October 14, 2021, 2:19 pm | Read time: 4 minutes

More than 1,000 large and small lakes, including the Müritz—the largest inland lake entirely within Germany—make up the Mecklenburg Lake District. This unique water landscape is home to rare animals and plants, interspersed with romantic castles, fortresses, and manor houses. TRAVELBOOK offers the best tips.

Mecklenburg Lake District – The Best Tips

The tourist area of the Mecklenburg Lake District stretches roughly between Rheinsberg in the south, Feldberg and Neubrandenburg in the east, Demmin and Bützow in the north, and Sternberg in the west. The largest cities in the Brandenburg area are Fürstenberg/Havel and Rheinsberg, while the other cities are located in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Schleswig-Holstein. Although Schwerin is geographically part of the Mecklenburg Lake District, it does not consider itself part of the area marketed under this name.

The Largest Lakes

By far the largest lake in the Mecklenburg Lake District is the Müritz, followed by Lake Schwerin, Lake Plau, and Lake Schaalsee. Eight lakes have an area of more than ten square kilometers each (besides those already mentioned, these include Lake Kölpin, Lake Krakow, Lake Ratzeburg, and Lake Fleesensee). In total, there are 48 lakes with an area of at least two square kilometers. One of the most famous among the smaller ones is Lake Großer Stechlin.

Hydrobike Fun and Rafting Tours

It’s not just the water that makes the Mecklenburg Lake District an attractive vacation area, but also the surrounding nature. There are several nature parks, and a large part of Müritz National Park is included. Water sports lovers can paddle, raft, sail, travel by houseboat (boats with less than 15 horsepower do not require a boating license), motor yacht, or dive in many waters. There are also fun sports like hydrobiking and adventures on the water ski cableway in Neubrandenburg.

A huge fun for families is the canoe safari, a guided round tour where you travel by canoe (on motorboat-free waters), bicycle, carriage, and on foot (with luggage transfer and full catering, info: www.kanubasis.de).

Also interesting: The dates for school holidays 2024 and 2025 in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Fishing Only with a License

Anglers have a good chance of a big catch in the Mecklenburg Lake District–but they need a tourist fishing license (valid for up to 28 days, price: 24 euros; available at fishing businesses, angling shops, holiday parks, tourist information centers, and campgrounds).

Read also: 16 fantastic nature experiences in Germany

Family-Friendly Beaches

Swimming is, of course, possible in most lakes during the summer. Particularly family-friendly beaches include: Bolter Canal (Boeker Mühle/Müritz), Göhren/Lebbin (Fleesensee), Röblinsee in Fürstenberg/Havel, Glambecker See in Neustrelitz, Fürstenseer See, Camminer See, Kirchsee in Pragsdorf, Breiter Luzin in Lichtenberg near Feldberg, Haussee in Feldberg, Tollensesee (Augustabad and Broda in Neubrandenburg), Müritz (Volksbad Waren, Müritzbad beach in Röbel, and Mili beach in Rechlin Nord), Plau Quetzin (beach at Richtberg between Plau and Karow), Inselsee Güstrow (between Barlach and Kurhaus).

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Tours with Paddle and Motorboat

For those who enjoy paddling, there is an online catalog with tour suggestions. If you want to rent a motorboat, keep in mind that not all areas of the Mecklenburg Lake District are navigable without a boating license. The easiest way is to ask the rental company for precise information. Prefer to be ferried around? Then a tour on the passenger ship of the White Fleet would be a good idea. There are full-day tours where you can explore seven or 16 lakes, as well as smaller tours. Bicycles are allowed on board.

Cycling and Hiking in the Mecklenburg Lake District

For cyclists, there are many paths between or around the lakes (info and some cycling tour descriptions under the blue link). And for those who love hiking, the beech forests in Serrahn (part of Müritz National Park) are worth seeing. They have been part of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage since 2011 and are breathtakingly beautiful. A particularly charming path is the eight-kilometer-long Beech Forest Adventure Trail from Zinow with information boards–it’s very varied and well-suited for families.

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Müritz National Park Ticket: Traveling by Bus and Ship

Between April 30 and October 31, the Müritz National Park Ticket is worthwhile. It is valid for the buses of Personenverkehr GmbH Müritz (route Waren/Müritz, Boek, Bolter Canal, Rechlin, Hafendorf and back, bicycle transport possible) and the ships of the White Fleet (routes Waren/Müritz, Klink, Röbel/Müritz, Bolter Canal, Rechlin, Hafendorf and back; Röbel/Müritz, Bolter Canal, Rechlin, Hafendorf and back; Malchow, Untergöhren, Waren/Müritz and back)–Schedule here.

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Text: Silke Böttcher