The icy land and winter attractions are mainly associated with highland cottages, snow-covered mountain peaks, or for the younger among us, with stories of Narnia or the land of Arendelle. Few people think that winter can also be beautiful in Masuria, and that frozen lakes can be a unique attraction. You just need to dress warmly and set off to meet adventure. Giżycko has quite a few of them for us in winter.
As you know, Giżycko is the capital of the Masurian Lake District. It would be hard to forget about it in winter. In Giżycko, the Masurian Ice Sports Center and the School of Water and Extreme Sports operate. Here you will find instructors and various courses related to winter sports. In winter, the lakes Niegocin and Kisajno, between which Giżycko lies, are covered with an ice sheet. This encourages winter activity enthusiasts to engage in their favorite activities. For some, it will be ice fishing, for others skating, and some will wish to dive under the ice. The Masurian Diving Center even organizes training at affordable prices. The vast snowy and icy areas are also a paradise for snowkiting and ice kiting. And since we're talking about Masuria, sailing in Giżycko never rests either. The first training center for youth ice sailing was opened in Giżycko in 1947, and today the city leads in the education of ice sailors. All this is offered to us by Giżycko in winter, but there are other attractions to choose from as well. Let's see what else we can take advantage of.
The icy land and winter attractions are mainly associated with highland cottages, snow-covered mountain peaks, or for the younger among us, with stories of Narnia or the land of Arendelle. Few people think that winter can also be beautiful in Masuria, and that frozen lakes can be a unique attraction. You just need to dress warmly and set off to meet adventure. Giżycko has quite a few of them for us in winter.
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The snowy fluff covering field roads, forest paths, or hilly terrains provides ideal conditions for cross-country skiing enthusiasts. This sport is for everyone, unlike other skiing disciplines, so it’s worth trying and at the same time admiring the picturesque Masurian landscapes. An attraction equally showcasing beautiful views is the sleigh ride. Such horse rides are common attractions in Giżycko in winter. Organizing such a sleigh ride is easiest by arranging it with the right person from one of the local agritourism farms. Forest trips can also be made on snowmobiles. Not far from Giżycko, in the village of Okrągłe, there is also a ski lift at Ski Mazury Morenowa Ski Station. There are three downhill slopes of different difficulty levels and a training ski field. It can be safely said that Giżycko in winter does not yield to mountain resorts more commonly associated with this type of activity.
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In the same area where the ski lift is located, you will also find the Safari Zoo. It is over 100 hectares of an ecological farm where we can observe animal life in natural conditions. There are as many as 24 species of wild animals in a few hundred specimens. Here you will find Greater Poland horses, tarpans, fallow deer, deer, and many others. The animals live together in symbiosis. The Zoo offers the possibility of visiting also in winter, which takes place by tractor with sleighs or by off-road car. In Giżycko in winter, you can get even closer to Masurian wildlife by visiting riding schools, where the riding season lasts all year. You will find both well-cared-for horses and instructors with whom you can learn depending on the weather, either outdoors or in the hall. Classes are tailored to the skill level of participants and take place individually or in groups. Agritourism farms are also an opportunity for a refuge and relaxation, or evening chats with the host over regional delicacies. For those thirsty for a break from the city hustle, an excellent attraction will be doing nothing with a break for a trip to the nearby forest in search of roe deer, beavers, or moose.
Giżycko certainly does not sleep in winter and above all offers a winter that you won’t find in many parts of the country anymore. Additionally, a winter trip beats a summer one because there are fewer people and more free accommodation. The summer season often disappoints when by spring it turns out that the dream places are already fully booked by tourists. And we can also count on significantly lower prices for a winter holiday in Masuria.
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