Overview
This eight day bike and boat adventure, from Berlin to Stralsund, takes you from Germany’s cultural capital to the Baltic coast city famous for its Hanseatic heritage. On this trip you spend each night on board a riverboat, with ensuite outward-facing cabins and all meals included. By day, cycle along the likes of the Oder-Havel or Finow Canals, through the Ruppin Lake District and Lower Oder Valley National Park which straddles the German and Polish border, as well as to the historic Polish port city of Szczecin. You can also rent e-bikes on this tour, and keen train travellers can access both start and finish cities by rail.
- Lower Oder Valley National Park
- Szczecin
- Oder-Havel or Finow Canals
- Berlin
- Rügen
- Ruppin Lake District
Itinerary
Day 1: Berlin
Check-in on board your riverboat from 16:00. Take time to explore Berlin and stroll down Kurfürstendamm, take a walk through the Nicolai Quarter on Spree Island, visit the iconic Brandenburg Gate or the important and poignant Holocaust Memorial.
Day 2: Berlin – Oranienburg – Eberswalde | 42km
The well-marked bike route meanders northward through the Ruppin Lake District to Oranienburg, a perfect place to stop and rest, taking time to visit its magnificent Oranienburg Palace Museum, elegant gardens and orangery. Re-join the boat which takes you to Eberswalde, taking in the Finow Canal, one of the oldest artificial waterways in Europe. and boasting the oldest working lock in Germany.
Cycling for the day: 42km
Day 3: Eberswalde – Hohensaaten – Schwedt | 33-65km
Cycle along the Finow Canal towards Niederfinow which is famous for its impressive boat lift, continuing on Hohensaaten. Then either board the boat to sail on to Schwedt, or continue by bike for an additional 32km.
- Cycling for the day: 33-65km
Day 4: Schwedt – Mescherin – Szczecin | 28km
Your cycling today starts in Lower Oder Valley National Park, which straddles the German-Polish border, before continuing on to Gartz and Mescherin to re-join the boat. From here the boat continues to the Polish port city of Szczecin, which is considered one of the country’s greenest cities thanks to a wide array of urban parks. We also recommend visiting its Renaissance masterpiece, Ducal Castle.
- Cycling for the day: 28km
Day 5: Szczecin – Zinnowitz
Today is rest day, taking time to chill out on board before arriving in the Bay of Szczecin (Oder Lagoon). The boat then continues to the next stop in Zinnowitz, where there is the option of disembarking for an evening stroll between Achterwasser lagoon and the Baltic Sea.
Day 6: Zinnowitz – Peenemünde – Lauterbach | 15-25km
Choose between two different cycle routes. The route through Mölchow and Zecherin, takes you past the Usedom Distillery to Peenemünde, with time to visit the Historical-Technical Museum, famous for its war-time weaponry. Otherwise, opt for the beach route with a short detour to the Baltic Sea, passing by the seaside resorts of Trassenheide and Karlshagen. Re-join the boat in Peenemünde to set sail around 18:00 to Lauterbach in the southeast of Rügen Island (arrival around 21:00).
- Cycling for the day: 15-25km
Day 7: Lauterbach – Stralsund | 35/40/50km
Today you have the opportunity to explore the island of Rügen in various ways. Cycling enthusiasts can explore the island by bike all the way to the seaside resort of Binz and back (approx. 35 km). Alternatively, you can take a circular bike tour to the seaside resorts of Sellin and Baabe (approx. 40 km). In the afternoon, the ship sets sail for Stralsund. Those who prefer a longer bike ride can choose the route directly to Stralsund (approx. 50 km): first ride to the nearby town of Putbus (approx. 2 km) with its famous circus, a circular square surrounded by neoclassical buildings. Continue via Garz, Groß Schoritz, Poseritz, and Gustow across the Rügendamm to Stralsund.
- Cycling for the day: 35-50km
Day 8: Departure
Departure after breakfast.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation is on a riverboat (main deck cabins) for the duration of the whole tour.
Click to view default ship
- MS Princess: A comfortable riverboat with onboard restaurant and bar as well as a cosy lounge area. Onboard there are 49 twin cabins, with 42 on the main deck and seven cabins on the upper deck. All cabins are en-suite and cabins on the main deck feature a bed configuration that can be converted to a sofa during the day.
Meals
Full board package includes: 7x breakfast buffet, 6x lunch on board (non-cyclists) or packed lunch (cyclists), 6x afternoon coffee/tea break, 7x dinner. Drinks are not included and should be paid on board.
Difficulty and terrain
The cycle path is mostly flat with the occasional incline, and is ideal for cyclists with less experience as well as families. The paths are a mix of rural country roads with little traffic, asphalted bike lanes, dirt roads and a few short sections on federal highways (read more about difficulty grades).
When to go
This trip is available from May until September, departing on a Saturday.
Berlin – Stralsund 2026: 27 June, 11 July, 25 July, 08 August, 22 August, 05 September
Stralsund – Berlin 2026: 04 July, 18 July, 01 August, 15 August, 29 August, 12 September
Berlin – Stralsund 2027: 15 May, 29 May, 12 June, 26 June, 10 July, 24 July, 07 August, 21 August, 04 September, 18 September
Stralsund – Berlin 2027: 08 May, 22 May, 05 June, 19 June, 03 July, 17 July, 31 July, 14 August, 28 August, 11 September
For more information on travelling in Germany, please visit our blog Best time to go to Germany and Best time to go to Poland.
Getting there
FCO up-to-date travel advice on the Germany.
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airports for this tour are Berlin (BER) and Rostok-Laage (RLG).
By train or bus
- If you are able to travel to Berlin without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail with train stations in Berlin and the surrounding areas. For more details, see the national rail operator Deutsche Bahn.
- For more information, use the Omio planner above.
Inclusions
Included
- 7 nights in outward-facing cabins on the main deck with private facilities and air conditioning
- Harbour charges
- Welcome drink
- Full board: 7x breakfast buffet, 6x lunch on board (non-cyclists) or packed lunch (cyclists), 6x afternoon coffee break and 7x dinner
- Tour guide on board (does not cycle with the group)
- Daily information meeting (cycle tours)
- Detailed digital travel documents and GPS tracks
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Drinks
- Bike rental
- Helmets
- Travel insurance (required get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes, entry fees, tips (payable on-site)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
*March 2026 update: due to increased fuel and energy costs, a small fuel surcharge is payable locally upon arrival.
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a cabin of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of cabins and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own cabins. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share cabins with other solo travellers.
- Cabin upgrades (upon request: upper deck)
- Bike and e-bike rental
- Additional charge for gluten-free and lactose-free meals, payable locally, must be requested at the time of booking.
- The tour runs Stralsund-Berlin as well
Bike rental
- Bikes: 7-gear-unisex-trekking bike by Velo de Ville. Bikes come with hand break and pedal brake or upon request handbrake only.
- E-bikes: 8-gear e-bikes by Velo de Ville. E-bike hire is subject to availability due to space onboard.
All bicycles are equipped with panniers and have rental bike insurance included.
Limited quantity of helmets are available for purchase onboard, it is recommended to bring your own.
