I’ve lived in Berlin, not just once but twice. I first lived here for 18 months before moving back to Canada for a while. During my time in Canada, I came back for a couple of Berlin summer vacations, doing things I longed to do when I loved here, like a bike tour of Potsdam or finally taking a Berlin boat tour along the Spree.
No serious traveler (especially a travel blogger like me) likes to admit to doing touristy things. We pride ourselves on uncovering “off the beaten path” experiences by showing you unusual places like the Museum Of Medieval Torture Instruments in Prague or the Hands Sculpture in the Venice Grand Canal.
When I rather sheepishly told my German friends about my plans, they expressed their delight and told me how they’d all been on a boat tour multiple times. So without shame, I made my way to the Museum Island area one afternoon and hopped onboard a boat that was just about to depart for a short two-hour tour around East Berlin.
Pictures From A Berlin Boat Tour Along The Spree
There’s simply no better way to see Berlin. Although taking a calessio tour isn’t so bad either. Anyone who thinks Berlin is an ugly city needs to take one of these boat tours to realize just how beautiful it really is, especially when you get to take in notable attractions like the Berliner Dom, Reichstag, and TV Tower from a unique vantage point.
Have you ever taken a Berlin boat tour? What did you think? Any Berlin city tips for our readers? Drop us a comment.
Good to Know
1) There are many options available if you’d like to take a similar tour. Some are longer in duration (taking you to West Berlin to see the Molecule Man for example) and offer food and drink so expect prices to vary accordingly. Just hit up Visit Berlin for further information.
2) An audio guide in different languages is usually included in the tour so you can learn all about the important landmarks you’re passing and their historical significance. Or you can be like me and skip the audio tour just so you can take loads of photos.
3) One of the absolute best times to take a boat tour is at dusk. It’s pretty romantic (much like Budapest at dusk).
4) Find a place to stay when you’re in Berlin and check out your options with booking.com
Booking.com5) Make your time in Berlin special and go on a tour with Get Your Guide.
6) If you love Berlin like I do, check out some of my other posts for more travel inspiration.
- 16 Exciting Day Trips From Berlin To Take In 2021 – Experience Germany with these day trips from Berlin. Expect quirky architecture, postcard scene Old Towns, and plenty of food and drink tips.
- A Berlin Walking Food Tour With Eat-the-World – Walk and eat your way through the German capital by taking this Berlin walking food tour through Neukölln with Eat the World.
- Berlin Christmas Market Guide, WeihnachtsZauber Gendarmenmarkt – If want to experience a Christmas market in Berlin, then visit the atmospheric WeihnachtsZauber Gendarmenmarkt in the heart of the city.
*Disclosure – This post contains some affiliate links. If you book a tour or hotel through any of these links, I’ll earn a tiny commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!
Sometimes the touristy things are the most fun! Great Instagrams. I can’t wait to get back to Berlin.
Great photos 🙂
Muza-chan – Thanks so much.
Jennifer – I agree. And thank you.
Don’t you just love river tours? ANY excuse to get out on the water makes for a great day! Love the pics, Cheryl – inspiring.
The GypsyNesters – Agree, I certainly do! Thanks for the uber kind comment.
Nice post Cheryl, like the photos! (interesting architecture)
Frank (bbqboy)
Absolutely gorgeous images! While I respect your pursuit of the unusual and off the beaten path, I have found that touristy trips are often popular because they are a fabulous time and offer beautiful views and experiences, so I sometimes still choose to pursue the popular choices because truth be told, they are popular for a reason.
Frank – Yes, so much beauty and history!
Mary – thank you! I agree, the touristy points of interest are great too. They are almost a must see like the Vatican or Colosseum in Rome. I couldn’t have imagined not seeing them my first time there. 🙂
Wooow! Great photos!
I love the first one the most.
Sad that you can`t see the Festival of Lights in Berlin this weeks, you would defenitely love it!!!
Keep up the good work, your blog is great!
Job – thanks so much for your kind comment. I saw the festival of lights last year. Hope to make it to another one someday! 🙂
This is a conventional way to visit Berlin along the Spree. The other solution is to build your own “boat” with random crap. Activity well known during summer vacation, the spree is full of unbelievable boats made of scraps. That’s indeed more dangerous, but way funnier. But yeah, you don’t have the audio guide…
I didn’t know that people build their own boats! It would be hilarious to see some of them in action.
I think I’d enjoy this! We’ve only been in Berlin for a week but we like it so far. Andy and I will have to get to a boat tour quickly before it starts getting too much colder.
Ali – It’s nice and you can sit back and enjoy the ride with a drink! Hope you make it soon. 🙂
Beautiful shots, Cheryl! They brought me so many memories… I miss this beautiful city and can’t wait for a chance to go back 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Bianca! I feel the same way as you. Miss Berlin every moment I’m not there. 🙂
Cheryl, thank you for sharing these nice images. I lived many years in Berlin, but for some reason I never managed to join one of the boat tours. It looks like a whole different perspective of this diverse city. Hopefully next time when I visit Berlin, I will have the chance to jump on a boat and experience it as well… 🙂
I hope you get to take a boat tour along the Spree as well. It’s such a different way to look at Berlin, the city I love.