As we mention in our previous post: "Summer in Berlin: lakes and boats", one of the tourist activities you can do during your trip to Berlin is a cruise through the river Spree. If you have not yet visited the German capital, you may not know that the city is crossed by a river meandering through its most central and monumental areas.
There are several places on the river banks from where boats sail across the Spree, but a good place to start an excursion is from the piers next to the Museum Island, in the Alexanderplatz area - from which there are boats leaving hourly.
For around 10 euros, you can sit on a boat's panoramic upper platform, where although the tourist explanations are heard in German from a speaker, you can also pick up some headphones that will allow you to listen to them in other languages.
This cruise on the Berlin River begins along the banks of the medieval quarter of Nikolai, then passes by the Cathedral, followed by Berlin's Museum Island. In its route, the ship passes under several bridges until arriving on the river bank of the Bundestag.
Then, the cruise takes you along the banks of the large Tiergarten park, where you will see, among other buildings, the House of World Cultures.
Finally, the boat returns along the same route, thus completing the one-hour tour.
Other cruise tours in Berlin include more complete routes (some lasting up to three hours) or more elaborate experiences, such as a nigh tour of city through the Spree, while enjoying dinner aboard the cruise.
