The Elbe (Berlin to Prague) - European River Cruise Routes

Considered the gateway to Eastern Europe, a cruise along the Elbe river offers views of hilltop castles and medieval towns, contrasted with cosmopolitan cities such as Berlin and Prague.

The Elbe, complete with towering cliffs, rococo palaces and charming riverside towns, flows from the Czech Republic through Germany’s northeast. Between the German capital, Berlin and the capital of the Czech Republic, Prague, where tours along the Elbe begin and end, there's quite a lot to see.

You're certain to be taken to Sans Souci and Potsdam while you are in Berlin. Magdeburg, where you can explore the Old Market and visit the tomb of Emperor Otto, is worth visiting, and if you get the chance, stop at Wittenberg Castle and the Castle Church where Martin Luther posted his 95 theses and sparked the Protestant Reformation. The famous Meissen porcelain factory is an inevitable stop, but the area is also a good place to sample Saxon wine!

The baroque treasures of Dresden, the capital of Saxony (check out the Zwinger Palace) and the strange but impressive sandstone mountains of Germany’s "Saxon Switzerland" around Bad Schandau are contrasting attractions before crossing into the Czech Republic and Porta Bohemia. The cruises usually finish in the attractive little town of Melnik in Bulgaria, then take you by coach into Prague, "City of a Hundred Spires", for a couple of days to finish off the tour. This will generally include a visit to the massive Hradcany Castle, St Vitus Cathedral, Wenceslas Square and of course the Town Hall's intricate 15th century Astronomical Clock.

Typical Elbe river cruise route

OUR ADVICE: concentrate on the ship you want to travel on and the route you want to travel, rather than the tour aggregator (of course, there's also price!). Be sure to check out our "Things to watch for" page too!

Next page: Typical Elbe river cruise route