River Cruises from Berlin

What our customers ask about River Cruises from Berlin

• What's the typical length of river cruise tours from Berlin?

  Most river cruises from Berlin run between 8 and 22 days, with 10-14 days being the sweet spot for many travelers. If you want a shorter trip, you can take the 8-day cruise from Berlin to Copenhagen. For a longer adventure, try the 22-day Christmas Markets cruise that takes you from Berlin to Amsterdam. These different lengths give you enough time to visit cities like Prague, Vienna and Budapest while enjoying the scenery along the Elbe, Rhine and Danube rivers.

• What are the most popular cruise routes from Berlin?

  You can choose from three main routes when cruising from Berlin. There's the Elbe River route that takes you through Dresden and Prague, the Oder River route that goes to the Baltic Sea through Poland, or the Rhine-Main-Danube route heading to Amsterdam or Vienna. One TourRadar traveler shares: "The Elbe route through Dresden offers stunning landscapes and historic cities, while the journey to Copenhagen via the Baltic provides a unique mix of river and sea cruising." Popular ships like MS Elbe Princesse and MS Victor Hugo regularly sail these routes.

• When is the best time to take a river cruise from Berlin?

  The best time to cruise is from April through October when the weather is nicest, with temperatures between 60-75°F (15-24°C). If you're interested in Christmas markets, consider a cruise in November or December, though it's cooler at 35-45°F (2-7°C). Many travelers especially like going between May and September. As one TourRadar traveler says: "The summer months provided perfect weather for both river cruising and exploring cities."

• Where do river cruises leave from in Berlin?

  You can start your cruise from three main spots in Berlin: Spandau Harbor in the west, Berlin-Tegel Port near downtown, or Berlin-Charlottenburg Harbor. The Christmas Markets cruises usually leave from Spandau Harbor, while other trips often start from Tegel Port. All these ports are easy to get to and from Berlin's main attractions. They're well-organized with good facilities, and you can easily get there from city hotels like the Mercure Berlin Tempelhof.

• What kinds of shore trips can I take from Berlin?

  When your ship stops in Berlin, you can join city tours that take you to famous spots like the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Wall and Museum Island. You might also visit places like Charlottenburg Palace, Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam, or Berlin's Christmas markets. One TourRadar traveler notes: "The combination of historical sites and local experiences gave us a deep understanding of Berlin before we started cruising." You'll find both included tours and extra activities you can add on.

• What's the best final stop for river cruises that start in Berlin?

  Basel makes a great final stop for river cruises from Berlin. You'll travel about 621 miles down the Rhine River, stopping at German cities like Frankfurt, Koblenz and Heidelberg along the way. In Basel, you can stay at nice hotels like the Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois or the Hyperion Hotel Basel. One TourRadar traveler mentions: "ending in Basel was perfect as it allowed us to easily connect to other parts of Switzerland or catch flights from its well-connected airport."