Things to do in Warmia & Masuria
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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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Castle and Museum of Warmia & Masuria
The most important historic building in town is the massive, redbrick 14th-century castle. Despite its age, it’s in excellent shape and now houses an art gallery, restaurant and open-air theatre, along with the Museum of Warmia & Masuria. Two rooms on the 1st floor are dedicated to astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, who was the administrator of Warmia and lived in the castle for more than three years (1516–20). He made some of his astronomical observations here, and you can still see the diagram he drew on the cloister wall to record the equinox and thereby calculate the exact length of the year. Models of the instruments he used are on display in his former living quarter…
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Pttk Mazury
The travel agency PTTK Mazury runs 10-day kayaking tours along the Krutynia River route (known as Szlak Kajakowy Krutyni). The 103km trip begins at Stanica Wodna PTTK in Sorkwity, 50km east of Olsztyn, and goes down the Krutynia River and Lake Bełdany to Ruciane-Nida. It’s regarded as Poland’s top kayak trip and few come away disappointed. Tours depart daily from May to October, and the price (around 950zł) includes kayak, food, insurance, lodging in cabins and a Polish-, English- or German-speaking guide.
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Kayaking - Stanica Wodna PTTK
You can do the Krutynia River kayaking trip on your own, hiring a kayak from the Stanica Wodna PTTK in Sorkwity, but check availability in advance. You can use the same overnight bases as arranged tours but you can't always count on cabins, so be prepared to camp. It's easier to secure a kayak and shelter in June or September than in July and August.
Brochures in English and German, with a detailed description and maps of the Krutynia route, are available at the Mazury office. Information in German is also available online.
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Castle
The 14th-century brick castle, built at the same time as that in Lidzbark, has retained much of its original form, except for the southern side, which was turned into a Protestant church in the 19th century, with a belfry and a jarring concrete gable added to the top. Today the complex is open to the public and houses a hotel, a restaurant, some function rooms and an art gallery. Go to the top of the castle’s massive cylindrical tower for some views over the red-tiled roofs of the Old Town.
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Museum of Warmia & Masuria Main Annexe
The Museum of Warmia & Masuria main annexe is housed in the former Gazeta Olsztyńska newspaper building. The paper was famed for its outspoken politics under occupation, which swiftly led to the arrest and execution of its publisher in 1940 and the destruction of the offices. Reconstructed, the building now has exhibitions about the city’s and region’s past, and the political role of journalism.
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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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Parish Church
The 14th-century parish church is a large Gothic brick construction with a tall square tower. It was refurnished and redecorated in the 1820s after fires that devastated much of the centre, and has a harmonious though not outstanding interior. If you’d like a birds-eye view of the town with the castle as a backdrop, ascend the church’s tower.
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Fishing Bridge
At the entrance to the Old Town, when arriving from Kętrzyn, is the unusually massive brick Fishing Bridge, also known as the Gothic Bridge (Most Gotycki), built in the 14th century and recently so extensively restored that it looks like new. Don't be fooled by the name - you'd need a long line and a lot more river before you could actually catch anything!
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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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Klub Sarp
The riverside area around the southern end of the Old Town is a hotbed of pubs, clubs and restaurants, and SARP is a top contender. This split-level setup in a former granary is run by the local Association of Polish Architects and, with its blackened wooden beams and whitewashed walls, looks as though it’s been transplanted from Tudor times.
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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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Weranda Grill
Meat lovers will flock to this large restaurant for a menu packed with loin chops, grilled ribs and sausages; vegetarians will be disappointed with a small selection of salads. A compromise is easy to find though; grab a beer and kick back on the enormous summer terrace along the banks of the Łyna River.
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Różana Café
A well-translated trilingual menu, with just a dash of humour, introduces you to this refined selection of Polish dishes, while waiters in braces gently woo you with extras. The portions won’t blow you away, but it’s a good excuse to stick around for dessert or one last drink.
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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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Rynek
The Rynek (formally called ul Stare Miasto) was destroyed during WWII and rebuilt in a grandiose style only superficially referring to the past. It's best seen at night, when the town hall is lit up with dazzling spotlights and half the population turns out for an evening drink.
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Astronomical Observatory
Copernicus fans can get a bit more hands-on at the astronomical observatory, located in an old water tower out to the east of town. It was enjoying a much-needed renovation at the time of writing; check with the tourist office for observation hours and prices.
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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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Planetarium
For a dramatic look at the heavens, the planetarium has shows and occasional temporary exhibits. Soundtracks in English, German, French and Russian are generally offered during two shows a day, at noon and 2pm.
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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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