Touring Bike (EB)
£105 for 7 days
Berlin to Stralsund is one of the most distinctive bike and boat journeys in Europe. Aboard the comfortable MS Princess, you follow the Oder-Havel Canal through the forests of the Ruppiner Lake District, cross the Polish border to the city of Szczecin, and continue along the Baltic coast to the wild shores of Usedom and Rügen. The journey ends in Stralsund, the handsome Hanseatic city whose historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Highlights along the route include Germany’s oldest operational lock at Eberswalde, the Niederfinow boat lift (one of Germany’s great engineering landmarks), the impressive castle of the Dukes of Pomerania in Szczecin, sandy Baltic beaches on Usedom, the chalk cliffs of Rügen, and the medieval splendour of Stralsund itself.
Daily cycling ranges from 15 to 40 miles, mostly on traffic-free paths and country roads. The terrain is mainly flat with occasional hills. If you prefer to stay on board on any day, that’s perfectly fine. Note: a minimum of 70 participants is required for the tour to operate.
Individual arrival in Berlin, embarkation at 4 pm. Berlin is always worth exploring — the Kurfürstendamm, the Brandenburg Gate, the Nikolai Quarter on Spree Island, and the city’s extraordinary museums make for a rewarding arrival day.
Cycling north through the forests of the Ruppiner Lake District along the Oder-Havel Canal to Oranienburg, whose Baroque palace is one of the most significant in northern Germany. The route continues to Eberswalde, where Germany’s oldest operational lock has been a technical monument since 1978.
A ride along the towpath of the Finow Canal through beautiful landscapes to Niederfinow, where the impressive 1934 ship lift — still in operation — can be visited at any time. The ship then sails to Schwedt, where an optional 32 km cycling route through the Auennationalpark follows the Oder river.
Cycling through the cross-border Lower Oder Valley National Park along the Oder-Neisse Cycle Path to Mescherin, then back on board to sail to Szczecin (Stettin). Poland’s green metropolis on the Oder is one of the largest ports on the Baltic. The reconstructed castle of the Dukes of Pomerania, in the old town, is well worth exploring.
A full day on board as the ship crosses the Bay of Szczecin and reaches Wolgast, the ‘Gateway to Usedom Island’. The medieval old town with its town hall and the Church of St Petri is worth seeing on arrival.
Three cycling options on the island of Usedom: the short route via Zecherin to Peenemünde with time to visit the Historical-Technical Museum; a slightly longer tour via Karlshagen with a Baltic Sea detour; or the extended beach route through the resorts of Zinnowitz and Trassenheide. The ship departs Peenemünde around 6 pm and arrives overnight at Lauterbach in south-east Rügen.
A visit to nearby Putbus with its remarkable circular Circus square, then a long ride across Rügen via Garz, Groß Schoritz — birthplace of Ernst Moritz Arndt — Poseritz and Gustow to Stralsund, where the ship is waiting. The historic centre, situated on a small island and packed with Gothic brick architecture, is one of the finest in northern Germany.
Disembarkation by 9 am. Stralsund has excellent rail connections to Berlin (2 hours 30 minutes) and Hamburg (2 hours 30 minutes).
We recommend flying to Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) and returning from Stralsund (train to Berlin or Hamburg).
3-star barge
£105 for 7 days
£224 for 7 days
£42 for 7 days
Getting to Berlin
By plane: Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) is served by direct flights from multiple UK airports. easyJet, Ryanair, British Airways and Lufthansa all operate routes from London and other UK cities. The S-Bahn S9 connects the airport to Berlin Spandau station in around 40 minutes.
By train: Take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels, then a high-speed ICE connection to Berlin. Journey time is around 8–9 hours. Night trains from Brussels or Amsterdam to Berlin are a comfortable alternative.
Getting home from Stralsund
Stralsund has direct trains to Berlin Hauptbahnhof (around 2 hours 30 minutes) and Hamburg (around 2 hours 30 minutes), both of which have airports with UK connections. A flight home from Berlin or Hamburg makes for a convenient return journey.
Bikes are not included. You are welcome to bring your own bike or hire one. Please see our bike hire section for details.
Flights are not included. Please refer to the what's included section for full details.
We will confirm your booking within 48 hours of receiving your enquiry. Please wait for confirmation before booking flights or making other travel arrangements.
Most itineraries include cycling on most days, with some rest or shorter days built in. Please check the itinerary for day-by-day details.
The latest you can book is 9 days before departure. This gives us enough time to confirm arrangements and accommodation.
You will receive full travel details, including accommodation, meeting points and local contacts, 3 to 5 weeks before departure.