Germany has very interesting and varied cruising territories with numerous nature reserves and national parks. For example the inland sea of the Baltic is great for sailing or motor yacht charter alike. Extensive lake districts like the famous one in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania or the Havel land, the area around Berlin, are perfect for charterers who want to go on a houseboat vacation. A houseboat, respectively motor yacht rental in that area can easily be combined with sightseeing and culture. There are plenty of activities to do in Mecklenburg and Brandenburg, the federal state surrounding Berlin. On the many lakes and rivers there is always a port nearby and a complete lack of tides. The Baltic Sea with its many bays is also very well protected, making these areas ideally suited for sailing holidays with the family.
What are the most popular charter destinations in Germany?
The federal states of Brandenburg and Mecklenburg contain many lakes and rivers that are interconnected. Together with the coast of the Baltic Sea and its islands they form one of the largest coherent areas for recreational boating in Europe.
The coast of the German Baltic Sea stretches from the Flensburg Fjord till the Stettin Lagoon and includes the Bay of Kiel and Lübeck as well as the coast of Mecklenburg with the National Park Western Pomerania. Popular charter bases in this area are the ports of Flensburg, Heiligenhafen, Neustadt and Greifswald. The largest islands are Fehmarn, Rügen with the popular neighbour island Hiddensee, Usedom and Poel. There are traditional spa towns, lovely Hanseatic cities and picturesque villages with old lighthouses that are worth visiting. The German Baltic Sea is also a good starting point for itineraries to the `Danish South Sea`, to Sweden or Poland.
You encounter equally favourable conditions for yacht charter in Germany in the mouth of the River Elbe near Cuxhaven in Schleswig-Holstein. The port of Allermöhe in Hamburg constitutes a good base for boat rental. If you sail down the river to the Northwest you will pass lovely long sandy beaches. You can follow one of the many anabranches and discover idyllic villages or stay on the main stream until you get to the world nature heritage site Wadden Sea National Park, where you can let the boat run aground at low tide and go for a walk around the mud flats.
The popular lake district of Mecklenburg constitutes a tight network of rivers and channels with many options for sailing routes. With 109 m² the Müritz is Germany´s largest inland lake. East of it lies Germany´s largest terrestrial national park, the Müritz National Park. Also in the vicinity is Lake Plau, Lake Kölpin and Lake Fleesen as well as the Müritz-Elde canal that leads up to the federal capital Schwerin. A good charter base for renting a houseboat is Waren, a charming spa town with an inviting water promenade, shops, restaurants and cafés. Other ports are Malchow between Lake Plau and Müritz, Buchholz/Müritz, Mildenberg or Marienwerder between the lift lock Niederfinow and the nature reserve Lower Oder Valley. A good example for a sailing trip would be from Lake Kummerow on the meandering river Peene up to the estuary in the Baltic Sea opposite the island Usedom.
A similarly intertwined sea- and riverscape is the Havel land containing Berlin as well as the federal capital of Brandenburg, Potsdam. There is a lot to see in this area, including the famous castle of Sanssouci. As the shore is never really far away, you always have something to see on a river boat charter anyhow, though. A well frequented charter base is Werder in Brandenburg, yet there are plenty of other ports like Fürstenberg for example. The area has a very good infrastructure and offers many berths and extended services. The Havel flows through numerous lakes and is connected with the Spree, the Elbe, the Müritz and other canals. The largest natural lake in Brandenburg is Lake Scharmützel. If you have more than a week at your disposal, you could combine the sailing territories and sail north from Berlin, crossing the Mecklenburg Lake District until you get to the Baltic. There are charter providers that offer one-way trips for that itinerary.
Alternatively you could rent a houseboat and explore the area of the rivers Mosel and Saar, a beautiful wine region where Germany, France and Luxemburg meet. Merzig on the river Saar, for example, is a suitable charter base. Possible itineraries include the Saar, Mosel, Lahn, Rhine, the French canals, the Saar-Canal and the Marne-Rhine-Canal.
What is the weather like on a boat charter in Germany?
The climate for inland charter is temperate and in the coastal regions it is maritime with prevailing Westerlies. The weather can change frequently, so good clothing is essential.
Brief recap of the sailing weather in Germany with the example of Hamburg:
How much is yacht charter in Germany and what are the different charter types available?
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- Month with the highest average temperature: August, 22°
- Month with the lowest average temperature: January, 3°
- Average wind speed May - September: ca. 7 knots
- Month with the highest average precipitation: July, 62 mm
- Month with the lowest average precipitation: February, 41 mm
- Months with the most sunshine: May/June, 8 hours per day
- Month with the least sunshine: December, 1 hour per day
- Months with the highest average water temperature; July/August, 19°
- Months with the lowest average water temperature: January - March, 4°
- You can rent a 9 m sailboat from about 900 € a week, for example. The prices will go up according to specific needs and size of the yacht. On the rivers and lakes motor yacht respectively houseboat rental is very popular. The Baltic Sea, on the other hand, is also very well suited for sailing yacht or catamaran hire. If you do bareboat charter you are steering the yacht yourself and on a skippered charter you hire someone to do that for you. Day charter is a good way for first-timers or if you have very limited time.
What else is there to do on a bareboat charter in Germany besides sailing?
If you hire a boat in Müritz you could watch the Müritz Sail, one of the largest sailing regattas on Europe´s inland waters. When you do yacht charter in the Baltic there is the Hanse Sail or the Kiel Week that offer exciting races.
Visit the castles, manors and parks of the Mecklenburg Lake District. Brandenburg also has many gorgeous castles and gardens like Sanssouci in Potsdam. A very popular attraction for the whole family is the Film Park in Babelsberg, a theme park in the largest borough of Potsdam, Babelsberg.
Combine a charter holiday in the Brandenburg Lake District with sightseeing in Berlin. Go on a city tour, visit the Memorial of the Berlin Wall, the Reichstag building and its great glass dome, the TV Tower with a fantastic view, the Brandenburg Gate, the Boulevard Unter den Linden or the Museum Island. Alternatively go shopping in Friedrichstrasse and try one the excellent restaurants with culinary influences from all over the world.
Go water skiing or kayaking on one of the protected lakes. And the Baltic Sea offers good conditions for diving, wind surfing or kite surfing.
If you have enough time in-between charter trips in the area of Hamburg you can check out the Port City, the Warehouse District, the town hall, St. Michael´s church or the Elbphilharmonie. There are also some great musicals or museums like the Miniature Wonderland.
Enjoy unspoilt nature in the national park Schleswig Holstein Wadden Sea. The area between Den Helder in the Netherlands and Esbjerg in Denmark contains the largest coherent mud flat landscape in the world that is home to huge colonies of birds and other animals.
How can you rent a yacht or a houseboat in Germany?
If you want to hire a yacht in Germany you either need a skipper´s licence or proof that you have sufficient sailing experience. There are some very professional yacht charter providers specialized in bareboat charter in Germany. Use YachtFinder to compare the best offers and contact us for more detailed information on available charter yachts.