Schwerin is the smallest state capital in Germany and one of the most beautiful. The city spreads across a landscape of seven lakes and dense forests in the heart of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and its centrepiece is the Schweriner Schloss — a fairy-tale castle on its own island in the Schweriner See that is one of the most photographed buildings in Germany. Despite this, the city is barely known outside Germany, which means you can visit one of the country's great monuments without the crowds.
The old residential seat of the Grand Dukes of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, the city has a remarkably grand feel for its size. Classicist buildings line the Alter Garten square, including the Mecklenburgisches Staatstheater, widely considered one of Germany's finest, and the Staatliches Museum with its outstanding collection of Dutch and Flemish old masters. The Schwerin Cathedral's 117-metre brick spire dominates the skyline and offers sweeping views across the lakes from its lookout platform.
Beyond the monuments, Schwerin is a relaxed, walkable city. The Marktplatz at the centre of the old town has a daily market and good cafes, and the Pfaffenteich — an artificial lake dug in the twelfth century — sits just north of centre with shaded promenades and swan-filled water. The lakefront parks along the Schweriner See are ideal for a slow afternoon. It makes an excellent base for exploring the Mecklenburg lake district, a vast watery landscape of interconnected lakes, forests, and quiet villages that stretches east toward the Müritz.