Tourism in Northern Poland

this Lake District lies within the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship. Also, small parts

of the district lie within the Masovian and Podlaskie Voivodeships.
This location contains more than 2,000 lakes. The district had been elected as one of the 28 finalists of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

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The Lake District was shaped by glaciers during the Pleistocene ice age.

train, bus, or car. The nearest international airports are in Szymany, Warsaw, Gdańsk,

and Vilnius. The main transport hubs in the region are the towns of Olsztyn and Ełk. There are trains to Masuria from Warsaw, Gdańsk and Vilnius, and buses from many Polish cities. A boat service connects some central towns in the region. Biking and boating are popular ways to get around.

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The lakes are well connected by rivers and canals, forming an extensive system of waterways. The 18th-century Masurian Canal links this system to the Baltic Sea.

whole area is a prime tourist destination, frequented by:
boating

enthusiasts
Canoeists
Kayakists
Anglers
Hikers
Bikers
nature-lovers.
It is one of the most famous lake districts in Central Europe and a popular vacation spot, with the highest number of visitors every year.
Some hotels here can be found in close proximity to the Great Masurian Lakes, in the towns of Giżycko, Mikołajki and Ełk among others. There are also guesthouses and campsites in surrounding villages.

dialect.
It’s a small 5,000-15,000 strong Lechitic sub-ethnic group, traditionally present in

what is now a Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship.
Before World War II and its post-war expulsions, Masurians used to be a more numerous ethnic group found in the southern parts of East Prussia for centuries following the 16th century Protestant Reformation. Today, most of Masurians live in what is now Germany and elsewhere.
 Because of the influx of Masovians into the southern lakeland, the area started to be known as "Masuria" from the 18th century.

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Some early writers about Masurians - like Max Toeppen - postulated them as mediators between German and Slav cultures.

19th century, the Masuria region of East Prussia was named after the Masurians.
Like most

of the East Prussian population, they favored Protestantism and adopted Lutheranism.
Between the 14th and 17th centuries, Polish settlers from northern Masovia moved to the southern territories of the Monastic State of the Teutonic Knights. (These lands had previously belonged to the Baltic Old Prussians, whom the Teutonic Knights had conquered in the 13th and 14th centuries.) The northern part of this state was soon settled by settlers from Germany and thus became Germanised.

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*During the 1840s, the folklorist Gustaw Gizewiusz (Gustav Gisevius) collected Masurian folk songs which were later included in Oskar Kolberg's compilation Dzieła Wszystkie.
*The oldest book written in Masurian probably is "Ta Swenta Woyna", written by Jakub Szczepan in 1900

IN POLAND
The area of contemporary Warmia-Masuria Province encompasses the major

part of the monastic state of the Teutonic Knights, founded in the Middle Ages on the southern coast of the Baltic Sea. This area is unique because of the preserved cultural heritage. By conquering and inhabiting the Prussian tribes areas monks left behind their legacy.

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Important landmarks include the cathedral in Frombork, where Nicolaus Copernicus elaborated the heliocentric theory, and sanctuary in Gietrzwałd, a site of Marian apparitions and miracles. 

Most popular destinations
Masuria is famous for its lakes and forests, offering

a wide range of outdoor activities from sailing to kayaking and swimming. The region includes the largest lake in Poland called Śniardwy. The resort towns include the most popular ones:
Giżycko 
Mikołajki 
Węgorzewo
Ryn 
Pisz
Iława
In addition to lakes, the Masurian region also has many rivers used for fly fishing, and forest areas that offer many trails for trekking and biking. There is also a variety of wildlife, edible berries and mushrooms, and large protected areas, including the Masurian Landscape Park that includes 11 nature reserves and the Białowieża Forest with a breeding station for European Bisons.

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You can also experience unique atmosphere in dozens of small towns and villages, many of which exist about 600 or 700 years, with the picturesque setting, quaint buildings and original opportunities for recreation and relaxation for tourists.

summers. The weather here is cooler than in most parts

of Poland, and the area also has some snow during the winter. The Masurian lakes are usually frozen from December to the end of April. Springtime can be wet, while summers are generally drier.