Winter Activities Around the World: 6 to Book

1.Rhine River Winter Cruise with Festive Music

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 676 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $28Our pick

Spend 90 minutes on a warm panorama boat sailing past Cologne Cathedral, Groß St. Martin, and the crane houses of Rheinauhafen. Live festive music, open-air viewing, and table service for Glühwein, coffee, hot chocolate, snacks, and cake make this a relaxed winter outing. Drinks and food cost extra.

“The live music was wonderful in addition to table service while we enjoyed good company and short cruise down the river and back”

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2.Amsterdam Small Group Canal Cruise inc Snacks/Drinks Winter

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 520 reviews · 2 hours · from $71

Spend two hours on a heated, covered sloop with a small group of about 10 to 12 people. Your English-speaking captain, often Storm, Stephan, Erik, or Stan, guides you past Amsterdam’s canal houses and bridges while serving Dutch cheese, stroopwafels, bitterballen, wine, beer, hot chocolate, and mulled wine.

“Great tour! Captain Storm was a fantastic host with a lot of local knowledge and fun anecdotes. It was nice having a longer tour to get into some of the less travelled areas. Stop to pick hot bitterballen was a nice touch, they were delicious!”

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3.Burg: Spreewald Winter Cruise with Fireplace

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 312 reviews · 14 days · from $28

Meet at the Spreehafen Burg office for a winter boat ride through Burg-Dorf. A fireplace, blankets, and optional mulled wine keep you warm as a German-speaking guide points out traditional inns and farmsteads. The cruise is about one hour, with a calm return ride along the same waterways.

“We enjoyed it a lot with a group of friends with our 2kids. Highly recommend.”

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4.Winter Spree Cruise with Mulled Wine and Christmas Stollen

★★★★★★★★★★3.4 · 15 reviews · 1h 30m · from $37

Spend 90 minutes on Berlin’s Spree, passing the Reichstag, Central Station, Berlin Cathedral, Museum Island, and Nikolai Quarter. The heated boat serves mulled wine and Christmas stollen for purchase, with seating inside, outside, in the wheelhouse, or VIP lounge. Commentary is limited, so bring your own sightseeing context.

“Es hat Spaß gemacht,viele Sehenswürdigkeiten entlang der Fahrt,nettes Schiffsteam...leider nur,wenn man mit älteren Menschen fährt,es gibt zum größten Teil nur Bartische mit Barhockern im Innenbereich.”

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5.Winter Canal Cruise in Amsterdam

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 12 reviews · from $81Top rated

Cruise Amsterdam’s historic canals for 90 minutes aboard a covered electric boat with heated seats, blankets, Dutch snacks, mulled wine, beer, wine, and soft drinks. A licensed guide such as Stuart, Robert, Benjamin, or John leads the way. The boat departs from Keizersgracht 106 and returns there.

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6.The Hague: Canal Cruise with Live Guide Winter edition

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · 1h 15m · from $24Best value

Cruise The Hague’s canals for 75 minutes with a Dutch or English-speaking guide. You’ll pass the Palace Garden, Royal Stables, canal houses, and city skyline while hearing local history and music from Hague bands. Guide Wijnand is praised for his clear, friendly storytelling. Bring warm clothes, since winter comfort depends on the weather.

“Super leuke vaart gehad. Duidelijke uitleg over de historie van de stad. Tussendoor heerlijk muziekje erbij. Je kon aan boord een drankje kopen als je die behoefte had. Je mocht ook je eigen watertje nuttigen als je die mee had. Fijn stil bootje. Als je moeite hebt met bukken, er zijn wel een aantal bruggetjes die heel laag zijn, maar mag de pret niet drukken. We hebben genoten!”

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