River trips in Germany: Berlin, Hamburg and other cities

Edson Amorina Jr

2 years ago

River trips in Germany: Berlin, Hamburg and other cities

We have selected river boat trips and cruises in 5 cities in Germany that pass through their main tourist attractions.

For planning a trip to Germany, we have some publications that can help a lot:

We wrote about 8 of the best attractions on the Romantic Road in Germany with up-to-date tips, be sure to check it out.

5 Boat trips and river cruises in Germany

A very common guided tour in Germany is to take a boat or cruise along the main rivers of its tourist cities. And we like it a lot!

Be sure to check out Get Your Guide for other options: Attractions and guided river tours of the main cities in Germany.

Tell us which one you liked the most.

Cologne: Cruise On The Top Sights On The Rhine River

Discover the beautiful city of Cologne on a Rhine river cruise. Relax as you cruise down the river and learn about the sights you see over your boat’s speakers.

See the main sights of Cologne from the water on a city cruise. See the world-famous Cologne Cathedral, sail under 5 bridges and listen to commentary from the ship’s speakers.

Start your Rhine cruise with the ship MS Rheinperle, MS Rheinland or MS Rheintreue. After admiring the iconic Cologne Cathedral and Old Town, cruise to the Rheinauhafen, where you can see its distinctive crane houses.

Pass under 5 bridges to reach Rodenkirchen in the south. The cruise will take you to the main sights of the city north of the Dome, such as the Zoobrücke bridge.

During the cruise, discover more about the sights of Cologne with onboard commentary in English and German. If you like, relax with a local Kölsch beer or strong coffee and a piece of cake.

Read about our suggestions for where to stay in Cologne:

The best region and the best hotels to stay in Cologne Germany

Suggestions for boat trips and river cruises in Cologne in Germany:

Frankfurt: Main River Sightseeing Cruise

Sail along the Main River in Frankfurt, Germany to see the city skyline. See sights such as Sachsenhausen’s pubs and the European Central Bank. Get off at Gerbermühle and learn about the poet Goethe.

The 50- or 100-minute boat trips depart from Eiserner Steg. The boat leaves every hour. You can choose between 50/100 minutes downstream or 50/100 minutes upstream.

Sailing towards Griesheim, see the urban areas of Frankfurt towards the western harbour. Here you have a wonderful view of the skyscrapers of the Financial Center of Frankfurt or you can enjoy the museums along the embankment, for example the Städel. The ship will turn around before the Griesheim lock.

At 12:00 the tour will take you up the river. Cruise along the beautiful banks of the main river towards the city’s eastern port. You can see the Sachsenhausen district and its museum embankment. You will have the chance to get off at “Gerbermühle”, a landmark of the Frankfurt poet Goethe.

Suggestions for boat trips and river cruises in Frankfurt in Germany:

Dresden: Elbe River Sightseeing Boat Cruise

Discover Dresden on a charming steamer or on a modern boat cruise along the Elbe River. Take a look at the city’s landmarks and admire the Loschwitz Bridge, better known as the “Blue Wonder Bridge”.

Discover the charm and history of Dresden on an Elbe river boat cruise. See the most beautiful landmarks of the Elbe Valley and the historic old town of Dresden on this sightseeing boat cruise.

Start at Terrassenufer and discover the three palaces on the Elbe: Albrechtsberg Palace, Eckberg Palace and Lingner Palace. Travel to the Loschwitz Villa Quarter and pass over four of the famous Elbe Bridges, including the Loschwitz Bridge, affectionately known as the “Blue Wonder”.

Be sure to read our post about:

What to do in Dresden in Saxony, Germany – Complete travel guide

Suggestions for boat trips and river cruises in Dresden in Germany:

Berlin, Capital of Germany: Boat Trip on the River Spree

On this tour, learn about Berlin’s intriguing history and see top attractions from the comfort of your boat. Cross the city of Berlin on a 1-hour cruise from Friedrichstrasse or Nikolaiviertel.

See some of Berlin’s top landmarks aboard a sightseeing boat. Enjoy a relaxing stroll on the River Spree to take in the sights in the heart of this bustling city.

You will depart from Friedrichstraße or Nikolaiviertel. Your 1-hour sightseeing tour will take in the Reichstag (German parliament building), the new Regierungsviertel (Government Quarter) and the Haus der Kulturen der Welt (House of World Cultures).

After turning onto the Lutherbrücke (Luther’s bridge), look out over the Schloss Bellevue (Bellevue Palace), the “Beamtenschlange” (civil servants’ accommodation) and the Siegessäule (Victory Column).

Marvel at places like the Hauptbahnhof (Central Station), Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral), Museumsinsel (Museum Island) and Nikolaiviertal, the oldest residential area in Berlin. Return to Friedrichstraße or Nikolaiviertel to conclude the tour.

Suggestions for boat trips and river cruises in Berlin in Germany:

Hamburg: Harbor and Speicherstadt Boat Tour

See Hamburg’s harbor attractions from a unique perspective, sail next to impressive container ships and explore the historic warehouse district (Speicherstadt) on a boat tour with live narration by a guide and one stop exclusive at the Elbphilharmonie, the iconic building of the Hamburg Philharmonic.

Start your adventure in the harbor on land, crossing the famous “Überseebrücke” bridge to the pier to board a typical Hamburg boat known as the Barkasse.

Hear useful information from the captain, such as which route the boat will take based on weather and tide conditions or if a really interesting container ship or special craft is visiting the port.

Then, start sailing through the narrow canals of the Speicherstadt, the largest warehouse district in the world. Enjoy the stunning architecture of buildings built on foundations of wooden piles and oak logs.

Sit back and enjoy a relaxing stroll through the HafenCity neighborhood. Or explore the open decks and feel the refreshing sea breeze as you wait for the opportunity to snap that perfect shot from one of the boat’s many vantage points.

Sail past rows of massive container ships en route to St. Pauli and port of Hamburg. Learn about the history of many important sites along the way from your knowledgeable German-speaking guide.

At the end of your tour, disembark right in front of the Elbphilharmonie, or you can choose to disembark where the cruise started.

Read our complete travel tips for Hamburg: