Itinerary

By Bike and Boat from Berlin to Stralsund

Along the Oder to the Baltic Sea to Usedom and Rügen

8 days / 7 nights | Ship: MS Princess | Self guided bike tours

From the metropolis of Berlin with its vast forests in the north, you will first sail to Schwedt on the Oder-Havel Canal, passing through Oranienburg and Eberswalde. The peaceful, unique beauty of the Oder landscape will accompany you to the Polish city of Szczecin with its magnificent castle. The river will then take you along the unique Bodden coast through Usedom to Germany’s largest island, to Rügen, with its famous chalk cliffs. The old Hanseatic city of Stralsund is today’s destination.
What could be more wonderful than sitting on the sun deck and enjoying the splendid views of the landscape slowly going by and finding out all sorts of interesting things about the country, people, culture and nature on lovely bike tours? Discover the varied flora and fauna of these unique fluvial landscapes, baroque castles, brick gothic and northern German seaside resort architecture.

Highlights of this bike and boat trip

✔ Exploring the metropolis Berlin

✔ Peacefull unique beauty of the Boddencoast of Usedom

✔ Usedom the sunniest island of Germany

✔ Barge Princess a comfortable accomodation

Itinerary from Berlin to Stralsund

Day 1: Arrival in Berlin

Individual arrival in Berlin. Embarkation at 4:00 PM. Berlin is always worth a trip. Maybe you’ll have some time and like to take a stroll on the Kurfürstendamm, take a walk through the Nicolai Quarter on Spree Island or take gander at the Brandenburg Gate. The possibilities of Berlin are almost endless.

Day 2: Berlin – Oranienburg – Eberswalde, bike tour about 42 km / 26 miles

You are exploring the expansive forests of the Ruppiner Lake District on your first cycling tour by following mysteriously interconnected waterways. The well-developed cycle path leads you northwards and away from the metropolis to Oranienburg. The palace in the heart of the city is one of the most significant Baroque buildings in the country, and the adjacent palace park invites you to linger. Here, you board again and continue to Eberswalde. The Eberswalde city lock in the heart of the city is the oldest operational lock in Germany.

Day 3: Eberswalde – Hohensaaten – Schwedt, bike tour  about 33–65 km /20–40 miles

First, you ride along the towpath cycle path by the Finow Canal through beautiful landscapes, passing forests, clearings, and small hills towards Niederfinow with its impressive ship lift – visiting is possible at any time. Then, you return on board to sail to Schwedt. For those who wish, you can continue cycling through the crane resting area of the Auennationalpark from Hohensaaten to Schwedt (approximately 32 km).

Day 4: Schwedt – Mescherin – Szczecin, bike tour about 28 km / 18 miles

Today you will bike through a part of a unique, cross-border protected area “Lower Oder Valley International Park” via the Oder-Neisse Cycle Path. The former estate of Criewen houses the National Park Center of Germany's only floodplain National Park. Upon reaching Mescherin, you return on board and enjoy the cruise to Szczecin (Stettin). Known as the green metropolis at the mouth of the Oder River, Szczecin is one of the largest ports on the Baltic Sea. Noteworthy is the castle of the Dukes of Pomerania located in the old town.

Day 5: Szczecin – Zinnowitz, day of rest on board

You will spend all day on board. After one last narrow passage, the boat will arrive in the expansive waters of the Bay of Szczecin (Oder Lagoon). After the crossing, you will arrive in Zinnowitz. .There will be an opportunity for an evening stroll between „Achterwasser“ and the Baltic Sea in one of the most beautiful seaside resorts.

Day 6: Zinnowitz – Peenemünde – Lauterbach, bike tour about 15–25 km/9–17 miles

Today, you have two bike tours to choose from: Either ride through Mölchow and Zecherin, passing by the Usedom Distillery (highly recommended!) to Peenemünde, with time for a visit to the Historical-Technical Museum. Or you can opt for the bike tour with a short detour to the Baltic Sea. The beach route takes you to the seaside resorts of Trassenheide and Karlshagen, inviting you to sunbathe on the fine sandy beach. Around 6.00 p.m., you will leave Peenemünde by boat to Lauterbach in the southeast of the island of Rügen (arrival around 9.00 p.m.).

Day 7: Lauterbach – Stralsund, bike tour, about 48 km/30 miles

Today you should not miss a visit to the nearby city of Putbus (about 2 km) with its well-known circus. Classical buildings line this circular “square”, where all the streets converge.
Your bike tour on this day will take you through Putbus, Garz, Groß Schoritz, the birthplace of Ernst Moritz Arndt, Poseritz and Gustow with its well-known village church over the Rügen Dam to Stralsund, where the boat will meet you. As a city with an important past, a stroll through the historic centre, which is situated on an island, will take you past numerous exceptional sights.

Day 8: Departure from Stralsund

After breakfast, disembarkation until 09:00 am and individual journey home.

Itinerary from Stralsund to Berlin

Day 1: Saturday, arrival in Stralsund

Individual arrive in Stralsund. Embarkation at 4:00 pm. Maybe you’ll have some time and a notion to take a stroll through Stralsund’s historic centre, which is situated on a small island. As a city with an important past, you will see numerous exceptional sights.

Day 2: Sunday, Stralsund – Lauterbach – Peenemünde, bike tour about 48 km/30 miles

Your bike tour on this day will take you through Stralsund over the Rügen Dam to Gustow with its well-known village church, then past Poseritz, Groß Schoritz, the birthplace of Ernst Moritz Arndt and Garz to Putbus (tip: Don’t miss the famous circus. Classical buildings line this circular “square”, where all the streets converge). Then it’s off to Lauterbach in the southeast of Rügen Island. You will board the boat here. Around 6.30 pm departure to Usedom.

Day 3: Monday, Peenemünde – Zinnowitz, bike tour, about 15-25 km/10–14 miles

Today you have plenty of time to explore the Usedom Island. You have the choice between 3 cycling tours. Take the opportunity in the morning to visit the Historical-Technical Museum in the former power plant or plan a visit to the Usedom Distillery in Mölchow (highly recommended!). In good weather, we recommend the bike tour through Trassenheide and Karlshagen combined with a refreshing swim in the Baltic Sea. Afterwards, cycle to Zinnowitz, one of Usedom's most famous and beautiful seaside resorts. Situated between the Baltic Sea and Achterwasser, the town is surrounded by beech, oak, and pine forests, and the white, gently sloping sandy beach invites you to relax.

Day 4: Tuesday, Zinnowitz – Szczecin, day of rest on board

Today you will spend all day on board. You will cross the expansive waters of the Bay of Szczecin (Oder Lagoon) and reach Szczecin, the green city on the mouth of the Oder and one of the largest ports on the Baltic Sea. The reconstructed castle of the dukes of Pomerania situated in the city’s historic centre is worth seeing.

Day 5: Wednesday, Szczecin – Mescherin – Schwedt, bike tour, about 28 km/18 miles

In the morning you will sail from Szczecin to Mescherin. Today, you pass through a section of the unique cross-border protected area called "Lower Oder Valley International Park" via the Oder-Neisse Cycle Path before reaching Schwedt, your destination for the day. Along the way, you'll encounter the former estate of Criewen, which offers you the opportunity to visit the National Park Center of Germany's only floodplain National Park.

Day 6: Thursday, Schwedt – Hohensaaten – Eberswalde, bike tour, about 33 km/20 miles

In the morning you will sail from Schwedt to Hohensaaten. Then a bike ride in the direction of Niederfinow (boat lift – a tour is always an option) through the splendid landscape, passing by small hills, glades and forests – the last section will be on the Treidel bike route along the Finow Canal – to Eberswalde. In the heart of the city, in the Finow Canal, is the oldest working lock in Germany.

Day 7: Friday, Eberswalde – Oranienburg – Berlin, bike tour, about 42 km/25 miles

In the morning shipping to Oranienburg. Sightseeing tip: the Baroque castle with its park, museum and orangery. Then the well-marked bike route will take you southwards through the Ruppin sea area to Berlin.

Day 8: Saturday, departure from Berlin

After breakfast, disembarkation until 9:00 am and individual trip home.

Note: All distances are "approximate distances" of recommended bike tours. When a guest does not want to cycle one day, she/he can skip the bike tour and relax on board while cruising to the next harbour.

Please note: All cycling distances stated above are approximate only.