Germany’s most northeastern state is one of its most diverse regions. Relatively sparsely populated, Mecklenburg Western Pomerania, or Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, as it is called in German, is home to numerous beautiful beaches, a unique landscape of lakes and forests, historic castles, and beautiful islands such as Rügen and Usedom.
These are the most beautiful Mecklenburg Western Pomerania attractions
In the following article we present you the top 15 Mecklenburg Western Pomerania sights. And if you click here, you will go directly to our practical travel tips for a visit to Mecklenburg Western Pomerania.
Schwerin
With just under 100,000 inhabitants, Schwerin is not only Germany’s smallest state capital, but definitely also the coziest in the country. Schwerin was the residence of the dukes and grand dukes of Mecklenburg for a long time, and as befits a residential city, there is a magnificent building on almost every corner here. A pretty old town, surrounded by water on all sides, Hanseatic flair and, of course, the world-famous castle make Schwerin an ideal destination for a short trip to the northwest of Mecklenburg Western Pomerania.
Ludwigslust Palace
Ludwigslust Palace was once a simple hunting lodge of the dukes of Mecklenburg before it became the residence of the local rulers under Duke Friedrich. To this end, it was lavishly redesigned in the 18th century, taking its cue from French models. Today you can visit the beautiful castle with its famous Golden Hall and the picture gallery. The extensive palace park in the style of an English landscape garden with its cascade fountain is also worth a detour to the gates of Schwerin and make Ludwigslust Palace one of the most important Mecklenburg Western Pomerania sights.
Wismar
The former Hanseatic city of Wismar is one of our favorite places on the Baltic Sea. In the 14th and 15th centuries, countless Gothic buildings were built here, which still characterize the cityscape today. Almost 200 houses with Gothic gables have survived all these centuries. Although many of them were later remodeled, this was usually done in such a stylish way that Wismar today resembles a colorful mix of several architectural eras.
Particularly interesting are the many Gothic churches, which all tell their own story and are among the most important Wismar sights. Also for this reason, UNESCO has declared the old town of Wismar together with Stralsund a World Heritage Site. In our Wismar article we tell you why the churches are so unique.
Baltic Sea coast resorts
The German Baltic Sea coast is over 2000 kilometers long, with the state of Mecklenburg Western Pomerania accounting for about three quarters. The coast is so varied that there is a perfect place for every visitor. If you like dreamy fishing villages, you are in good hands on the Baltic coast. But there are also sophisticated seaside resorts like Heiligendamm and Rerik, remote cliffs and enchanted forests to discover. In this article, we have compiled the top 10 most beautiful seaside resorts on the Baltic Sea coast for you.
Poel island
The tranquil island of Poel is perfect for a relaxing family vacation and one of the dreamiest Mecklenburg Western Pomerania attractions. It is only connected to the mainland via a narrow land bridge and cyclists in particular will enjoy the island, which is easy to explore. In the main village of Kirchdorf there is a beautiful fishing port. But the most beautiful part of the island is the northern side with the village of Timmendorf and its beach, which is never crowded even in the high season. Here you can simply switch off and let your soul dangle.
Rostock
The old Hanseatic city of Rostock on the Warnow River offers a wealth of sights and is especially known for its numerous brick buildings. Although Rostock is the largest city in Mecklenburg Western Pomerania, it is anything but hectic here. The relatively large old town is perfect for a stroll and attracts with fascinating churches, colorful markets and many green spaces. Rostock is also an important port city, which you can see for yourself on a harbor tour.
Warnemünde
Only ten kilometers separate Rostock and Warnemünde. Nevertheless, the big city with its brick buildings suddenly seems very far away. Warnemünde, which has only about 6,000 inhabitants, is a chic spa town with a number of architecturally and historically interesting buildings that you can easily explore in half a day. Highlights include an ensemble of the old lighthouse and the “Teapot,” an architectural icon from GDR times, as well as the Hotel Neptun. The Neptun had a special status in the GDR and even its own currency, the Neptun money. In addition, there are the many pretty fishermen’s cottages on the Alter Strom. With all these interesting buildings, one could easily forget that Warnemünde has one of the most beautiful beaches in the Baltic Sea region. So, let’s go to the water!
Fischland-Darß-Zingst
The peninsula, which consists of three areas, is divided into a Mecklenburg area and a Western Pomerania area. Pristine sandy beaches, vast forests and cliffs characterize the image of this popular vacation region, which is ideal for extended hikes, especially in spring and late summer. Sun lovers will feel very comfortable here in the summer. The peninsula is very well developed, and therefore ideal for a vacation with family or friends.
Stralsund
The city of Stralsund on the Baltic Sea, which has a population of just under 60,000, is for many tourists only a transit stop on the journey to Rügen. Yet there is a lot to discover here. The cozy historic center was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002 and has numerous sights that you can easily explore during a day trip. You should definitely visit the Ozeaneum, a mixture of zoo and museum. The best thing to do after the visit is to simply drift through the city, because exciting discoveries await you at literally every corner.
Rügen
Germany’s largest island is one of the most popular tourist destinations. Miles of sandy beaches, the famous chalk cliffs and above all a lot of peace and relaxation attract about one and a half million guests to the island every year. However, Rügen is not only worth a trip because of its numerous natural beauties, but also offers some architectural highlights. In the sophisticated Baltic resorts of Binz and Sellin stand elegant villas from the imperial era. The hunting lodge Granitz is one of the most popular destinations. The “White Town” of Putbus, on the other hand, looks like something out of a fairy tale. This is in stark contrast to Prora, where the Nazis built a huge KdF vacation complex. One of the highlights of a vacation on Rügen is a ride on the Rasenden Roland. The historic steam locomotive still does its job reliably to this day.
Hiddensee
Only about 2 kilometers separate Rügen and Hiddensee. The car-free island is just about 20 km² in size and can be reached by ferry from Stralsund and Rügen (Schaprode). If you arrive in the morning, you can see the whole island in one day. Take the ferry to Vitte and walk from there to the village Kloster. Here is the former house of the writer and Nobel laureate Gerhard Hauptmann, which now houses a small museum.
The village church with its seafaring motifs is also worth seeing. From here you can take a leisurely walk through a forest to the north coast with the island’s landmark, the Dornbusch lighthouse. At the lighthouse you have a great view of Rügen and the Baltic Sea. Via the west coast it goes back to the ferry.
Usedom
The easternmost island of the country is divided into a Polish and a German territory. Lakes, wild coasts and fantastic beaches make Usedom one of the most popular German vacation regions of all. Usedom is also ideal for cyclists. Here you can go on extended tours for hours. Especially worth seeing are the seaside resorts of Bansin, Heringsdorf and Ahlbeck, which are strung along the coast of Usedom like a string of pearls and attract bathing fans as well as strollers. A trip to Swinemünde (Świnoujście) in Poland provides a change of pace.
Greifswald
The traditional university town, picturesquely situated on the Greifswald Bodden, was once a proud part of the Hanseatic League and lies roughly between Rügen and Usedom. A wonderful market square with historic buildings, a museum harbor and the university give the city a lively and international flair despite its population of just 60,000. Especially if you are on your way to Poland or to one of the Baltic Sea islands, Greifswald is ideal for a stopover.
Mecklenburg Lake District
Unspoiled nature can only be found in a few places in Germany. But the Mecklenburg Lake District is definitely one of the most pristine and beautiful regions in the country. Whether you’re relaxing at Lake Müritz, Germany’s largest inland lake, in the forest or at one of the many other lakes, kayaking, houseboating or fishing – here you’ll find real peace and quiet from the stresses of everyday life.
Neubrandenburg
Probably only a few tourists have Neubrandenburg on their mind. However, a trip into the interior is definitely worthwhile. The third largest city in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern after Rostock and Schwerin not only has a beautiful old town with the best-preserved Gothic city fortifications in Europe, but was also one of the first real planned cities in the GDR. In the years after the Second World War, numerous ambitious building projects were realized in the heavily destroyed city. Here, GDR architecture can be seen in many facets and with the inclusion of historical buildings.
- Höhner, Jens (Author)
- Höh, Peter (Author)
- KUNTH Verlag GmbH & Co. KG (Author)
- Reise Know-How Wohnmobil Tour Guide Ostseeküste Mecklenburg-Vorpommern mit Rügen und Usedom: Die schönsten Routen
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What are the most beautiful Mecklenburg Western Pomerania sights in your opinion? Let us know and write us a comment!