Mecklenburg Countryside & Narrow-Gauge Railway

Take a drive into Germany’s pastoral Mecklenburg district and ride the narrow-gauge rails to a classic seaside resort once favored by Dukes, Kaisers and Tsars. This road and rail voyage brings you through some of the country’s most sparsely populated terrain, a delightful marshland dotted with traditional villages and what seem to be thousands of pristine lakes. In the town of Bad Doberan, tucked between ancient beech forests and the Baltic Sea, you’ll encounter several medieval treasures including a 700-year-old Cistercian abbey considered one of the finest Brick Gothic buildings in the Baltic region. After a time, you’ll step off the coach at the Molli train station and climb onto a historic narrow-gauge steam train for a true ride back in time. Your destination is Heiligendamm, Germany’s oldest seaside resort, founded in 1793 as the summer residence of the local royalty. It feels royal still, with its line of sprawling white shorefront hotels and mansions. After a time, you’ll head for refreshments and homemade German cake at a restaurant along the central beach promenade in Kuhlungsborn – another spa town just up the coast, with its own grand buildings and even grander stories.

• Wear weather-appropriate clothing.
• Flat, comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen as needed.