Schwerin Palace
2 hAll agesAll year, Tuesday to Sunday
Palace · 2 h · €13 · The rooms of the grand dukes of Mecklenburg in the island palace, with a free audio guide; under-18s free
From €13
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From BerlinTrain, about 2 h · car, about 2 h 15
Palace€13 · free under 18
Boat1 h 30 · €23
Best timeMay – September
What to do
What to do in Schwerin
Each plan says how long it takes, who it's for and whether you can book.
Schwerin Palace gardens
1 h 30 · 3.5 kmAll ages; flat pathsDog-friendlyAll year; the Burggarten closes at dusk
Walk · 1 h 30 · Free · The Burggarten on the island, with a grotto and terraces over the lake, and the Baroque Schlossgarten with its canals
Boat trip on the Schwerin lakes
1 h 30All agesDog-friendlyFour lakes April to October; island May to September; winter line in November and December
Boat · 1 h 30 · €23 · The four-lakes line or the Kaninchenwerder island line, from the landing stage opposite the palace, with the Weisse Flotte
From €23
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Itineraries
Itineraries that pass through
Days and weekends already planned out, with how to get between each stop and who to book with.
Plan the trip
Schwerin, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Schwerin
From May to September, with daily boats on four lakes and to Kaninchenwerder island, and the palace open until 18:00. In November and December there are the palace, the gardens and a winter boat from Wednesday to Sunday.
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How you travel
Schwerin your way
Choose how you're travelling and we'll tell you where to stay, how to get around, where to eat and which services you'll need. We only show the ways of travelling that make sense here.
Schwerin without a car
You get there by train from Berlin Hauptbahnhof in about two hours, usually with one change, and everything in Schwerin is on foot: station, Pfaffenteich, old town, palace and landing stage.
80–170 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to stayNiederländischer Hof, a few minutes…
- Getting aroundTrain from Berlin
- Where to eatWeinhaus Wöhler, also on Sunday…
- ServicesSchwerin Hauptbahnhof
Where to stay
- Niederländischer Hof, a few minutes from the station
- Hotel Weinhaus Wöhler, in the old town
Getting around
- Train from Berlin
- On foot between the station and the palace
- Weisse Flotte boat
Where to eat
- Weinhaus Wöhler, also on Sunday at midday
- Zum Stadtkrug, Tuesday to Saturday
Services
- Schwerin Hauptbahnhof
Schwerin by car
About 210 km on the A24 towards Hamburg, around two and a quarter hours. A car makes sense if you are continuing to the Baltic or Wismar; in the city, leave it at the hotel.
80–180 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to stayNiederländischer Hof, with a locked…
- Getting aroundOn foot through the centre…
- Where to eatWeinhaus Wöhler
- ServicesSchwerin Hauptbahnhof
Where to stay
- Niederländischer Hof, with a locked car park
- Hotel Weinhaus Wöhler, in the old town
Getting around
- On foot through the centre and by boat on the lake
Where to eat
- Weinhaus Wöhler
- Zum Stadtkrug
Services
- Schwerin Hauptbahnhof
Fly to Berlin or Hamburg and take the train to Schwerin
Schwerin lies between Berlin and Hamburg. The usual way is to fly to Berlin: BER airport has direct flights from Madrid, Barcelona and other Spanish cities, and from there it is about two and a half to three hours by train to Schwerin, or about 240 km by hire car. Hamburg (HAM), also with direct flights from Spain, is closer: take a train from Hamburg Hauptbahnhof.
- Getting thereBerlin Brandenburg Airport (BER): train…
- Getting aroundOn foot in Schwerin
- Where to stayNiederländischer Hof, near the station
- ServicesSchwerin Hauptbahnhof
Getting there
- Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER): train to Berlin Hauptbahnhof and from there to Schwerin
- Hamburg Airport (HAM): S-Bahn to Hamburg Hauptbahnhof and train to Schwerin
Getting around
- On foot in Schwerin
- Boat on the lakes
Where to stay
- Niederländischer Hof, near the station
Services
- Schwerin Hauptbahnhof
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights3
Who you're with
Schwerin for whoever you're with
A trip with a toddler is not the same as one with a teenager. Pick yours to see what works and what to bear in mind.
Schwerin with children
A fairy-tale palace on an island works with any child, and in Schwerin under-18s get in free. Add a boat and flat gardens.
- What works bestThe palace, free for under-18s…
- Where to stayHotel Weinhaus Wöhler, with family…
- Where to eatZum Stadtkrug, cheap dish of…
- Worth knowingThe palace is closed on…
What works best
- The palace, free for under-18s, with an audio guide
- The boat on the lakes: children aged 6 to 14, €11, under-6s free
- The palace gardens, with a grotto and canals
- The round of the Pfaffenteich, with a pushchair
Where to stay
- Hotel Weinhaus Wöhler, with family suites and a large apartment
Where to eat
- Zum Stadtkrug, cheap dish of the day
Worth knowing
- The palace is closed on Mondays
- The scheduled boats run from April to October
What to do as a family
Where to stay
Where to stay without a carif you're drivingif you're flying
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
Niederländischer Hof
Why we like it: Small 24-room hotel with English furniture and marble bathrooms, on the Pfaffenteich shore, with a bar, a library with a fireplace and parking.
Hotel Weinhaus Wöhler
Why we like it: Twelve rooms, family suites and a 180 m² apartment above the wine house, in the old town near the square.
Services for this trip
Where to eat
Where to eat in Schwerin
From set lunch menus to Michelin stars. We mark the price level and what to order at each place.
Weinhaus Wöhler
What to order: a dish from the menu with a recommended wine from their shop
Altstadtbrauhaus Zum Stadtkrug
What to order: the midday dish of the day with a house Altstadtbräu
Map
Everything on the map
The places to stay and services on the map are the ones for the way you travel. Turn on the layers you want and tap a point to see its details.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Nearby
Near Schwerin
The closest places, whichever country they are in.
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Do not go on a Monday
The palace museum is closed.
- 2Do the boat at the end
The round trip finishes with the palace in front of you.
- 3Sleep a night
With two hours' travel each way, the day falls short.
Schwerin is the capital of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, a small city surrounded by lakes, north-west of Berlin. Its image is the palace: a castle of towers, turrets and golden domes on an island in the Schweriner See, residence of the dukes and grand dukes of Mecklenburg and today the seat of the regional parliament and a museum. All around are gardens on the water's edge, white boats that leave from the foot of the palace and a brick old town with a Gothic cathedral.
It is about two hours from Berlin, by train or by car, so it makes a long day or, better, a night.
What to see in a day
The palace. The grand dukes' state rooms, the throne room and the museum's collections, with a free audio guide. Entry €13, free for under-18s.
The palace gardens. The Burggarten, on the island itself, with its grotto and terraces above the lake, and the baroque Schlossgarten across the bridge, with canals and avenues. They are free.
The boat on the lakes. The Weisse Flotte leaves from the landing stage opposite the palace: an hour and a half across four lakes or, in summer, to the island of Kaninchenwerder; the round trip ends with the best view of the palace from the water.
The old town and the cathedral. The market square with the town hall, the Gothic brick cathedral and, in front of it, the monument to Henry the Lion, founder of the city. Close by, the Pfaffenteich, a lake in the middle of the centre, to walk around.
How do you get there from Berlin?
By train, from Berlin Hauptbahnhof it takes about two hours, usually with one change. From Schwerin station to the palace it is about a 20-minute walk, past the Pfaffenteich and the old town.
By car, about 210 km along the A24 towards Hamburg, around two hours and a quarter.
How much time do I need?
A day covers the palace, the gardens and a boat, if you leave Berlin early. With a night you see the old town unhurriedly, dine in a wine tavern and take the long boat to the island of Kaninchenwerder.
Where to eat and sleep
The Weinhaus Wöhler, a historic wine house near the market square, opens at midday from Wednesday to Sunday and also has rooms. The Altstadtbrauhaus Zum Stadtkrug, a brewery with its own beer in a listed building, opens Tuesday to Saturday. To sleep, the Niederländischer Hof, beside the Pfaffenteich, or the Weinhaus Wöhler hotel.
When to go
From May to September, with boats every day on the lakes and to Kaninchenwerder and the palace open until 18:00. In winter the palace opens until 17:00 and, in November and December, a winter boat sails from Wednesday to Sunday. The palace is closed on Mondays all year.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from Berlin to Schwerin?
By train from Berlin Hauptbahnhof, about two hours with one change, or by car along the A24, about two hours and a quarter.
How much does the palace cost?
€13 (€9 reduced); under-18s free, with an audio guide included.
Which day is it closed?
Mondays.
How much does the boat cost?
€23 for the hour-and-a-half route; children aged 6 to 14, €11.
Is it worth going in winter?
Yes, for the palace and the old town; the scheduled boats run from April to October and in November and December there is a winter one.