Have you ever been to the smallest state capital in Germany? No? Well then, it’s high time! Schwerin is definitely one of the most beautiful cities here in our beloved Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and has quite a few highlights to offer. Great sights in Schwerin, cool cafés and restaurants, countless shops for shopping and strolling, plenty of lakes and excursion destinations await you. Sound exciting? Well then, let’s go!
Schwerin offers the perfect mix of city, nature, and water, and with 95,000 inhabitants, it is still a very cozy and manageable city. It is also the oldest city in the state, as people have lived in this area since the Stone Age. Amazing, right? So you can imagine that Schwerin also has a lot to offer in terms of history and culture. In the following article, I (Bolle) will take you through the beautiful “City of Seven Lakes” and share my favorite places and insider tips with you.
- The most beautiful sights in Schwerin
- 1. Start at the Paulskirche
- 2. Around the Pfaffenteich
- 3. Schelfstadt
- 4. Historic Old Town
- 5. Cathedral of St. Mary and St. John
- 6. Schlachtermarkt
- 7. State Theatre & State Museum
- 8. Marstall Peninsula
- 9. Schwerin City Harbor
- 10. Schwerin Castle & Castle Island
- 11. Walk through the Castle Gardens
- 12. Lake Schwerin
- 13. Graf-Schack-Allee
- Shopping in Schwerin
- Cafés & Restaurants
- City Tours and Walking Tours
- Accommodation for your visit
- Getting to Schwerin
- The best Schwerin travel guides
The most beautiful sights in Schwerin
You can easily explore Schwerin in a weekend. But even if you only have one day, a trip to this city is worthwhile. Almost all of the sights in Schwerin are within walking distance, so you don’t need a car, bus, or bicycle. If you’re not quite as mobile, you can also take a tour with the hop-on hop-off buses; more on that later. On the map below, I’ve marked the most beautiful sights, cafés, restaurants, and hotels for you.
By loading the map, you accept Google’s privacy policy.
Learn more
Load map
1. Start at St. Paul’s Church
I started my tour of the city from the main train station and quickly discovered my first attraction in Schwerin. After just a few minutes’ walk, I reached the pretty St. Paul’s Church, which was built between 1863 and 1869. It features very high stained glass windows, a mighty frieze organ, a steel roof structure, and clinker tracery. You can visit the Protestant church by appointment at the parish office.
2. Around the Pfaffenteich (Peasant Pond)
From the Paulskirche, I continued walking to the Pfaffenteich (Peasant Pond). This artificial lake was probably created as early as the 12th century, although the exact date is unknown. If you have enough time, you should take a leisurely stroll around the lake, as you’ll pass some truly beautiful 19th-century houses. The view from the north shore toward Schwerin’s old town is also worth a visit. Along the way, you’ll pass numerous benches where you can take a break and enjoy the beautiful view.
There are even four moorings for the Pfaffenteich ferry “Petermännchen”, which you can use to explore the 12-hectare lake. Locals like to call this ferry trip the “most affordable cruise in the world.” Between spring and fall, you can take the ferry back to the other shore while enjoying the view of the city. Adults pay €2 and children €1. You can find more information here: Prices and Times.
3. Schelfstadt
From the Pfaffenteich, I continued along Gaußstraße, which led me directly to the Schelfstadt district. Here, magnificent city villas, charming town houses with half-timbered facades, plenty of cobblestones, and red brick awaited me. On some fences, I could even make out the small, green oases (gardens) in the backyard, which have served as a retreat for residents for many centuries. I love these old half-timbered houses and am very happy that the residents back then campaigned for the preservation and restoration of many of them.
While this area used to be primarily home to fishermen and traders who had been driven out of the old town, today it is a very lively and popular area in Schwerin. The focal point of the district is the Schelfkirche on Schelfmarkt, which was consecrated in 1713. The houses on Münzstraße and Puschkinallee are also particularly beautiful. If you want to take a short break, you should stop by the “Baker’s Kitchen.” There you can get delicious coffee and a variety of baked goods.
4. Historic Old Town
I then strolled further into the historic old town, which had several highlights waiting for me. Right next to Schwerin Town Hall is the tourist information office, where I picked up some information and brochures. Around the market square, you’ll find numerous cafés, restaurants, arts and crafts, decorative items, clothing, handmade items, and many other shopping opportunities. Just let yourself go and explore the many different streets of the old town.
I first strolled through the I walked along Puschkinallee before turning into the 2nd, 1st, and 3rd Enge Straße. Through this small and narrow alley, I reached Buschstraße 15, home to Schwerin’s oldest half-timbered house (built in 1698). This street also offers a beautiful view of the cathedral (also called the “Domblick”). In the adjacent Schmiedestraße, I also discovered many small shops to browse and stroll through. Every street in the old town exudes its own unique charm, but Buschstrasse with its view of the cathedral was definitely my highlight.
5. St. Mary’s and St. John’s Cathedral
Speaking of the cathedral – you shouldn’t miss this one either. Schwerin Cathedral is hard to miss, standing right on the central market square in the historic old town. The brick cathedral boasts a 117.5-meter-high steeple, the tallest in Eastern Germany, offering a magnificent view of the city. For just €2, you can climb the approximately 220 steps to the very top. But be careful: The spiral staircase is very narrow, and it can get a bit tight when there’s oncoming traffic. Anyone suffering from claustrophobia should avoid this adventure!
But also the interior The cathedral’s interior is certainly worth seeing. The organ, for example, was built by the famous organ builder F. Ladegast and has 5,200 pipes. It immediately reminded me of the organ in Merseburg Cathedral, which was also built by Ladegast. Schwerin Cathedral also boasts an impressive nave, various tombs, colorful stained glass windows, a triumphal cross from 1420, and five bells in the church tower, some of which date back to 1363. The cathedral is open daily and can be visited free of charge.
6. Butcher’s Market
My walk through the old town led me from the market square to the so-called “Butcher’s Market,” located directly behind the tourist information office and the town hall. Where the butchers once sold their meat, today the weekly market with fruit, vegetables, and flowers takes place every Wednesday. The gabled, half-timbered houses and the fountain with the bull statue are particularly beautiful. There are also a few restaurants around (e.g., the Schnitzelhaus).
7. State Theater & State Museum
From the old town, I continued walking toward Schwerin Castle. Directly in front of the castle bridge is the State Museum, which today houses more than 100,000 works of art. These include paintings, coins, works of glass and porcelain, furniture and installations, as well as sculptures made of wood and stone. Due to construction work, the museum is still closed. The Mecklenburg State Theater is located right next door and is visited by around 180,000 people annually. Musicals, concerts, ballets, and operas are performed there, among other things. More information here: Mecklenburg State Theater Schwerin.
8. Marstall Peninsula
If you walk past the theater and the museum, you will reach the Marstall Peninsula. On this small, green peninsula in Lake Schwerin are the Marstall, built in the classical style. Since the renovation of this building complex, which lasted until 2007, the Marstall has served the state government of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern as the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture as well as the Ministry of Social Affairs, Integration and Equality. Stroll along the sandy path, admiring Schwerin Castle on your right, and then enjoy a stroll toward Schwerin’s city harbor.
9. Schwerin City Harbor
From the Marstall Peninsula, it’s only a few meters’ walk to Schwerin City Harbor. The various boats, wooden piers, and boathouses can be seen from a distance. The paved waterfront promenade with park benches, a boules court, and a playground invites you to linger. Occasionally, events take place here, such as flea markets or the harbor festival. I made myself comfortable by the water and took a short break.
10. Schwerin Castle & Castle Island
Now let’s get to THE attraction in Schwerin, namely Schwerin Castle with its castle gardens. Although it wasn’t my first visit, I was once again impressed by the imposing castle, which today serves as the seat of the state parliament of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and was the residence of the Mecklenburg dukes and grand dukes for over 1,000 years.
The gardens surrounding the castle are particularly beautiful, as are the spectacular views over Lake Schwerin and the castle lake. If you have enough time, you should also take a look at the museum and explore the many different rooms (e.g., the throne room, ancestral gallery, flower room, tea room, etc.).
Admission to the castle museum costs €8.50 for adults; children under 18 are free. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from April 15 to October 14, and only until 5 p.m. from October 15 to April 14. The palace gardens are open year-round, as is the castle garden, but close at dusk. REDUCED PRICES ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE.
11. Walk through the Palace Garden
From the palace, you can now stroll through the beautiful palace garden. Here, on 33 hectares, you’ll find plenty of water, beautiful arcades and avenues, colorful flowerbeds, various sculptures, and pavilions. From the palace garden, you have a fantastic view of the palace and thus a wonderful photo opportunity. Unfortunately, some of the trees and the arcades were still bare, but in summer, it must look simply beautiful here. I sat down on a meadow, grabbed my snacks from my backpack, and simply enjoyed the moment.
12. Lake Schwerin
There are numerous lakes around Schwerin, such as Lake Schwerin, which is the fourth largest lake in Germany (right after Lake Constance, Lake Müritz, and Lake Chiemsee). This lake is surrounded by many smaller lakes, such as Lake Burgsee, Lake Ziegelsee, and Lake Medeweger. I actually wanted to cycle around Lake Schwerin, but time didn’t allow it. Marco and I will do this tour very soon and report about it here on our blog.
The Weisse Flotte boats, among others, depart from the castle bridge. They offer various boat trips on Lake Schwerin, such as the popular 4-Lakes Tour (more on that here). You can also rent a boat from the boat charter (even without a license), and next door from Cosy Hausboote you can rent a kayak, a stand-up paddleboard, or even a houseboat. You can also go on various hikes, go on a bike tour, or try water sports here at Lake Schwerin.
13. Graf-Schack-Allee
After strolling through the beautiful castle gardens and taking a short break there, I then walked along Graf-Schack-Allee towards the old town. From this street, you not only have a beautiful view of the castle and Castle Lake, but there are also some pretty houses here. Worth mentioning is the former villa of Rudolph Karstadt at Graf-Schack-Allee 7. The founding father of the well-known Karstadt department store chain grew up in Schwerin and died there in 1944. Incidentally, the first branch opened in 1881 in Wismar, which I also visited during my trip to Wismar.
Shopping in Schwerin
You can enjoy wonderful shopping in Schwerin, as there are plenty of shops and shopping centers. For example, there is the large Schlosspark-Center and the Marienplatz Galerie, as well as the Sieben-Seen-Center and the Schweriner Höfe. The Mecklenburger Straße is also a good address for a stroll and awaits you with numerous shops. Highly recommended is the Kreativ Kaufhaus, where you can buy, among other things, lovely little items from local labels in the 1,800 m² store. I also discovered many shops on my stroll through the historic old town, such as the bookstore “Ein guter Tag”.
Cafés & Restaurants
Although Schwerin isn’t absolute “food heaven” for me personally, there are still some really good places. For coffee and cake, I can recommend the Café Prag in the old town. I originally wanted to have a leisurely breakfast at the Rösterei Fuchs, but there were no seats available there. I should have made a reservation in advance, as it was completely booked. Also popular are the Café KostBar with its cozy living room atmosphere, the Jan Cornelius Café in a quiet pedestrian zone, and the Café Lennards with its super delicious dishes.
Miss Törtchen is supposed to have very good coffee, homemade gateaux, and cakes. Unfortunately, the shop was closed when I visited. The same goes for Ilkas Eis, which is supposed to serve delicious ice cream. I wasn’t able to test it out personally, but I’ll do so on my next visit. At the Vegan Bar on Mecklenburgstrasse 32a, you can get excellent vegan dishes, and at the Go Saleto restaurant, you can enjoy fresh pizza and pasta.
City Tours and Guided Tours
You don’t want to explore the city on your own, but would rather take a guided tour? No problem, Schwerin has a few interesting options. You can also find more tours on the Schwerin city website. In the following list, I have linked the most popular tours and excursion options:
- Guided tours of the city highlights*
- Hop-on hop-off tours*
- Pub crawl through Schwerin*
- Walking tour with a night watchman*
- Insta-Walk Schwerin (without a guide)
- Bicycle tours (e.g. around Lake Schwerin)
- Boat tours around Schwerin
- Excursion to Wiligrad Castle (16 km outside)
Accommodations for your visit
Are you planning a longer stay in Schwerin and are still looking for accommodation? I’ve selected a few hotels and guesthouses for you that are very well located and well-reviewed. I would book any accommodation for Marco and me myself. However, since we live next door in Rostock, an overnight stay has never been necessary.
Book a room here*
This beautiful 4-star hotel is located outside of Schwerin’s old town, but is idyllically situated on Lake Ziegelsee. The historic building, which formerly served as a granary, awaits you with its own jetty, a wellness area with sauna, a fitness room, a restaurant with a lakeside terrace, cozy rooms with bathrooms, and spacious studios.
4.5 out of 5 points* on Tripadvisor
Book a room here*
These vacation apartments are surrounded by greenery and offer panoramic views and large terraces overlooking Lake Schwerin. Each apartment has a fully equipped kitchen where you can cook to your heart’s content. The living area of the cabins features a seating area and TV, and the bathroom has a shower. All cabins can accommodate up to 4 people.
5 out of 5 points* on Tripadvisor
Weinhaus Uhle
Book a room here*
Would you rather stay right in the city? Then stop by Weinhaus Uhle. This 4-star superior hotel is just 300 meters from Schwerin Castle and awaits you with a restaurant, a bar, and very comfortable rooms. They are equipped with a desk, wardrobe, coffee machine, TV, and private bathroom.
4.5 out of 5 points* on Tripadvisor
Book a room here*
This historic 4-star hotel is located directly on the banks of the Pfaffenteich lake in the heart of the city. Look forward to stylish English furniture in your room and a luxuriously appointed marble bathroom. The hotel also features a cozy fireplace lounge for relaxing in the evening. A rich breakfast buffet with fresh, regional products awaits you in the morning.
4 out of 5 points* on Tripadvisor
Book a room here*
North of the old town and just outside the city center is the popular Medewege organic farm. The owners have converted a former horse stable into a very modern accommodation. You can expect not only works of art by local artists, but also bright furniture, plenty of natural light, a fully equipped kitchen, a modern bathroom with shower, and a garden view.
4.5 out of 5 points* on Tripadvisor
Getting to Schwerin
You can reach Schwerin via the A24 (Hamburg-Berlin), the A14 (Wismar), and also via the B104, B106, and B321 federal highways. From Rostock, take the A20 and A14 to Schwerin. The journey from Rostock takes just under 60 minutes. From Hamburg, it takes around 90 minutes to reach the state capital of Schwerin.
It’s easier by train, as the city center is just a few minutes from the train station. Within Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, you can travel to Schwerin cheaply with the MV-Länderticket* (starting from just €22). But you can also easily reach Schwerin by train from Hamburg or Berlin. The RE (Return Airline) between Rostock, Schwerin, and Hamburg runs every two hours.
You can also travel comfortably by long-distance bus. Flixbus takes you from all German cities to Schwerin, sometimes with or without a transfer. Tickets are available from just €9.99, depending on your starting point. The best way to view the entire route network is directly on the Flixbus* homepage.
The best Schwerin travel guides
Are you looking for more information and even more inspiration? Then take a closer look at the following travel guides:
- 111 must-see places in and around Schwerin: Travel Guide*
- Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Travel Guide Michael Müller Verlag*
- Schwerin in one day: A city tour*