Is A Berlin Boat Tour Worth It? The 9 Best River Cruises (2025)
Want to know if a Berlin boat tour is worth it?
I’ve got you covered! I loved my visit to Berlin and going on a boat ride in Berlin is a relaxing and unique way to see the city.
To answer the question “Is a Berlin boat tour worth it?”, the answer is that yes, it is totally worth it! The Berlin river cruises are a great way to see the famous landmarks in the city, relax or to celebrate a special occasion.
Overall, going on a river cruise is one of the best things to do in Berlin! The River Spree flows through Berlin, and you get a really nice view of the city from the boat tour.
There are different types of boat tours in Berlin, including day and evening cruises, cruises that offer dinner and drinks, boat tour on a historic boat, and they even hold stand-up comedy shows on a boat!
Here are the best river cruises and boat tours in Berlin to help you decide which cruise to go on!
Top 3 River Cruises in Berlin
If you are short on time, here are the top 3 boat tours in Berlin:
Is A Berlin Boat Tour Worth It?
You might wonder “Is a Berlin boat tour worth it”? Boat tours in Berlin (and in Europe in general) are a great way to see a new place.
A river cruise in Berlin is a unique way to see the city and the cruises pass along the most famous landmarks. The cruises go throughout the day, and some also offer dinner and drinks options.
The best is to go on a boat tour around sunset or evening as the sunset view of Berlin is great. If you go for an evening cruise, then you also get to see the famous buildings in the evening lights.
Landmarks You Can See on a Berlin River Cruise
The River Spree flows through Berlin and there are many famous buildings that are located by the river bank.
Famous landmarks that you can see on a boat trip are the Reichstag, Museum Island (including museums and the Berlin Cathedral), Haus der Kulturen der Welt (House of World Cultures), Bellevue Palace, Charlottenburg Palace.
There are also some boat tours that go on a longer route, such as the one from Berlin to Potsdam.
Type of River Cruises in Berlin
There are different types of river cruises in Berlin, and when deciding which one to go with, a lot depends on your preferences and what suits you best.
There are cruises throughout the day (morning, afternoon, evening), cruises that serve dinner and drinks, or even a boat tour on a historic boat.
Berlin Day Cruise
The Berlin day cruises usually run between 10 am and 5 pm, and last between 1-3 hours.
Most of the day cruises include audio guides, and you can purchase food and drinks on board for an additional charge.
Berlin River Cruise with Drinks
There are some Berlin River Cruises that come with complimentary welcome drinks. Apart from the welcome drink, additional food and drinks are available to purchase.
Berlin Sunset Cruise
Berlin is really beautiful during sunset! Sunset times are different throughout the year, so the best is to check the sunset times on your date and select a cruise based on that.
The sunset times are usually around 4-5 pm in the winter in Berlin, and around 8 pm in the summer.
Berlin Dinner Cruises
A Berlin dinner cruise is the great option if you want to see the city at night or to celebrate a special occasion.
The dinner cruise usually includes a 3 or 4-course menu and drinks. For the menu, you have the option to select vegetarian or non-vegetarian options.
Berlin Evening River Cruise
The Berlin evening cruises are one of the best! Berlin is really beautiful in the evening and you can see all the famous buildings in the evening lights.
The Best Boat Tours in Berlin
1. Berlin 1-Hour City Tour by Boat
Best for: Travellers who want to go on a short, 1-hour boat trip in Berlin
- Type of Cruise: Day and Sunset Cruises
- Price: USD 23
- Rating: 4.3/5 on 13,666 reviews
- Duration: 1 hour
- Audio Guide: Included
- Landmarks you can see: Museum Island (Pergamon Museum, Neues Museum, Berlin Cathedral), Reichstag, Haus der Kulturen der Welt (House of World Cultures), Bellevue Palace.
The Berlin 1-Hour City Boat Tour is the best choice if you would like to go on a boat tour in Berlin but you don’t have a lot of time.
This boat tour is only 1 hour, but it covers the most important landmarks in Berlin. You get to pass by the Museum Island, Berlin Cathedral, Reichstag and the Bellevue Palace.
It also includes an audio guide, so you can learn about the history of Berlin. On top of that, it is also very affordable, at USD 23 per person.
✅ Book the Berlin 1-Hour City Boat Tour here!
2. Berlin: Boat Tour Along the River Spree
Best for: Travellers who have a bit more time to see Berlin from a boat (2.5 hours)
- Type of Cruise: Day
- Price: USD 30
- Rating: 4.3/5 on 10,167 reviews
- Duration: 2.5 hours
- Audio Guide: Included
- Landmarks you can see: Museum Island (Pergamon Museum, Neues Museum, Berlin Cathedral), Reichstag, Bellevue Palace, Victory Column, Berlin Central Station, Charlottenburg Palace.
The Berlin: Boat Tour Along the River Spree is 2.5 hour cruise on the River Spree. It cover the most famous landmarks, but goes on a longer route, so you get to see more of Berlin.
This boat tour is great if you have a bit more time for a cruise in Berlin and want to go on a longer route.
✅ Book the Berlin: Boat Tour Along the River Spree here!
3. Berlin Dinner Cruise on the Spree with Prosecco
Best for: Travellers who want to enjoy an evening boat tour with dinner
- Type of Cruise: Evening cruise with dinner and drinks
- Price: USD 80-122
- Rating: 4.5/5 on 182 reviews
- Duration: 2.5 hours
- What’s included: 3 or 4-course meal (veg or non-veg), welcome drink (glass of Prosecco)
- Audio Guide: Not included
- Landmarks you can see: Museum Island (Pergamon Museum, Neues Museum, Berlin Cathedral), Reichstag, Haus der Kulturen der Welt (House of World Cultures), Bellevue Palace.
Many of the boat tours in Berlin are just simple river cruises that have an audio guide but without any food or drinks.
This Berlin Dinner Cruise on the Spree with Prosecco is a great option to have dinner while also seeing Berlin in the evening lights.
It is a great option to celebrate a special occasion, relax and just enjoy the city views of Berlin. The dinner is a 3 or 4-course meal, and you have the option to choose vegetarian or non-vegetarian.
✅ Book the Dinner Cruise on the Spree with Prosecco here!
4. Berlin River Spree & Landwehr Canal Boat Tour
Best for: Travellers who want to see Berlin from the Landwehr Canal
- Type of Cruise: Day Cruise
- Price: USD 34
- Rating: 4.5/5 on 3,286 reviews
- Duration: 3.5 hours
- Audio Guide: Included
- Landmarks you can see: Landwehr Canal, Museum Island (museums, Berlin Cathedral), Government District (Reichstag).
Most of the Berlin river cruises only go on the River Spree, and the unique thing about this cruise is that it also goes on the Landwehr Canal.
You get to see some of the most famous attractions on the River Spree, such as the Museum Island, but you also go off into a canal, from where you can get a a different perspective of Berlin.
The Berlin River Spree & Landwehr Canal Boat Tour is around 3.5 hours, so this boat tour is a good option if you have a little bit more time and are interested to see different parts of Berlin.
✅ Book the Berlin River Spree & Landwehr Canal Boat Tour here!
5. Evening Yacht Cruise with Aperitif & Optional Dinner
Best for: Travellers who want to enjoy an evening yacht cruise with drinks (and optional dinner)
- Type of Cruise: Evening
- Price: USD 121
- Rating: 4.6/5 on 177 reviews
- Duration: 1.5 hour
- What’s included: 1 drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic)
- Audio Guide: Not included
- Landmarks you can see: Museum Island (Pergamon Museum, Neues Museum, Berlin Cathedral), Reichstag.
This Berlin cruise takes place on a yacht, includes a drink, and there is also an option to buy dinner as part of the package. If you want to include dinner, you have to select the dinner option when booking the cruise.
The Evening Yacht Cruise with Aperitif & Optional Dinner is great if you want to see Berlin at sunset and in the evening light. It passes by iconic landmarks in Berlin, such as the Reichstag and the Museum Island.
✅ Book the Evening Yacht Cruise with Aperitif & Optional Dinner here!
6. Historic Boat Sightseeing Tour
Best for: Travellers who want to go on a river cruise on a historic boat!
- Type of Cruise: Day
- Price: USD 30
- Rating: 4.5/5 on 412 reviews
- Duration: 1 hour
- Audio Guide: Included
- Food and Drinks: Available to buy on board
- Landmarks you can see: Museum Island (Pergamon Museum, Berlin Cathedral), Reichstag, Haus der Kulturen der Welt (House of World Cultures), German Chancellery, Bellevue Palace.
The Historic Boat Sightseeing Tour passes by famous landmarks in Berlin similar to that of other boat tours, but what is unique about this boat tour is that it takes place on a historic boat.
This river cruise is a great option if you want to go on a tour on a historic boat rather then the modern ships. The boat is from 1908 and used to be a passenger ship at the time.
It does not come with food and drinks, but they are available to buy on board.
✅ Book the Berlin Historic Boat Sightseeing Tour here!
7. Berlin East Side Boat Tour
Best for: Travellers who are interested in the East side of Berlin
- Type of Cruise: Afternoon
- Price: USD 31
- Rating: 4.5/5 on 1,700 reviews
- Duration: 2.5 hours
- Audio Guide: Included
- Food and Drinks: Available to buy on board
- Landmarks you can see: East Side Gallery, Radialsystem V, Berlin Ostbahnhof, Uber Arena, Oberbaum Bridge, Treptow Harbor, Mühlendamm Lock, Reichstag, German Chancellery.
The Berlin East Side Boat Tour passes by both famous landmarks in the city center of Berlin (Museum Island) as well as places in the East side of Berlin.
Most of the Berlin boat tours cover the same places in the center of Berlin, so this cruise is unique in a way that you also get to see the East Side Gallery (surviving section of the Berlin Wall – now an open air gallery).
It includes an audio guide but does not include food and drinks. In case you get hungry, you can purchase food and drinks on board for additional costs.
✅ Book the Berlin East Side Boat Tour here!
8. Berlin to Potsdam World Heritage Cruise
Best for: Travellers who want to take a boat tour outside of Berlin
- Type of Cruise: Morning, Afternoon
- Price: USD 23
- Rating: 4.5/5 on 1,408 reviews
- Duration: 3 hours
- Audio Guide: Not included
- Food and Drinks: Available to buy on board
- Landmarks you can see: Wannsee, Pfaueninsel (Peacock Island), Nikolskoe, Savior’s Church, Cecilienhof Palace, Glienicke Bridge, Babelsberg Palace, Flatow Tower, Hans-Otto-Theater (Schiffbauergasse), Friendship Island, and Potsdam/Lange Brücke
The Berlin to Potsdam World Heritage Cruise takes you from Berlin to Potsdam, so it is best if you want to take a cruise that goes outside of Berlin.
While most boat tours in Berlin pass by famous landmarks in the city center, the Berlin to Potsdam World Heritage Cruise takes you outside the city center. It is great if you want to see Germany outside Berlin and have a bit more time for a boat tour.
The seats on the boat are taken on a first come first served basis, so make sure to arrive early to be able to get a window seat for the best views!
✅ Book the Berlin to Potsdam World Heritage Cruise here!
9. Comedy Show on a Boat
Best for: Travellers who like stand-up comedy
- Type of Cruise: Not really a cruise, but a comedy show on a boat
- Price: USD 14
- Rating: 4.9/5 on 421 reviews
- Duration: 2.5 hours
- What’s included: Comedy show in English, free welcome drink (shot)
- Audio Guide: Comedy Show
- Landmarks you can see: East Side Gallery
It is actually not a boat tour but a comedy show taking place on a boat! I thought I would still include it in this list, as it is a fun experience on a boat in Berlin.
The Berlin Comedy Show on a Boat is the best option for those who like stand-up comedy and want to have some fun, but don’t mind not to go on a boat tour.
The comedy show is 2.5 hours long and you also get a free welcome drink upon arrival.
✅ Book the Berlin Comedy Show on a Boat here!
FAQs: Best River Cruises in Berlin
How much does it cost to go on a boat tour in Berlin?
The Berlin boat tours cost between USD 23-120. The price depends on the length of the cruise and what the package includes.
The shorter (1-hour) boat tours are generally the cheaper ones (USD 23-30), while the longer, 2-3 hour cruises, that include dinner and drinks tend to cost a bit more (USD 80-120).
Is the Berlin boat tour worth it?
Yes, a Berlin boat tour is definitely worth it! The Berlin river cruises are great to see the famous landmarks in the city or to celebrate a special occasion.
The best is to go on a boat tour for sunset or evening, so you can see the city in the evening lights.
Do any river cruises go through Berlin?
Yes, many river cruises go through Berlin. The River Spree flows through Berlin, and boat tours take place on the Spree and the Landwehr Canal.
Is Berlin on the Rhine River?
No, Berlin is not on the Rhine River. It is the River Spree that flows through Berlin.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a boat tour in Berlin is definitely worth it! Even if you just have 1 day in Berlin, you can go on a short boat trip.
The Berlin river cruises are a great way to see the famous landmarks in the city, relax or to celebrate a special occasion.
Overall, going on a Spree river cruise is one of the best things to do in Berlin! The River Spree flows through Berlin, and you get a really nice view of the city from a boat tour.
There are different types of boat tours in Berlin, including day and evening cruises, cruises that offer dinner and drinks, boat tour on a historic boat, and they even hold stand-up comedy shows on a boat!
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