Masurian Lakes District
The lake region of Masuria in Poland with over 2.000 lakes as well as large forests and historic towns. It is a paradise for sailing, windsurfing and outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, kayaking, bicycling and horseback riding during the warm summer months, and also offers a range of winter activities. Many of the lakes in Masuria are connected with each other by rivers and canals, so it is possible to sail or kayak hundreds of kilometers in the region.
Masurian Lake District (Mazury in Polish) is located in northeastern Poland close to the border with Lithuania. The sparsely inhabited region has a great number of lakes, including the biggest ones in Poland. Once a part of German Prussia, Masuria became a part of Poland after the World War II, after which most of the original Masurian population immigrated to Germany. Today, Masuria has Polish, Ukrainian as well as a small number of German Masurian inhabitants. The area is the most famous lake district in Central Europe and has become a popular vacation destination for Polish people, who visit Masuria in summer. Especially the central Great Masurian Lakes region around the towns of Gizycko and Mikolajki attracts a lot of visitors.
Sights and activities in Masuria: sailing, kayaking, hiking, nature & outdoor sports
Masuria is famous for its thousands of lakes and nearby forests, offering a wide range of outdoor activities, including sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, kite surfing, swimming, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, biking, hunting and wildlife watching. The region includes the largest lake in Poland, Sniardwy (or Spirdingsee in German), as well as small lake resort towns of Gizycko, Mikolajki, Elk, Wegorzewo, Ryn, Pisz, and Ilawa.
The largest town in Masuria, Elk is an old Prussian town with 56.000 inhabitants along the Elckie Lake. The most popular tourism center in Masuria is Gizycko, located on the shore of Lake Niegocin, and offering some of the best sailing in Masuria. In addition to being a center for tourism and activities, Giżycko also has a historical fortress, and passenger boats to the towns of Wegorzewo, Mikolajki and Ruciane-Nida. The historical town of Mikołajki is also a popular tourism center with a beautiful historic church and bridges.
Nature attractions. In addition to lakes, Masurian region also has many rivers good for fishing and forest areas that offer many trails for trekking and biking in Masuria. There is also a nice variety of wildlife, edible berries and mushrooms, and large protected areas, including the Masurian Landscape Park that includes 11 nature reserves such as the Luknajo Lake that is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, or the Borecka Pushcha forest with a breeding station for European Bisons. The wide variety of lakes connected with rivers and canals offers great possibilities for kayaking in Masuria. During the winter, you can try ice-sailing, cross-country skiing and ice fishing. There is also a golf course in the area, and you can even try freshwater diving in the lakes.
Masuria travel information and practical tips
Masuria has a temperate climate with cold winters and warm summers from June to August. The weather in the region is cooler than in most parts of Poland, and the area also has some snow during the winter. The Masurian lakes are usually frozen from December to the end of April. Springtime can be wet, while summers are warm and drier.
How to get there. Traveling to Masuria can be done by train, bus or car from elsewhere in Poland or from Lithuania. The region does not have commercial airport, but the nearby international airports in Warsaw, Gdansk and Vilnius are gateways to the region. The main transport hub in the region is the town of Elk. There are trains to Masuria from Warsaw, Gdansk and Vilnius, and buses to Masuria can be found in many cities in Poland.
Local transport in Mazury region is available in form of local buses, few trains and taxis. A boat service also connects some central towns in the region. Car rental in Masuria is also available, and biking and boating are popular ways to get around. Masuria is generally a safe area to travel in, although some crime such as theft does happen. English is spoken by many educated locals and those who work in tourism professions.
Visitor services. Hotels in Masuria can be found mostly in the main tourism areas around the Great Masurian Lakes, namely in towns of Gizycko and Mikolajki, as well as in the larger town of Elk. There are also local guesthouses, small lakeside resorts and campsites in villages and countryside areas of Masuria. Restaurants in Masuria offer mainly Polish cuisine. The main towns in the area offer also nightlife options, although nightlife there is not very lively outside the summer season.
