Müritz National Park

Müritz National Park in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is Germany's largest national park on land and one of the best places in the country to see wild nature without mountains or crowds. Spread out east of Lake Müritz, it is a mosaic of more than a hundred lakes, peat bogs and pine and beech forests where white-tailed eagles, ospreys and cranes thrive. Part of its ancient beech forest is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the area makes an easy nature escape from Berlin.

What makes the park special

Established in September 1990, just before German reunification, the park covers 322 square kilometers (124 sq mi), roughly the size of the city of Munich. It has two separate sections: the large Müritz section on the eastern shore of the lake and the smaller Serrahn section east of the town of Neustrelitz.

Inside its borders lie 107 lakes larger than one hectare, more than 400 bogs and a 10 km strip of shoreline along Lake Müritz, the largest lake in northern Germany. The old beech woods of Serrahn have been part of the transnational UNESCO site "Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe" since 2011. The guiding principle is "let nature be nature": fallen trees stay where they fall, creating habitat for fungi, beetles and woodpeckers.

Things to do in Müritz National Park

• Birdwatching: white-tailed eagles and ospreys nest here, and in spring and especially fall large numbers of cranes rest on the meadows. October is a great month to hear their calls.
• Käflingsberg Tower: a 55-meter lookout and fire watchtower near Speck with sweeping views over forests and lakes.
• Serrahn beech forest: follow the forest trail from Zinow to the World Heritage beeches and a multimedia exhibition.
• Cycling: flat, quiet tracks link the villages; the short ride from Waren to Federow is ideal for families.
• Canoeing: the Upper Havel river and small lakes are a classic paddling route.

Planning your visit

The park is open year-round and free to enter. Half a day gives you a taste; two or three days let you explore both sections. The main visitor center is the National Park Information Center in Federow, about 7 km southeast of Waren, open daily 10 am to 5 pm from April to October and wheelchair accessible (as of October 2026). Smaller information points in Schwarzenhof, Kratzeburg, Boek and Blankenförde usually open from May to October, when rangers also run guided tours.

Rules matter here: stay on marked trails in the core zones, and keep dogs on a leash at all times. After a wildfire in summer 2026, all trails and roads have reopened, but the burned area itself remains closed.

How to get there

The gateways are the towns of Waren (Müritz) and Neustrelitz, about 1.5 to 2 hours north of Berlin by train. Kratzeburg, inside the park, has its own station on the regional Rostock–Berlin line, and the Deutschlandticket covers regional trains. Roads inside the park are few and narrow, so the easiest option from April to October is the "Müritz rundum" national park bus, which runs hourly from Waren via Federow and carries bikes. The Serrahn section is served by bus line 619 from Neustrelitz to Zinow. The nearest major airport is Berlin (BER).

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, if you enjoy hiking, cycling, canoeing or wildlife. It is a very different side of Germany: quiet, flat and full of water. Families will find short trails and small exhibitions, and Federow's information center is step-free.

Nearby

• Müritzeum in Waren: Germany's largest freshwater aquarium for native fish.
• Neustrelitz: a former ducal residence town with palace gardens between the park's two sections.
• Lake Müritz: swimming, sailing and boat tours on northern Germany's largest lake.