What to do · Chorin and Niederfinow
Guided tour of the new Niederfinow boat lift
Information
- From
- €13 per person, combined with the old lift (2027 fare)
- Duration
- 1 h 30
- Season
- 1 March to 3 January; closed 24 to 26 December and in January and February
- Who it's for
- All ages; with a visitors' lift
- With a dog
- On a lead, on the normal tours; not on the special "Ins Herz des Hebewerks" tour
What it is
At Niederfinow the Oder-Havel Canal drops 36 metres in one go: boats do not pass through locks but rise and descend inside a huge trough of water. Beside the old lift of 1934, a new one opened on 4 October 2022, the most modern in Europe, for larger boats. Both operate at the same time.
How it works
Guided tours of the new lift leave several times an hour, at least between 10:00 and 16:00, and cannot be booked for groups of fewer than 15: you go to the ticket office at the information centre and they give you the time and the meeting point, on the canal bridge, north of the lift. There is a visitors' lift. The combined ticket, with entry to the old lift, costs €13 (€9 concession, €40 family) according to the fare published for 2027. The special "into the heart of the lift" tour costs €24 and is booked online.
Tips
- Watch the boats on the webcam If you want to see a lift in action, the website has live cameras.
- Allow an hour and a half With the tour of the new lift and a free wander round the old one.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need to book the tour?
No, except for groups of 15 or more; you go to the ticket office at the information centre.
Are dogs allowed?
On a lead, yes, on the normal tours.
Is it open in winter?
Until 3 January; it is closed in January and February.
As a familyWith teenagersWith a dog
Who runs it
- Schiffshebewerk Niederfinow (SHW Tourismus)Kombiticket: guided tour of the new lift and entry to the old one Visit their website
- Schiffshebewerk Niederfinow (SHW Tourismus)Special tour «Ins Herz des Hebewerks», into the heart of the lift Visit their website
