Canal Boat Holidays Germany
Explore the pretty lakes and rivers of Mecklenburg and Brandenburg and rediscover nature with your own private boat on a self-drive basis.
NO experience necessary as you will be taught to sail!
Useful links to other Canal Boat Charter pages
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Mecklenburg, Brandenburg & Berlin
Canal Boat Holidays Germany – The boating regions of Mecklenburg and Brandenburg are abundant with rivers, streams and thousands of small and large lakes, making this a first-class destination for self-drive river cruises and boating breaks. Castles perch on the shores of medieval villages, and resorts bustle on Lake Müritz, the largest lake confined within Germany’s borders.
Background:
Your Germany boating adventure offers a variety of focal points, depending on whether you choose to cruise in Brandenburg and Berlin, or in the lakes of Mecklenburg further north.
Berlin is the largest city in Brandenburg, and it’s linked via canals to the Oder, Elbe and Rhine rivers as well as the North Sea. A glance at a Brandenburg map indicates that Berlin sits amongst vast tracts of nature reserves. Indeed, one third of the state is protected land sprinkled with more than 3,000 lakes, making it well suited for boating holidays! Potsdam, the capital of Brandenburg, once was Prussia’s seat of power. The plethora of Baroque palaces attests to that!
Brandenburg’s neighbour, Mecklenburg, is similarly endowed with waterways and is an ideal for self-drive boating getaway. The region is often called the Land of a Thousand Lakes! Large and small lakes are everywhere, and dense forests line the hilly shores. Lake Müritz National Park, which hugs the eastern shore of Lake Müritz, boasts nearly 650 kilometres (400 miles) of trekking and cycling paths, and 130 lakes!
NOTE: Canal Boat Seasons Validity
2021 season for this region
Starts on 1st April and ends on 31st October 2021.
2022 season for this region
Starts on 1st April and ends on 31st October 2022.
TOWNS & PLACES OF INTEREST
Plau-am See
Welcome to Plau-Am-See, a peaceful and welcoming little village along the canal. Visit the charming ivy-covered City Hall while leisurely perusing downtown. For a change of scenery, take peaceful walk along the canal bank.
Malchow
Also called the City-Island, Malchow has many treasures for you to discover. Downtown, you will find a huge mill, and an old church from the 12th century with an organ museum inside. There’s also a pretty flower garden if you’re in the mood for a stroll.
Jabel
Jabel is a quiet and peaceful village a perfect place for relaxing and taking is easy. Stroll downtown and discover a beautiful, old brick church, and cycle around the canal bank to admire the beautiful scenery.
Waren
Stop at Waren for a pleasant walk along the lake’s bank, and enjoy it’s wonderful landscapes. Downtown, you will find many quaint monuments, like the old timbered houses. You’ll also want to see the old water tower and Saint-Mary’s church.
Röbel
Welcome to Röbel, a charming and peaceful town located along the large Muritz lake. Take a walk downtown between the colourful timbered houses, and enjoy one of their many fine restaurants.
Mirow
Mirow is a charming little town with timbered houses. Stop here to see the beautiful, Mirow castle located magnificently on its own island. The church, surrounded by lush countryside, is also a nice place to visit and relax.
MARINA: Wolfsbruch
A beautiful harbour surrounded by forest, Marina-Wolfsbruch is a pretty little place where you will find many hotels and restaurants. If you would like to stretch your legs, there are also hiking paths on the outskirts.
Rheinsberg
Along the bank, surrounded by a lush and green forest, stands the large Castle of Rheinberg. You may visit it, along with its gardens, and museum. Downtown, you will also enjoy seeing the Evangelical Church of Saint-Laurent, built in the thirteenth century.
Neustrelitz
Neustrelitz is a large city with many beautiful sights to see, especially downtown. You will enjoy walking along a footpath and seeing the Zierke church which is surrounded by gorgeous green gardens, perfect for a walk. If you stay the night, you could possibly catch a show at the theater.
Furstenberg
Furstenberg is a city full of history. Here, you can visit a World War 2 memorial and learn about the events that took place in the city decades ago. The protestant church also makes for an interesting visit and there are also great paths for cycling.
Himmelpfort
Once an old city of fishermen, Himmelpfort is now a famous tourist destination. Take a walk downtown and discover the vestiges of the old abbey. And, if you want to get a little exercise, there are plenty of beautiful cycle paths among the beautiful lakes.
Lychen
Lychen is located in the middle of a great natural park, a green and welcoming place perfect for relaxation. Come here and see the wonderful scenery and lakes during sunset, or go downtown and discover the beautiful sanatorium, or the Saint-Johannes church.
Liebenwalde
Welcome to Liebenwalde, a beautiful and charming town surrounded by a lush, green forest. Here, you can enjoy a relaxing walk and see the handsome red brick neoclassical church. You can also learn about the local history in the museum
Oranienburg
Orianenburg, a beautiful city surrounded by forest, is riddled with history. You can visit the memorial and museum of Sachsenhausen, a former concentration camp. For fun, you can ride along the local cycling path, or have a rest aside the lake Lehnitz.
Spandau
Spandau is the fifth district of Berlin. Here, you will find a very dynamic and exciting area, filled with shops and restaurants. This place is particularly known for its former jail, which imprisoned nazis after World War 2.
Berlin
Berlin is a magnificent city to see. Tour the capital of Germany and experience its wonders, with many treasures and monuments to discover. Take time to visit the museum island and see the beautiful parliament along the canal banks…Make sure you have plenty of storage space in your camera!
Potsdam (A Must See City)
Reminiscent of the splendour and glory of the Prussian state, Potsdam is packed with prestigious monuments. Take a walk here and discover the expansive Saint-Nicolas church, the colorful and impressive Sansoussi Palace, or the bustling streets of the historic centre.
Göttin
Göttin is a peaceful town. Take a trip downtown and see an intriguing brick church built in the 14th century. Take a walk along the canal bank, and admire the beautiful manors surrounding it.
Brandenburg
Welcome to Brandenburg, a dynamic city. It is rare that such a large city would have so many lakes, rivers and canals. Here, you will enjoy visiting the Sainte-Catherine church , and the great cathedral.
Plaue
Plaue is one of the oldest and most populated places in Germany. Here, you’ll find many wonderful monuments to visit, like the magnificient old castle Ehrenburg which is surrounded by nature, or the Sigismundikirche church.
Rathenow
The Protestant church of St. Marien Andreas, originally a basilica, and transformed to the Gothic style in 1517-1589, and the Roman Catholic Church of St. George, is noteworthy.
Rathenow is known for its Rathenow stones, bricks made of the clay of the Havel, and for its spectacles and optical instruments, which are exported.
After the fall of the Soviet Union, it was revealed that the remains of Hitler and his assistants were secretly buried in graves near Rathenow
Caputh
Cruise over the Templiner Lake to Caputh. In addition to the idyllic nature of this region, particularly popular with water sports enthusiasts and hikers, the area is famous for the charming Caputh Castle. Particular gems include the tiled hall, the living rooms of Elector Dorothea, and the landscaped garden designed by landscape architect Peter-Joseph Lenné. The village church, which dates back to the 19th century and was erected in the style of an Italian basilica, is situated diagonally opposite the castle.
Havelberg
Island- and cathedral city located in green nature setting where the rivers Havel and Elbe meet. The cathedral is a monument and worth a visit. The water tourism project Blaues Band” offers lots of cultural events, sports and sightseeing.
Germany is the perfect boating region for:
Nature Lovers
Designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1991, the Spreewald in Brandenburg
is a hotspot for nature lovers!
Trails weave through forests, wetlands and meadows, and wildlife thrives.
Equally compelling is Müritz National Park in Mecklenburg.
It features miles of cycling and trekking trails, all adding to a great sense of
freedom and outdoor adventure to your German boating holiday.
Watersports
The Lakeland district of Mecklenburg is a watery playground dotted with resorts and spas, a perfect accompaniment to your time cruising the waterways. Watersports holidays are hugely popular here – you can hire a motorboat to go water skiing; ride a jet ski or glide on a windsurfer! In Brandenburg, you can enjoy watersports at the waterside resort of Werder.
History and Heritage
Castle Mirow, Rheinsberg Castle and Sanssouci Castle Park are enchanting! In Neustrelitz, leave your boat and relax in the lush public gardens and admire the stunning Gothic-style Castle Church. And of course your history boating break will include the monuments, edifices and museums of Berlin and Potsdam!
Family Vacations
Germany is a great boating holiday destination for the whole family. Spend time with the kids at Mecklenburg’s Müritz Museum and aquarium. The gardens on the grounds contain a neat bee house where the family can learn about bee keeping! Take the kids on a nature walk in Brandenburg’s beautiful Spreewald or to the vivarium in Mecklenburg’s Jabel!
FAQ - Frequently asked Questions
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Licences in Germany
Licensed areas:
Certain cruising areas in Germany require an International Certificate for Operator of Pleasure Craft (also known as an ICC or an International Certificate of Competence), which is issued in UNECE member States in accordance with Resolution No. 40. Without this licence you won’t be able to cruise on these waterways. If your licence does not reference ‘Resolution No. 40 of the UNECE Working Party on Inland Water Transport’ – we suggest you send it to our sales team prior to booking so it can be validated.
Unlicensed areas:
If you don’t have a licence and wish to cruise in licence-free area of Germany (which includes the waterways around Jabel, Marina Wolfsbruch and the short stretch of waterway between our base in Potsdam and the town of Werder), our base teams are required to provide additional tuition prior to your departure. This means your pre-departure briefing will take two hours in total and you must arrive at the base in time for this tuition which begins at 2pm (although we suggest you arrive 60 minutes earlier to complete checkin beforehand). Even after this tuition, you will still not be allowed to cruise in licensed areas.
If you have a licence this additional tuition is not required, your pre-departure briefing will take the usual 1hr and you may arrive any time between 2pm and 5pm (unless you have booked an early check-in).
A brief history of the cruise area
Once upon a time, a huge frozen freshwater lake covered the entire state of Mecklenburg. The last Ice Age shaped the land, and as the climate warmed the lake thawed and split into smaller ones. Those then fragmented again. Lake Müritz is the biggest lake left with a present-day surface area of 112 square kilometers (43 square miles). Humans changed the water level of the lake a couple times, raising and lowering it through dams built to power mills in the 1700s.
Cruising Advice
Boating in Germany is relatively easy and is suitable for beginner boaters. Traffic can be heavy on the waterways in certain places, and caution is needed on big lakes if the wind kicks up. It is also a good idea to pack binoculars to safely cross the lakes in order to see the channel marker buoys.
Big Lakes Area (around Jabel/Müritz): Customers without a German license will not be allowed to pass any of the big lakes when the windspeed is more than 4 Bft (20km/h). Therefore you are advised to call your Base Manager and request approval to pass. The Base Manager can then check current weather conditions and decide whether to grant permission. This rule is also the reason why dropping your anchor in this area is strictly prohibited.
Water Locks
Locks on the Brandenburg and Mecklenburg waterways are fully automatic and manned or automatic with self-service. There is no charge to use them.
- Opening hours: Locks open 08:00-20:00 (8:00 p.m.) from May to October and 09:00-16:00 (4:00 p.m.) daily in April.
- Public holidays: Locks are open on public holidays.
Moorings
Full-service marinas with all amenities are available but you will have to pay for use of these, generally between 18 – 25 Euros per night. Moorings are plentiful along the German waterways.
Getting to the Le Boat Bases
JABEL:
Jabel is in the heart of ‘Lake Country’ with Lake Muritz just a couple of hours away. Simply enjoy watersports, outdoor adventures in the crystal-clear waters and the spectacular scenery Mecklenburg has to offer. Jabel is a good place to start (and/or finish) your holiday afloat. Cruising from Jabel is license-free.
Opening hours
Open only for booked arrivals and returns
Address
Le Boat Jabel, Yachthafen Maribel
Am Ufer 1-2
D – 17194 Jabel
Germany
Contact:
Telephone: +49 (0) 339 215 0956
Email: wolfsbruch@leboat.com
What you get on the base
Facilities
- Showers
- Toilets
- Wifi
Extras & options for your cruise
Practical extras
Boat cleaning: Eco cleaning pack, L.E.D. lantern, Top-deck cushions & Grocery packs
Fun extras
- Bike hire
- Special occasion gift baskets
- Gas barbecues
- Angling dinghy and outboard
Marina Wolfsbruch
Marina Wolfsbruch, Le Boat’s largest base in Germany, offers easy, licence-free access to the many wide-open lakes and grand waterside palaces of the Mecklenburg region. Iconic Rheinsburg Castle is just over an hour south, Lake Muritz is 5hrs north and a fascinating network of lakes and villages lay eastwards. Marina Wolfsbruch is the ideal central location for those wanting to do and see lots in this ‘playground of nature’.
Opening hours
Address
Germany
Contact
eMail: wolfsbruch@leboat.com
What you get on the base
Facilities
Extras & options for your cruise
Practical extras
Fun extras
Bike hire, Special occasion gift baskets, Gas barbecues, Angling dinghy and outboard Stand-up paddleboards.
From Marina Wolfsbruch it is:
- 11hrs (4 locks) to our base in Jabel
- 25hrs (17 locks) to our base in Potsdam
Potsdam
Potsdam is in the Brandenburg region. While the stretch of the waterway on which the base is located is license-free (you can enjoy a short break as far as Werder) to travel any further you will need a license. The bright lights and cosmopolitan vibe of central Berlin is just 5hrs from Potsdam, with the pretty nature reserve of Spreewald beyond. Potsdam itself is the capital of this region and worth exploring, especially to see the Rococo splendour of Sanssouci Palace.
Opening hours
Address
Germany
Contacts
eMail: wolfsbruch@leboat.com
What you get on the base
Facilities
- Toilets and showers will be closed to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Thank you for your understanding. Customers should use facilities on board their boats.
- Wifi
Extras & options for your cruise
Practical extras
Fun extras
- Bike hire
- Special occasion gift baskets
- Gas barbecues
- Angling dinghy and outboard
From Potsdam it is:
- 36hrs (21 locks) to our base in Jabel
- 25hrs (17 locks) to our base in Marina Wolfsbruch
What is included in the price?
- Hire of the boat and its onboard equipment
- A fully equipped kitchen
- Towels and linen for all passengers
- A boat handling demonstration prior to departure
- Technical support
- On-board maps and visitor information
- Passage through locks
What is NOT included?
- Optional holiday extras
- Boat damage waiver
- Running costs (diesel, gas, engine wear, and tear) – charged by the engine hour.
- Travel to and from the base(s)
- Waterside services if you use them (i.e. moorings where a charge is applicable, pump-out if needed, water, etc)
- Cancellation plan & any travel/personal insurance
- Food and drink
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