MY WAY OF SEEING BERLIN THAT DAY

I visited Berlin in May last year, but that day I no longer felt like walking for several more kilometres. I had already spent quite a lot of time at Berlin Zoo in the morning, and my daily step limit had, to put it mildly, been exceeded. I still didn’t want to leave without seeing at least a little of the city, so I started looking for another way to explore it.

I decided on a cruise along the River Spree, and it turned out to be a very good choice. I like this kind of cruise because you can see quite a lot in a relatively short time, while also looking at the city from a perspective that simply isn’t possible from land. Berlin turned out to be especially rewarding in this respect – during a single route you can see historic landmarks, government buildings and very modern architecture.

From a photography point of view, however, a cruise like this also has another side. The boat does not stop every time you see an interesting building, so you often have literally only a few seconds to frame the shot. There is no time to think too long about the composition – you simply have to act. In return, however, you get something that ordinary sightseeing on foot cannot offer – a completely different perspective on the city and the opportunity to see many places in a very short time.

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WHY IS IT WORTH TAKING A CRUISE ON THE RIVER SPREE?

A cruise on the River Spree is, above all, a very pleasant and relaxing way to explore Berlin. It does not require much effort, yet it allows you to see quite a lot in a relatively short time. You can simply sit back, relax, watch the city and enjoy the views, which change almost constantly. For me, this is one of the biggest advantages of this kind of cruise – you do not have to keep thinking about the route, checking the map or wondering where to turn. You can simply look around and take in the city.

Another huge advantage is the perspective itself. Berlin looks different from the River Spree than it does from the streets. Some buildings show their most impressive side from the river, while others can only really be appreciated from this perspective together with the bridges, waterfront and surrounding architecture. Thanks to this, the cruise is not simply a ride past the landmarks, but gives you a broader view of the city and allows you to see places in a way that cannot be recreated during an ordinary walk.

Another advantage is the wide choice of routes. In Berlin, you can choose between shorter cruises lasting around an hour and longer options that allow you to see a much larger part of the city. I chose the shorter, one-hour route, and in my case it was a very good option. This means that everyone can choose something that fits their own schedule, available time and how much they want to see. A cruise on the River Spree can therefore be either a short addition to a day of sightseeing or one of the main attractions of the day.

For me, this is one of those attractions that combines sightseeing with relaxation. You can slow down for a while and still continue discovering the city at the same time. And that is exactly why I think a cruise on the River Spree is a really enjoyable way to see Berlin from a different perspective.

WHAT CAN YOU SEE DURING A CRUISE ON THE RIVER SPREE?

One of the first buildings that catches your attention during the cruise is BODE MUSEUM. The building is located on Museum Island and looks particularly monumental from the river. Its distinctive dome and location right by the water make it one of those places that is really worth seeing from the deck of a boat. The museum is known, among other things, for its collections of sculpture, Byzantine art and coins. A little later, BERLINER DOM, or Berlin Cathedral, comes into view. Its greenish dome can be seen from a distance and quickly begins to dominate the surroundings. Nearby is also HUMBOLDT FORUM, located in the reconstructed BERLINER SCHLOSS. Part of the facade was recreated in a historic Baroque style, while the side facing the River Spree has a much more modern character.

Above the rooftops and trees, BERLINER FERNSEHTURM also appears from time to time. It is hard to miss, as it stands 368 metres tall and is the tallest structure in Germany. During the cruise, you can see it from several different places, sometimes only partially, rising above the surrounding buildings. Apart from the best-known landmarks, we also pass ordinary residential buildings, restaurants and waterfront areas that show a more everyday side of the city. Another interesting building is NEUER MARSTALL. Looking at its impressive facade, it is difficult to guess that it was originally built as a complex of stables and carriage houses for the Prussian court. Today, part of the building is occupied by HOCHSCHULE FÜR MUSIK HANNS EISLER BERLIN.

In the next part of the route, more and more contemporary architecture begins to appear. One of the more distinctive buildings is SPREEDREIECK, which looks particularly interesting when combined with the older bridges and decorative railings. We then enter the government district, where you can see, among other things, MARIE-ELISABETH-LÜDERS-HAUS, which is part of the German Bundestag complex. Nearby, of course, is the REICHSTAG with its characteristic glass dome, as well as KRONPRINZENBRÜCKE and BUNDESMINISTERIUM FÜR BILDUNG UND FORSCHUNG, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

Near the main railway station, CUBE BERLIN immediately catches the eye with its glass facade reflecting the surrounding buildings and the sky. Right next to it is BERLIN HAUPTBAHNHOF, Berlin’s main railway station, and in the same part of the city you can also see HUMBOLDTHAFENEINS. This means that even during a short, roughly one-hour cruise, you can see both the most important landmarks and quite a few less obvious places that you might not even notice during an ordinary walk through the city centre.

SPREE – THE WATERWAY AXIS OF BERLIN

The SPREE has been one of the most important elements of Berlin for centuries. The river flows through the very heart of the city and for a long time played a major role in its development, transport and trade. New districts, warehouses, workshops and later representative buildings were built along its banks. Today, it is difficult to imagine Berlin’s cityscape without the river, which cuts through the centre and connects very different parts of the city.

The SPREE itself is around 400 kilometres long. Its sources are located in Saxony, after which it flows through Brandenburg and Berlin before joining the Havel in the western part of the city. Within Berlin, it splits in places into several branches and canals, which can make it feel during a cruise as though the city has been woven into a network of waterways. One of the best-known places is Museum Island, surrounded by the waters of the SPREE and a canal, and home to some of the city’s most important museums and landmarks.

In the past, the river primarily had a practical function. Goods and materials were transported along it, while its banks were closely connected with industry and trade. Today, it also serves a very different purpose. Restaurants, promenades, government buildings, museums and modern office buildings line the waterfront, while sightseeing boats regularly travel along the river itself. As a result, the SPREE is no longer just part of Berlin’s infrastructure, but also one of the best ways to discover the city.

FROM A TRUCK DRIVER’S PERSPECTIVE

I parked my truck about 30 kilometres outside Berlin, in one of the industrial areas. There were no toilets, sanitary facilities or any other amenities, so in that respect the location was definitely far from luxurious. However, it had something I probably value most during longer breaks – peace and quiet. There was no heavy traffic, noise or the usual parking-area chaos, so it worked really well as a place to rest.

Another huge advantage was the public transport connection. The bus stop was literally about 50 metres from my truck. The bus ride to the railway station took around 15 minutes, and from there I changed to a train, which took about half an hour to reach Berlin. Thanks to this, I could leave the truck in a quiet place and get to the city centre easily by public transport.

When visiting large cities, this kind of solution works best for me. I do not have to worry about restrictions, narrow streets or finding a place for the entire truck and trailer, while at the same time I can still make good use of my break and explore. In this case, the location may not have been ideal in terms of facilities, but when it came to peace, quiet and access to Berlin, it worked out really well.

IS A CRUISE ON THE RIVER SPREE WORTH IT?

For me, the greatest value of this cruise was that it gave me a kind of “preview” of Berlin. In just one hour, I saw places I had known very little about before, as well as several that I would gladly return to and explore more slowly during my next visit. It was only later, while looking through the photos and checking the individual buildings, that I realised just how many different places I had managed to see during one short route.

I think this kind of cruise will especially appeal to people interested in architecture and photography. From the deck of the boat, you can see buildings from completely different angles, while the River Spree itself creates a very interesting backdrop for the city. You just have to remember that the boat is constantly moving, so if you want to take a specific photo, you do not always have much time to search for the perfect composition. For me, however, that unpredictability was part of the whole experience.

Of course, a cruise cannot replace exploring Berlin on foot. From the boat, you can see the buildings and the city skyline, but you cannot go inside museums, wander through the streets or discover less obvious places. For me, it is therefore more of a great addition to sightseeing than a substitute for it. During my next visit to Berlin, I would gladly take another cruise - perhaps a longer route next time.

GALLERY

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