Mazury Poland. Resorts of Poland. Masurian lakes. Masurian Lakes: How to get there
Masuria can be called the land of a thousand lakes. Or rather, there are more than 2000 lakes, connected by 12 canals, 3 locks and 8 rivers. All this high water is located on the territory of the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship. The lakes are surrounded by huge forests with landscaped parks and wonderful nature reserves. These places can be called islands of unique virgin nature, which are ideal for fans of a calm and secluded holiday.
For many centuries, Masuria was subject to a variety of rulers - Tatars, Swedes, Russians, Prussians, etc. At one time, Masuria was part of the German Empire. Masuria is now often called the “green lungs of Poland”, and back in the last century it was declared a recreation area.
Regardless of which side of the world tourists come here from, they still have to pass through the ancient city of Thorn. This real medieval city has still preserved its narrow streets and ancient buildings, which are now under restoration.
On the Masurian Islands, in small coves, you can often see many private moorings for yachts. There are also equipped campsites for recreation. Those who like yachting are offered rentals for a week, for one day, in general, for any period of time. Yachts are available in a variety of types - from the simplest to the most luxurious, equipped with everything necessary. 
Here you can choose a variety of recreational activities - kayaking, canoeing, swimming, diving and, of course, fishing. You can take a boat or yacht along all the banks, visiting ancient castles, ruins of ancient cities and cultural monuments along the way.
Masurian lakes are considered a paradise for lovers of pristine nature. Here you can find fauna such as deer, lynx, bison, wolves, wild boars, and many birds, the most typical of which are cormorants and gray herons. And in the Masurian lakes themselves there are over 60 species of different fish - pike, pike perch, carp, eel, trout and salmon. However, amateur fishermen must first obtain permission from the Polish Fishing Association.
If you come to Poland to relax on the Masurian Lakes, then you will not have problems finding accommodation. You will even have different options. Either you can stay in a modern mansion, in some luxury apartments, or on the lake in a summer fisherman's house. There is no need to worry about the purity of the water - thanks to the recently built large number of treatment facilities, the water here is very clean and clear everywhere. 
The so-called “floating houses” are especially popular here. These are very comfortable and quite safe boats in which you can relax with the whole family. They have everything you need - rest cabins, showers, kitchen and heating. On such boats you are guaranteed comfort and a lot of fun during your trip. And you already choose the one that is most suitable for your needs.
The most popular and comfortable resorts in the Masurian Lake District are the cities of Pisz, Mikołajki, Wegonzewo, Giżyczko, Iława and Ryn. These are cozy towns with a large number of hotels, large recreation centers, children's entertainment and shops with everything you need. You can book a hotel room, campsite or apartment in the Masurian Lakes region through any of the booking sites. Here you will find a lot of different offers. In addition to the fact that each of these towns is an ideal place for water tourism, they also have a lot of different attractions. 
In the town of Grzyczko you can see a unique swing bridge, the only one in the entire territory of Poland. It was erected back in 1889, and it is a huge multi-ton colossus that opens the canal for shipping. In the same town you can visit the Boyen Fortress, built in 1856 and intended to protect the borders with Russia. This grandiose structure, which is of undoubted historical value, will certainly amaze you with its reliability and power, since it has retained its formidable appearance to this day.
In Mikolajki, the most interesting thing for you will be to visit the large Tropicana water park. A child's entrance ticket costs 15 zlotys, and an adult ticket costs 30 zlotys. For this amount you can spend 1.5 hours in the water park, but if desired, the time can always be extended. 
If you drive a little away from the towns located along the shores of the lakes, you will find yourself in the city of Kenshtin - the very heart of Lakeland. There is an interesting castle-museum in the Gothic style. And not far from the castle you will see the Church of St. George, towering above the city. It is surrounded by a very ancient high stone fence and built on the steepest and highest slope.
Not far from the city you can visit the remains of Hitler’s headquarters – the “Wolf’s Lair”. Today there is a museum here where you can see the old railway, the Bormann bunker, the Wehrmacht command headquarters, an air defense bunker, a guest bunker and more. A ticket to this unique museum costs 2 euros, and for parking a personal (or rented) car you will have to pay 3 euros. 
In the town of Reszel, located 14 kilometers from Kętrzyn, you can also see the ancient Ressel Castle, built by the crusaders. This castle is over 650 years old. From the river side, a Gothic bridge miraculously preserved to this day is connected to the castle. And literally next to it, the Peter and Paul Cathedral, decorated with a clock, rushes into the sky.
Very close to this city there is a very legendary and highly revered place throughout Poland - St. Lipka. In fact, it is a whole complex consisting of an ancient Jesuit monastery and a church. Once upon a time, the Virgin Mary herself appeared to young shepherds in these places. The church truly amazes with its splendor and grandeur, beautiful organ music sounds in it, here you can see figures of saints and, in general, everything here is imbued with absolute calm and shines with gold. You can also go for a snack in the monastery dining room - there you will be treated to delicious dumplings, kvass and berry pies.
The Land of Masurian Lakes (or Masurian Lake District) is more than 2 thousand lakes connected by 12 canals, 8 rivers and three locks. The lakes are surrounded by huge forests with landscaped parks and nature reserves. This is a land of unique virgin nature, an ideal place for adherents of a secluded and relaxing holiday. Fans of active sports will also have something to do here.
The region of the Masurian Lakes is centered around the largest lake in Poland, Lake Śniardwy and Lake Mamry with their adjacent reservoirs. More than 15% of the area of this fertile region is covered with water, and another 30% is covered with forest.
On the territory of the Masurian Lake District there is the Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park - a biosphere reserve of relict forest and habitat of the world's largest population of bison.
The largest lakes: Snyardwy, Mamry, Niegocin. The largest canals: Masurian Canal, Elbląg Canal. Popular resorts: Gizycko, Mikolajki, Wegorzewo, Ryn, Pisz and Ilawa.
How to get there
The Masurian Lake District can be reached by train, bus or car. The nearest international airports are located in Warsaw, Gdańsk and Vilnius. The main transport hub of the region is the city of Elk.
The railway stations of Warsaw, Gdansk and Vilnius are connected to the Elka station, which in turn is connected by the railway network. roads with Gizycko and Mikołajki. An extensive network of bus routes connects the lake region with many Polish cities: Olsztyn, Suwalki and Warsaw (50-60 PLN, journey time 5 hours). Prices on the page are for April 2019.
Search for air tickets to Warsaw (the nearest airport to the Masurian Lakes)
Transport
Yachtsmen will be able to reach the largest interconnected lakes, which form the central system of the Masurian Lake District and are located all the way from Węgorzewo to Ruciane-Nida.
Kayakers may prefer a more intimate setting by rafting on smaller lakes and rivers. One of the best and most popular routes for kayakers starts in Sorkvity and runs along the Krutynya River and Lake Beldany.
Those who “stayed” out of work will have to enjoy the surrounding beauty from the comfortable deck of one of the pleasure boats operated by Żegluga Mazurska, based in Giżycko. The boats of this company are equipped with an open deck and a cafeteria and can accommodate hiking backpacks and bicycles. In theory, all boats operate between Giżycko, Mikolajki and Ruciane-Nida daily from May to September. But, in practice, some trips may be canceled if the number of passengers is low. The least chance of cancellation is from the end of June to the end of August.
Popular hotels in Masurian Lakes
Entertainment and attractions of the Masurian Lakes
The cities of Giżycko, Węgorzewo and Mikolajki have well-known water tourism centers with marinas and bays, well-developed infrastructure, hotels, recreation centers and water sports equipment stores. In addition, the cities have many attractions that are definitely worth visiting.
Gizycko
Among the attractions of Giżycko, it is worth especially noting the swing bridge, built in 1889 and the only one of its kind in the country; Boyen fortress and water tower. Named after the then Prussian Minister of War, General Hermann von Boyen, the fortress was built in 1844-1856. to protect the kingdom's border with Russia. And since the border ran from north to south and stretched for 90 km along the shore of the lake, the fortress was located in a strategic location, on the isthmus between lakes Niegocin and Kisajno, thereby blocking the passage between them.
Built in 1900 in a neo-Gothic style, the seven-story water tower provided the city with running water until 1997. Today the red brick tower houses a café, but the big attraction is the stunning view of the city and lakes.
Masurian lakes
Aquapark
In summer, the Tropicana water park in Mikołajki, located in the Golembiewski Hotel and part of a large recreational complex, is in great demand. The Tropicana has several swimming pools, water slides, a mountain river, a jacuzzi, dry and steam saunas, snow and salt caves. The water park is open to visitors daily from 08:00 to 21:00; a 1.5-hour pass costs PLN 35/20 per adult/child. And in winter, ice fishing is especially popular in Mikołajki.
Olsztyn
The largest city in the region and the capital of the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, Olsztyn is known not only for its attractions, but also as one of the most popular ski resorts in Poland, where thousands of lovers of endless snowy expanses come every year. Well, among the architectural monuments of the city it is worth mentioning the Gothic castle of the Warmia Chapter, and now the Museum of Warmia and Mazury; high gate - the main entrance to the Old Town; the old Baroque town hall and the Gothic Cathedral of St. James.
Ryn
Tourists go to Ryn to visit the majestic Teutonic castle, originally built in the 14th century and later reconstructed in the English neo-Gothic style. Currently, the castle houses the collection of a local history museum with more than 700 exhibits in the fields of ethnography, geology, archeology, art and literature. In addition to the castle, there are other historical monuments in Ryn - an evangelical chapel from the 19th century, a granary from the 19th-20th centuries, a water mill, multi-storey buildings from the 19th century. (you can find them on Swierczewskiego and Kosciuszki streets), as well as a Dutch mill built in 1873.
Pish
But Pish more than makes up for the lack of significant historical monuments with its picturesque meadows and fields, dense forests full of berries and mushrooms, and the crystal clear water of Lake Ros. And yet, while walking around the city, it is worth paying attention to the Church of St. John, the ruins of the Crusader castle, and numerous one-story houses from the 18th and 19th centuries. and a Protestant bishopric.
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Yachting on the Masurian Lakes
Gizycko, for example, is home to the largest number of operators offering yacht charter services. At the same time, the city is a recognized sports center for people with disabilities, who can take part in national regattas organized here on a regular basis. Many companies provide special equipment, advice and training for people with disabilities.
Due to the huge demand for yacht charter services, operators often change from one another. Up-to-date information, recommendations and a list of current operators can be obtained from your local tourism office.
Chartering a yacht in July-August without prior booking can be difficult, while getting a boat in early June or late September is much easier, but you should look hard to ensure you get the best conditions.
In July-August you will have to pay about 180-400 PLN per day to rent a yacht large enough to accommodate 4-5 people. Yacht prices often depend on the size of the cabin, the presence of a toilet, kitchen and other conditions. Lower prices are set in June and September - they are often half the cost of chartering a yacht in the high season. Gasoline, as a rule, is paid for independently, but it happens that operators provide several liters for free. Skipper services on a yacht are paid additionally and average about 250 PLN per day.
You should check the condition of the vessel in advance and report the damage immediately to avoid trouble when returning it. You should come prepared and with your own equipment: a sleeping bag, a raincoat and a lamp.
In northeastern Poland there is a unique lake region, which is briefly called Mazury. It was formed during the last ice age and is geographically limited on the map of Poland by Suwalki in the east and Olsztyn in the west.
In the north, Masuria borders on the Kaliningrad region, and in the south on Piszka Forest. The largest lakes in Poland - Sniardwy and Mamry - are also located here. The total number of lakes in the region reaches 4 thousand units.
In addition to the natural component, the historical page of these places is very interesting. The fact is that the territory of today's Masuria belonged to East Prussia for several centuries. Long-term colonization greatly affected the way of life of the Mazovs, as the local population was called at that time.
As a result, it got to the point that they even stopped considering themselves Poles, but at the same time they did not recognize themselves as Germans. The compromise was to classify themselves as East Prussians. Although in reality, they themselves came at one time to the lands of these same Prussians.
But it has been proven that it was in honor of the Mazovians that these places got their name Masuria. Having first become part of the Duchy of Prussia in the 16th century, the population of Masuria became the first, in the territory of modern Poland, to be Protestant-Lutheran. In 1701, the duchy became the Kingdom of Prussia and Masuria accordingly became part of it.
In the very center of Masuria its main attractions are concentrated, by which here we mean the largest lakes of the region. Thus, the area of the already mentioned Snyardva and Mamry is 113 and 104 square kilometers, respectively. Such a long expanse of water served as a good help in creating inexpensive water tourism in these places.
Today, some settlements in the lake district, such as Mragowo, Augustow, Gizycko and Mikołajki, are considered major tourism centers in Poland.
Moreover, they are currently connected by excellent infrastructure with the presence of many inexpensive hotels. During the peak tourist season, numerous sports competitions involving water, sand and sun are held here.
The largest lake in Masuria and Poland is Śniardwy. Its dimensions are simply huge by the standards of impressionable Poles and amount to 22 by 13 kilometers. That is why when Poles want to emphasize someone’s hugeness, they say: “Not every chicken can fly to the middle of Śniardwa!”
However, it is on Snyardwy that the largest sailing center is located, where even professionals in this business do not hesitate to stop. As for ordinary sailing enthusiasts, there are always more of them in life, and in Masuria they are always in the forefront.
And every year, at the height of the season, thanks to the last mentioned group, the price tag for tourist services rises at least twice.
For those water lovers who are bored of sailing or swinging an oar all day long, the Tropicana water park was built in Mikołajki. And here there is already more choice, and the counter clicks faster, and the emotions are correspondingly different.
In addition, the town has many shops specializing in water-themed products. And for some reason goods in Poland are always cheaper than anywhere else.
In the village of Ryn, which means “March”, everyone can admire the medieval Teutonic castle of the 14th century. If you wish, you can even stay there because it is a hotel.
In addition to the hotel, the castle houses a local history museum. However, the town of Ryn itself leaves a very pleasant impression, in which there is something to see. But the most important thing about this place is definitely its magnificent nature.
Also interesting, in terms of architectural inspection, is the city of Gizycko. Of its main attractions, it should be noted the military fortress of Hermann von Boyen, built in 1856, and the only swing bridge in Poland.
Due to its popularity among tourists, Gizycko holds the informal title of the summer capital of Poland. This is confirmed by 43 hotels within the specified city. Life in the city does not stop in winter, when it turns into a center of iceboating. Search for cheap hotels.
How to get there.
Gizycko is located in the very northeast of Poland. You can get to it both from Kaliningrad and from Vilnius, Gdansk, Warsaw and Bialystok. In the first option, it is necessary to take into account the border with the EEC.
In northern Poland there is an incredibly beautiful historical and ethnographic region of Mazury. The region is sometimes called the "land of a thousand lakes". But there are many more lakes here, around four thousand, which occupy about 1,700 square kilometers of territory.
Between the lakes there are small villages that have become tourist spots. These are Mikolajki, Mragowo, Gizycko, and Augustow. This is where you can visit and enjoy local attractions, various cultural and sporting events. In the summer, various shows, festivals, competitions, and excursions take place here. But the most interesting and exciting is sailing and kayaking.
Masuria is also home to the Augustów Forest and the Pisz Forest. Both of them are penetrated by a dense network of trails and routes, here you can ride bicycles, walk or ride a horse, whatever your heart desires. Mazury is a popular holiday destination not only for Polish residents. There is a well-developed tourism infrastructure related to accommodation, food and sports. This is a great place for a summer holiday.
The most popular attractions on the Masurian Lakes with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose the best places to visit famous places in the Masurian Lakes on our website.
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