Best Winter Activities: Our Top 4

1.Rhine River Winter Cruise with Festive Music

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 676 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $28Our pick

Cruise Cologne’s Rhine for 1.5 hours aboard a warm panorama boat with views of Cologne Cathedral, Groß St. Martin, and the crane houses of Rheinau Harbour. A live singer and electric piano provide festive entertainment, while you can buy Glühwein, hot chocolate, coffee, snacks, and other drinks at your table.

“Fantastic river cruise. Great vibe, reasonably priced drinks. Very Christmassy. Brilliant value for money. Recommend to anyone visiting Cologne. Super easy to find the meeting point.”

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2.Amsterdam Small Group Canal Cruise inc Snacks/Drinks Winter

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 520 reviews · 2 hours · from $71Top rated

Spend two hours on Amsterdam’s canals aboard a heated, covered sloop with an English-speaking captain such as Storm, Stephan, or Erik. Expect local stories, open-bar drinks, cheese, stroopwafels, and warm bitterballen. Small groups, cozy blankets, and evening canal lights make this a relaxed alternative to a large sightseeing boat.

“We really enjoyed this canal tour. I saw a lot of other boat tours during our time in Amsterdam, but I am very glad we paid a little extra for this one. The boat was extremely comfortable with great wine and snacks. Some of the bigger boats I saw going around were a bit soulless and lacking comfort. Our captain and tour guide was Stephen and he was fantastic. He was a great host who made us feel very welcome and comfortable, he was very knowledgeable and kept us entertained.”

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3.Burg: Spreewald Winter Cruise with Fireplace

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 312 reviews · 14 days · from $28

Meet at the Spreehafen Burg office for a winter boat ride through Burg-Dorf. A fireplace warms the covered boat while blankets, German commentary, and quiet waterways set the mood. The trip lasts about an hour in practice, although the booking information lists a 14-day validity period. Mulled wine and tea cost extra.

“We enjoyed it a lot with a group of friends with our 2kids. Highly recommend.”

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4.Winter Spree Cruise with Mulled Wine and Christmas Stollen

★★★★★★★★★★3.4 · 15 reviews · 1h 30m · from $37

Spend 90 minutes on a heated boat touring central Berlin along the Spree. You’ll pass the Reichstag, Berlin Cathedral, Museum Island, Central Station, and Nikolai Quarter. Mulled wine and Christmas stollen are available onboard for purchase. Seating ranges from the salon and VIP lounge to the wheelhouse and outdoor deck.

“Es hat Spaß gemacht,viele Sehenswürdigkeiten entlang der Fahrt,nettes Schiffsteam...leider nur,wenn man mit älteren Menschen fährt,es gibt zum größten Teil nur Bartische mit Barhockern im Innenbereich.”

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