Experience the best canal cruise in Berlin

A canal cruise is a fantastic way to see a city. The tour gives a great introduction to the area while allowing you to get to know the city as you sail past many exciting sights. Boat trips are very popular among both tourists and locals.

There are different types of boat trips, and depending on what you are looking for, there are several ways to experience the waterways. In short, there are two main ways to explore the canals:

Large sightseeing boats

On traditional large tour boats, you usually receive basic information about the various sights over a loudspeaker from a guide standing at the front. These fixed canal cruises are probably the most well known because so many people can fit on the same large vessel.

As Berlin’s largest passenger shipping company, Stern und Kreisschiffahrt operates traditional riverboats across the Spree and Havel rivers. Their classic city center tours covering major landmarks cost between €20 and €36 per person, with multiple departure points across the city.

Specializing in clean energy navigation, Solarwaterworld operates a fleet of solar-electric passenger vessels along the Spree. Their tours focus on quiet, zero-emission cruising through central Berlin, with public sightseeing tickets priced around €20 to €33 per person. In addition to scheduled tours, they offer private solar boat rentals and charter options for small to large groups looking for customized routes.

Reederei Riedel offers short city routes and longer bridge tours through the Landwehr Canal and the Spree. Standard tickets for their central sightseeing circuits range from €18 to €25 per person, with regular departures from major piers like Hauptbahnhof.

However, because these boats carry so many passengers, the experience can feel less personal. In addition, many of these larger vessels run on traditional fuel, which can leave exhaust fumes on the water and cause odors.

Be your own captain on a private boat rental

If you want to go on a canal cruise in your own rented boat, you can choose how long your trip will be and which route you want to sail. Deciding where to sail for yourself is perfect for families and groups of friends who want a more intimate experience that is not tied to a fixed route. Most boats have a table in the center that everyone sits around for a great shared experience. You can decide where you want to sail and even stop at various places along the way. You can see virtually all the same sights as a traditional tour boat, just entirely on your own terms.

On canal cruises with your own rented boat, you steer the boat yourself. This turns it into a private canal cruise where you sail past exactly what you want to see. You do not need a license because the boats are smaller and do not sail faster than 3 to 4 knots. The majority of the boats you can rent for a canal cruise have room for 8 people and run on electric power so the environmental impact is minimal. Some gas powered boats have room for 4 or 6 people.

Most people who prefer the freedom of steering the boat themselves over a fixed tour want to avoid being limited to a single route or being unable to leave the boat until the tour is over. A disadvantage of smaller boats is that they accommodate fewer people. However, if you are a larger group, it is possible to rent three, four, five, or more boats and sail together if you wish. On traditional tours, the routes are fixed, and they usually sail past the major sights. On privately rented boats, you can largely decide the route yourself within the mapping boundaries set by the rental company.

Price of private boat rentals

The price of renting a private electric boat varies depending on how many hours you choose for your trip and the time of day or season you decide to sail. The main advantage compared to traditional sightseeing tour boats is that you pay a flat rate per boat rather than buying individual tickets for every single passenger.

Each GoBoat can comfortably seat up to eight people, including children and babies. When you split the total rental cost among a group of family, friends, or colleagues, it quickly becomes an exceptionally affordable option per person. In fact, filling a boat often works out cheaper per seat than purchasing individual commercial tour tickets, all while giving you complete privacy, your own picnic table, and the freedom to bring your own food and drinks on board.

Which canal cruise should you choose?

To find the optimal canal cruise for you and your group, ask yourself the following questions:

At GoBoat, we know what we would choose. We recommend a trip where you are your own captain, enjoying time with family and friends around the table without crowding into a huge tourist boat, sailing on quiet electric boats for the sake of the environment.