Where to stay in The Masurian Lakes
On the Masurian Lakes the base is a town on the shore, and the choice is between the railway and harbour in Giżycko and the marina in Mikołajki.
- Base
- Giżycko
- Mikołajki
- The south of the region
- Hostel
- None
A base on the Masurian Lakes comes down to how you arrive and where you go next. Giżycko has the direct train from Warsaw and the Żegluga Mazurska harbour, and all three directions of the plan are a single drive away: Giżycko–Mikołajki 33–36 km · Giżycko–Węgorzewo 25–27 km · Giżycko–Gierłoż (Wolf's Lair) 35–40 km. Mikołajki is closer to the sailing in the south.
Giżycko, the base by the railway and the harbour
The train from Warsaw stops in the town itself, and the Żegluga Mazurska town harbour runs both the short "3 Lakes, 3 Channels" cruise and the full-day boats to Węgorzewo and Ruciane-Nida. The canal with the rotating bridge runs right through the centre, so day one is done on foot, without a car.
Mikołajki, closer to the sailing
Mikołajki lies south of Giżycko, on Lake Mikołajskie, where it opens into Śniardwy, with a marina and a promenade along the shore. For a plan in three directions it is the day-two trip; for a holiday on the water, with sailing as the main reason to come, the village can be the base too.
No hostels
There's no hostel in Giżycko or in Mikołajki. In a 3-star hotel a double room comes to €26–27 per person a night, and a solo traveller pays for the whole room.
Before you go
Short answers to what people ask most before setting out.
Where's the best base on the Masurian Lakes?
Giżycko, for covering the whole region; Mikołajki, if the point is sailing in the south.
Ready for The Masurian Lakes?
Where to next
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How well does The Masurian Lakes suit you?
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