Attractions near Glamila – what to see in Masuria?

Glamila Holiday Village is located in Sterławki Średnie, on Lake Dejguny in Masuria. It offers a base for exploring Giżycko, the Wolf’s Lair and nearby towns and villages, as well as relaxing by the lake.

Below, we introduce attractions near Glamila, with distances and practical information to help you plan your trip.

Within an hour’s drive, you can discover historic sites, nature, vast lakes and the architecture of small Masurian towns.

Glamila – close enough to explore. Secluded enough to truly unwind.

15 km from Glamila / approx. 15–20 minutes by car

Surrounded by seven lakes, Giżycko is proudly known as Poland’s sailing capital. Located on Lake Niegocin, it has long attracted sailors, tourists and anyone who prefers fresh Masurian air to city life. From Glamila, you can reach it in less than half an hour.

Highlights include the 19th-century Boyen Fortress and the historic swing bridge over the Łuczański Canal, which connects Lake Niegocin with Lake Kisajno.

Ekomarina Giżycko, a marina on Lake Niegocin, welcomes sailors. Giżycko is also a departure point for passenger boat cruises on the Masurian lakes.

In summer, the town hosts sea shanty concerts and outdoor events. For the latest events calendar, details of local attractions and sightseeing tips, visit Giżycko’s Tourist Information Centre or the official town website.

You can combine sightseeing with a meal at a local restaurant or a coffee break. Giżycko has restaurants, taverns and cafés, including a café in the historic Water Tower.

The Water Tower in Giżycko combines three attractions: a viewing terrace overlooking the town and the Masurian lakes, a café and an exhibition about the lives of former residents of Giżycko and the surrounding area. On a day trip from Glamila, you can enjoy views from above, discover local history and stop for a coffee, all in one place.

The neo-Gothic red-brick tower was built in 1900. Beneath its dome was a tank holding approximately 200 m³ of water. The building served the municipal water supply system until 1996. After it ceased operating as a water tower, Henryk Górny purchased and restored it, opening a viewing terrace, café and museum.

The exhibition features archival photographs, documents and everyday objects that tell the story of people who lived in Giżycko and the surrounding area. You can explore the collection as you make your way through the building’s floors. There is also a souvenir shop on the ground floor.

Opening hours vary by month, so check the official website of the Water Tower in Giżycko before your visit.

The most important military monument in Masuria and one of Poland’s better-preserved forts, Boyen Fortress was built on the orders of the King of Prussia between 1844 and 1856, on the strip of land between Lakes Kisajno and Niegocin. It takes its name from the Prussian general Hermann von Boyen. For decades, it served as a strategic defensive barrier on the eastern border.

During the Second World War, it housed the headquarters of General Reinhard Gehlen, the intelligence chief of the Wehrmacht High Command.

Within the fortress grounds, visitors can explore a museum with a weapons exhibition, stables and a carriage house, craft workshops, an open-air amphitheatre and a nature and educational trail along the ramparts. Allow at least two hours for your visit.

Boyen Fortress in Giżycko is a destination for anyone interested in the history of Masuria, former East Prussia and military architecture.

During the tourist season, Boyen Fortress in Giżycko hosts concerts, exhibitions and historical events. One recurring event is the Boyen Fortress Festival – Operation Boyen, featuring historical re-enactments, demonstrations and a fair. The amphitheatre also hosts outdoor concerts.

For current opening hours, ticket prices, visitor information and the events calendar, visit the official Boyen Fortress website. Before your trip, check the programme for the dates of your stay at Glamila.

The swing bridge in Giżycko spans the Łuczański Canal, which connects Lakes Niegocin and Kisajno. It was built in 1860 to link the town with Boyen Fortress.

When the bridge opens, its span swings sideways into a position parallel to the bank, allowing boats to pass. The turning mechanism is located on the western side of the canal. You can combine watching the bridge in operation with a walk along the Łuczański Canal.

Before your visit, check the current swing bridge opening times on the official Giżycko website. This will help you time your visit to see the bridge turn to let boats through.

A modern marina on Lake Niegocin and a hub of sailing life in Giżycko. From here, you can set off on a cruise across the Great Masurian Lakes, charter a yacht or simply sit on the pier and watch the town’s waterfront life.

No boating licence? At Ekomarina Giżycko, you can rent boats that do not require a licence and explore Lake Niegocin yourself. Check boat availability, prices and rental conditions on the rental company’s official website.

At Ekomarina, you can also take a course preparing you for the Polish sailing licence exam (patent żeglarza jachtowego). The sailing school offers courses and training cruises that start and finish at this marina. Courses for the Polish motorboat licence (patent sternika motorowodnego) are also available. To obtain either licence, you must pass the relevant exam. Check the latest options on the organisers’ official websites: sailing courses and motorboat courses.

40 km from Glamila / approx. 40 minutes by car

The Wolf’s Lair, known in Polish as Wilczy Szaniec and in German as Wolfsschanze, is the remains of Adolf Hitler’s wartime headquarters in Gierłoż near Kętrzyn. Construction began in autumn 1940. Around 200 structures were built across approximately 250 hectares, including reinforced-concrete bunkers, residential and technical buildings, and railway infrastructure. wilczy-szaniec.pl

Hitler stayed here from June 1941, spending more than 800 days at the headquarters in total. On 20 July 1944, Claus von Stauffenberg carried out an unsuccessful attempt on his life at the Wolf’s Lair. Hitler left the headquarters in November 1944. During the night of 24–25 January 1945, retreating German troops blew up the buildings. Today, visitors can explore the ruined bunkers and other remains of the complex.

Marked walking routes lead through the grounds. You can hire a local guide, rent an audio guide or explore independently using a site map. The audio-guided route takes approximately two hours. Recordings are available in Polish, German and English, among other languages.

The Wolf’s Lair is open all year round, although opening hours vary by season. Indoor exhibitions are closed from 1 November to 31 March. Facilities include parking, including spaces for motorhomes, a café, toilets and a souvenir shop.

For current opening hours, admission and parking prices, and visitor information, visit the official Wolf’s Lair website.

Glamila Holiday Village is located in Sterławki Średnie, on Lake Dejguny. There is an on-site water sports equipment rental service, and one of the available attractions is the solemaran, which you can take on a trip across Lake Dejguny. Ask at reception about equipment availability and conditions of use.

If you would like to explore other Masurian lakes, plan a trip to nearby ports. Niegocin, Kisajno, Mamry, Tałty and Śniardwy are part of the Great Masurian Lakes system. The interconnected lakes and canals form navigable routes passing through Giżycko, Węgorzewo, Ryn and Mikołajki, among other towns. These destinations offer passenger boat cruises, yacht charters and water sports equipment rentals.

Lake Niegocin lies beside Giżycko and forms part of the Great Masurian Lakes Route. A navigable route crosses the lake, heading south towards Mikołajki and Pisz. To the north, canals provide access to Lake Kisajno and onwards towards Mamry and Węgorzewo.

Guests staying at Glamila can begin their trip on Lake Niegocin in Giżycko, including at Ekomarina. Options include skippered yacht trips and selected motorboats available to rent without a boating licence. You can spend a few hours on the water and return to Glamila the same day.

For available options and booking conditions, visit the websites for skippered trips and motorboat rentals without a licence.

• Ryn Castle – approx. 30 km away — a 14th-century Gothic castle built by the Teutonic Knights, now a hotel hosting numerous cultural events.
• Mamerki bunkers – approx. 45 km away — the German Army headquarters from the Second World War, less well known than the Wolf’s Lair but equally impressive.
• Sterławki fishing lake – right next to Glamila — a spot for anglers, with pike and eel within reach.
• Motolotnie Mazury – near Glamila — scenic microlight flights over the lakes, with a special rate for Glamila guests!

The photographs used in this article come from the following websites and materials relating to the featured places:

https://gizycko.pl/
https://www.wieza-gizycko.pl/
https://twierdza.gizycko.pl/
https://wilczy-szaniec.pl/
https://mazury24.eu/
https://mikolajki.eu/