CitySightseeing Berlin HOHO Bus- All Lines (A+B) & Boat Tour

Berlin is spread out, and this two-route bus pass gives you a useful first look without forcing you into a fixed group schedule. Add the one-hour Spree cruise, and you get Berlin from street level, above the traffic, and from the water.

I like the freedom to hop off at Checkpoint Charlie, Brandenburg Gate, and East Side Gallery, then rejoin the route when it suits you. I also like that the 48-hour option gives you time to use the buses as transport, not just as a sightseeing loop. The main drawback is practical: the boat boarding point can be hard to find, and the route information does not make the pier location clear enough.

Key points at a glance

• Two bus circuits cover different Berlins: Route A handles the central sights, while Route B follows East Berlin and major Wall sites.
• The one-hour Spree cruise adds a different view: Boats depart from Am Weidendamm 1, near stop 11 on Route A.
• Route A takes about two hours: Buses run about every 25 minutes from 9:30am through the final 3:30pm departure from stop 1.
• Route B is shorter but less frequent: The East Berlin circuit lasts about one hour, with buses every 40 minutes and a last departure at 4:30pm from stop 1.
• The open top deck is the best seat for orientation: You get broad views of the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, Siegessäule, and central Berlin.
• Plan the boat separately: The cruise runs from April 1 through November 9, with set departure times and no food or drinks included.

What the Berlin bus and boat ticket actually gives you

At $54 per person, this is not a cheap city ride. Its value depends on how much you use it. A single loop gives you a broad introduction, but the ticket makes more sense when you hop off several times, use the buses across both routes, and fit in the Spree cruise.

You can choose a 24-hour or 48-hour pass. The longer ticket is the better pick if you want a relaxed pace, especially since Route A and Route B do not run at the same frequency or for the same length of time.

You do not need to start at the first stop. You can board at any stop along the route, which is useful if you are already near Alexanderplatz, Checkpoint Charlie, the Zoo, or another listed stop. Still, I would confirm the meeting point shown for your booking before setting out, since the starting point can vary by option.

Both mobile and printed paper vouchers are accepted. The voucher can also be used on any day within three months of the travel date selected at checkout, which gives you some flexibility.

Route A: central Berlin from KaDeWe to the Reichstag

The Classic Tour is the main circuit. It takes about 120 minutes for a full ride and runs approximately every 25 minutes. The first departure from stop 1 is at 9:30am, and the last departure from that stop is at 3:30pm.

The route begins around Berlin’s western shopping district:

• Tauentzienstrasse
• KaDeWe
• Lutzowplatz
• Potsdamer Platz and the historic Ampel
• Gropiusbau
• Checkpoint Charlie
• Gendarmenmarkt
• Neptunbrunnen
• Alexanderplatz
• Lustgarten
• Unter den Linden and Friedrichstrasse
• Brandenburg Gate
• Reichstag
• Hauptbahnhof
• Siegessäule
• Zoo and Elefantentor
• Cafe Kranzler
• Kurfürstendamm 236

The first stops around Tauentzienstrasse and KaDeWe place you in the city’s western commercial center. KaDeWe is one of Berlin’s best-known department stores, while Kurfürstendamm gives you a feel for the grand boulevard side of the city. These stops are useful if you want shopping and urban views, but they are not the strongest part of the tour for Berlin’s political and 20th-century history.

Potsdamer Platz is a better stop for modern Berlin. The area was heavily divided during the Cold War and later rebuilt, so you get a sharp change from historic streets to newer architecture. The listed historic Ampel refers to Berlin’s familiar pedestrian traffic-light figure, a small but distinctly local detail.

Gropiusbau leads you toward the museum district near Checkpoint Charlie. You will want to hop off at Checkpoint Charlie if the Berlin Wall and Cold War story are high on your list. This crossing point once linked the American and Soviet sectors, and today it is one of the city’s most recognized historical sites.

I would use the bus to reach this area, then take time on foot. The bus gives you the setting, but the meaning of Checkpoint Charlie is easier to grasp when you slow down and read the displays around the crossing.

Gendarmenmarkt follows, one of central Berlin’s most impressive squares. From there, the route moves toward Neptunbrunnen and Alexanderplatz. Alexanderplatz is a practical place to leave the bus because it connects Route A with Route B and gives you access to a large cluster of central sights.

Lustgarten, Unter den Linden, and Friedrichstrasse bring you into the ceremonial heart of Berlin. The grand avenue of Unter den Linden leads toward Brandenburg Gate, one of the city’s defining landmarks. The Reichstag is nearby, along with the government quarter and Hauptbahnhof.

The open top deck is especially useful here. From above the traffic, you can see the broad scale of Berlin’s avenues and get a clear look at major buildings without trying to navigate every street yourself. On a sunny day, this is the best part of the ride. On a cold or rainy day, the exposed deck may be less appealing.

The circuit then continues past the Siegessäule, or Victory Column, and through the Zoo area. The Elefantentor marks the zoo entrance. Cafe Kranzler and Kurfürstendamm bring the route back toward western Berlin, completing the loop.

Route B: East Berlin and the Berlin Wall

The Trendy East Berlin and Wall Tour is shorter, running for about 60 minutes. It departs from stop 1 at 9:30am, with the final departure at 4:30pm. Buses come about every 40 minutes, so you need to watch the clock more closely than on Route A.

The stops are:

• Rotes Rathaus and Neptune Fountain
• Oranienburger Strasse and Krausnickstrasse
• Bernauer Strasse and Cafe Bar Central
• Mauerpark, Bernauer Strasse 455
• Park Inn Hotel, Alexanderplatz 76
• Karl-Marx-Allee and the Computerspielemuseum
• East Side Gallery and Mercedes-Benz Arena
• Ostbahnhof and the Intercity Hotel

This route feels less like a general city sampler and more like a focused look at East Berlin. Rotes Rathaus is a convenient central starting point near the red town hall and Neptune Fountain. Oranienburger Strasse moves you toward a street known for its central-city setting and access to nearby sights.

Bernauer Strasse is one of the most important stops on this circuit. The street preserves a particularly clear connection to the Berlin Wall, and Mauerpark adds another piece of the former border zone. If you want to understand how the Wall cut through ordinary neighborhoods, this section is more useful than simply seeing a surviving fragment in passing.

Mauerpark is also a good place to stop if you want a break from monuments and government buildings. The bus stop is at Bernauer Strasse 455, so check the exact location before leaving the bus.

Karl-Marx-Allee shows a very different side of East Berlin. Its broad avenue and former East German planning make it a useful counterpoint to the older central streets around Brandenburg Gate. The Computerspielemuseum is listed near the stop, giving you an optional indoor attraction, though admission is not part of the ticket.

The final section leads toward East Side Gallery and the Mercedes-Benz Arena. East Side Gallery is the famous stretch of remaining Wall covered with murals. This is one of the strongest reasons to use Route B, since it links the Wall story with a large surviving outdoor art site.

Ostbahnhof is the final listed stop and another practical transport point. Because Route B runs only every 40 minutes, do not wander too far from the stop if you plan to continue by bus. Missing one bus can cost you a good part of an hour.

The Spree cruise from Am Weidendamm 1

The boat ride lasts one hour and departs from Am Weidendamm 1, near stop 11 on Route A. The listed departure times are 11am, 11:30am, 12:30pm, 1pm, 2pm, 2:30pm, 3:30pm, and 4pm.

The boat gives you a calmer view of central Berlin. From the river, you can see the city from a lower, wider angle, and the cruise breaks up a day of bus riding. I would not treat it as a replacement for walking around Berlin, but it is a pleasant way to connect the central sights without more traffic and pavement.

The biggest problem is finding the pier. Stop 11 on the Classic Tour is Unter den Linden and Friedrichstrasse, but the boat departure point is at Am Weidendamm 1, and the two locations are not as close as the stop numbering may suggest. Allow extra time and use the full street address rather than assuming the nearby bus stop is the boarding point.

This is the one part of the experience I would plan in advance. If you arrive at the wrong place, the set departure schedule gives you little room to recover. The boat operates daily from April 1 through November 9, so outside that season you should not assume the cruise is running.

Boat commentary is available in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Swedish, Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian, Portuguese, Chinese, and Hebrew. It is separate from the bus commentary in the practical sense that you will hear information from the river rather than simply repeating the road route.

Audio commentary and the open deck

The bus audio guide is available in 13 languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Arabic, Chinese, Hebrew, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, and Turkish.

That matters if you want context while watching the city pass by, but I would still use the commentary as an introduction rather than your only source of information. The bus works best when you combine the narration with actual stops. Get off at places that interest you, spend time there, and then continue.

The open top deck gives you 360-degree views. It is particularly helpful for spotting the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, and Siegessäule, as well as for understanding how Berlin’s central districts fit together. You can also move indoors if the weather turns unpleasant, though the best photographs and broadest views come from the upper level.

How I would plan a 24-hour pass

With only one day, I would avoid trying to complete every stop. Start with Route A in the morning and stay on for the full circuit if you need to get your bearings. Then hop off at Checkpoint Charlie, Brandenburg Gate, or Alexanderplatz.

Fit the boat into the middle of the day only after confirming the pier. The 11am or 11:30am departure can work well if you begin early, while later sailings may fit better after Route A. Leave enough time to walk to Am Weidendamm 1.

Use Route B in the afternoon for Bernauer Strasse and East Side Gallery. Since buses run every 40 minutes, choose one or two stops rather than trying to cover all of East Berlin.

How I would use the 48-hour pass

The 48-hour option is easier to justify if Berlin is new to you. On the first day, use Route A for the central sights and the boat. On the second day, focus on Route B and spend more time at Bernauer Strasse, Mauerpark, Karl-Marx-Allee, and East Side Gallery.

You can also use the buses as practical connections between areas. That is where the longer pass begins to offer real value. Instead of paying for a full loop each time, you can ride partway, get off for a sight, and continue later.

The timetable still matters. Route A’s last departure from stop 1 is 3:30pm, while Route B continues until 4:30pm. Those times do not necessarily mean the last bus is passing every stop at exactly the same time, so avoid leaving your final connection too late.

Who will get the most from this tour

I would recommend this for a first visit, a short stay, or anyone who wants a simple overview before choosing which districts deserve more time. It also works well if you prefer not to rely entirely on public transport while you learn Berlin’s layout.

Families may appreciate the flexible hop-on, hop-off format, especially with the open deck and a boat ride added to the day. The tour is wheelchair accessible, which is an important practical advantage, though the provided information does not describe the boarding arrangements at each individual stop.

It is less suitable if you want a small group, a personal guide, or detailed conversation about Berlin’s past. The audio guide gives information in many languages, but the format remains a large sightseeing bus with fixed routes and scheduled departures.

Food and drinks are not included, and attraction admission is separate. Plan for those costs if you want to visit museums or other sights along the way.

Should you book the Berlin All Lines ticket?

Book it if you value flexibility, want both central Berlin and East Berlin in one pass, and will use the boat. The strongest plan is a 48-hour ticket, with Route A for orientation, Route B for the Wall sites, and the cruise placed carefully around its fixed departure times.

Choose another option if you mainly want a guided historical walk or if the $54 price feels high for a single ride around the city. The ticket becomes worthwhile through repeated use, not through one passive loop.

My practical warning is simple: write down Am Weidendamm 1 before you leave for the boat. The buses are easy to understand once you know the route, but the pier requires more care than the rest of the experience.

FAQ

How long is the bus ticket valid?

You can choose a pass valid for 24 or 48 hours.

Does the ticket include both bus routes?

Yes. It includes the Classic Tour, also called Route A, and the Trendy East Berlin and Wall Tour, also called Route B.

How long is the Classic Tour?

A full Route A circuit takes about 120 minutes.

How long is the East Berlin and Wall Tour?

A full Route B circuit takes about 60 minutes.

How often does Route A run?

Route A buses run approximately every 25 minutes.

How often does Route B run?

Route B buses run approximately every 40 minutes.

Where does the boat leave from?

The one-hour boat tour leaves from Am Weidendamm 1, near stop 11 on the Classic Route.

What time does the boat operate?

Listed departures are at 11am, 11:30am, 12:30pm, 1pm, 2pm, 2:30pm, 3:30pm, and 4pm.

Is the boat available every day?

The boat operates every day from April 1 through November 9.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible.