Mecklenburg Lake District - Europe's largest contiguous lake district

With over 1,000 lakes, the Mecklenburg Lake District is the largest contiguous lake landscape in Europe. Located in the south of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, it combines the Mecklenburg Lake District Nature Park and the Müritz National Park with countless forests, moors and tranquil waterways. Those who vacation here come for clear air, water sports, hiking, cycling - and because the region is large enough to choose your own daily destinations, but compact enough to get to know in a week.

What makes the region interesting for travelers who are not heading for a single destination, but rather a Plan a tour: It lies centered between Berlin, Hamburg, Rügen and Usedom - exactly where many long-distance cycle and motorcycle routes need an overnight stay.

Altentreptow - on the edge of the lake district and Mecklenburg Switzerland

Altentreptow is located on the northern edge of the Mecklenburg Lake District and at the same time on the eastern edge of Mecklenburg Switzerland. This double-edge location is our strategic advantage: If you are looking for a hotel directly on the banks of the Müritz, book in Waren. If you are looking for a hotel directly on Lake Tollensesee, book in Neubrandenburg. But those who both nature parks would like to explore in one stay - the Lake District on the first day, Mecklenburg Switzerland on the second - Altentreptow is the perfect center.

The town itself has over 750 years of history, a historic market square and the Tollensetal valley right on its doorstep. The Hotel am Markt Located directly on the market square - city center, short distances, no tourist axis, no traffic noise.

The Great Stone of Altentreptow - a geological highlight right on the doorstep

A real attraction right in Altentreptow: the Large stone, a 450-ton granite boulder from the Vistula Ice Age. At 8.2 meters long, 6 meters wide and 5.2 meters high, it is the second largest erratic boulder in northern Germany after the Buskam in the Baltic Sea - and after uncovering in 2021 even the Germany's largest exposed boulder. The town of Altentreptow has raised it by three meters at a cost of €244,000 so that visitors can see the full dimensions of this Ice Age witness. It is just a few minutes' walk from the hotel - a worthwhile first walk after your arrival.

Distances from Altentreptow:

• Lake Tollensesee: 10 km
• Neubrandenburg (four-gate city): 25 km
• Müritz / Müritz National Park: 50 km
• Feldberger Seenlandschaft Nature Park: 40 km
• Mecklenburg Switzerland (Schlitz Castle, Malchin): 30 km
• Stralsund (Hanseatic city, world heritage site): 80 km

HAM as a stage stop - on which long-distance routes you can spend the night here

Who wants a Multi-day tour between Rügen, Berlin or Hamburg will almost inevitably pass by the Neubrandenburg - Altentreptow corridor. Three long-distance cycle routes make the HAM a useful stage hotel:

1st Mecklenburg Lakes Cycle Route (Dömitz/Elbe → Müritz → Neubrandenburg → Usedom)

The cycle path stretches from the Elbe via Plau am See and Waren (Müritz) through the lake district to Neustrelitz, Neubrandenburg and on across the Szczecin Lagoon to Anklam and Usedom. If you prefer to spend the night in a quiet city hotel after the Neubrandenburg stage instead of in a guesthouse along the route, continue 25 km further to the HAM - breakfast buffet included, lockable bike room, the next morning directly on towards Anklam.

2nd Hamburg-Rügen long-distance cycle route (Schwerin → Güstrow → Teterow → Demmin → Stralsund → Rügen)

The standard route goes via Demmin. If you can't find a suitable hotel there or are looking for a quieter alternative, head 20 km south to HAM. From HAM, you can easily reach Stralsund the following day via the parallel country roads.

3rd Berlin-Usedom long-distance cycle route (variant via the lake district)

Instead of the standard route via Bernau-Prenzlau-Ueckermünde, many cyclists take the longer, more scenic route via Oranienburg-Neustrelitz-Neubrandenburg. Here, too, HAM is the natural stage before the leap towards the Szczecin Lagoon.

For motorcycle tours on the corridor Hamburg/Berlin → Mecklenburg Lakes → Rügen applies analogously: HAM offers a carport parking space and is conveniently located between the classic stages of Lake Tollensesee, Müritz and the Bodden coast.

Hotel am Markt - your base for tour stages and day trips

The Hotel am Markt Altentreptow is a 3-star city hotel with 33 rooms directly on the historic market square. What we offer - deliberately tailored to tour guests and overnight guests passing through:

• Breakfast buffet for 15 € per person - in our breakfast room, from 7 a.m., without advance booking
• Self-check-in around the clock via Mews tablet - if you arrive late, you can enter at any time
• Free WLAN in all rooms and in the breakfast room
• Free parking spaces for our direct bookers (Tollensestraße 27, 5 min walk)
• Dogs welcome by prior arrangement (€ 10 per dog and night)
• Bed+Bike certified (ADFC) - Lockable bike room, tools, repair facilities, carport for motorcycles
• City center - short distances to bakery, pharmacy, train station (10 min walk)

What we consciously not offer: Restaurant (closed since March 2025), wellness area, hotel bar. We concentrate on what tour guests actually need: a good night's sleep, a clean bathroom, a proper breakfast, secure bike/motorcycle storage - and a friendly welcome on the market square.

Active vacation from Altentreptow - cycling, motorcycling, hiking

Cycling: HAM is official Bed+Bike certified by the ADFC. In concrete terms, this means: lockable bike storage for your bikes overnight, tools for small repairs, tips on routes and workshops in the area. We are located directly on the Tollensetal cycle path, which takes you to Lake Tollensesee and Neubrandenburg without any inclines - ideal as a day trip. A little further are the Mecklenburg Lakes Cycle Route (main route through the lake district) and the Berlin-Usedom cycle path (variant) can be reached.

Note on Lake Tollensesee: Since 2015, it has been included in a nationwide survey of the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's most popular lake - even in front of the Müritz. Sandy beaches, clear water, bathing opportunities in several places around the lake.

Motorcycle tours: The Mecklenburg Lake District and Mecklenburg Switzerland are famous among bikers for their Country roads with little traffic and long bends known. Popular day trips from Altentreptow:

• Round trip around Lake Tollensesee and Lieps - Half-day tour with a stop at the lake
• Bodden coast via Stralsund and Greifswald - Day tour with world heritage Hanseatic city and Bodden flair
• Müritz region via Waren and Neustrelitz - Day tour through the central lake landscapes
• Mecklenburg Switzerland via Malchin, Schlitz Castle and Teterow - Day tour with castle tour

We offer covered Carport parking space for motorcycles, which belongs directly to the hotel. Specific tour recommendations with GPS data are available on request at reception.

Hiking: Tollensetal hiking trail starts just a few minutes' walk from the hotel. Mecklenburg Switzerland Nature Park is less well-known as a hiking area than the Müritz - which is precisely why it is much quieter. Plus: the Großer Stein is a short hiking destination from the city center.

Vacations with dogs in the region

Dogs are welcome at HAM - please register in advance, 10 € per dog and night. We will be happy to give you tips for the next few days at reception:

• Tollensetal right on the doorstep: Hiking trails along the water, many free-roaming sections
• Lake Tollensesee: several dog beaches 10-15 km away
• Feldberger Seenlandschaft Nature Park (40 km): Shady forests, paths with little traffic - good for longer tours
• Mecklenburg Switzerland (30 km): Wide fields, quiet paths - relaxed for older dogs
• Müritz National Park (50 km): on a leash, but game observation

We are happy to receive a blanket or basket for your dog in the room - a bowl and a few treats are available at reception.

Journey to Altentreptow

By car: A20 / B96, exit Altentreptow directly to the city center (~5 min). Berlin: 2 h - Hamburg: 3 h - Rostock: 1 h - Stralsund: 1 h - Berlin-Tegel-/BER-Airport: 2 h. Free parking at Tollensestraße 27, approx. 5 minutes walk to the hotel.

By train: Altentreptow train station (Berlin-Stralsund line) approx. 10 minutes on foot to the hotel. Direct connections from Berlin Hbf and Stralsund Hbf daily.

By bike: Tollensetal cycle path leads directly through Altentreptow. Connection to the Mecklenburg Lakes Cycle Route (via Neubrandenburg) and the Hamburg-Rügen long-distance cycle route (via Demmin).

By motorcycle: Carport parking space at the hotel - please let us know when booking.

Frequently asked questions - Mecklenburg Lake District and Hotel am Markt

Where exactly is Altentreptow in relation to the Mecklenburg Lake District?
Altentreptow is located on the northern edge of the Mecklenburg Lake District and at the same time on the eastern edge of Mecklenburg Switzerland. Lake Tollensesee is 10 km away, Müritz 50 km.

What is the Great Stone of Altentreptow?
A 450-ton granite boulder from the Vistula Ice Age (8.2 × 6 × 5.2 m), the largest exposed boulder in Germany since 2021. Just a few minutes' walk from the hotel.

Is the hotel suitable as an overnight stop on a multi-day tour?
Yes - just for that. HAM is located on or a few kilometers away from the three long-distance cycle routes Mecklenburg Lakes Cycle Route, Hamburg-Rügen Route and Berlin-Usedom (variant). Just as convenient for car/motorcycle tours Berlin/Hamburg → Rügen/Usedom.

Which day trips are realistic from Altentreptow?
Lake Tollensesee, Neubrandenburg, Müritz, Feldberger Seenlandschaft Nature Park, Mecklenburg Switzerland, Stralsund - all within 30 to 90 minutes by car.

Is the hotel dog-friendly?
Yes, dogs are welcome by prior arrangement - €10 per dog per night.

Does the hotel offer breakfast?
Yes, breakfast buffet for 15 € per person, from 7 am in the breakfast room.

Is the hotel Bed+Bike certified?
Yes, ADFC-Bett+Bike. Lockable bike room, tools, repair facilities, carport for motorcycles.

Where can I park?
Free of charge at Tollensestraße 27 (~5 minutes' walk) for our direct bookers.

When is the best time to travel to the Mecklenburg Lake District?
May to September for water sports, cycling and hiking; October/November for quiet nature parks without tourism.

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