While vacationing in Berlin this summer, I finally did some of the touristy things I’d always longed to do when I lived there but had somehow never found the time. One of these was doing a bike tour of Potsdam and the other was taking a boat tour along the River Spree.
No serious traveller (especially a travel blogger like me) likes to admit to doing touristy things. We pride ourselves at uncovering “off the beaten path” experiences by showing you something weird and offbeat like a Michael Jackson Memorial in Munich or a cat sanctuary on a boat in Amsterdam.
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 2 hour tour around East Berlin.
A Berlin Boat Tour Along the River 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 this unique vantage point.
Here are just some of my favorite Instagram photos from my Berlin boat tour.
Good to Know
- There’s 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/drink so expect prices to vary accordingly. Just hit up Visit Berlin for further information.
- 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.
- One of the absolute best times to take a boat tour is at dusk. It’s pretty romantic (much like Budapest at dusk) and you’ll get to see views like the one below!
If you like my photos, follow me on Instagram (@cdngrrleh) to see updates from my life in Toronto and on the road.
20 Comments
Great photos 🙂
Sometimes the touristy things are the most fun! Great Instagrams. I can’t wait to get back to Berlin.
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)
Frank – Yes, so much beauty and history!
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.
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. 🙂
[…] boat tour sounded like a good idea, and it looked like fun when our friend Cheryl toured Berlin on the River Spree. Unfortunately I think it would’ve been prettier in better weather instead of early November […]
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.