Germany · RIVER CRUISES

River Cruises in Germany: The 15 Best Sailings

31 tours  ·  from $14 a head

An hour on the water is the cheapest way to work out how a German city fits together. The 15 below compare the Berlin, Dresden, Cologne and Frankfurt runs on price, length and whether the deck is covered when the weather turns.

Berlin: Boat Tour Along the River Spree - Government Berlin from the river
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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

Cruise Berlin’s River Spree for 135 minutes, passing government landmarks, palaces, canals, and the city’s changing waterfront.

“A great way to spend a couple of hours, very interesting and informative”

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Berlin: 3.25-Hour Spree & Landwehrkanal Boat Tour - Leaving from Jannowitzbrücke near Alexanderplatz
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Berlin: 3.25-Hour Spree & Landwehrkanal Boat Tour

Cologne: Top Sights Rhine River Cruise - Skyline Tour - Boarding near the Musical Dome and Cologne Cathedral
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Cologne: Top Sights Rhine River Cruise – Skyline Tour

Dresden: Elbe River Cruise to Pillnitz Castle - Starting beneath Brühl’s Terrace
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Dresden: Elbe River Cruise to Pillnitz Castle

5.Elbe River Cruise to Pillnitz Castle

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

Cruise from Dresden to Pillnitz Castle aboard a paddle steamer, passing three Elbe castles, four bridges, and Dresden’s historic old town.

“Wonderful steam engine and beautiful smooth cruise along the river. Better signage around the construction site of the broken bridge would have helped.”

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Koblenz: Rhine Valley Castles and Palaces Boat Tour - Starting at Brücke 2 in Koblenz
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Koblenz: Rhine Valley Castles and Palaces Boat Tour

7.Rhine Valley Castles and Palaces Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 1,824 reviews · 2 hours · from $21

Cruise from Koblenz past Rhine castles, palaces, and villages on a relaxed two-hour UNESCO boat tour with onboard service.

“My wife and I loved this boat tour! There was plenty of space, inside and outside. We were there during somertime and it was very warm but we managed to be on the deck enjoying the sun, views and great crew service. It for sure exceeded our expectations!”

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Rhine Valley Castles: 1.5-Hour Boat Tour from Rüdesheim - Leaving Rüdesheim with vineyards on both sides
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Rhine Valley Castles: 1.5-Hour Boat Tour from Rüdesheim

8.Rhine Valley Castles: 1.5-Hour Boat Tour from Rüdesheim

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 1,390 reviews · from $19

Cruise from Rüdesheim through the UNESCO Middle Rhine Valley, passing castles, vineyards, Bingen, and the Mouse Tower for $19.

“The valleys and castles are absolutely beautiful, and the cruise was overall enjoyable. We had some weather trouble with heavy rains in between but then sun cleared up quickly after. Staff were friendly and even gave me my cake complimentary because it was my birthday and I didn’t know they only took cash. I felt that it was really worth the money. The only downside was the audio guide was often muffled by the noise of the people and you would have to go closer to the speakers to hear anything. Highly recommend anybody interested in seeing the charming expanse flanked by the Rhine riverRead more”

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From Frankfurt: Rhine Valley Day Trip - Leaving Frankfurt and reaching Rüdesheim
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From Frankfurt: Rhine Valley Day Trip

9.Rhine Valley Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 1,317 reviews · 8 hours · from $175

Cruise past Rhine castles, vineyards, and villages on an 8-hour Frankfurt day trip with lunch, wine tastes, and an English-speaking guide.

“The boat ride was amazing, George is a really sweet, funny and knowledgeable guide. He also took us to an additional stop to the statue of Germania”

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Rhine Valley Trip from Frankfurt including Rhine River Cruise - Assmannshausen, the riverside base
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Rhine Valley Trip from Frankfurt including Rhine River Cruise

10.Rhine Valley Trip from Frankfurt including Rhine River Cruise

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

Cruise past Rhine castles, vineyards, and Loreley Rock on an 8-hour Frankfurt tour with lunch, wine tasting, and an English-speaking guide.

“My wife, daughter , and I booked this trip and Charles was the best! Not only did he pivot so we could get on a different boat to see the Loreley Rock, he was great with all the sight seeing information and other historical knowledge. The food and wine tasting was amazing and cute. Highly recommend!!! This tour made our trip.”

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Berlin: East Side Gallery Spree Cruise in a Solar Catamaran - Starting at Jannowitzbrücke
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Berlin: East Side Gallery Spree Cruise in a Solar Catamaran

Cologne City Tour Experience cathedral city on the Rhine - Cologne Cathedral from the outside
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Cologne City Tour Experience cathedral city on the Rhine

Koblenz: 2-Hour Sightseeing Cruise on the Rhine - Boarding La Paloma at Bridge 10
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Koblenz: 2-Hour Sightseeing Cruise on the Rhine

13.2-Hour Sightseeing Cruise on the Rhine

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 839 reviews · from $20

Cruise from Koblenz past German Rhine castles, the Deutsches Eck, and Ehrenbreitstein Fortress on a relaxed two-hour trip aboard La Paloma.

“The Rhine is beautiful. We really wanted to do a river cruise but we don’t have the time to do a longer one. This tour of the Rhine fits very well with our itinerary. We enjoyed our ride in the boat, we stayed outside to feel the breeze. Food inside are okay. We just ordered pizza and drinks for a quicker meal. Very friendly staff, especially the waiter. We went on 6/21, 11 am schedule.”

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Cologne: 2-Hour Evening Cruise on the Rhine River - The two-hour route along both sides of the city
2-Hour Experiences, Cologne Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Evening Experiences, River Cruises, Tour Reviews

Cologne: 2-Hour Evening Cruise on the Rhine River

14.2-Hour Evening Cruise on the Rhine River

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 797 reviews · 2 hours · from $34

Cruise Cologne’s Rhine at sunset, passing the cathedral, Romanesque churches, and bridges with lounge music, deck seating, and onboard drinks.

“Lovely cruise, travelled in both directions along the river which was a great opportunity to see all the sights. Allow time to find your dock as it could be quite a way down the river from the ticket office.”

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Dresden: Elbe River Cruise to Meissen - The Saxon Wine Route from the water
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Dresden: Elbe River Cruise to Meissen

15.Elbe River Cruise to Meissen

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 765 reviews · 2.5 - 8.5 hours · from $24

Cruise from Dresden to Meissen on a historic paddle steamer, with vineyards, castle views, three hours to explore, and return sailing.

“-well organized -pleasant and very polite and kind staff - not expensive -just to enjoy”

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