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."

10 Best River Cruises from Berlin

10 best River Cruise tour packages from Berlin

View Map
River Cruise
Castles & Vineyards of the Rhine & Moselle with Berlin 2027 - 15 Days (from Berlin to Zurich)
Duration
15 days
Destinations
Berlin, Frankfurt-am-Main, Koblenz, Bernkastel, Cochem,Rudesheim am Rhein,Rastatt,Breisach,Fribourg,Freiburg im Breisgau,Basel,Montreux,Bern,Lucerne,Zurich+10 more
Age Range
Ages 12+
Ships
Scenic Ruby Scenic Pearl+1 ship
Operated in
English
Operator
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
46% Off
From $15,390
US$8,295per person
Price based on Private Double Room
View tour
View Map
River Cruise
Castles & Vineyards of the Rhine & Moselle with Berlin 2027 - 11 Days (10 destinations)
Duration
11 days
Destinations
Berlin, Frankfurt-am-Main, Koblenz, Bernkastel, Cochem,Rudesheim am Rhein,Rastatt,Breisach,Basel,Zurich+5 more
Age Range
Ages 12+
Ships
Scenic Ruby Scenic Pearl+1 ship
Operated in
English
Operator
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
54% Off
From $13,040
US$5,945per person
Price based on Private Double Room
View tour
View Map
River Cruise
Berlin, Majestic Rhine & Glacier Express 2027 - 14 Days (from Berlin to Zurich)
Duration
14 days
Destinations
Berlin, Frankfurt-am-Main, Mainz, Rudesheim am Rhein,Koblenz,Mannheim,Heidelberg,Rastatt,Kehl,Breisach,Basel,Zermatt,Zurich+9 more
Age Range
Ages 12+
Ships
Emerald Destiny Emerald Sun Emerald Sky+2 ships
River
Rhine
Operated in
English
Operator
Emerald Cruises
13% Off
From $6,492
US$5,658per person
Price based on Private Double Room
View tour
View Map
River Cruise
Highlights of Germany & Legendary Rhine & Moselle 2027 - 14 Days (from Berlin to Neuschwanstein)
Duration
14 days
Destinations
Berlin, Potsdam, Frankfurt-am-Main, Frankfurt an der Oder,Mainz,Rudesheim am Rhein,Bernkastel,Moselle Valley,Landshut,Trier,Cochem,Koblenz,Nuremberg,Munich,Neuschwanstein+11 more
Age Range
Ages 12+
Ships
Emerald Destiny Emerald Sun+1 ship
Operated in
English
Operator
Emerald Cruises
51% Off
From $11,790
US$5,795per person
Price based on Private Double Room
View tour
View Map
River Cruise
Berlin & The Majestic Rhine 2027 - 11 Days (from Berlin to Basel)
Duration
11 days
Destinations
Germany France Switzerland
Age Range
Ages 12+
Ships
Emerald Destiny Emerald Sun Emerald Sky+2 ships
River
Rhine
Operated in
English
Operator
Emerald Cruises
57% Off
From $10,390
US$4,495per person
Price based on Private Double Room
View tour
View Map
River Cruise
Berlin & Legendary Rhine & Moselle
Duration
11 days
Destinations
Berlin, Frankfurt-am-Main, Mainz, Rudesheim am Rhein,Bernkastel,Trier,Cochem,Koblenz+4 more
Age Range
Ages 12+
Ships
Emerald Destiny Emerald Sun+1 ship
Operated in
English
Operator
Emerald Cruises
57% Off
From $10,590
US$4,595per person
Price based on Private Double Room
View tour
View Map
River Cruise
Elegant Elbe Wittenberg to Decin
Duration
10 days
Destinations
Berlin, Wittenberg, Meissen, Dresden, Prague
Age Range
Ages 18+
Ships
Viking Astrild Viking Beyla+1 ship
River
Elbe
Operated in
English
Operator
Viking Cruises
57% Off
From
US$5,313per person
Price based on Private Double Room
- Booking needs min. 2 travelers
View tour
$Festive Christmas Markets with Christmas & New Year\'s Eve Cruise Berlin → Amsterdam (2026) Tour$
$Festive Christmas Markets with Christmas & New Year\'s Eve Cruise Berlin → Amsterdam (2026) - 19 destinations$
View Map
River Cruise
Festive Christmas Markets with Christmas & New Year's Eve Cruise Berlin → Amsterdam (2026)
Duration
23 days
Destinations
Germany Czech Republic Hungary Slovakia Austria Netherlands+1 more
Age Range
Ages 8+
Operated in
English
Operator
APT
57% Off
From
US$12,397per person
+$1,195 upfront costs
Price based on Private Double Room
View tour
View Map
River Cruise
Festive Christmas Markets with Magnificent Europe Berlin → Amsterdam (2027)
Duration
22 days
Destinations
Germany Czech Republic Hungary Austria Slovakia Netherlands+1 more
Age Range
Ages 8+
Operated in
English
Operator
APT
57% Off
From
US$12,649per person
+$1,178 upfront costs
Price based on Private Double Room
View tour
View Map
River Cruise
MS Princess - Along the Oder to the Baltic Sea
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Berlin, Eberswalde, Schwedt, Wolgast, Lauterbach, Stralsund
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
Only: German
Operator
DERTOUR
57% Off
From
US$1,393per person
Price based on Private Double Room
View tour
View Map
River Cruise
Berlin & The Majestic Rhine 2027 - 11 Days (from Berlin to Rhine Gorge)
Duration
11 days
Destinations
Berlin, Potsdam, Frankfurt-am-Main, Frankfurt an der Oder,Mainz,Rudesheim am Rhein,Koblenz,Rhine Gorge,Moselle Valley,Cochem,Mannheim,Ludwigshafen,Heidelberg,Rastatt,Baden-Baden,Baden,Salem,Black Forest,Kehl,Neustadt,Neustadt am Rennsteig,Neustadt an der Aisch,Neustadt an der Waldnaab,Breisach,Fribourg,Freiburg im Breisgau,Freiberg,Basel+24 more
Age Range
Ages 12+
Ships
Emerald Destiny Emerald Sun Emerald Sky+2 ships
River
Danube Rhine Main
Operated in
English
Operator
Emerald Cruises
57% Off
From $10,390
US$4,495per person
Price based on Private Double Room
View tour
$New Year\'s on a cruise, between Berlin and Prague (port-to-port cruise) Tour$
$New Year\'s on a cruise, between Berlin and Prague (port-to-port cruise) - 12 destinations$
View Map
River Cruise
New Year's on a cruise, between Berlin and Prague (port-to-port cruise)
4.3 (2 traveler reviews)
Duration
9 days
Destinations
Berlin, Potsdam, Wusterwitz, Magdeburg, Wittenberg, Meissen,Dresden,Bad Schandau,Decin,Litomerice,Melnik,Prague+6 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Ship
MS Elbe Princesse
Operated in
English
Operator
CroisiEurope River Cruises
57% Off
From
US$2,852per person
Price based on Private Double Room
View tour