Lower Oder Valley National Park

Lower Oder Valley National Park near Schwedt in Brandenburg, about 1.5 hours northeast of Berlin by public transportation, is Germany's only river floodplain national park. Every winter the Oder River is allowed to flood the valley, turning meadows into a vast wetland where swans, geese and cranes rest in huge flocks. For birdwatchers, cyclists and anyone craving wide open skies, it is a peaceful and surprisingly easy escape from the capital.

A floodplain shared with Poland

Founded in 1995, the park covers roughly 40 square miles (about 103 km²) along the German-Polish border. Together with two Polish landscape parks across the river, it forms the cross-border Lower Oder Valley International Park, stretching for more than 37 miles (60 km) along the Oder.

What makes the valley unique is its Dutch-style polder system. High winter dikes protect the villages, while low summer dikes line the river. Each November, the summer dike gates are opened and the Oder floods the entire valley; in April they close again and the meadows are grazed and mowed. The park reports 236 bird species recorded in the lower Oder valley, including white storks nesting on village rooftops, rare aquatic warblers and black terns.

What to do

• Visit the National Park House in Criewen: a hands-on exhibition with 13 sections, a large aquarium of native Oder fish, an interactive polder model and a "flight" over the floodplain on the back of a wild goose.
• Climb an observation tower: towers at Mescherin, Stützkow and Lake Wrechsee give sweeping views over the polders.
• Cycle the Oder-Neisse bike trail: the route runs along the dikes through the park, flat and easy.
• Paddle or take a horse-drawn wagon ride: both are offered seasonally by local operators.

Opening hours and admission

The national park is free and always accessible. The National Park House (as of October 2026) is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from April to October, and Friday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from November to March, plus during Brandenburg school holidays. Admission is free.

How to get there

From Berlin Hauptbahnhof, take the RE3 regional train to Angermünde, then national park bus 468 toward Schwedt and get off at "Criewen Nationalparkzentrum." The trip takes about 1.5 hours and is covered by the Deutschlandticket. From Szczecin in Poland, take the RB66 to Angermünde and change to the same bus. By car, navigate to Park 2, 16303 Schwedt/Oder OT Criewen; cars must stay in lots outside the protected area.

Good to know

Keep to marked paths and leash your dog. Camping, fires and noise are not allowed. In winter and spring large parts of the polders are under water, so check water levels and closures on the park website. In 2026, access to one section was restricted because of African swine fever in wild boar. The best time for migrating birds is fall and winter; for breeding birds and meadow flowers, come in May or June.

Is it worth visiting? If you enjoy birdwatching or quiet cycling, definitely.

Nearby

• Chorin Abbey: a striking Brick Gothic monastery ruin.
• Angermünde: historic old town and gateway to the Schorfheide-Chorin Biosphere Reserve.
• Szczecin: the Polish port city lies just downstream.