Berlin to Magdeburg

Germany Bike + Boat Tour

This tour highlights the cities and landscapes in the March of Brandenburg. Brandenburg, the north-east German state surrounding the capital Berlin, is an enchanting destination with many towns of character. Once the heartland of the Duchy of Prussia, today it still exudes the royal grandeur of Prussian towns and their agricultural villages. The region's prettiest historical towns, all set amid delightful river and lake scenery, are waiting to be discovered. Age-old settings, ancient walls and majestic moated castles and palaces lead you to the very heart of Brandenburg's past. Aboard the very popular Merlijn, you will wind your way along the Havel River to one of the most beautiful cities in Germany, Potsdam and on to Werder, Ketzin and others. Leaving Brandenburg, you will enter another German state, Saxony - Anhalt along the cycle path called the "Tour Brandenburg" into Gethin, "The Pearl along the Canal." There is so much history and culture to be explored with the perfect ending in Magdeburg.

Where You’ll Stay

On the beautiful Merlijn, a comfort plus class ship.

What’s Included

• Full board, breakfast, packed lunches and 5 three course dinners
• Accommodation in double rooms with climate control and private bathroom
• Daily cleaning of room
• Welcome drink
• Harbor and lock fees
• Tour guide
• 7 speed hybrid bike (Giant) with water bottle, bike bag and use of universal helmet
• Brochures
• Bike maps available for sale
• Basic Internet available (e mail, surfing, no Wi Fi)

What’s Not Included

• Tips
• 1 x Dinner
• Excursions, other than those mentioned
• Laundry service available for fee.
• Transfers (can be arranged)

Tour Dates

• Magdeburg to Berlin: May 26, 2012*
• Currently being offered at as a “2 for 1” discount!
• Berlin to Magdeburg: June 16, 2012

Skill Level

Easy guided boat and bike tour with daily distances ranging from 22 to 31 miles (35 to 50 km)

Tour Boats

• Merlijn

Day-To-Day Itinerary

1. Arrival in Berlin.
2. Berlin – Köpenick – Spandau
3. Berlin - Spandau - Potsdam
4. Potsdam - Werder - Brandenburg
5. Brandendburg - Genthin
6. Genthin - Burg - Magdeburg
7. Departure.

Daily distances range from  22 to 31 miles (35 to 50 km) approximately. The above planned itinerary is subject to change due to changing wind and weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances having to do with mooring requirements, etc.

SATURDAY: Arrival in Berlin.
The Merlijn will be moored in the center of Berlin or Spandau. After check in at 4 p.m., the program begins with a welcome drink, introduction of the crew and the captain and information on the boat, the tour and the bicycles. After dinner, you will enjoy a leisurely walk around town. Berlin is the most exciting of all German cities and one of the most fascinating capitals in all 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 “Die Wende” (German for “change”) , Berlin developed into a lively, fast, exuberant and cosmopolitan city in only a few years. You will discover this for yourself . You will want to visit the Kaiser Wilhelm memorial church , originally built at the end of the 19th century and destroyed by British bombs in November 1943.  Part of the ruins have been preserved as a memorial. Also, very noteworthy are the Holocaust Memorial, also known as Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe and  the famous Brandenburg Gate. The  Gate, which was commissioned by Friedrich Wilhelm II to represent peace, was designed by Karl Gotthard Langhans. Superintendent of  The main architectural design of this landmark hasn't changed since it was first constructed in 1791. Ironically the gate was incorporated into the Berlin wall during the years of Communist government, though it now stands as a symbol of the reunification of the two sides of this great city. Other interesting sites include 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 will be able to increase your knowledge of this cith by taking a tour by bike with the tour guide into the interesting surroundings.

SUNDAY: Berlin – Köpenick – Spandau
Your captain will begin this day with a cruise during breakfast through the city of Berlin. Enjoy your breakfast and the vivid panorama during this two hour cruise to Köpenick where you will begin to cycle. In addition to Spandau, Köpenick is the only district of Berlin with an old, independent city tradition. Like Spandau, Köpenick received its own town charter during the middles ages and still has a well maintained historic city center and its own suburban municipality. Your tour will take you to the Kopenicker Heath along the Muggelsee and the Dahme and Spree rivers. The boat awaits for a cruise to Spandau where you will have plenty of time for a nice city stroll after dinner.

MONDAY:  Spandau - Potsdam
Today the route follows 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 any doubt one of the most beautiful cities of Germany. Potsdam’s best-known attraction is Sanssouci Castle. 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. The boat will be moored within only a short walk from the city center. You will have the opportunity to explore the regional cuisine on your own this evening.

TUESDAY: Potsdam – Werder – Brandenburg
During breakfast, the tour continues to the insular city of Werdeer, the city of blossoming trees and starting point for the day's cycling. 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. Absolutely unique is the heritage protected silhouette of the historical city center. From Werder you continue your trip to Marquardt and Paretz, where Queen Louise enjoyed her summer vacation in the local castle and in Paretz Park. Shortly after Paretz Park, the picturesque fishing village of Ketzin is approached. After having crossed the Havel on a ferryboat, you will travel along spacious lowlands and small “märkische” villages (villages in the typical March style) with timber-framed buildings to the cradle of the March region: the city of Brandenburg on the Havel River. Here there are three cities in one: the historical old city center, the new city center and Dome Island, where the Merlijn will be moored. Well worth seeing in Brandenburg are the St. Nicolai Church, one of the oldest examples of the art of brick building in the Brandenburg district, the 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, and the beautiful local brick tower, the Steintorturm. 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.

WEDNESDAY: Brandenburg – Genthin
Today you will take your bicycle through two different German federal states: Brandenburg and the last state included in this trip, Saxony-Anhalt. Departing from Brandenburg you will ride 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 Silo canal and the lower Havel Waterway up to the Elbe-Havel Canal. Your bicycle tour will take you through endless forests with lovely views.  Your finish for today will be in 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. Just to the north of Genthin you will find Altenplathow, a city along the Romanesque Road. This well-known Romanesque Road is a popular road with touristswhich runs through all of Saxony-Anhalt. It is part of the cultural route Transromanica, which runs through Germany (the federal states of Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia), Italy (the provinces of Modena, Parma and Ferrara), Austria (the state of Carinthia) and Slovenia. In 2006 the Transromanica received the “European Cultural Road” award from the Council of Europe. In Genthin-Altenplathow there is a 12th-century figural gravestone, one of the very limited number of Romantic figural tomb slabs in this district that have been well maintained.

THURSDAY: Genthin – Burg – Magdeburg
During breakfast the Merlijn will gently float along the Elbe-Havel Canal to Burg, where your bicycle tour will start today. 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. Definitely worthwhile is a long stroll through the old historical center in this “City of Towers”. After Burg, you will cycle again up to Magdeburg, your next destination. Before you enter Magdeburg itself, admire the famous Magdeburg Water Bridge, where the ships on the Elbe-Havel Canal cross the Elbe on a navigable aqueduct. Magdeburg is the capital of the federal sate of Saxony-Anhalt and was documented as early as 805. The city 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. You will enjoy this city and be sure to visit all the different attractions: 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, the Old Market and 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 the Emperor Otto I. Don’t forget to visit the old City Hall, the Green Citadel, the Hundertwasserhaus and many more places of interest.

FRIDAY: Departure from Magdeburg.

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