Berlin: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus & River Spree Cruise 24hr

The Bus Fills Up Fast: Here's How to See Berlin Without Rushing

You get a 24-hour pass to board and exit the Red Route at any of 17 stops (Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag, Checkpoint Charlie, Museum Island and more) plus a 1-hour River Spree cruise with audio commentary in 14 languages. The mobile ticket activates in the Big Bus Tours app, which tracks buses in real time so you're not waiting blind. You choose when to hop off and when to board again, which means you can spend an hour at one museum or five minutes at the next without anyone rushing you.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Berlin by bus and river cruise

• Start hop-on hop-off bus tour
• Visit Alexanderplatz
• Stop at Museum Island
• Explore Friedrichstrasse area
• See Brandenburg Gate
• Visit Reichstag building
• Stop at Hauptbahnhof
• View Bellevue Palace
• Visit Berlin Victory Column
• Explore Ku'Damm and KaDeWe
• Stop at Potsdamer Platz
• See Berlin Wall
• Visit Checkpoint Charlie
• Stop at Gendarmenmarkt
• End bus tour
• Take 1-hour River Spree cruise
• View Reichstag and Museum Island from river
• See Berlin Cathedral and Pergamon Museum
• Return to pier near Museum Island

The experience

The Red Route in Berlin runs 17 stops, and you don't have to do them all in one day. That's the whole point of a 24-hour hop-on hop-off ticket. You board at Alexanderplatz or Museumsinsel, ride to the Brandenburg Gate or Checkpoint Charlie, step off when something catches your eye, and pick up the next bus whenever you're ready. The audio commentary plays in 14 languages, so you're not dependent on a guide's pace or a group's schedule. You move at your own rhythm, which sounds simple until you're actually standing in front the Reichstag and realize you can spend twenty minutes there instead of five.

The River Spree cruise is the part that changes how you see the city. It runs for an hour from the pier near Museumsinsel (about a five-minute walk from Stop 2), and it's included with your ticket from April through October. You're on the water looking back at the waterfront (the historic buildings, the bridges, the way the light hits the cathedral), and it's a completely different Berlin than what you see from street level. The boat has an air-conditioned lower deck and the same multilingual audio, so you're not guessing what you're looking at. You don't have to take the cruise the same day as the bus tour, which matters if you want to spread things out or if the weather isn't cooperating.

Download the Big Bus Tours app before you go. That's where your ticket lives. You activate it on your phone, track buses in real time so you're not standing around wondering if you missed one, and board using your mobile ticket. The app also includes a self-guided walking tour if you want to explore on foot between bus stops. Families with kids under 5 travel free. Children 5 to 15 need a child ticket. The bus itself is wheelchair accessible, and you can bring a pram or stroller if you're traveling with infants. Service animals are allowed, and there's public transport nearby if you need an alternative.

What’s included

• 24-hour hop-on hop-off bus ticket valid for the Red Route with 17 stops.
• 1-hour River Spree cruise (April–October) with audio commentary.
• multilingual audio in 14 languages on both bus and boat.
• free headphones.
• Big Bus Tours app for ticket activation, real-time bus tracking, and mobile boarding.
• free self-guided walking tour via app access.
• air-conditioned lower deck on the boat.
• wheelchair-accessible bus.
• free travel for children 4 and under.

Before you book

Days and timesThursday to Sunday

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (5 to 15 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, Danish, Dutch, Japanese, Polish, Russian, Swedish and Turkish

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Big Bus Tours Berlin Gmbh

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to see Berlin's main landmarks without booking a guided tour or figuring out the U-Bahn: the 24-hour window and app-based tracking mean you control the pace, and the River Spree cruise gives you a view of the city most visitors miss.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 15 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can I use the ticket on different days?

Yes. Your 24-hour ticket is valid for 24 hours from activation, but you don't have to use it all at once. You can board, hop off, and return later the same day or the next day within that window.

When does the River Spree cruise run?

April through October. The pier is at Burgstrasse 27 (Alte Börse), about a 5-minute walk from Stop 2 at Museumsinsel. You don't have to take it the same day as the bus tour.

How do I activate my ticket?

Download the Big Bus Tours app, activate your ticket on your phone, and use the mobile ticket to board. The app also lets you track buses in real time and access a self-guided walking tour.

Is the bus accessible for wheelchairs?

Yes, the bus is wheelchair accessible. Prams and strollers are also allowed, and service animals can travel with you.

How many stops are on the Red Route?

17 stops, including Alexanderplatz, Museumsinsel, Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag, Checkpoint Charlie, and Potsdamer Platz. You choose which ones to visit.

What languages is the audio commentary available in?

14 languages. Free headphones are provided on the boat and bus.

Do I need to book the river cruise separately?

No, it's included with your hop-on hop-off ticket. Just show up at the pier during operating hours (April–October).