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 Poli
sh) 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. 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.
