In a nutshell
- Cruising along the Spree by boat is like a city tour of Berlin, only completely relaxed — seen entirely from the water.
- There are many operators running boat tours on the Spree in Berlin. In this article, we take a closer look at the best 7 Berlin river cruises so you can pick the right one.
- For first-time visitors, we recommend the classic one-hour Spree boat tour through the government district — with real live commentary instead of a boring recorded track!
- If you want to see even more of Berlin, we highly recommend the grand bridge tour: a full 3.5 hours by excursion boat along the Spree and Landwehr Canal — our absolute favorite.
Berlin Boat Tours: The Different Routes and Tickets
Before we tell you more about our favorite Spree river cruises, we’ve listed the most important information about each tour right here.
This way you can see at a glance which Berlin boat tour suits you best.
| Price | Duration | Tickets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic: Spree River Cruise through Berlin's Historic Center | 20 € | 1 hour | Get tickets |
| For Food Lovers: Culinary Spree River Boat Tour | 80 € | 2.5 hours | Get tickets |
| Long Boat Tour: from Mitte to the East Side Gallery | 24 € | 2.5 hours | Get tickets |
| Hidden Gem: Bridge Cruise along the Spree and Landwehrkanal | 33 € | 3.5 hours | Get tickets |
| Havel Tour: From Wannsee to Potsdam | 22 € | 3 hours | Get tickets |
| Day Trip Tip: From Treptow to Müggelsee | 22 € | 3.5 hours | Get tickets |
Berlin Boat Tours on a Map
On our map, we’ve marked the various boat tours in Berlin in different colors.
This lets you see at a glance where the Berlin boat tours depart from and how far they go.
Classic Berlin Boat Tour with Live Commentary
If it’s your first time in Berlin, we highly recommend the classic boat tour on the Spree with Reederei Hadynski.
You’ll see the city from a completely different perspective, and it’s simply a lot of fun to cruise along the Spree for an hour on an excursion boat.
On the one-hour Spree cruise, you’ll pass through the government district and many Berlin landmarks such as the Reichstag, Museum Island, and the Nikolai Quarter.
The best part about Reederei Hadynski’s Spree cruise is the live commentary on board. You’ll get interesting facts as well as fun stories about Berlin — so much better than the recorded announcements on other excursion boats.
Tickets for the classic sightseeing boat tour through Berlin start at 19 euros. We recommend buying your ticket online in advance to guarantee a seat at your preferred time.
Our tip: If you want to snag a good seat, it’s best to arrive a little early. The boats are usually already docked before departure time, so you can board ahead of the crowd.
If you’re still looking for a place to stay, check out our articles on Berlin Hotel Tips and Boutique Hotels in Berlin.
Book the Classic Spree River Cruise with Live Commentary (1h)
Culinary Boat Tour: Spree Cruise with Dinner
This Berlin boat tour is a treat for food lovers! What could be better than spending two and a half hours cruising the Spree on an excursion boat while being served a truly delicious 3-course dinner?
Right from the start, you’ll be welcomed with Prosecco. Between the appetizer and dessert, you’ll drift past the Berlin Cathedral, the Reichstag, and Bellevue Palace, among other highlights.
The boat departs at 6:30 PM, and you’ll experience Berlin at our favorite time of day — the close of day, when the sun slowly sets and the city comes alive in a blaze of colorful lights.
Depending on the season, the atmosphere is seriously special, and it’s the best time for great photos.
On the dinner cruise, you can choose between a 3- or 4-course menu. There are always meat, fish, and vegetarian options, so everyone is covered.
The starting point for the evening dinner boat tour is at the Caprivibrücke near Charlottenburg Palace. Tickets start at 78 euros and must be booked online in advance.
Book the Dinner Cruise on the Spree (2.5h)
Longer Tour: Spree Cruise to the East Side Gallery
Want to see even more than the government district and beyond? Then check out the 2.5-hour Spree cruise into the east of Berlin.
On this longer boat tour, the route first covers the classic sightseeing stretch through Berlin’s city center before turning toward the eastern part of the city.
You’ll pass by the East Side Gallery, cruise under the Oberbaumbrücke — one of Berlin’s most beautiful photo spots — and take in the views of the ever-changing Spree riverbank between Mitte, Friedrichshain, and Kreuzberg.
Tickets for the East Side boat tour start at 24 euros.
Book the Longer Spree Cruise to the East Side Gallery (2.5h)
Grand Spree Round Trip: Bridge Cruise on the Spree and Landwehr Canal
Did you know that Berlin has more bridges than Venice? Crazy, but true! And you’ll pass under a whopping 40 of those bridges on the 3.5-hour bridge cruise along the Spree and Landwehr Canal.
We can’t recommend this longer Berlin boat tour highly enough — it’s our under-the-radar pick in Berlin.
The grand Spree round trip starts at Jannowitzbrücke and offers a wide variety of perspectives on the city — from Berlin’s historic and modern center to alternative neighborhoods like Neukölln, Kreuzberg, and Friedrichshain.
During the cruise, you’ll pass by the Tiergarten, Potsdamer Platz, and the Museum of Technology, one of the best museums in Berlin, among other highlights.
Especially beautiful is the stretch along the narrow Landwehr Canal in Kreuzberg, where you can take in the Admiralbrücke, Paul-Lincke-Ufer, and Görlitzer Park from the water.
The bridge cruise runs seasonally from April through October, and tickets start at 33 euros.
Book the Bridge Cruise on the Spree and Landwehr Canal (3.5h)
Havel Boat Tour: from Wannsee to Potsdam
If you’re spending more than a weekend in Berlin, we also recommend taking a day trip to Potsdam.
And the best way to do it is on a charming little excursion steamer that chugs from Wannsee in Berlin along the Havel all the way to Potsdam.
During the three-hour trip, you’ll drift past Pfaueninsel, Babelsberg Palace, and the Glienicke Bridge, among other sights.
This excursion to Potsdam is a real standout especially in summer, when the banks of the Havel are lush and green and you feel miles away from a big city like Berlin.
Boats from Wannsee only run from April through October. Tickets for the grand Havel tour start at 22 euros.
Book the Havel Tour from Wannsee to Potsdam (3h)
Excursion Steamer: from Berlin Treptow to Müggelsee
This is a really wonderful day-trip option if you’ve already done the classic Spree cruise and want to explore a completely different side of Berlin.
The excursion boat takes you from the harbor at Treptower Park in the east of the city along the Spree to Berlin’s largest lake, Müggelsee in Köpenick.
Along the way, you’ll see many different facets of the city: the historic old town of Köpenick, picturesque parks and lots of nature, elegant villas, industrial sites, and abandoned buildings.
On the 3.5-hour boat tour, you’ll also pass by the former amusement park Spreepark im Plänterwald, which today is a popular abandoned place in Berlin.
The grand Müggelsee boat tour starts at 22 euros and only runs seasonally from April through October.
Book the Excursion from Treptow to Müggelsee (3.5h)
Combo Tickets: Boat Tour & Hop-on/Hop-off Berlin
Want to pack in as many sights as possible? Then your best bet is to combine two popular activities in Berlin: a one-hour Spree cruise and a city tour on a hop-on/hop-off bus.
Switching between the bus and the boat means you’ll see Berlin’s landmarks from totally different perspectives — and it keeps the day feeling fresh.
Best of all: with the combo ticket you’ll save a few euros and only need to sort one booking instead of two.
Book the Combo Ticket: Spree Boat Tour & Hop-on/Hop-off (48h)
Our tips for hop-on/hop-off in Berlin:
FAQs About Boat Tours in Berlin
We’ve put together the most important questions and answers on the topic of Berlin boat tours:
Is a boat tour in Berlin worth it?
Absolutely! Especially if it’s your first time in Berlin, a one-hour boat cruise on the Spree lets you take in some of the city’s top attractions in a totally relaxed way — all from the water.
On board, you’ll also pick up fascinating facts and fun anecdotes about the various sights along the way.
How much does a boat tour in Berlin cost?
The cheapest tickets for a classic boat tour on the Spree start at 19 euros.
Longer or more unique Berlin river cruises are a bit more expensive. Depending on the length of the cruise, you’ll pay between 22 and 45 euros.
Which boat tour in Berlin is the best?
There are quite a few different operators in Berlin, all running nearly the same route on a one-hour Spree cruise.
Our recommendation for first-time visitors is this one-hour boat tour on the Spree with live commentary.
Our personal favorite among Berlin boat tours, though, is the longer bridge cruise along the Spree and Landwehr Canal. You get significantly more time on the water and see many different corners of the city.
How long does a Berlin boat tour on the Spree take?
The classic sightseeing cruise through Berlin’s center lasts one hour. There are also longer boat tours in Berlin that run between two and four hours.
Do the sightseeing boats in Berlin run year-round?
The short Spree river cruises are available year-round. Longer or more specialized boat tours in Berlin are usually only bookable from April through October.
Is a boat tour in Berlin worth it with kids too?
Absolutely! The one-hour Spree cruise is the perfect activity with kids in Berlin.
One hour is just the right amount of time for the little ones — long enough to be fun without getting boring. The kids don’t have to do much walking, and there’s always something to look at.
Do I need to book my Berlin boat tour ticket in advance?
For classic sightseeing cruises, you can also pick up your ticket on the spot. But Berlin is always busy, and you can’t be sure you’ll get a seat if you just show up.
If you want to guarantee a spot at your preferred departure time, booking online in advance is the smart move.
Can I reserve a fixed seat on the boat?
No, seating on the boats is open — those who arrive early get the best spots.
Can I take a Spree boat tour in Berlin with the Berlin WelcomeCard?
Yes! The Berlin WelcomeCard All Inclusive includes a one-hour Spree river cruise in the ticket.
With the standard Berlin WelcomeCard, you get 25% off the ticket price with several Berlin boat tour operators — that’s a great deal too!
Our detailed tips on the Berlin Welcome Card can be found here:
