How much does punting cost?
Shared, private, student-guided and self-hire prices, what is included, and how to pay less at a busy station.
Guides · Cambridge punting
Cambridge punting guides
The practical answers, written by a guide who poles these punts. Sort out what it costs and what you actually see on the Backs, then choose the tour that fits your trip.
Written and verified by Jordan Harrington, Cambridge punting guide since 2021
In short
These are the guides we point visitors to before they step into a punt. Each one answers a real question we get on the river, from what a tour costs and which colleges you glide past, to whether it is worth it, when to come, and whether you need to book ahead. Read what you need, then pick a tour.
Start here
The College Backs route
Every college and bridge you pass, in order, from Queens' and the Mathematical Bridge to St John's and the Bridge of Sighs.
Is punting worth it?
An honest verdict from the back of the punt: who loves it, and the few people who should skip it.
Best time of year to punt
Season, weather and the quietest, prettiest times to be on the water.
Do you need to book?
When you can just turn up, and when booking ahead is the safer call.
Things to do in Cambridge
A local guide to the city around the river, with punting as the highlight.
Not sure which tour to pick?
Shared, private, student-guided and self-hire punts each suit a different kind of trip, and they are priced in completely different ways. The comparison page lines all of them up side by side, so you can match the right one to your group, your budget and how much you want to relax.
About these guides
Which punting guide should I read first?
Start with the prices guide so you know the going rate for shared, private and self-hire punts, then read the College Backs route guide to see exactly which colleges and bridges you pass. Those two cover the questions most visitors ask before they book.
Are these guides independent?
Yes. This is an independent guide site written by Cambridge punting guide Jordan Harrington. Ratings and prices are the operators' own figures from their official GetYourGuide and Viator listings, and we earn a commission only when you book through a link, which never changes which tour we recommend.
Do the guides help me choose between the tours?
They do. The guides explain the real differences between shared, private and student-guided punts, and the comparison page lines all of them up side by side so you can pick the one that fits your group and budget.