Just 30 km inland, the fairy-tale Schwerin Palace — a UNESCO-listed Renaissance-Baroque castle on its own island — is one of Germany's most breathtaking royal residences, surrounded by formal gardens and shimmering lakes.
What to expect
Schwerin Palace rises dramatically from Lake Schwerin, its copper-green turrets and ornate facades reflecting in the water like a scene from a Brothers Grimm tale. Inside, 30 lavishly restored state rooms display Meissen porcelain, Flemish tapestries, and the gold-leaf throne room of the Grand Dukes of Mecklenburg. The surrounding Baroque garden — a geometry of clipped hedgerows, fountains and rose beds — demands a leisurely circuit. A charming café on the lakeside terrace is ideal for a post-tour Kaffee und Kuchen.
Good to know
Schwerin is approximately 30 minutes from Wismar by taxi or private car (budget EUR 40–60 each way). Pre-book a private driver from Wismar port for a seamless day. Allow 2.5–3 hours on site; comfortable for a port day with an early start.
Sail there
Luxury cruises that call at Wismar — book through us, the fare is identical and your concierge stays on your side.
More to do in Wismar
- Wismar Private Walking Tour: UNESCO Hanseatic Masterclass
- Wismar Old Harbor Sightseeing Cruise: Hanseatic City from the Water
- PhanTECHNIKUM: Immersive Industrial & Technology Museum
- Island of Poel Day Trip: Pristine Baltic Beach & Nature Reserve
- Molli Narrow-Gauge Steam Train: Bad Doberan to Kühlungsborn