Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is Germany's northeastern coastal state, stretching along the Baltic Sea from the port city of Rostock to the Polish border. Its official capital is the small lake-island city of Schwerin, home to the fairy-tale Schwerin Castle, while Rostock remains the largest city and gateway to the beach district of Warnemünde. The state holds two UNESCO World Heritage Old Towns, the brick-Gothic merchant cities of Stralsund and Wismar, alongside the chalk cliffs of Rügen island's Jasmund National Park and the historic Kaiserbäder imperial spa resorts of Usedom island. Inland, Müritz National Park anchors the so-called Land of a Thousand Lakes, the largest connected lake district in Germany.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Baltic amber (Bernstein) jewelry from Binz, Sellin, or Rostock amber specialists
Smoked fish (Räucherfisch) and Fischbrötchen ingredients from Warnemünde or Sassnitz harbor stalls
Molli or Rasender Roland steam-train model souvenirs from Bad Doberan and Rügen gift shops
Mecklenburg regional honey and jams from Wismar and Schwerin weekly markets
Postcards and prints of Caspar David Friedrich's Greifswald and Rügen landscapes from Greifswald museum shops
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Warnemünde Fischmarkt
Daily harborside fish stands and a weekend farmers' market selling smoked and fresh Baltic catch straight from local cutter boats.
Where: Alter Strom, Warnemünde, Rostock
Wismar Wochenmarkt
Wednesday and Saturday farmers' market on the UNESCO-listed Marktplatz with regional produce, baked goods, and honey.
Where: Am Markt, Wismar
Greifswald Wochenmarkt
Tuesday and Friday market on Greifswald's historic Marktplatz for regional produce and flowers.
Where: Markt, Greifswald