Discover Plön: lakes, cycle routes and the Baltic Sea coast

In the Plön district, lakes, the Baltic Sea coast and gently rolling landscapes alternate. Highlights also include Plön Castle, the district’s landmark, Gut Panker and Lütjenburg’s historic town centre. This gives visitors a choice of different ways to enjoy their trip: experience the water, explore the outdoors, or discover history and architecture.

Lakes, nature and routes in the Plön district

The Plön district is home to around 80 lakes. The Great Plön Lake covers 29 km², while Lake Selent covers 22 km². Large parts of the district belong to the Holstein Switzerland Nature Park. It covers 75,000 hectares and offers opportunities to experience nature and see rare animals. Spotting white-tailed eagles above the Great Plön Lake is considered an impressive nature experience.

The gently rolling landscape offers good conditions for cycling and hiking. The district has 850 kilometres of signposted cycle routes, as well as developed Nordic walking trails. The total route length may change if routes are amended in the future. One specific multi-day option is the two-day “Baltic Sea Coast – Holstein Switzerland” cycling tour: it starts in Kiel and runs via Plön and Lütjenburg to the Baltic Sea coast. It is particularly suitable for e-bikes. Check the current route before setting out, as details may be revised.

There are also various ways to get out on the water: in the Plön district, the Schwentine waterway can be explored by canoe, while the lakes can also be travelled by sailboat or excursion boat. When planning a trip, cycling and hiking, canoeing, and boat trips on the lakes can therefore be considered as different activity options.

The Baltic Sea coast and water activities

The Plön district lies between the Baltic Sea and Holstein Switzerland and has around 50 kilometres of Baltic Sea coastline. There are opportunities to swim from Mönkeberg to Sehlendorfer Strand. Activities along the coast also include sailing, surfing, diving, boat excursions, offshore sailing trips, cutter trips and surf fishing. Visitors planning their stay around activities can distinguish these coastal options from activities on the lakes and the Schwentine.

A specific bathing spot is on Prinzeninsel: its gently sloping sandy beach is about 100 metres wide and can only be reached on foot or by bicycle. Facilities for visitors may change seasonally; check the latest information before your visit.

Castle, estate and historic town centre

Plön Castle stands above the lake of the same name in Holstein Switzerland and is the landmark of the Plön district. Free audio-guided tours, accessible by smartphone, lead through Plön’s old town and the castle grounds. There are two tours, each lasting around 20 minutes. Check whether the audio guides are currently available before your trip. Groups can book individual combined guided tours in the Plön castle grounds. These include visits to the Prinzenhaus, the castle park and the castle grounds.

Gut Panker is in the Plön district, is over 500 years old and is now developed for tourism. The estate was formerly managed by the Rantzau family. Lütjenburg is also in the district and is known for its historic town centre. The castle and its grounds, the estate’s history and the old town centre thus offer different cultural highlights for a trip.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Schrevenborn, Plön, Lütjenburg, Brodersdorf, Martensrade, Probstei, Great Plön Lake, Preetz-Land, Selent-Schlesen, Bokhorst-Wankendorf, Fargau-Pratjau, Wahlstorf, Högsdorf, Stakendorf, Fiefbergen, Schwentinental, Bönebüttel, Helmstorf, Rastorf, Barmissen, Nettelsee, Löptin, Kletkamp, Ruhwinkel, Nehmten, Preetz, Passade, Höhndorf, Pohnsdorf, Kühren, Schlesen, Giekau and Probsteierhagen.

See the higher-level travel overview: Schleswig-Holstein.