River trips · GERMANY

Top 15 Germany River Cruises

42 sailings  ·  boarding from $15 a head

Good sailings fill up days ahead and the best ones first. Below: the 15 germany river cruises to book early, what each includes and how they differ.

Berlin: Boat Tour Along the River Spree - Starting at Friedrichstrasse 140
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Berlin: Boat Tour Along the River Spree

1.Boat Tour Along the River Spree

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

Spend 135 minutes on a round-trip cruise from Friedrichstrasse, passing the Federal Chancellery, Bellevue Palace, Victory Column, Berlin Central Station, Charlottenburg Palace, and several canals. German commentary plays onboard, while handheld audio guides are available in 11 additional languages. Bring wired headphones if you have them.

“Yeah the 2.25 hours was really relaxing, so glad we chose this than the 1 hour option offered by other providers. Weather was brilliant so we were quite lucky”

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Dresden: River Sightseeing Boat Cruise - Three palaces on the riverbank
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Dresden: River Sightseeing Boat Cruise

2.River Sightseeing Boat Cruise

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

Spend 90 minutes on the Elbe from Dresden's Terrassenufer, passing three palaces, the Loschwitz Villa Quarter, and four bridges, including the Blue Wonder. Choose an open deck or warm indoor seating, listen to German and English commentary, and buy food or drinks onboard. Boats may be historic paddle steamers or modern vessels.

“i really enjoyed this boat cruise. it was a rainy afternoon but you can sit in the restaurant where it was nice and warm. it was a beautiful experience. the only thing i can recommend is for them to turn the volume up a bit for the audio guide. if people are talking you can barely hear what the guide is saying.”

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Frankfurt: River Main Sightseeing Cruise with Commentary - Starting at Eiserner Steg
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Frankfurt: River Main Sightseeing Cruise with Commentary

3.River Main Sightseeing Cruise with Commentary

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

From Eiserner Steg, choose a 50-minute cruise toward Griesheim or Offenbach, or stay aboard for both directions. Primus-Linie provides English and German recorded commentary, indoor and open-air seating, and food and drinks for purchase. The longer ride gives you Frankfurt’s skyline, Sachsenhausen, museum embankment, and western harbor in one easy outing.

“We had lovely weather om Frankfurt this day, which helps. The cruise was good, a modest amount of commentary in English and German; which was enough and not bothersome. Great to be able to have drinks; it was a little hard to get service but the staff were working flat out and did the best they could given the number of people. Glad we did the 100 minute cruise as you get to see some interesting parts of Frankfurt, and 50 minutes is just too short to be able to relax.”

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Berlin: 3.25-Hour Spree & Landwehrkanal Boat Tour - The Spree gives you Berlin’s big picture
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Berlin: 3.25-Hour Spree & Landwehrkanal Boat Tour

4.3.25-Hour Spree & Landwehrkanal Boat Tour

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

Start 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. English and German audio commentary is available, though bring headphones with a standard audio jack.

“Amazing tour around Berlin. Out guide Martin were lively, funny and entertaining during The whole tour. We really recommend this trip..”

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Cologne: Top Sights Rhine River Cruise - Skyline Tour - Pier 10 and the first look at Cologne Cathedral
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Cologne: Top Sights Rhine River Cruise – Skyline Tour

5.Top Sights Rhine River Cruise – Skyline Tour

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

Board the MS Rheinperle or MS Rheinland near Cologne’s Musical Dome for a 90-minute Rhine cruise. You’ll pass the Cathedral, Old Town, Rheinauhafen’s crane houses, five bridges, and Rodenkirchen, then continue north toward Zoobrücke. Recorded commentary is offered in English and German on selected departures.

“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!”

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Düsseldorf: City Sightseeing Cruise on the Rhine - What You See During the One-Hour Route
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Düsseldorf: City Sightseeing Cruise on the Rhine

6.City Sightseeing Cruise on the Rhine

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

Board at the Rheinuferpromenade for a one-hour round trip along Düsseldorf’s Rhine waterfront. You’ll see the Old Town, city ruins, Medienhafen, and other riverside sights from a comfortable boat, with English and German announcements by loudspeaker. Snacks, beer, cocktails, and soft drinks are available onboard.

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

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Heidelberg: Neckar River Sightseeing Boat Tour with Drink - Finding pier 5 at Neckarstaden 25
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Heidelberg: Neckar River Sightseeing Boat Tour with Drink

7.Neckar River Sightseeing Boat Tour with Drink

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 2,460 reviews · 50 min · from $26

Set out from pier 5 on a 50-minute Neckar River cruise with views of Heidelberg Castle, the Old Bridge, Philosophenweg, grand villas, and the Old Town Hall. Your ticket includes one drink, with beer, soft drinks, water, or seasonal mulled wine available. Commentary is listed in German, though English and French audio are also commonly provided.

“Was exactly as described - boat ride with a drink :)”

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Dresden: Elbe River Cruise to Pillnitz Castle - Choosing your place on the paddle steamer
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Dresden: Elbe River Cruise to Pillnitz Castle

8.Elbe River Cruise to Pillnitz Castle

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,411 reviews · 3 hours · from $37

Sail round trip from Dresden’s Terrassenufer to Pillnitz on a rustic paddle steamer or salon ship. You’ll pass three Elbe castles, four bridges, and the Blue Wonder, then pause 20 minutes at Pillnitz Palace. German and English commentary comes by announcement or app. The stop is for boarding only, not a castle visit.

“The cruise was nice but difficult to understand the narration for non German speaking person like me.”

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Berlin: Spree Boat Tour to Müggelsee - The Spree route and the pleasure of going slowly
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Berlin: Spree Boat Tour to Müggelsee

9.Spree Boat Tour to Müggelsee

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,973 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $25

Leave Treptow Harbor by boat and follow the Spree through Berlin’s green southeastern districts to Köpenick and Müggelsee. You’ll pass Köpenick Palace, see the Captain of Köpenick statue, and view Müggelturm. The boat has indoor and outdoor seating, drinks and snacks for purchase, and commentary that may be primarily in German.

“This was a very beautiful trip. Very calm, good service on board and an astonish view all the time.”

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Frankfurt: 1-Hour Panorama Boat Cruise on the river Main - The skyline, cathedral, and Eiserner Steg
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Frankfurt: 1-Hour Panorama Boat Cruise on the river Main

10.1-Hour Panorama Boat Cruise on the river Main

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 1,822 reviews · 1 hour · from $20

Cruise Frankfurt’s Main River for one hour, passing skyscrapers, the cathedral, Eiserner Steg, and city bridges. You’ll hear recorded commentary through loudspeakers, usually in German and English, while enjoying a smooth ride from the old town. The boat is wheelchair accessible, and drinks are available onboard for separate purchase.

“Excellent tour we missed our booking on the saturday and they let us return on the subday ..great tour travels at great pace and good commentary in English”

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Rhine Valley Trip from Frankfurt including Rhine River Cruise - Assmannshausen, lunch, and the first taste of local food
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Rhine Valley Trip from Frankfurt including Rhine River Cruise

11.Rhine Valley Trip from Frankfurt including Rhine River Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,179 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $167

Travel from Frankfurt into the UNESCO-listed Middle Rhine Valley with an English-speaking guide, then cruise past castles, vineyards, villages, and Loreley Rock. The $167 tour includes transport, a meal, and a small wine tasting. Guides such as Michael, Willy, Charles, and Mish have earned praise for clear commentary and good humor.

“Our Guide Willey was knowledgeable, entertaining and a good driver. Cruse was interesting and did get to experience the loghts along the river as trip was at the end of Nov. lunch and wine tasting were uninspired. Fall or spring would be recommended but nor winter”

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Berlin: East Side Gallery Spree Cruise in a Solar Catamaran - Finding the boat at Jannowitzbrücke
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Berlin: East Side Gallery Spree Cruise in a Solar Catamaran

12.East Side Gallery Spree Cruise in a Solar Catamaran

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 1,086 reviews · 2 hours · from $28

Spend two hours on a quiet solar-powered catamaran cruising east from Jannowitzbrücke. You’ll see the East Side Gallery from the water, pass Oberbaumbrücke, Kater Blau, Treptow harbor, and Insel der Jugend. A German host provides an English audio guide. Food and drinks are sold on board, but seats are not reserved.

“Brilliant tour, well worth the money and more. Great service and reasonable priced drinks served to you from the bar! Highly recommend for a summer trip!”

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Koblenz:Rhine Valley boat tour along the castles and palaces - Starting at Koblenz’s riverfront
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Koblenz:Rhine Valley boat tour along the castles and palaces

13.Koblenz:Rhine Valley boat tour along the castles and palaces

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,084 reviews · 2 hours · from $22

Cruise the Upper Middle Rhine Valley aboard La Paloma, starting in Koblenz and sailing past Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, German Corner, Stolzenfels, Lahneck, and Marksburg Castle. The two-hour round trip includes German and English commentary, indoor and outdoor seating, onboard food and drinks, and wheelchair access with advance notice.

“This was a super fun boat ride. It was easy to find the dock and the boat departed on time. They serve drinks and food onboard, and the wait staff spoke excellent English. The speaker narration about the sites we passed was given in German and English. All in all, it was a great trip.”

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Cochem: Panoramic Cruise on the Moselle River - Reichsburg Castle from its best angle
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Cochem: Panoramic Cruise on the Moselle River

14.Cochem: Panoramic Cruise on the Moselle River

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 1,004 reviews · 1 hour · from $16

Spend one relaxed hour aboard a KD boat on the Moselle River, viewing Cochem’s timbered houses, vineyards, and Reichsburg Castle from the water. Audio commentary in German and English points out local sights and town history. You can also buy drinks, wine, snacks, and desserts onboard.

“Excellent staff and service. Lovely cruise with beautiful scenery”

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Berlin Combo Package: City Tour & Spree Boat Tour - Starting on Kurfürstendamm and seeing Berlin’s western side
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Berlin Combo Package: City Tour & Spree Boat Tour

15.Berlin Combo Package: City Tour & Spree Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 996 reviews · 1 - 2 days · from $64

Use a 24 or 48-hour City Circle bus ticket to reach Berlin highlights from Kurfürstendamm to Alexanderplatz and the East Side Gallery, then take a one-hour Spree cruise. Audio commentary comes in 20 languages, buses run every 15 to 20 minutes, and the route includes stops near major sights, neighborhoods, and boat piers.

“Super helpful staff, went out of their way to make it great. Amazing tour!”

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Newly added: Germany River Cruises

★ 4.2From Alken: Moselle Valley Sightseeing CruiseFrom $1713 reviews
★ 4.12-Hour Evening Rhine River Cruise with Live DJFrom $34248 reviews
★ 4.5Winterlights Evening River Cruise with DinnerFrom $7195 reviews
★ 4.2Paddle Steamer Cruise & Canaletto ViewFrom $2783 reviews
★ 4.5Rhine River Cruise with Local MusicFrom $30133 reviews
★ 3.8Full-Day Mosel Valley Tour with River CruiseFrom $1533 reviews
★ 3.7Cochem, Moselle: Castle, boat and wine tourFrom $8896 reviews
★ 4.1Cochem: KD Panoramic Evening Cruise on the Moselle RiverFrom $3076 reviews
★ 3.9Cochem, Moselle: Boat – Beilstein, meal, wine and liqueur tastingFrom $10449 reviews
★ 3.4Winter Spree Cruise with Mulled Wine and Christmas StollenFrom $3715 reviews
★ 4.5Christmas Lunch – festive river cruiseFrom $7115 reviews
★ 4.7Burg: Spreewald Winter Cruise with FireplaceFrom $28312 reviews
★ 4.7Bonn: Sunset Boat Tour on the RhineFrom $3011 reviews
★ 4.5Bonn: 1.5-Hour River Cruise on the RhineFrom $22109 reviews
★ 4.5Bonn: Evening Sightseeing Cruise on the Rhine RiverFrom $3078 reviews

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