Sunrise Photography Tour

The exact starting time changes throughout the year because the tour is timed around first light and sunrise, rather than a fixed clock time.

Your confirmed start time will be sent to you when you book.

Absolutely. Our tours are tailored to your level of experience, whether you’re just beginning or have been photographing for many years. Your guide will work with you individually, helping you understand your camera, develop your technique and create stronger photographs throughout the evening.

A dramatic sunrise is never guaranteed, but cloudy mornings can still produce excellent photographs.

Soft light can be particularly flattering for architecture, streets and reflections, and Amsterdam is beautifully atmospheric in the quiet early morning regardless of whether the sun breaks through.

Your guide will adapt the route and photography to make the most of the conditions on the day.

No — nature never gives us guarantees.

However, sunrise offers by far the best opportunity for calm, mirror-like canal reflections. There is very little boat traffic at this time of day, so the water is much less disturbed, and early mornings are often calmer and less windy.

Conditions vary from day to day, but this combination makes sunrise a uniquely good time to photograph Amsterdam’s reflections.

Absolutely. Modern iPhones are capable of creating excellent photographs, particularly when you understand how to get the best from them.

Your guide can help you with composition, exposure, low-light photography, reflections and creative techniques using your iPhone. Our guides also carry an iPhone tripod mount, allowing you to experiment with longer exposures and more advanced evening photography.

An iPhone user is considered a photographing guest, as you’ll receive the same individual photographic guidance and tuition throughout the tour.

Bring the camera and lenses you already enjoy using. You don’t need specialist equipment to join the tour.

DSLRs, mirrorless cameras, compact cameras and iPhones are all welcome. Your guide will help you get the most from the equipment you have rather than expecting you to arrive with a particular camera system.

FWe recommend bringing a tripod, particularly for the beginning of the tour when light levels can still be low.

A tripod allows you to work with slower shutter speeds and lower ISO settings, helping you create cleaner, sharper photographs and make the most of still water and reflections.

As the morning becomes brighter, you may find yourself shooting handheld more often.

You’re welcome to bring your own tripod, or you can rent one from us for €15.

Amsterdam’s weather can be unpredictable, but prolonged torrential rain is relatively unusual. Rain often comes and goes, and changing weather can actually create wonderful photographic conditions — particularly reflections on wet streets and around the canals.

We therefore try not to cancel tours simply because rain is forecast. Your guide will adapt the route and timing to the conditions wherever possible.

If severe weather makes the tour genuinely impractical or unsafe, we’ll first try to rearrange your tour. If we have to cancel and another suitable time cannot be arranged, you’ll receive a full refund.

We meet outside Ibis Amsterdam Centre, next to Amsterdam Central Station. As you face the station, the hotel is on the left-hand side.

When your booking is confirmed, we’ll send you the full address and a Google Maps location so it’s easy to find.

Your exact start time will also be confirmed with your booking, as it changes throughout the year to make the most of the morning light and sunrise.

Sunrise tours must be booked at least a day before — but we strongly recommend booking in advance.

Our tours are led by a small team of photography guides, so booking ahead gives you the best chance of securing your preferred date and tour length.

If you’re looking to book at short notice, WhatsApp us and we’ll let you know as quickly as possible whether we can accommodate you:

+447940110743

Yes. Partners, friends and family members who simply want to enjoy the experience are very welcome.

A reduced rate is available for non-photographing guests. If they would also like photographic tuition — including photography with an iPhone — they are considered a photographing guest.

YYes. Families are very welcome, although it’s worth remembering that sunrise tours can start very early depending on the time of year.

If children will be actively photographing and receiving tuition, they are considered photographing guests. Family members simply accompanying you may qualify for the reduced non-photographing guest rate.

If you’re travelling with younger children, contact us before booking and we’ll help you decide whether a Sunrise Tour is the right choice.

If you need to cancel, the following cancellation charges apply:

More than 14 days before your tour: 25%
7–14 days before your tour: 50%
72 hours–7 days before your tour: 75%
Less than 72 hours before your tour or no-show: 100%

If your plans change, you may request one change of date with at least 72 hours’ notice, subject to guide availability.

If Amsterdam Photo Safari has to cancel your tour and we cannot arrange a suitable alternative, you can choose a new date or receive a full refund.

We recommend travel insurance to cover illness, flight disruption and other unexpected changes to your travel plans.

See our full cancellation terms for further details.

Our small-group Sunrise Photography Tours are limited to a maximum of three photographers, keeping the experience personal and giving everyone plenty of time with the guide.

A private tour gives you the guide entirely to yourself or your own party, with even greater flexibility over the route, pace, starting time and photographic tuition.