Germany · CRUISES & BOAT TOURS

The 15 Best Boat Trips in Germany

147 tours  ·  from $15

Every city worth a weekend here sits on a river, a canal or a harbour. The 15 below run from an hour on the Spree to a full day on the Rhine, each priced and clear about commentary, deck space and the season it sails in.

Berlin: 1-Hour City Tour by Boat with Guaranteed Seating - Luther Bridge and the northern turn
1-Hour Experiences, Berlin Tours, Boat Tours in Berlin, Cruises & Boat Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Berlin: 1-Hour City Tour by Boat with Guaranteed Seating

1.1-Hour City Tour by Boat with Guaranteed Seating

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 16,993 reviews · 1 hour · from $25Our pick

Spend one hour cruising Berlin’s Spree past the Reichstag, Government Quarter, Hauptbahnhof, Berlin Cathedral, Museum Island, and Nikolaiviertel. Choose a departure near Friedrichstraße or Nikolaiviertel, settle into a guaranteed seat, and follow the sights with an audio guide in up to 12 languages. Drinks and snacks are available onboard.

“I love a river cruise, as it's a great way to see all the major sites from a different perspective. I thought I booked the tour in English, but the tour was in German with an English audio guide. I didn't have my headphones, so I couldn't use the guide, but that's my fault for not checking beforehand. the cruise lasted the entire hour and passed many interesting sites.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Hamburg: 1.5-Hour Harbor and Speicherstadt Day Cruise - Rickmer Rickmers and U-434: Hamburg’s maritime calling cards
Boat Tours in Hamburg, Cruises & Boat Tours, Hamburg Tours, Tour Reviews

Hamburg: 1.5-Hour Harbor and Speicherstadt Day Cruise

2.1.5-Hour Harbor and Speicherstadt Day Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 14,200 reviews · 1h 30m · from $40

You’ll board a traditional Hamburger Barkasse at Überseebrücke for a 90-minute cruise past Speicherstadt, HafenCity, St. Pauli Pier, and working container terminals. A German-speaking captain provides lively commentary, while a free audio app covers 11 languages. The route depends on the tide, and you can leave at the Elbphilharmonie pier.

“An easy and interesting tour of the harbor. Even though the tour was in German, the app-powered audioguide was really interesting and easy to navigate. My partner is German and mentioned that the guide was very interesting and funny at the same time. Highly recommend!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Berlin: Boat Tour Along the River Spree - Central Station and Berlin’s government quarter
Berlin Tours, Boat Tours in Berlin, Cruises & Boat Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Berlin: Boat Tour Along the River Spree

3.Boat Tour Along the River Spree

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 11,252 reviews · 2h 15m · from $34

Set off from Friedrichstrasse for a 135-minute roundtrip cruise on Berlin’s River Spree. You’ll pass the Federal Chancellery, Bellevue Palace, Victory Column, Central Station, Charlottenburg Palace and major canals. German commentary plays onboard, while audio guides are available in 12 languages. Food and drinks can be bought onboard.

“Good way to spend a couple of hours on a sunny day in Berlin,,enjoyed it more than the sight seeing bus we had been on ,,app is easy to use ,no issues at all”

Check availability →Read our full review

Hamburg: 90-Minute Evening Lights Harbor Cruise - Starting at Landungsbrücken, Bridge 10
Boat Tours in Hamburg, Cruises & Boat Tours, Hamburg Tours, Tour Reviews

Hamburg: 90-Minute Evening Lights Harbor Cruise

4.90-Minute Evening Lights Harbor Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 7,728 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $27

Meet Maritime Circle Line at Landungsbrücken, Bridge 10, for a 90-minute evening barge cruise. The German-speaking captain guides you past Speicherstadt, the Elbphilharmonie, container terminals, and large ships, with covered seating available if rain arrives. Drinks are sold onboard, but bring cash.

“Excellent evening tour, good value for money. I would definitely recommend this trip.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Hamburg: 2-Hour XXL Port of Hamburg Cruise Tour - Finding the Rainer Abicht departure pier
2-Hour Experiences, Boat Tours in Hamburg, Cruises & Boat Tours, Hamburg Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Hamburg: 2-Hour XXL Port of Hamburg Cruise Tour

5.2-Hour XXL Port of Hamburg Cruise Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 6,979 reviews · 2 hours · from $47

Spend two hours aboard a small Rainer Abicht boat touring Hamburg’s working port, locks, Speicherstadt, HafenCity, and St. Pauli. Live commentary is in German, while an app offers audio in English and several other languages. The boat has enclosed seating, an open deck, drinks, toilets, and close views of cranes, ships, and canals.

“Amazing time to go around Hamburg and see places from another view. Recommend to everyone.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Cologne: Panoramic City Cruise - Bridges that give the ride its rhythm
Boat Tours in Cologne, Cologne Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Tour Reviews

Cologne: Panoramic City Cruise

6.Panoramic City Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 5,698 reviews · 1 hour · from $23

Spend one relaxed hour on the Rhine with KD Deutsche Rheinschiffahrt GmbH, passing Cologne Cathedral, the Old Town, Hohenzollern Bridge, South Bridge, Rheinauhafen, and the chocolate museum. You’ll have German and English commentary, covered and open-air seating, toilets, and table service for drinks and snacks at extra cost.

“Great boat trip giving excellent views of the waterfront”

Check availability →Read our full review

Dresden: River Sightseeing Boat Cruise - The Loschwitz Villa Quarter and the Blue Wonder
Cruises & Boat Tours, Dresden Tours, River Cruises, Tour Reviews

Dresden: River Sightseeing Boat Cruise

7.River Sightseeing Boat Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 5,323 reviews · 1h 30m · from $31

Spend 90 minutes cruising from Terrassenufer past Dresden’s Elbe palaces, Loschwitz Villa Quarter, and four bridges, including the Blue Wonder. You may sail on a historic paddle steamer or modern boat. English and German commentary is included, while drinks, coffee, cake, and meals are available to buy onboard.

“Nice way to spend a couple of hours, seeing a few of the sights, with some commentary and drinks!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Frankfurt: River Main Sightseeing Cruise with Commentary - Upstream toward Offenbach and Sachsenhausen
Boat Tours in Frankfurt, Cruises & Boat Tours, Frankfurt Tours, Tour Reviews

Frankfurt: River Main Sightseeing Cruise with Commentary

8.River Main Sightseeing Cruise with Commentary

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 5,127 reviews · 50 - 100 minutes · from $18Best value

Cruise from Eiserner Steg along the Main, choosing a 50-minute trip toward Griesheim or Offenbach, or a longer ride covering both directions. You’ll see Frankfurt’s skyline, Sachsenhausen, museum embankment, Western Harbor, and Gerbermühle, with recorded English and German commentary. Food and drinks are available to buy onboard.

“It was relaxing being on the water looking at the scenery.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Hamburg: 1-Hour Harbor Evening Lights Cruise - Through Speicherstadt, If the Tide Cooperates
1-Hour Experiences, Boat Tours in Hamburg, Cruises & Boat Tours, Hamburg Tours, Tour Reviews

Hamburg: 1-Hour Harbor Evening Lights Cruise

9.1-Hour Harbor Evening Lights Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 4,861 reviews · from $30

Join Rainer Abicht at St. Pauli Landungsbrücken for a one-hour evening cruise through Hamburg’s lit harbor. Expect German live commentary, an audio app in several languages, views of Speicherstadt when tides allow, HafenCity, the Elbphilharmonie, museum ships, cranes, and ocean liners. Arrive early for the best window seat.

“The cruise itself was great but it was only in German and the app for listening to the commentary in English wasn’t that good as you really needed headphones to drown out the German commentary.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Berlin: 3.25-Hour Spree & Landwehrkanal Boat Tour - The Spree gives you Berlin’s big picture
Berlin Tours, Boat Tours in Berlin, Cruises & Boat Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Berlin: 3.25-Hour Spree & Landwehrkanal Boat Tour

10.3.25-Hour Spree & Landwehrkanal Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 4,311 reviews · 3h 15m · from $38

Board at Jannowitzbrücke near Alexanderplatz for a 195-minute cruise along Berlin’s Spree and Landwehr Canal. You’ll pass more than 40 bridges, Museum Island, Potsdamer Platz, the German Museum of Technology, and the Government District. Live commentary may be in German, with an English audio guide available on selected options.

“It was a nice tour but the descriptions in the audioguides were way shorter that the live ones”

Check availability →Read our full review

Berlin: Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus with Boat Options - Red route: Berlin’s central story in one loop
Berlin Tours, Boat Tours in Berlin, Cruises & Boat Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Tours, Hop-On Hop-Off Tours in Berlin, Tour Reviews

Berlin: Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus with Boat Options

11.Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus with Boat Options

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 4,012 reviews · from $30

See Berlin from an open-top bus on two routes covering Museum Island, the Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, the Berlin Wall, and East Side Gallery. A 48-hour ticket can add Freddie’s live history walk, currywurst, and an evening tour. The optional Spree cruise runs April through October.

“Clean, air conditioned with courteous personnel, the coach ride was informative. The audio was clear.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Berlin: 1-Hour Boat Tour with Bilingual Live Guide - Boarding beside Hackescher Markt
1-Hour Experiences, Berlin Tours, Boat Tours in Berlin, Cruises & Boat Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Berlin: 1-Hour Boat Tour with Bilingual Live Guide

12.1-Hour Boat Tour with Bilingual Live Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 3,629 reviews · from $22

See Berlin's central sights from the Spree aboard the glass-sided MS Carola or MS Franziska. A live guide presents in English and German, with guides such as Michael bringing humor to the Reichstag, Museum Island, and government district. The one-hour cruise includes heating, toilets, drinks for purchase, and a return to Hackescher Markt.

“We liked the fact that is was a human guide rather than AI or a robot. he was very communicative with humour and answered any questions.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Hamburg: 1-Hour Harbor Sightseeing Cruise with HafenCity - Finding Bridge 1 or Bridge 4 at St. Pauli
1-Hour Experiences, Boat Tours in Hamburg, Cruises & Boat Tours, Hamburg Tours, Tour Reviews

Hamburg: 1-Hour Harbor Sightseeing Cruise with HafenCity

13.1-Hour Harbor Sightseeing Cruise with HafenCity

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 3,067 reviews · 1 hour · from $30

Cruise Hamburg’s working harbor for one hour aboard a Rainer Abicht boat, passing Speicherstadt, HafenCity, Elbphilharmonie, container terminals, and cruise ships. German commentary is live, while the free audio guide app offers English and several other languages. Choose the sun deck or air-conditioned lounge.

“Great experience. The tour was well organized, our guide was entertaining and well informed. Highly recommended.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Cologne: Top Sights Rhine River Cruise - Skyline Tour - Finding pier 10 beside the Musical Dome
Boat Tours in Cologne, Cologne Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, River Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours

Cologne: Top Sights Rhine River Cruise – Skyline Tour

14.Top Sights Rhine River Cruise – Skyline Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 3,030 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $28

Spend 90 minutes aboard MS Rheinperle or MS Rheinland, cruising from Cologne Cathedral and Old Town to Rheinauhafen, Rodenkirchen, and five Rhine bridges. English and German recorded commentary points out key sights, while table service offers drinks and snacks. You can sit inside or on two open decks.

“The tour was enjoyable! With a good selection of refreshments on board. We really enjoyed it and the scenery is great. Only downside is the boat gets busy so we could not really hear the guide. However, there was a stag party next to us. Not complaining though it was great!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Düsseldorf: City Sightseeing Cruise on the Rhine - What you see during the one-hour route
Cruises & Boat Tours, Dusseldorf Tours, Tour Reviews

Düsseldorf: City Sightseeing Cruise on the Rhine

15.City Sightseeing Cruise on the Rhine

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 2,954 reviews · 1 hour · from $23

Board near Düsseldorf’s Rheinuferpromenade for a one-hour Rhine cruise past the Old Town, city ruins, Medienhafen, and busy riverbanks. You’ll hear English and German commentary by loudspeaker, choose indoor or outdoor seating, and buy drinks and snacks onboard. Arrive 20 to 30 minutes early for the best outside seats.

“Nice wee cruise did 1 hour sat upstairs with a beer”

Check availability →Read our full review

Scroll to Top

Explore Germany

A city, a river, a castle ridge, a brewery.