Sightseeing Cruises

Berlin to Potsdam Havel River World Heritage Sightseeing Cruise

Six UNESCO World Heritage sites in one 3-hour water route: Peacock Island, Cecilienhof, Babelsberg Palace, Glienicke Bridge, and two historic churches.

See the Cecilienhof Palace, the 1945 Potsdam Conference venue where Churchill, Truman, and Stalin redrew Europe, which sits directly on the water.

The Glienicke Bridge, the Cold War's primary spy-exchange point from 1962, is on the route.

Bilingual audio guide in German and English via personal handset for historical and architectural context for each site.

3-hour cruise along the Havel through the UNESCO World Heritage corridor of Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin

Views of Peacock Island Castle, Church of Peter and Paul at Nikolskoe, Church of the Saviour in Sacrow, Cecilienhof Palace, Babelsberg Palace, Glienicke Bridge, and Flatow Tower

Enclosed heated salon + open deck

Onboard bar with food and drinks (available for purchase)

Onboard toilets

Bilingual audio guide in German and English (via handsets)

Food and drink (available to purchase on board)

TOTAL DURATION2 hours 45 minutes - 3 hours
FREQUENCYTwice a day, Wed to Sun
MODE OF TRANSFERBoat
Timeline
Map
1 Boarding point
Wannsee Pier
Sights covered
Peacock Island (Pfaueninsel) & Peacock Island Palace
Church of Peter and Paul at Nikolskoe
Sacrow Park
Church of the Saviour (Heilandskirche)
Neuer Garten (New Garden, Potsdam)
Cecilienhof Palace
Babelsberg Palace
Glienicke Bridge (Bridge of Spies)
Flatow Tower (Park Babelsberg)

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

Three hours along the Havel through a UNESCO World Heritage corridor: six royal palaces and churches seen from the water, including Cecilienhof (site of the 1945 Potsdam Conference) and the Glienicke Bridge.

Getting started

Board at Wannsee pier, Kronprinzessinnenweg 5–6 — 5 minutes from Wannsee S-Bahn. The same pier as the Seven Lakes tour, but the route heads southwest towards Potsdam rather than northwest into the Havel lakes. If you plan to spend time in Potsdam, you can also board mid-route at Cecilienhof or Lange Brücke.

What to expect

The route follows the Havel southwest through the chain of palaces and parks that the Hohenzollern dynasty built along the waterway between Berlin and Potsdam. The Peacock Island castle comes first, then the Church of Peter and Paul at Nikolskoe on the wooded bank, then the Church of the Saviour in Sacrow reflected on the still water. Cecilienhof, the last palace built by the Hohenzollern family, completed in 1917, and the venue of the 1945 Potsdam Conference between Churchill, Truman, and Stalin, sits directly on the water before the route enters Potsdam. Babelsberg Palace and the Flatow Tower follow before the Glienicke Bridge, which served as the principal Cold War spy-exchange point from 1962. The bilingual audio guide (German/English via handset) covers the architectural and historical context of each site.

Features

Six UNESCO World Heritage sites visible from the water in one route: Peacock Island, Nikolskoe, Sacrow, Cecilienhof, Babelsberg, Glienicke Bridge

Cecilienhof Palace, the venue of the 1945 Potsdam Conference, sits directly on the water

Glienicke Bridge: the Cold War's primary spy-exchange point, visible from the boat

Bilingual audio guide in German and English via personal handset

What to bring

Wear comfortable layers and bring sun protection like sunglasses or a hat for clear days, as you may spend time on the open deck.

Some cash or card for ordering snacks and drinks from the onboard bar.

What's not allowed

Bringing your own food and drinks for consumption on board is not allowed.

Accessibility

The pier and vessels used on this route are not barrier‑free; wheelchair access is unfortunately not available.

Strollers may be limited to foldable models; bicycles cannot usually be taken on board.

Well‑behaved dogs may be restricted or allowed only under certain conditions; check your voucher or contact support in advance.

Additional information

Cruises typically depart from Berlin‑Wannsee and follow the Havel River through the palaces and gardens of the Potsdam and Berlin UNESCO World Heritage landscape before returning to Wannsee.

The boat offers indoor seating with large windows and an open deck, so you can choose between sheltered seats and fresh‑air views.

Toilets are available on board; food and drinks can be purchased from the onboard snack and drinks menu.

The cruise operates in most weather conditions; indoor areas are covered and suitable for cooler or windy days.

Commentary is primarily in German; any additional languages or audio guides, if offered, will be specified on your voucher or at check‑in.

The cruise duration is about 3 hours; late arrivals or missed departures are usually treated as no‑shows.

Seats are generally not assigned; boarding earlier improves your chances of choosing preferred indoor or outdoor spots.

Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the starting point.

Please check your final voucher for the starting point details & specific instructions.