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.
- Public
- Deutsche Bahn regional trains (RE and RB lines) and the Rostock S-Bahn form the backbone, with Rostock Hauptbahnhof as the main hub for ICE/IC connections to Berlin and Hamburg; buses and two heritage steam railways fill gaps the rail network doesn't reach
- Taxi
- Available in Rostock, Schwerin, Stralsund, and resort towns via taxi ranks or phone booking; ride-hailing apps like FREE NOW work in Rostock but coverage thins out on Rügen and Usedom
- Rental
- Very useful for reaching Rügen's rural north, the Darß peninsula, Müritz National Park villages, and Usedom beyond the Kaiserbäder towns, where trains and buses run infrequently
- Walking
- Old town cores of Rostock, Schwerin, Stralsund, and Wismar are compact and flat, and coastal promenades in Warnemünde, Binz, and Heringsdorf are easy on foot, but distances between rural sights require a car, bike, or bus
Transport at a glance
Airport transfers
Getting from the airport to your accommodation.
- Overview
- Rostock-Laage (RLG) handles only limited seasonal charter routes, so most visitors arrive via Berlin Brandenburg (BER) or Hamburg (HAM) and continue by direct or one-change Deutsche Bahn train into Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
- Items
- {'route': 'Rostock-Laage Airport to Rostock city center', 'options': 'Airport shuttle bus to Rostock Hauptbahnhof (€5-8, ~40-45 min) or taxi (€45-60, 25-30 min)', 'notes': 'Bus timing is loosely coordinated with charter flight arrivals; confirm current departures at rebus.de before relying on it'}, {'route': 'Berlin Brandenburg (BER) to Rostock Hauptbahnhof', 'options': 'Direct or one-change Deutsche Bahn IC/RE train, 2.5-3 hours, €35-55; book ahead at bahn.de for Sparpreis fares', 'notes': 'The most common arrival route for international visitors heading to the Baltic coast'}, {'route': 'Hamburg Airport (HAM) to Wismar or Schwerin', 'options': 'S-Bahn to Hamburg Hauptbahnhof (25 min, €3.90) then RE/IC train to Wismar (about 1.5 hours) or Schwerin (about 2 hours)', 'notes': 'A practical gateway for the western part of the state'}
Local transport
Getting around the city.
Overview
Rostock has the state's most developed city network, combining an S-Bahn line, trams, and buses under Verkehrsverbund Warnow (VVW); Schwerin, Stralsund, Wismar, and Greifswald rely on compact bus networks; resort towns on Rügen and Usedom mix buses with the Rasender Roland steam train.
Items
Taxis & rideshare
What to expect from taxis and apps.
- Overview
- Taxis are metered and reliable in Rostock, Schwerin, and Stralsund, with ranks at train stations and ferry terminals; in smaller resort towns on Rügen and Usedom, phoning ahead is more reliable than hailing on the street.
- Items
Intercity travel
Getting between cities and regions.
Overview
Deutsche Bahn ICE, IC, and Regional-Express trains connect Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's main cities to each other and to Berlin and Hamburg; Rostock Hauptbahnhof is the principal interchange.
Items
- From
- Rostock Hauptbahnhof
- To
- Berlin Hauptbahnhof
- Duration
- About 2 hours
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Cost
- €25-55 (Sparpreis fares available in advance)
- Train type
- IC/ICE
- From
- Rostock Hauptbahnhof
- To
- Hamburg Hauptbahnhof
- Duration
- About 2 hours
- Frequency
- Hourly (RE/IC)
- Cost
- €25-45
- Train type
- Regional-Express/IC
- From
- Rostock Hauptbahnhof
- To
- Stralsund Hauptbahnhof
- Duration
- About 1 hour
- Frequency
- Every 30-60 minutes
- Cost
- €15-25
- Train type
- RE
- From
- Rostock Hauptbahnhof
- To
- Schwerin Hauptbahnhof
- Duration
- About 50 minutes
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Cost
- €13-20
- Train type
- RE
- From
- Schwerin Hauptbahnhof
- To
- Wismar
- Duration
- About 30 minutes
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Cost
- €8-13
- Train type
- RE
- From
- Stralsund Hauptbahnhof
- To
- Greifswald
- Duration
- About 30-40 minutes
- Frequency
- Every 30-60 minutes
- Cost
- €8-13
- Train type
- RE
- From
- Stralsund Hauptbahnhof
- To
- Binz (Rügen)
- Duration
- About 50 minutes
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Cost
- €10-15
- Train type
- RE
Transportation details
Full breakdown of how to get around.
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's rail network radiates from Rostock Hauptbahnhof, which has direct ICE and IC trains to Berlin (about 2 hours) and Hamburg, plus regional RE/RB lines to Schwerin, Wismar, Stralsund, and Greifswald. The Rostock S-Bahn links the city center to Warnemünde's beach district. Rügen and Usedom are reachable by train and road bridge/causeway without a ferry, though car-free travel within Rügen relies partly on the historic narrow-gauge Rasender Roland steam train. Regional buses (operated by rebus, VVW, and other district companies) cover smaller towns and rural stretches such as Müritz National Park and the Darß peninsula that trains don't reach. A rental car is the most flexible option for exploring beyond the rail corridors, especially the lake district and northern Rügen.
Airports
Rostock-Laage Airport
Berlin Brandenburg Airport
Hamburg Airport
Useful apps
Download before you arrive.
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
Buy a Deutschlandticket (€63/month, about $68) if staying more than about a week - it covers all regional trains (RE/RB), the Rostock S-Bahn, trams, and local buses statewide, though it does not cover ICE/IC long-distance trains
The Deutschlandticket is valid on the Rasender Roland and Molli steam trains, but both charge a narrow-gauge surcharge (around €8/day on the Rasender Roland) on top of the ticket
Book Rostock Hauptbahnhof to Berlin Hauptbahnhof ICE trains online in advance at bahn.de for lower Sparpreis fares - walk-up fares can be double the advance price
Rent a car for Rügen's Kap Arkona, the Darß peninsula, and Müritz National Park villages - rail and bus service to these areas is sparse, especially outside summer timetables
Ferries and steam trains run reduced winter schedules (November-March) - check timetables at bahn.de, ruegensche-baederbahn.de, or molli-bahn.de before planning a same-day trip
Rügen and the mainland are also linked by the Rügendamm road/rail bridge and the newer Rügenbrücke at Stralsund, so driving onto the island does not require a ferry
Cycling is popular and well-supported along the coast (Ostseeküsten-Radweg) and around Müritz's lakes; regional trains have designated bike compartments for an extra ticket (Fahrradkarte, around €6)