Does anyone have any good recommendations for weekend trips from Olsztyn?
Also, how's driving in winter? We'd like to do some traveling this winter, but if the snow in Poland is anything like it is here in the USA, that won't be happening.
Driving in winter in Warmia and Mazury district is not the best experience. Most of the less important roads are covered with ice. I mean in Mazury, Warmia is better.
You can go to Malbork (the teutonic knigts castle-the biggest in Europe) and Toruń (one weekend), Gdańsk, Suwalszczyzna (as all region) - there are many orthodox churches and it is very rural part of Poland. After the winter you should see Biebrzański National Park and Białowieski National Park (you can make it one trip with Suwalszczyzna). Going to £yna river source close to £yna village is good for one day trip. Also visiting the great lakes district is nice idea, Mikołajki, Ryn, Giżycko-maybe rent a yacht? You can go to Gierłoż with its bunkers, it's very popular and worth seeing. From Gierłoż is very close to Święta Lipka, very important place for Polish catholics, so you can make it at one time. You can go canoeing on Krutyń river, one of the most beautiful, but it is better to go in May, early June ore September because it is very crowded in summer. Also Czarna Hańcza river and Wigry Lake are not far from Olsztyn, and they are well known from its beauty. You can also go on boat trip by the Elbląg Channel, it's very unique, one of few like that in the world. There is much more to see and go, but I can't remember now everything :P
Oh, if you ski, there is a not too big slope in Mrągowo open probably from December. And there is nice aqua park in Hotel Gołębiewski in Mikołajki.
If you have any questions I will be very happy to help :) Take care!
Wow that sounds awesome! So much to do! I'm in the rural USA right now and all we have are corn fields and cows :)
I'm excited for this adventure! Stupid question -- but do trains ever shut down in the winter b/c the tracks are covered with snow? We don't have any commuter trains around here, so this is all new to me.
Trains never shut down, in winter it is even better to travel by trains beacuse they run in every weather, and if there is snow and ice on roads its safer than buses.
I remeber now that in Kadzidłowo, near Mikołajki is a Wild Park with lots of animals, but it is something much better than a zoo. I really like that place. :)
I you would like just spend the day somewhere (winter days are in northern Poland very short - the sun riser at 8 and sets about 4 pm) there are six lakes in the town of Olsztyn. The bigest is called Krzywe and it is 7 km long and 2 km wide. I like also very much lake Długie which has one end inside the town, and another in the forest so walking around you can see the reflections of pines in its still waters.
Nice place for a walk is Lasm Miejski (town forest) which is just north from the Old Town. Forest is really old with giant spruce, oaks and bleeches, and £yna river flows trough in deep valley. In the forest you will find walking paths.
