Weisse Flotte Potsdam · Potsdam harbour, Lange Brücke
Weisse Flotte's palace tour leaves Potsdam harbour at Lange Brücke for 90 minutes on the Havel: Babelsberg Park, under the Glienicke Bridge, along the old border to Pfaueninsel and back past Cecilienhof. It's the green half-day trip to pair with a Spree cruise, a short train ride from Berlin.
The Spree flows into the Havel at Spandau, and the Havel is where Berlin's water turns into lakes. Weisse Flotte Potsdam runs this round trip from its harbour at Lange Brücke 6, a few minutes' walk from Potsdam Hauptbahnhof (S7 or the RE1 from Berlin). The boat passes Babelsberg Park with its palace and the Flatow Tower, slides under the Glienicke Bridge, where East and West swapped spies during the Cold War, and follows the old border past the Church of the Redeemer at Sacrow to Pfaueninsel. On the way back you pass the Neuer Garten, the Marble Palace and Cecilienhof, where the Potsdam Agreement was signed in 1945.
Commentary is over the loudspeaker in German and English. On the big ships it can be hard to follow: one guest wrote that the size of the boat made listening harder, and another found the palaces hard to see from indoor seats. Sit outside on the upper deck if the weather allows. Food and drinks are sold on all ships and served at the table.
This isn't a Spree tour, so it doesn't replace an hour through Mitte. Treat it as a half day out: the train, the boat and a walk in Sanssouci or the Neuer Garten. Weisse Flotte sells the tour from 23 euros. The MS Schwielowsee and MS Sanssouci are suitable for wheelchairs, so contact the operator to check which ship runs your departure. Dogs are allowed on a leash.
Take the S7 or a regional train to Potsdam Hauptbahnhof. The harbour at Lange Brücke 6 is a short walk from the station.
Head for the upper deck if it's dry: the views are better than from inside.
Past Babelsberg Park and the Flatow Tower, then under the Glienicke Bridge onto the Jungfernsee.
Along the former border to the Church of the Redeemer and the palace on Pfaueninsel.
Back past the Marble Palace and Cecilienhof to the harbour.
★★★★★We travelled on the Gustav steamboat. The trip including the commentary was excellent and good value for money.
★★★★★Great customer service on the boat.
★★★★★An enjoyable sail in Potsdam.
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About 90 minutes, as a round trip from Potsdam harbour at Lange Brücke 6.
Yes. The route passes under the Glienicke Bridge, where East and West exchanged spies during the Cold War, onto the Jungfernsee.
Take the S7 or a regional train to Potsdam Hauptbahnhof. The Weisse Flotte harbour at Lange Brücke is a short walk away. You need an ABC ticket.
Yes, the loudspeaker commentary is in German and English. On the larger ships it can be hard to hear, so sit near a speaker.
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Ninety minutes on the Havel past Babelsberg, under the Glienicke Bridge and on to Pfaueninsel and Cecilienhof.
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