Lychen: Discover rafting traditions and waterways

Rafting traditions, waterways and circular cycling routes give Lychen a multifaceted character. The town combines a traditional craft with opportunities to explore the surrounding area by bike or from the water. When planning your trip, the question is therefore not only where to stay, but also which of these aspects interests you most.

Experience rafting traditions and local history

Lychen has been entitled to call itself a rafting town since 2008; the rafting craft has been part of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2023. A trip on the “Pläätz” tourist raft brings the subject to the water: Treibholz offers public raft trips that you can join without registering. Check before your trip whether the service is currently operating.

The Rafting Festival is also part of Lychen’s annual events calendar. It takes place on the Oberpfuhl Promenade and offers an entertainment programme and activities for children and adults on both days. If you would like to include the Rafting Festival in your trip, check the event dates in advance.

The Lychen Pin Trail combines information about each location and its history with an overview map. At the pins, a QR code also links to an audio guide in German and English. This lets you explore the route using the map, brief on-site information and audio content. If you’d like to get your bearings first, Lychen Markt is the central bus stop. From there, you can reach the tourist information office, the Rafting Museum, as well as waterways and walking trails.

Circular cycling routes and waterways

In Lychen, you can take circular cycling routes ranging from 10 to 35 kilometres. This range gives you the flexibility to adapt the length of your ride to your plans for the day. The 217-kilometre Märkischer Landweg runs directly past Lychen. This means local cycling circuits and a regional route on a very different scale are available as different options for planning.

Lychen has a special piece of infrastructure for canoeists and other waterway travellers: the “Rollfeld”, a wooden walkway with a roller system. They can use it to transfer their boats between Nesselpfuhl and Oberpfuhl. The two bodies of water and the walkway’s specific function illustrate how a stay on the water here can continue on land. If you’re travelling by boat, you can take this feature into account when choosing your activities.

The 217-kilometre Märkischer Landweg crosses the Uckermark in ten stages and passes through three National Natural Landscapes. Along with its direct route past Lychen, it provides another point of reference for travellers who would like to include a longer hiking trail in their plans as well as shorter circular routes. It’s best to check current bus timetables separately.

The Uckermark as a distinct natural and cultural region

The Uckermark as a broader travel destination also offers its own perspective on the landscape and activities. Uckermärkische Seen Nature Park lies in the heart of the water-rich, gently rolling Uckermark; its features include numerous clear-water lakes, kettle holes and bogs. The nature park has more than 150 kilometres of water trails and over 600 kilometres of signposted walking trails. These regional offerings give nature and active holidaymakers additional ideas for planning their trip.

Another regional highlight is the Gramzow Railway Museum in the Uckermark. It displays historic railway vehicles from different eras, along with exhibitions on track construction, workshop operations, and railway operations and transport services. Technical installations can be seen both outdoors and inside buildings. On operating days, the museum railway offers rides on historic railway vehicles; visitors can also drive draisines themselves. Check the operating days if you’d like to include a visit in your plans.

When looking for accommodation in Lychen, local experiences can be a useful starting point: are you more interested in rafting and local history, circular cycling routes or exploring the waterways?

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Temmen-Ringenwalde, Wolfshagen, Tantow, Zichow, Mescherin, Templin, Mittenwalde, Milmersdorf.

Go to the broader travel overview: Uckermark.