Camping at the Müritz

Deep blue water surrounded by lush forests and historic towns with picturesque half-timbered houses make camping by the lake a special experience. Germany's largest inland lake is located in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and is ideal for both relaxing and active holidaymakers. Horse riding, boat tours and nature parks make camping with children a special experience.

Camping specialities

Those travelling to the Müritz to camp will find numerous pitches close to the shore. Bathing holidaymakers and water sports fans feel particularly at home in the region. The lake, with an area of around 117 km², is ideal for boaters and canoeists as well as sailors and anglers. There is a well-developed network of cycling and hiking trails in the vicinity of the campsites, where holidaymakers can set off on their own discovery tours or experience the flora and fauna as part of a guided tour. Camping and tent sites in the Müritz region include the Pappelbucht, Ecktannen and Boek C16 campsites in Rechlin, Naturcamping am Hexenwälchen and Müritzpark Ludorf. The latest trend, however, is to rent a water camper to combine a wonderful boating holiday with camping.

How to get there

Holidaymakers arriving by car, caravan or motorhome from Berlin and Hamburg can reach the accommodation or pitches via the A24 motorway. At the Wittstock junction, take the A19 motorway towards Rostock as far as the Röbel/Müritz exit. From Hamburg, it is around 226 kilometres to the picturesque lake. From Berlin, the shortest distance is around 160 km. There are two excellent rest stops on the route from Hamburg to the campsite at Müritz. The first is in Schaalsee after about 68 km, where guests have barrier-free access to the restaurant and mini-market. Of course, there is also a large petrol station and clean sanitary facilities. The second service area is in Stolpe, where young holidaymakers can look forward to a playground and playroom. If you are coming from the north, take the A20 motorway to the Rostock junction and then take the A19 towards Berlin as far as the Malchow exit. This route from the north is around 100 kilometres long. If campers are taking a break over the comparatively short distance, they can take a break at the Recknitz-Niederung motorway service area. The child-friendly service area has WLAN, a petrol station, restaurant and shopping facilities.

Destinations on the Müritz

Around the Müritz, historic towns such as Waren, Plau am See and Malchow invite you to visit. Enchanting half-timbered houses, old churches, restored windmills and even a climatic health resort delight holidaymakers. On the lakeside promenades of the popular holiday resorts, guests can enjoy the view of the water while refreshing themselves with a refreshing drink or coffee.

Goods

On a stroll through the old town, visitors will discover restored half-timbered buildings, the churches of St. Mary and St. George as well as boutiques and cosy cafés. While enjoying a snack at the town harbour, you can watch the ships sailing in and out. The whole family will be impressed by the gigantic freshwater aquarium with over 25 pools when they visit the Müritzeum nature discovery centre. The spa attracts spa guests and wellness holidaymakers. The Therme Müritz adventure pool promises fun and relaxation with a sauna area, water slide and massage programme.

Rechlin

The small town of Rechlin is located in the south of the Müritz. Families with small children feel at home here because the lakeshore slopes gently into the crystal-clear water and there are several sandy beaches for relaxing and building castles. Holidaymakers like to take advantage of the wide range of water sports on offer here and chase across the surface of the water on windsurfing and kitesurfing boards or sailing boats. Technology enthusiasts are drawn to the town's aviation museum, which also has a small aerodrome from which visitors can take off on a sightseeing flight.

Top 5 sights

• Müritz National Park: It boasts wild nature and rare animal species. Dense forests, deep blue lakes and mysterious moors characterise the landscape.
• Röbel windmill: One of the oldest towns in the region enchants visitors with a listed windmill dating back to 1466.
• Großer Schwerin: The nature reserve is located on a picturesque peninsula that is home to greylag geese, cranes and rare plants such as orchids.
• Bear forest: 16 brown bears are finally allowed to enjoy life in the wild here.
• Agroneum Alt Schwerin. The Agroneum Alt Schwerin is an open-air museum of agricultural history that offers wonderful insights into the past.

Top 2 insider tips

• Müritz Tschu-Tschu-Bahn: If you want to explore the town of Waren, you can travel to the highlights in comfort on the historic-looking slow train. It is possible to board the train from the jetty if guests are travelling by boat or excursion steamer. There are special family tickets and birthday children who can prove their identity can even travel for free.
• The farmers' market in Klink is an Eldorado for health-conscious self-caterers. Here you can buy regional and seasonal delicacies. Guests can order homemade cakes and freshly baked goods from the bakery and patisserie. Holidaymakers can also find souvenirs and handicrafts. After a shopping spree, the adjoining restaurant invites you to enjoy a bite to eat.

Activities and excursions

The region around the Müritz is a paradise for nature lovers and sporty holidaymakers. The flat land offers even inexperienced visitors a good opportunity for extensive hiking or cycling excursions. Water lovers can let off steam on the large lake. Those who are prepared to travel a little further could take a trip to the Baltic Sea.

Cycling for beginners and pros

There are countless opportunities to discover the banks of the Müritz by bike or on foot. Sporty holidaymakers will find beautiful routes for beginners, slightly trained cyclists and professionals. A good beginner's route for cycling starts in the town harbour and leads past the Müritzeum and along the idyllic wooden path. Those looking for a challenge can cycle around the lake on a route of around 72 kilometres from Ludorf via the Müritz National Park, the town of Waren, the Holzweg and Röbel.

Water sports Eldorado

The Müritz is an Eldorado for surfers, sailors, anglers and canoeists. If you would like to take a boat for a spin on the crystal-clear lake, you don't need a licence for many models. Otherwise, it is also fun to conquer the extensive, interconnected area of the Mecklenburg lakes under your own steam, for example in a kayak.

events

May

• Müritz-Sail: The Müritz Sail is officially opened on a Thursday in May. Over the next three days, spectators cheer loudly for their favourites in countless competitions such as dragon boat races, tug-of-war on the water, fishing competitions and water ski shows. At the annual folk festival, regional artists perform their greatest hits on two stages, and of course you can sing and dance along. Traders, jugglers and caterers sweeten the stroll along the Müritz riverside promenade. The highlight is the firework display on Sunday night, which is shot into the sky from the water.

June - September

• Müritz Saga: Since 2006, the open-air stage in Waren has hosted an annual cycle of various plays with a historical background between June and September. With musical accompaniment, legends and stories from the time of the Thirty Years' War are presented to a marvelling audience. The plays are loosely based on each other, so it is fun to attend several performances in a row, although this is not a must in order to understand the love dramas and heroic tales. The amphitheatre where the performances take place is the ideal backdrop.

Gastronomy

The waters of the Mecklenburg Lake District provide for richly laid tables. One speciality is steamed Müritz zander, simmered in a broth of wine, lemon juice and perfectly balanced spices. But it is not just the fresh catch of the day that is on the menu. There are also savoury meat dishes such as Mecklenburg leg of lamb stuffed with the region's sweet and sour prunes. It is served with mashed potatoes and celeriac salad. Pork loin and duck are also often flavoured with the sweet and sour fruit. One of the region's best-known desserts is red fruit jelly.

Best time to travel

The ideal time to go camping on the Müritz is between May and September. Then it is at least 12 degrees Celsius on average and there are at least seven hours of sunshine a day. The warmest month is July at around 22 degrees Celsius. The summer months provide ideal conditions for enjoying the region's excellent swimming and water sports facilities. Between the beginning of June and the end of August, the water averages 18 degrees Celsius. Holidaymakers also like to come to the Mecklenburg Lake District in spring and autumn for long hikes and cycle tours.