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 38 km / 24 miles

The well-marked bike route meanders northward through the Ruppin sea area to Oranienburg. Sightseeing tip: the Baroque castle with its park, museum and orangery. This is your embarkation point, after which you will sail to Eberswalde. In the heart of the city, in the Finow Canal, is the oldest working lock in Germany, which has been a technical monument since 1978.

Day 3: Eberswalde – Hohensaaten – Schwedt, bike tour  about 32–64 km /20–40 miles

First you will bike through the splendid landscape on the Treidel bike route along the Finow Canal, passing by forests, glades and small hills in the direction of Niederfinow (boat lift – a tour is always an option) to Hohensaaten. There you will get back on board and sail to Schwedt or if you still like to cycle you go by bike (add. 32 km).

Day 4: Schwedt – Mescherin – Szczecin, bike tour about 30 km / 18 miles

Today you will bike through a part of a unique, cross-border nature reserve, the “Lower Oder Valley National Park”, then on to Gartz and Mescherin, where you will get back on the boat. Then you will sail to 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: Szczecin – Wolgast, day of rest on board

Today 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 reach Wolgast, the „Gateway to Usedom Island". The Medieval historic centre with its town hall and the Church of St. Petri are interesting sights in any case.

Day 6: Wolgast – Peenemünde – Lauterbach, bike tour about 15 km/9 miles

In the morning you will bike through Zecherin and Karlshagen Harbour to Peenemünde (tip: historical/technical museum in the former power plant). When the weather is fine you may feel like cycling the “beach-route” via Trassenheide and Zinnowitz alternatively. In Peenemünde you will get back on board and at about 6 pm you sail to Lauterbach in the southeast of Rügen Island (arrival around 9 pm).

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 – Wolgast, bike tour, about 16-20 km/10–12 miles

Today you have plenty of time to explore the Usedom Island. Tip: historical/technical museum in the former power plant or alternatively you choose the “beach-route” via Trassenheide and Zinnowitz. Afterwards will bike past Karlshagen Harbour and Zecherin to Wolgast, also known as the “Gateway to Usedom Island The Medieval historic centre with its town hall and the Church of St. Petri are interesting sights in any case.

Day 4: Tuesday, Wolgast – 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 30 km/18 miles

In the morning you will sail from Szczecin to Mescherin. Biking past Gartz you will bike through a part of a unique, cross-border nature reserve, the “Lower Oder Valley National Park” before reaching Schwedt, today’s destination.

Day 6: Thursday, Schwedt – Hohensaaten – Eberswalde, bike tour, about 32 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, which has been a technical monument since 1978.

Day 7: Friday, Eberswalde – Oranienburg – Berlin, bike tour, about 38 km/24 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.