Overlooking the lake of the same name is Plön Castle, the landmark of Plön District. It is a striking starting point for exploring the town and the wider district: in Plön, two audio guide tours take you through the old town and the castle grounds. They can be used free of charge on a smartphone and each lasts around 20 minutes. Check whether the tours are available before your trip.

Castle grounds and swimming spot on Prinzeninsel

If you would like to explore the castle grounds in more depth, groups can book individually arranged combined tours. These bring together visits to Prinzenhaus, the castle park and the castle grounds. Booking arrangements may change, so check the current conditions in advance.

For a different perspective on the water, visit the swimming spot on Prinzeninsel. The sandy beach is about 100 metres wide and slopes gently into the water. The swimming spot can only be reached on foot or by bicycle. Visitor facilities may change seasonally, so check the conditions before your visit.

Lakes and landscapes in Plön District

Plön District lies between the Baltic Sea and Holstein Switzerland and has around 50 kilometres of Baltic Sea coastline. The district includes around 80 lakes. Großer Plöner See covers 29 square kilometres, while Selenter See covers 22 square kilometres—two figures that give a sense of the different sizes of these bodies of water. Large parts of the district belong to Holstein Switzerland Nature Park. It covers 75,000 hectares and offers space for nature experiences and rare wildlife.

Wildlife can also make for a memorable discovery: watching white-tailed eagles soaring above Großer Plöner See is considered an impressive experience. Of course, sightings cannot be planned. Quiet wildlife watching can thus complement your exploration of the town and castle without needing to be part of a set itinerary.

Water activities on the coast and lakes

Along the Baltic Sea coast of Plön District, there are opportunities for swimming from Mönkeberg to Sehlendorfer Strand. Coastal activities also include sailing, surfing, diving, boat trips, offshore excursions, cutter trips and surf fishing. If you are planning a particular trip or tour, check its current availability in advance.

The inland waterways also invite you to enjoy a range of activities: you can explore the Schwentine Water Trail in Plön District by canoe, while sailboats and excursion boats also travel on the lakes. The coast, river and lakes offer different ways to discover the waterscape—from paddling yourself to travelling aboard a boat.

Cycling and further discoveries

For cyclists, the signposted network of routes in Plön District covers 850 kilometres; there are also developed Nordic walking trails. The gently rolling landscape is well suited to cycling and hiking. One specific longer option is the two-day “Baltic Sea Coast – Holstein Switzerland” cycling tour: it starts in Kiel and runs via Plön and Lütjenburg to the Baltic Sea coast, making it particularly suitable for pedelecs. As route details may change, it is worth checking the current route.

The towns and cultural sites in the district each have their own character. Lütjenburg is known for its historic town centre. Gut Panker is over 500 years old and is now open to tourists; the estate was formerly managed by the Rantzau family. These varied discoveries—from historic townscapes and the castle grounds to tours through the countryside—offer different possible focuses for your trip without prescribing a set itinerary.

Discover more destinations: Schrevenborn, Barmissen, Nettelsee, Löptin, Plön, Lütjenburg, Probstei, Großer Plöner See, Preetz-Land, Selent-Schlesen, Bokhorst-Wankendorf, Fargau-Pratjau, Wahlstorf, Högsdorf, Stakendorf, Fiefbergen, Schwentinental, Bönebüttel, Kletkamp, Helmstorf, Ruhwinkel, Rastorf, Nehmten, Preetz, Passade, Höhndorf, Pohnsdorf, Kühren, Schlesen, Giekau, Probsteierhagen, Martensrade and Brodersdorf.

For the wider travel overview: Schleswig-Holstein.