Houseboat tour from Zerpenschleuse to Eberswalde (4 days)

Length / Duration: 100 km (3–4 days)

Start/Finish: Zerpenschleuse Harbor Village

Route: Zerpenschleuse, Havel-Oder Waterway (HOW), ship lifts, Marina Oderberg, Finow Canal, Eberswalde, and back

Tour Description:

The houseboat tour begins in Zerpenschleuse, where you can rent your temporary floating home from Mein rotes Boot. After a brief orientation, you’ll set off at a leisurely pace along the mostly straight Oder-Havel Canal toward Oderberg. The first part of the tour is relatively easy and is perfect for getting familiar with the boat.

After just under 30 kilometers, you’ll reach one of the region’s absolute highlights: the Niederfinow boat lifts. Here, you’ll descend 36 meters. Once at the bottom, you’ll continue for about 10 kilometers across the waters of the Oderberg to the Oderberg Marina, where you can wind down the evening in a relaxed atmosphere.

On the second day, the route takes you back across the waters of the Oderberg toward the ship lifts. Just before reaching them, you’ll turn onto the Finow Canal—which is over 400 years old—and continue on to Eberswalde. On your way into the city center, you’ll pass through three historic locks that are still operated by hand today—a truly special experience.

Once you arrive in Eberswalde, you can explore the historic old town or visit the Forest Botanical Garden, for example. If you’d rather spend the night close to nature, continue for about 4 kilometers and through two more locks to the Drahthammer Lock near the Family Garden. At Rofin Park, you’ll find not only an exciting tour through a living industrial monument but also a microbrewery with a beer garden. Additional amenities such as supermarkets and restaurants are located in the immediate vicinity.

The return leg follows a similar route. Optional overnight stops without facilities include the Ragöser Lock and the Eberswalde Bollwerk on the HOW. You can also spend the night at the marina at Werbelliner Kreuz, giving you the opportunity to extend your tour by 1–2 days with a worthwhile detour to the crystal-clear Werbellin Lake.

Highlights: Niederfinow boat lifts, historic locks on the Finow Canal, Eberswalde Old Town