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Naturpark Maribosøerne (Maribo Lakes Nature Park)

Island-dotted lakes, soaring sea eagles and gently rolling manor landscapes meet in this protected nature park on Lolland, inviting slow exploration by trail and water.

4.5

Naturpark Maribosøerne spreads out around the Maribo Lakes in the heart of Lolland, a protected nature park of reed-fringed shorelines, wooded slopes and manor landscapes. Denmark’s most island-dotted freshwater system is a haven for white‑tailed eagles, ospreys and countless waterbirds, with calm waters ideal for kayaking, canoeing and tour‐boat trips. Well-marked trails loop through meadows, forests and along the lakeshore, inviting slow walks, long bike rides and quiet moments on benches with wide views across the water.

A brief summary to Naturpark Maribosøerne

  • Torvet 3, Maribo, 4930, DK
  • +4554676537
  • Visit website
  • Duration: 1.5 to 6 hours
  • Free
  • Environment icon Outdoor
  • Mobile reception: 4 out of 5
  • Monday 12 am-12 am
  • Tuesday 12 am-12 am
  • Wednesday 12 am-12 am
  • Thursday 12 am-12 am
  • Friday 12 am-12 am
  • Saturday 12 am-12 am

Local tips

  • Bring binoculars or a zoom lens to make the most of the sea eagles, ospreys and grebes that thrive on the lakes and around the reedbeds.
  • Wear waterproof or sturdy footwear; many lakeside paths can be damp or muddy after rain, especially near reed fringes and meadows.
  • Check local information in Maribo for current schedules of the Anemonen tour boat and any guided walks or ranger activities before you set out.
  • Pack layers and a windproof jacket, as conditions by the open water can feel cooler and breezier than in the town, even on sunny days.
  • If paddling, follow marked routes and keep respectful distances from bird colonies, particularly during the spring and early summer breeding season.
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Getting There

  • Regional train and short walk from Nykøbing Falster

    From Nykøbing Falster, take a regional train to Maribo Station, with journey times typically around 25–30 minutes and departures roughly once an hour. A standard adult single ticket usually costs about 60–90 DKK depending on discounts and time of day. From Maribo Station, it is an easy 10–20 minute walk through town to reach the lakeside paths and key access points into Naturpark Maribosøerne. Trains run year‑round, but late evening services are less frequent, so check the timetable if you plan to return after sunset.

  • Car from Rødbyhavn ferry terminal

    Arriving by ferry at Rødbyhavn, you can drive to Maribo in about 20–30 minutes via main roads across Lolland. There is no entrance fee to the nature park itself, but allow for typical Danish fuel prices and, if you stay in town, possible parking charges near central Maribo. Around the lakes you will find a mix of formal parking areas and small lay‑bys; some are gravel or grass and can be soft after heavy rain. In high season on sunny weekends the most convenient lakeside parking may fill by late morning.

  • Cycling from Maribo town and nearby campsites

    If you are based in Maribo or at a nearby campsite, local cycle routes provide an easy and scenic way to enter the park, generally taking 5–20 minutes of relaxed riding depending on your starting point. The roads and paths are mostly flat or gently rolling, suitable for everyday bikes, though some lakeside sections are gravel or packed earth. There is no cost to access the park by bike; your only expenses are rental fees if you hire a bicycle in the area, which are typically in the range of 100–200 DKK per day.

  • Guided boat or paddling tours on the lakes

    During the warmer months, tour boat trips on Søndersø and guided canoe or kayak excursions offer access to islands and quieter coves within Naturpark Maribosøerne. Scheduled boat tours generally last 1.5–3 hours, with adult tickets often in the region of 120–200 DKK, and can sell out around weekends and holidays. Guided paddling tours may cost more depending on duration and equipment included. Services are weather‑dependent and largely seasonal, running primarily from late spring to early autumn, so it is wise to confirm operating dates and departure times in advance.

Naturpark Maribosøerne location weather suitability

  • Weather icon Any Weather
  • Weather icon Clear Skies
  • Weather icon Mild Temperatures
  • Weather icon Cold Weather
  • Weather icon Hot Weather
  • Weather icon Rain / Wet Weather
  • Weather icon Windy Conditions
  • Snow

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Discover more about Naturpark Maribosøerne

Lakes, Islands and a Shaped-by-Ice Landscape

Naturpark Maribosøerne gathers four interconnected lakes – Søndersø, Nørresø, Hejrede Sø and Røgbølle Sø – and their surrounding hinterland into one cohesive protected landscape. Spread across more than a thousand hectares of water, this is one of Denmark’s largest freshwater systems and its most island-dotted lake area, with Søndersø alone sprinkled with dozens of small islands. The shoreline twists in and out of bays, reedbeds and wooded headlands, so every turn in the path reveals a different pattern of water and land. The terrain here feels surprisingly hilly by Lolland standards. Low ridges, kettle holes and gentle slopes are remnants of the last Ice Age, when retreating glaciers left behind great blocks of ice that slowly melted and depressed the land. Today, fields, meadows and patches of forest roll down towards the lakes, creating long views in which mirror-smooth water, dark woodland and bright farmland all share the same horizon.

Birdlife on an International Stage

Maribosøerne is celebrated as a bird reserve of international importance, and it does not take long to understand why. Overhead, white‑tailed eagles often patrol the thermals, broad wings catching the light, while in season ospreys hunt over the open basins, hovering briefly before plunging for fish. Closer to the waterline, greylag geese graze on shore and flocks of ducks raft together in the quieter corners of the lakes. Among the reedbeds and open water you may spot grebes performing courtship dances, herons standing statue‑still at the margins and cormorants drying their wings on half‑submerged branches. In spring and early summer, the park fills with birdsong from warblers and woodland species, weaving a soundtrack that follows you along the trails. Simple birdwatching platforms and unobtrusive viewpoints make it easy to watch this drama without disturbing its cast.

Historic Manors and Quiet Cultural Traces

Nature here is constantly interwoven with traces of human history. Around the lakes stand elegant manorial estates and old farms, their avenues and fields forming part of the wider park scenery. Hidden in the woods and on some of the islands are ancient monuments and remnants of medieval strongholds, reminders that these waters once guarded important routes and power bases. The nearby town of Maribo adds another layer of story. Its cathedral and former monastic buildings, though outside the core lakeshore, lend the park a contemplative air, as if the landscape itself were an extended cloister. Out on Borgø and Skelsnæs you encounter ruins and earthworks that hint at fortifications and past conflicts, yet today the loudest sounds are usually rustling leaves and calling birds rather than clashing steel.

Exploring on Foot, Two Wheels and the Water

Well-maintained paths and waymarked routes thread around the lakes, ranging from short family‑friendly loops to sections of long‑distance trails that skirt bays and cross small ridges. Surfaces vary from compact gravel and forest earth to grass tracks, so you can choose anything from a gentle lakeside stroll to a more energetic day’s hiking. Cyclists share many of these routes, particularly on the broader paths that pass through fields and along quiet embankments. On the water, the experience slows even further. Canoes and kayaks glide between reedbeds and around low islands, offering a water‑level view of grebes, swans and ducks. In season, the tour boat Anemonen traces a route across Søndersø, sometimes combining the cruise with landings on small islands for short walks and stories about the lake’s nature and history. From benches, bird towers and simple jetties you can pause, unpack a thermos and watch the play of light and cloud over the water.

Seasons, Atmosphere and Practical Impressions

Each season reshapes the park’s mood. Spring brings a flush of fresh green and returning migrants; summer paints the reedbeds deep emerald, with long, bright evenings over the water. In autumn, the surrounding woods glow gold and copper, and flocks of geese gather on the fields. Winter, though often mild, can deliver frost‑rimmed mornings when mist lifts slowly from the lakes and the calls of waterbirds carry across still air. Despite its scale, the nature park generally feels unhurried and spacious. Trails are easy to follow, with information boards at selected points explaining geology, birdlife and cultural history. Simple amenities such as picnic spots, shelters and nearby cafés in Maribo make it straightforward to spend half a day or more here, moving between town and lakes without ever really leaving the presence of water and sky.

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