Schwerin

Schwerin takes 1 day to see: Schwerin Castle, a fairy-tale palace on an island in the lake of the same name, seat of the Dukes of Mecklenburg for centuries and today the regional parliament, is almost the sole reason to visit. May-September is best. It's inexpensive by German standards. It's the capital of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and its castle -with over a dozen towers and a silhouette reminiscent of Bavaria's castles despite being hundreds of kilometers away- is one of northern Germany's most photographed historic buildings.