Things to do in Great Masurian Lakes
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Yacht Charters
Giżycko has the largest number of yacht-charter agencies in the area, and accordingly offers the widest choice of boats. The town is also a recognised centre for disabled sailors, with regular national regattas, and many companies provide specialist equipment, advice and training.
With yachting such a huge business here, the boat-charter market is highly volatile and operators often change. The tourist office is likely to have the current list of agents (sometimes up to 40) and can provide advice. It's also worth getting a copy of the monthly yachting magazine Żagle, in which plenty of firms advertise, or the multi-lingual Informator Źeglarski.
Finding anything in July …
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Rotary Bridge
Giżycko's working Rotary Bridge on ul Moniuszki was built in 1889 and is the only one of its kind in the country. Despite weighing more than 100 tonnes, it can be turned by one person, and is opened six times daily to allow boats through, closing to traffic for between 30 minutes and 1¾ hours each time. If you're travelling by car, circumvent the wait and take the long way round via ul Obwodowa.
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Boyen Fortress
Named after the then Prussian minister of war, General Hermann von Boyen, the Boyen Fortress was built between 1844 and 1856 to protect the kingdom’s border with Russia. Since the frontier ran north–south along the 90km string of lakes, the stronghold was strategically placed in the middle, on the isthmus near Giżycko.
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Water Tower
Built in 1900 in neo-Gothic style, Giżycko’s seven-storey Water Tower supplied the city with running water until 1997. Today the tall redbrick structure houses a café and an assortment of memorabilia related to the region, but its big attraction is of course the views it provides over the town and surrounding lakes.
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Bar Hornet
The enterprising Hornet splits itself into two sections, a self-service cafeteria and a smarter sit-down restaurant. The only difference between them is the waiters, but it’s nice to have a choice! The food’s decent value anyway, with a fine selection of quick eats and a salad bar, and the wooden deck is good for warm evenings.
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Restauracja Prohibicja
Of all the gin joints in all the world, Mikołajki is the last place you’d expect to find a gangster-themed bar-restaurant. If you fancy sleeping with the fishes, there’s also a fistful of hotel rooms upstairs. Despite the name, alcohol is sold over the counter, and it’s all family-friendly, of course.
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Ice Sailing
The Masurian Lake district is one of Poland's coldest regions in winter; lake surfaces often freeze over from December to April. During this time the lakes support ice sailing and ice windsurfing, mostly on crisp, clear days. The tourist office has a list of operators renting boats and giving lessons if you're interested.
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Wioska Żeglarska
As in Giżycko, yacht hire is big business here in summer, and around 10 companies vie for the seasonal trade. The Wioska Żeglarska, on the waterfront, has sailing boats for hire, or staff may be able to advise you on other companies if it’s booked out.
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Waterfront Cafés
In the high season you only have to wander down to the waterfront to find dozens of temporary cafés, stands and snack bars catering for the holiday crowds. Outside these times you'll have to choose from the hotel restaurants and a handful of other year-round eateries in the centre.
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Grota
Restaurants on the marina may draw the crowds with their lake-front views, but Grota gets the locals’ vote for its food. Wood oven–baked pizzas and a mix of Polish and German cuisine fill the menu, and there’s seating along the canal in summer.
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Port Rybitwa
For short-term excursions, Port Rybitwa hires out low-powered motorboats (from 85zł per hour, 425zł per day) from near the town’s swimming beach. The owner can suggest plenty of DIY excursions on the connecting lakes.
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Ck Diver
CK Diver offers scuba-diving courses for all levels throughout the year, in groups or on an individual basis. Prices start at 100zł for a taster session, going up to 1600zł for advanced tuition.
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Kuchnia Świata
The only bar-restaurant worthy of the name in town. A varied menu (Polish to Chinese via Italian) and a massive summer terrace see it full most nights of the week.
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