By water tram to Germany? Summer cruises on the Lower Odra River

Żegluga Szczecińska is launching a new excursion connection from Szczecin to Gartz. Water trams will operate every summer weekend from July 4 to September 5, allowing passengers to better explore the picturesque nature of the Lower Odra Valley. It is an interesting idea for spending a day in Western Pomerania.

New water trams on the border: nature and history

At 10:00 in the morning on the first Saturday of July, passengers will be able to set off on a pristine cruise through the old riverbeds and wetlands of the Odra. The three-hour journey will pass through the most beautiful parts of the Międzyodrze area, with stops in the German towns of Mescherin and Gartz.

After a 2.5-hour stop in the charming town of Gartz, the water tram will return along the same route to Szczecin, giving passengers the opportunity to observe the landscape in the afternoon hours. It is a true paradise for nature lovers and birdwatchers – says Celina Wołosz, press spokesperson of the municipal company Żegluga Szczecińska Turystyka Wydarzenia.

During the cruises, passengers will be able to use binoculars and audio guides in Polish, English, or German. It is a great opportunity to learn more about the history of navigation on the Odra, the infrastructure of canals and flood polders, as well as the natural attractions along the route.

Practical information about cruises in the Lower Odra Valley

Water trams from Szczecin to Gartz will run according to the same schedule every Saturday and Sunday during the holidays:
• 10:00 Szczecin; 11:55–12:10 Mescherin, 12:50 Gartz;
• 15:30 Gartz; 16:10–16:25 Mescherin, 18:15 Szczecin.

The entire trip will take about eight hours, with most of that time spent on board. Tickets cost 30–60 PLN, and for an additional fee it will also be possible to take a bicycle on board, so that during the afternoon break in navigation passengers can explore the German side of the Odra River by bike. It is also possible to buy a one-way ticket.

Why go on a cruise on the Odra River?

Unfortunately, due to a presidential veto, the Lower Odra Valley National Park will not be created. Environmentalists are disappointed, the Ministry of Climate and Environment is promising alternative forms of protection, and we – thanks to Szczecin water trams – can see the natural values of the region with our own eyes.

This area on the border of Poland and Germany is not only the river itself, but also its numerous floodplains, peat bogs, marshes, reed beds, as well as artificially created canals. All of this can only be seen and appreciated from the water perspective.

Cruises in the Lower Odra Valley are above all a treat for ornithology enthusiasts – nearly 130 breeding bird species and a further 100 migratory species have been recorded here. Among the most interesting winged inhabitants of the region are white-tailed eagles, cranes, kingfishers, and black terns. A keen eye will also spot otters and beavers in the thickets, while the lush vegetation hides such botanical specimens as floating fern, broad-leaved angelica, and marsh spurge.

As a curiosity, it is worth adding that Międzyodrze is considered the largest fluvially formed peatland in Europe, meaning it is periodically flooded by river waters.

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main photo: Żegluga Szczecińska Turystyka Wydarzenia Sp. z o. o.