Berlin, Potsdam & Brandenburg – E-Bike and Boat

Day 1: Arrival in Berlin

Board the Clair de Soleil in Berlin beginning at 4:00 p.m. After settling into your cabin, meet the captain, crew, and tour leader during the welcome gathering, followed by your first group dinner on board. A short evening walk provides an initial introduction to the German capital and the area surrounding the ship.

Day 2: Berlin – Oranienburg
21 or 29 mi. / 34 or 47 km

The Clair de Soleil departs Berlin while breakfast is served, cruising along the Spree River toward the city’s greener outskirts. After docking, you’ll be fitted to your e-bike and receive the information needed for your first ride. Follow waterside routes and parkland toward Oranienburg, choosing between the shorter and longer cycling options when available. The day includes a visit to the Sachsenhausen Memorial, the site of a former Nazi concentration camp that was later used as a Soviet internment camp. The memorial documents both periods and provides important context for Germany’s twentieth-century history.

Day 3: Oranienburg – Potsdam
21 or 27 mi. / 34 or 43 km

Begin with breakfast on board as the ship cruises south, then cycle through Brandenburg’s interconnected lakes, canals, and forests—the landscape behind the region’s nickname, the “Blue Paradise.” During the ride, stop at Villa Marlier, now the House of the Wannsee Conference Memorial. Senior Nazi officials met here in 1942 for the conference associated with planning the implementation of the Holocaust. Continue to Potsdam, a former seat of Prussian kings and German emperors.

Day 4: Potsdam Loop Ride
18 mi. / 29 km

Explore Potsdam by e-bike, riding through the parks, gardens, and palace grounds associated with the city’s royal history. The day includes admission to Sanssouci Palace, built as the summer residence of Frederick the Great and known for its terraced gardens. Dinner is not included this evening, leaving you free to choose a restaurant in Potsdam; the operator suggests trying one of the city’s traditional potato restaurants.

Day 5: Potsdam – Brandenburg an der Havel
24 or 34 mi. / 39 or 55 km

Ride through the wooded and lake-filled countryside surrounding Potsdam, with a brief stop at Albert Einstein’s former summer home. Continue by e-bike and take a short ferry crossing before reaching Werder, an island town on the Havel River. Werder developed from a fishing village and later became known for fruit cultivation and wine production. Rejoin the Clair de Soleil in Ketzin for an afternoon cruise to Brandenburg an der Havel, followed by an included guided city walk introducing the town’s history.

Day 6: Brandenburg an der Havel – Berlin-Spandau
23 or 31 mi. / 37 or 50 km

Cycle through Brandenburg’s water-rich landscape, where lakes, canals, and rivers run alongside much of the route. After the included packed lunch, meet the ship in Ketzin and cruise back toward Berlin. Arrive in Berlin-Spandau, a district sometimes called “Little Venice” because of its waterways and bridges. A walk through the old quarter reveals cobbled lanes, half-timbered buildings, and a quieter side of Berlin.

Day 7: Berlin
15 mi. / 24 km

The final ride focuses on Berlin’s political and Cold War history. Follow your guide past preserved sections of the Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie, once a major border crossing between East and West Berlin. Continue through the government district, passing the Federal Chancellery, Reichstag, and Brandenburg Gate, where Ronald Reagan delivered his 1987 speech calling for the removal of the Berlin Wall. You may instead explore Berlin independently using the city’s S-Bahn network. Return to the ship for the captain’s dinner and your final evening aboard.

Day 8: Departure from Berlin

After breakfast, disembark the Clair de Soleil by 9:30 a.m. The tour concludes in Berlin.