Lake Kierskie (Kiekrz)

Lake Kierskie (roughly "KYER-skyeh"), usually just called Kiekrz ("kyeksh") by locals, is the largest body of water in Poznań and one of the biggest lakes in the Wielkopolska region. This long glacial lake on the city's western edge is Poznań's sailing hub, a summer beach destination and a year-round place for lakeside walks. If you want big water, wide views and white sails without leaving the city limits, this is where to go.

Where it is

Poznań is in western Poland, about halfway between Berlin and Warsaw — under three hours by train from Berlin and about 2.5–3 hours from Warsaw. Poznań-Ławica airport is roughly 7 km from the center. Lake Kierskie sits on the western city boundary, between the neighborhoods of Kiekrz and Krzyżowniki, at the outer end of the city's western "green wedge," a belt of woods and lakes reaching toward the center.

The lake at a glance

• Area: about 285–310 hectares (sources vary)
• Length: about 4.5 km; shoreline over 12 km
• Maximum depth: around 34–38 m, average about 10 m

The lake has a long history. It was once simply called the Great Lake — a Latin charter of 1335 records the Old Polish name "Welke iezioro." In 1911 a fisherman pulled a dugout canoe, carved from a single oak trunk and 3.88 m long, from the lake. Tree-ring dating places it shortly after 1394; it went to the collection of what is now the National Museum in Poznań.

Things to do at Lake Kierskie

• Sailing and ice yachting — the lake is a well-known center for both, with clubs, marinas and training centers along the shore, including Adam Mickiewicz University's sailing center.
• Swimming — in summer there are two lifeguarded beaches, at Krzyżowniki and at Kiekrz, plus a few unsupervised spots.
• Open-water events — the annual "Wpław przez Kiekrz" swim crosses the lake, and Poland's first-ever triathlon was held here in 1984.
• Walking and cycling — a full loop of the shore is about 13 km. Trails through the deciduous woods on the east shore continue through the green wedge all the way to Sołacki Park.
• Fishing — allowed year-round from the shore or a boat.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, especially if you're staying a few days in Poznań and want a break from the Old Town. Summer brings sails and swimmers; fall offers quiet forest walks; in a cold winter, ice yachts may race on the frozen lake (never walk on ice unless you're sure it's safe). Allow 1–2 hours for a short walk, or half a day for the full loop. Beaches are lifeguarded only in summer; the shore itself is free and open all year. Signage is mostly in Polish. Information as of October 2026.

How to get to Lake Kierskie

The easiest option is the regional train to Poznań Kiekrz station, right by the north shore, on the line toward Wronki. City buses also run to Kiekrz and Krzyżowniki — check current routes with ZTM Poznań or the Jakdojade app. Tickets are in PLN (złoty). Drivers often park by the Krzyżowniki beach and start their walk there.

Nearby

• Lake Strzeszyńskie — a smaller forest lake with a city beach, a few kilometers east.
• Lake Rusałka — closer to the center, in the same green wedge.