Solarwaterworld · Stralauer Allee 3, Oberbaum Bridge
A solar-electric catamaran leaves a small harbour by the Oberbaum Bridge, runs past the East Side Gallery, through the Mühlendamm lock and on to the Reichstag and Hauptbahnhof before turning back. It's the one cruise that does the Wall and Mitte in two and a half hours, with no more than 36 people on board.
Solarwaterworld builds and runs solar-powered boats from its own harbour at Stralauer Allee 3, behind the nhow Hotel and about 150 m from the Oberbaum Bridge. On this trip you board a catamaran that runs on sunlight and batteries, so it's quiet enough to hear the water. The group is capped at 36. There's an open deck, tables inside, a bar, and a welcome drink is included.
The route is the best case for the "one river, three trips" idea. You start in the east, under the Oberbaum Bridge and along the East Side Gallery, then go through the Mühlendamm lock into Mitte: Museum Island, the Reichstag, the Federal Chancellery and Hauptbahnhof. The boat turns at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt and comes back the same way. You get the Wall and the centre in one trip, which the one-hour loops can't do.
Commentary is an audio guide in seven languages (German, English, French, Spanish, Italian, Hebrew, Russian). There are no announcements on board, and if you'd rather just watch the river, you can. The harbour and boats are barrier-free: wheelchair users book at the senior price and a companion pays the normal fare. Be on time. The ship can't wait, and late arrivals don't get a refund.
Stralauer Allee 3 is directly behind the nhow Hotel, a few minutes from U+S Warschauer Straße. You'll see the Oberbaum Bridge from the gate.
Pick up your drink and an audio guide, then grab a table inside or a spot on deck.
Downriver under the Oberbaum Bridge, with the painted Wall along the bank.
Through the lock into the old centre: the Nikolaiviertel, the Cathedral and the museums.
On past the Reichstag, the Chancellery and Hauptbahnhof, turning at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt.
The same route home, with the other bank to look at.
★★★★★An absolutely wonderful sail on a sunny day on the quietest and most comfortable catamaran on the Spree.
★★★★★The boat was very clean and the staff onboard was friendly and strived to meet any requests that you had.
★★★★★The translation was very good and covered all the points we passed.
★★★★★Great value for money
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Yes. It starts by the Oberbaum Bridge and runs along the East Side Gallery before going through the Mühlendamm lock into Mitte.
From Solarwaterworld's harbour at Stralauer Allee 3, behind the nhow Hotel and about 150 m from the Oberbaum Bridge. U+S Warschauer Straße is the closest station.
No. It's an audio guide in seven languages, including English. There are no announcements over the speakers.
Yes. The harbour and boats are barrier-free. Wheelchair users book at the senior price, and a companion pays the normal fare.
Ready to book
Two and a half silent hours on a solar catamaran from the Oberbaum Bridge, past the East Side Gallery, with a welcome drink.
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