The 15 most popular self-guided tours, compared side by side. What you see from the water, how long you are aboard, what it costs and which operator to book, so you can pick your boat in a couple of minutes.
A 75-minute Amsterdam canal cruise with an audio guide in 19 languages, a snackbox, and kid-friendly story time through UNESCO canals.
Most Popular“Fantastic really comfortable boat ride Great viewing on the boat. Heated too.”
75-minute Amsterdam canal cruise with multi-language audio, classic bridges and UNESCO canals, plus snackbox and kids stories.
“everything is great! the captain told me how to use the audio guides, and also gave additional comments on the buildings around us. at the end he congratulated my mother on her birthday. thanks for the reception and the quality of work”
1-hour Seine illuminations cruise from the Eiffel Tower with audio in 14 languages and a smartphone app for landmark views and photos.
“Brian, the tour guide and the driver was the cherry on the top of our trip! He made an amazing experience for us and we will never forget this trip! It was funny, interesting and very informative with stories about Scotland’s history! :)”
45-minute Vistula River cruise in Krakow by day or night, warm covered boat, English/Polish audio guide, views of Wawel and Bernatek.
“Great informative boat trip. Seen lots of lovely sites. Would recommend”
90-minute Helsinki canal cruise through the archipelago with multilingual audio, icebreakers, and the narrow Degerö Canal.
“The translation of canal needs revising. It was an archipelago tour really. However, it was wonderful and we were soooo lucky with the weather.”
Timed Catacombs entry with multi-language audio plus a 1-hour Seine cruise with commentary and iconic views, all in one smooth 3-hour block.
“I didn’t go on the cruise however the ticket is valid for a year. But the catacombs were incredible absolutely amazing. The audio guides and seeing and hearing about everything was insane”
75-minute 100% electric Amsterdam canal cruise with live captain commentary, audio guide, and photo stops at Prinsengracht and Anne Frank House.
“Fantastic value for money and the captain was amusing and knowledgeable.”
A 60-minute Budapest Danube cruise from Batthyány Square with a phone audio guide in 6 languages, passing Parliament and Chain Bridge.
“We had a good view and saw the important sights of Budapest and the service was nice.”
Timed entry to the Paris Catacombs with an included audio guide, plus an optional 1-hour Seine cruise with commentary.
“The audio guide was great and we could go at our own pace”
1-hour Amsterdam canal cruise from four points with audio guide and glass-roofed views of Anne Frank House and Magere Brug.
“It was a great experience during the evening, the captain was really helpful and gave us additional information”
Cruise Krakow’s Vistula River for 45 minutes past Wawel Hill, Church on the Rock, and the Bridge of Love, with an English audio guide.
“The host was extremely friendly with the cruise being informative and peaceful. The good weather also helped too!”
Coach day trip from Paris to Bruges with a guided UNESCO medieval walk and optional canal cruise, plus free time for shops, fries, waffles.
“Bruges was beautiful. Excellent guide!! She educated us on history and was very entertaining on the way- it was 4 hours each way. She guided us throughout the trip and provided free time to explore this beautiful and charming town! She gave us the best recommendations for lunch and chocolate shops! Boat ride was a…”
Budapest’s Danube in one hour with a free Tokaj Frizzante, heated comfort, and a phone audio guide in 30 languages.
“It was ok, nothing special. Nice ride with commentary. Would not do again, but I did see things on shore I wanted to visit”
A 50-minute cruise on the Vistula for skyline views of Wawel Castle, Kazimierz, and major bridges, with English or Polish audio.
“Boat was decent, trip was enjoyable but the weather was very wet. Time we had on our booking wasn't the same as the operator had. Had to wait in the wet for an hour before we could start the journey.”
50-minute Vistula cruise in Krakow with English/Polish audio. Big-ship views of Wawel, Kazimierz and the bridges for about $18.
“very good value and lovely trip on a beautiful day”
Pick a canal city, a famous river, or the kind of cruise you want to be on.
