Berlin to Wolfsburg

Day 1: Arrival in Berlin/Spandau | Check-in at 3:30 pm
​Day 2: Berlin/Spandau - Potsdam
Day 3: Potsdam 
Day 4: Potsdam – Werder – Brandenburg
Day 5: Brandenburg – Genthin
Day 6: Genthin - Burg – Magdeburg
Day 7: Magdeburg – Wolfsburg 
Day 8: Wolfsburg | Departure following breakfast, by 9 am

*All distances are approximate. The itinerary is subject to change, even on very short notice,  due to changing wind and weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances having to do with mooring requirements, docking location changes, lock repairs, etc. The average daily distances are between 22 and 34 mi. (35 and 55 km).

Day 1: Arrival in Berlin/Spandau | Check-in at 3:30 pm
Berlin is the most exciting of all German cities and one of the most fascinating capitals in the world.  There is no other place where art and culture, museums and theaters, entertainment and nightlife are as varied and exciting as in this metropolis on the Spree River.  After the German reunification, the so-called "Wende", Berlin developed into a lively, fast, exuberant and cosmopolitan city in only a few years. Discover Berlin yourself and visit the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church (Gedächtniskirche), the Holocaust Memorial, the famous Brandenburg Gate, the beautiful avenue Unter den Linden, the Friedrichstraße, the Reichstag, Checkpoint Charlie or one of the numerous museums. There are so many things to see and discover. 

You can drop your luggage at the boat beginning at 10 am but official check-in will not begin until 3:30 pm. Your program will start at 4 pm with a welcome drink, the introduction of the crew, tour presentation including information on the boat, the tour, bicycles, and safety. After dinner, you will enjoy a stroll around Spandau. The Merlijn will be docked in Berlin/Spandau overnight.

Day 2: Berlin/Spandau – Potsdam 
Today you follow the European Cycling Track through Berlin’s municipal Grunewald forest and along the Havel River, over the Glienicker bridge, and up to Potsdam, the provincial capital of the Brandenburg province. This town is without a doubt one of the most beautiful cities in Germany. The boat will be moored only a short walk from the city center. 

Day 3: Potsdam
Potsdam is the provincial capital of the Brandenburg province. The best-known attraction is Sanssouci Castle (entrance included). In addition to this former summer residence of Friedrich the Great,  there are many other interesting attractions that are certainly worth a visit. The historical city quarters, the Russian colony Alexandrowka, the Dutch Quarter and the former Bohemian Weaver Quarters exude the atmosphere of a city heavily influenced by Europe. You have a few options for this full-day here:

• You can spend the day on your own or with the group
• Culture lovers can visit this historic city the entire day
• Watersports are available on one of the many lakes around Potsdam
• Or... you can enjoy a bike ride around the lakes

Tonight in Potsdam you have the opportunity - at your own expense - to discover the regional cuisine in one of the many restaurants in the city.

Day 4: Potsdam – Werder – Brandenburg 
During breakfast, your bike and boat adventure continues as you navigate to Werder, the city of blossoming trees, and the starting point of your bicycle tour. Werder is surrounded by innumerable lakes and tributaries of the Havel River. Strolling around Werder will lead you to water almost everywhere. It will not take long before you reach the Schwielowsee, Glindowsee, Big Plessower See, and Zernsee as well as the Havel River itself. 

From Werder, you continue cycling to Marquardt, Paretz (where Queen Louise enjoyed her summer resort in the local castle) and in Paretz Park. You will then approach the picturesque fishing village of Ketzin.

After crossing the Havel by ferry, you will travel along spacious lowlands and small “märkische” villages (villages in the typical March style) with traditional timber-framed buildings.  Afterward, you arrive to the cradle of the March region, the city of Brandenburg on the Havel River. In the afternoon and after dinner, you will have the chance to explore this city more.

Well worth seeing in Brandenburg:

• St. Nicolai Church
• St. Peter and Paul Cathedral (the most important building of the city, where the first diocese east of the Elbe was founded)
• The old town hall, an outstanding example of late Gothic brick architecture from the middle of the 15th century
• The beautiful local brick tower, the Steintor-turm. This defense tower, which is 32.5 meters tall, is the only one of the four defense towers in Brandenburg that is open to public visitors. The impressive panorama from the roof over the entire historical city center should definitely be on anyone’s “to-visit” list. 

Day 5: Brandenburg – Genthin  
Two different German federal states are featured today: Brandenburg and the last state included in this trip, Saxony-Anhalt. Departing from Brandenburg you will bike along the cycle path “Tour Brandenburg“, which will lead you along the western side of the Havel Lake Plateau. Here the Merlijn will take the northern route along the Silocanal and the lower Havel Waterway up to the Elbe-Havel Canal. Your bicycle tour will take you through endless forests with numerous “green” views. Your ride will finish in the town of Genthin. Genthin’s governing mayor calls his town “The Pearl along the Canal“, a nice, friendly, and quiet town with a small historical city center. 

Day 6: Genthin - Burg - Magdeburg
After breakfast, the Merlijn will gently float along the Elbe-Havel Canal to Burg, where you hop back on the bike. In the city center of Burg there are 1055 years of history to be admired. The churches along the Romanesque Road, such as the Lower Church St. Nicolai (12th century) and the Upper Church “Unser Lieber Frauen” (13th century) will catch your eye from afar. 

One of the very important sites close to Magdeburg is the famous Magdeburg Water Bridge, where the ships on the Elbe-Havel Canal cross the Elbe on a navigable aqueduct.

The city of Magdeburg is also well known because of its important historical heritage as the royal palace of the Emperor Otto the 1st, the first Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire crowned in 962. Enjoy this city in our modern time and visit some off the different attractions:

• Green Citadel, a guided tour for the group can be organized
• The Magdeburg Cathedral, the first cathedral designed and built in the Gothic architectural style on German ground and one of the largest churches in Germany.
• Old Market square with the Golden Rider Statue, a bronze copy of the first self-supporting statue of a rider north of the Alps, which can be found right in the heart of the city center. It was created in the year 1240 and presumably portrays Emperor Otto I
• Old City Hall, the Hundertwasser Haus, and many more places of interest.

For the real culture lovers, you can leave your bike onboard and visit Magdeburg all day. The captain can assist in ordering transfers from Burg to the city and back to the Merlijn at its docking in Magdeburg, on the water-cross Midland-canal and Elbe. After dinner on board, you can stroll to the old Shiplift and the new lock ‘Rothensee’.

Day 7: Magdeburg – Calvörde - Wolfsburg
You will navigate first to Calvörde and then begin cycling. The Merlijn will motor on to Wolfsburg. Once you arrive, you can cross the canal to the home of the Volkswagen ‘Autostadt’. You can explore the museum on your own, and later enjoy a 45 min. guided tour through the park. You can visit more sites in the Autostadt at your own pace. If you are not a car-fan, you can also visit the old city center from Wolfsburg. Farewell dinner and overnight stay onboard.

Day 8: Wolfsburg 
Your tour will officially come to an end today. Disembarkation after breakfast. The Merlijn will be docked very close to the railway station on Wolfsburg.

Day 1: Arrival in Wolfsburg | Luggage drop-off from 1:30 pm | 3 pm Guided Tour | Official welcome and check-in at 4 pm
Day 2: Wolfsburg - Calvörde - Magdeburg
Day 3: Magdeburg - Burg - Genthin
Day 4: Genthin - Brandenburg
Day 5: Brandenburg - Werder - Potsdam
Day 6: Potsdam
Day 7: Potsdam - Berlin/Spandau
Day 8: Berlin/Spandau | Departure following breakfast, by 9 am

*All distances are approximate. The itinerary is subject to change, even on very short notice,  due to changing wind and weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances having to do with mooring requirements, docking location changes, lock repairs, etc. The average daily distances are between 16  and 31 mi. (25 and 50 km).

Day 1: Arrival in Wolfsburg | Luggage drop-off from 1:30 pm | 3 pm Guided Tour | Official welcome and check-in at 4 pm
At 1:30 pm you can drop off your luggage and then, by simply crossing the canal by a bridge on foot, you will find the home of Volkswagen ‘Autostadt’. You can explore the museum on your own, then, at 3 pm participate in 45 min. guided tour through the park.
The crew of the Merlijn will officially welcome you on board at 4 pm. As you enjoy a complimentary welcome drink, you will get information about the ship, the tours, and bicycles. After dinner there is time to stroll through the city of Wolfsburg. Overnight stay in Wolfsburg.

Day 2: Wolfsburg - Calvörde - Magdeburg
You will start with a sailing breakfast to Calvörde, a quiet docking place just perfect to start your first bike tour. The tour of today will lead you to Magdeburg where the Merlijn will await you. The docking place is at the junction of the  Midland-canal and Elbe. After dinner, you can stroll to the old Shiplift and the new lock ‘Rothensee’. 

Day 3: Magdeburg - Burg - Genthin
You will ride your bike to the city of Magdeburg, the capital of the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt. The city of Magdeburg is well known because of its important historical heritage as the royal palace of the Emperor Otto the 1st, the first Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire crowned in 962.

Enjoy this city in our modern time and visit some off the different attractions:

• Green Citadel,  a guided tour for the group can be organized.
• Magdeburg Cathedral, the first cathedral designed and built in the Gothic architectural style on German ground and one of the largest churches in Germany
• Old Market square with the Golden Rider Statue, a bronze copy of the first self-supporting statue of a rider north of the Alps, which can be found right in the heart of the city center. It was created in the year 1240 and presumably portrays Emperor Otto I
• Old City Hall, the Hundertwasser Haus and many more places of interest

After lunch the cycling begins again, leading to Burg. Before you leave Magdeburg itself, admire the famous Magdeburg Water Bridge, where the ships on the Elbe-Havel Canal cross the Elbe on a navigable aqueduct. Upon arrival at Burg, you will board the Merlijn, have dinner on board, and sail further on to Genthin for the ovenight.

For the real culture lovers, you can leave your bike onboard and visit Magdeburg all day, and the crew can help you order transfers to the city and back to the Merlijn in Burg or Genthin.

Day 4: Genthin - Brandenburg
Genthin’s governing mayor calls his town “The Pearl along the Canal“, a nice, friendly, and quiet town with a small historical city center. Today you will take your bicycle through two different German federal states: Saxony-Anhalt and Brandenburg. Just to the north of Genthin, you will find a part of the cultural route Transromanica, which runs through Germany, Italy, Austria, and Slovenia. In the past Transromanica has received the “European Cultural Road” award from the Council of Europe.

On your way to Brandenburg, you will bike along the cycle path “Tour Brandenburg“, which will lead you along the western side of the Havel Lake Plateau. Here the Merlijn will take the northern route from the Elbe-Havel Canal along the lower Havel Waterway and the Silocanal up to the Havel. Your bicycle tour will take you through endless forests with numerous “green” views. Tonight you can stroll through the city of Brandenburg, the cradle of the March region.

Day 5: Brandenburg - Werder - Potsdam
First, you will continue your exploration of the city of Brandenburg. Well worth seeing are:

• St. Nicolai Church, one of the oldest witnesses of the art of brick building,
• St. Peter & Paul Cathedral
• Steintor-turm, this defense tower is 32.5 meters tall and is the only defense tower in Brandenburg that is open to the public
• The old town hall,  the most important building of the city; and an outstanding example of late Gothic brick architecture from the middle of the 15th century

After this visit, the biking begins and leads to  Werder, the city of blossoming trees You will cross the Havel on a ferryboat and travel along spacious lowlands and small “märkische” villages (villages in the typical March style) with typical timber-framed buildings. Shortly after the picturesque fishing village of Ketzin, you approach the Paretz where Queen Louise enjoyed her summer resort in the local castle in Paretz Park.

At Werder, you board the Merlijn and cruise to Potsdam.

Day 6: Potsdam
Potsdam, the capital of the Brandenburg province, is without any doubt one of the most beautiful cities of Germany. For this reason, an extra day and night  is scheduled in this city. You have a few options:

• You can spend the day on your own or with the group
• Culture lovers can visit this historic city for the entire day
• Watersports on one of the many lakes around Potsdam is also a good option
• Cycle around the lakes

The best-known attraction in Potsdam is the Sanssouci Castle (entrance included). In addition to this former summer residence of Friedrich the Great with its famous Sanssouci Park there are many other interesting attractions that are certainly worth a visit. The historical city quarters, the Russian colony Alexandrowka, the Dutch Quarter and the former Bohemian Weaver Quarters exude the atmosphere of a city heavily influenced by Europe.

This evening you can discover the regional cuisine in one of the many restaurants in the city.

Day 7: Potsdam - Berlin/Spandau
Today you will follow the European Cycling Track over the Glienicker bridge, along the Havel River up to Spandau. Spandau is one of the twelve boroughs (Bezirk) of Berlin. It is the fifth and westernmost borough, situated at the confluence of the Havel and Spree rivers and along the western bank of the Havel. In the evening there will be a farewell dinner, after this, there will be time for a nice city stroll through the streets of Spandau.

Day 8: Berlin/Spandau | Departure following breakfast, by 9 am
After breakfast, it is time to say goodbye and continue your European trip or leave for the airport. The crew will assist you with onward travel plans.