Top 20 Lakes in Schleswig-Holstein

The Großer Plöner See is a prime destination for water sports, offering opportunities for surfing, rowing, canoeing, scuba diving, swimming, angling, waterskiing, and windsurfing. The Ratzeburger See is also excellent for rowers, sailors, and windsurfers, while the Kellersee provides options for swimming, angling, waterskiing, and windsurfing.

The Selenter See is an important bird reserve, ideal for birdwatching with species like the kingfisher, bittern, whooper swan, and sea eagle. The Schaalsee, a biosphere reserve, is a biodiversity hotspot with nature reserves offering rich wildlife. The Lanker See, nestled within a nature reserve near Preetz, also provides excellent opportunities for birdwatching and nature photography. Additionally, the Geltinger Birk Nature Reserve is known for wild horses, Galloway cattle, and various sea and water birds, including the white-tailed eagle.

Many lakes offer family-friendly activities. The Großer Plöner See features excursion steamers and the Prinzeninsel for pleasant bathing. The Schaalsee has designated swimming areas and opportunities for pedalo or rowing boat trips. Highlights like the Geltinger Birk Nature Reserve and the Glückstadt Harbor are also categorized as family-friendly, offering trails and historical sights suitable for all ages.

You'll find a variety of routes. For cycling, consider the Cycle Path Along Burger See, which offers great views of the Wulfen Bay. The Cycling in Schleswig-Holstein guide features routes like the 'Culinary loop of Lake Plön in Holstein Switzerland Nature Park'. For hiking, the Schaalsee has a 5-kilometer trail in Seedorfer Werder, and the Geltinger Birk Nature Reserve offers well-developed hiking trails. You can also explore running trails around lakes like the Ratzeburger See.

Yes, several lakes are close to significant cultural sites. The town of Plön, overlooking the Großer Plöner See, features a majestic castle. The Ratzeburger See is known for the impressive Ratzeburg Cathedral, visible from the lake. Near the Kellersee, you can visit the historical Eutin Castle. Additionally, the Glückstadt Harbor offers historical rows of houses and is worth seeing.

The lakes are popular year-round, but summer months are ideal for water sports and swimming. Spring and autumn offer pleasant temperatures for hiking and cycling, with beautiful scenery, especially for birdwatching. Natural history tours around the Schaalsee are available during the summer months.

Many lakes offer picturesque views. The View of Großer Plöner See from the Town Bridge provides a great perspective of the largest lake. The View of the Schlei near Lindaunis offers impressive sights of the Baltic Sea fjord. The Cycle Path Along Burger See also has nice resting places with great views of the Wulfen Bay.

The Lanker See near Preetz is known for its tranquil setting, offering peaceful swimming spots and an unspoilt experience away from crowds. The Prinzeninsel on Großer Plöner See also provides a quiet bathing spot. For a unique natural experience, the Northern Lake Lowland Nature Reserve offers a serene environment with diverse wildlife.

The Großer Plöner See is a prominent feature of the Holstein Switzerland Nature Park. The Selenter See is encompassed by the 3,060-hectare bird reserve 'Selenter See-Gebiet'. The Schaalsee is part of Schleswig-Holstein's oldest nature park, the Lauenburg Lakes Nature Park, and is also a biosphere reserve. The Lanker See is nestled within a nature reserve near Preetz, and the Geltinger Birk Nature Reserve is another significant natural area.

While specific details for all lakes are not available, some areas, such as parts of the Neustadt in Holstein Harbour area, are categorized as wheelchair accessible. It is advisable to check specific highlight details or local tourist information for accessibility of individual paths around the lakes.

The Schaalsee is the deepest lake in the region, reaching a depth of 72 meters. It is also recognized as the deepest land incision in Europe.