Żegluga Mazurska boat trips (Masurian Lakes cruises)

Boat trips with Żegluga Mazurska (roughly "zheh-GLOO-gah mah-ZOOR-skah") are the easiest way to see Poland's Great Masurian Lakes from the water without hiring a boat yourself. The company's white passenger ships sail from Giżycko, Mikołajki, Ruciane-Nida, Węgorzewo, Rydzewo and Ryn, offering anything from a one-hour lake loop to a full-day voyage between towns. It is one of the classic things to do in Masuria in summer.

A fleet with a long history

According to the operator, regular passenger shipping on the Masurian lakes began in 1890, when this was still East Prussia. After World War II surviving ships were repaired and returned to service in 1947, and the state company Żegluga Mazurska was founded in 1957; it became a limited company in 1999. Most of the larger ships date from the 1960s, carrying up to 140 passengers each, and the newest vessel is a catamaran built in the company's own yard in 2017.

Popular cruises from Giżycko (2026 season)

The operator's website lists, among others:

• Masurian Panorama – 1 hour on Lake Niegocin, 40 PLN (reduced 30 PLN).
• 3 Lakes – 3 Canals – 1 hr 20 min through the Łuczański Canal and its hand-turned swing bridge, Lake Kisajno and Lake Tajty; 60/45 PLN (summer peak price).
• Cormorant Island – 3 hrs 40 min to a nature reserve with a large cormorant colony.
• Giżycko – Mikołajki – Giżycko – a full day (9:00 a.m.–6:30 p.m.) with a 3-hour stop in Mikołajki, 230/135 PLN.
• Giżycko – Węgorzewo – Giżycko – 7.5 hours with a stop in Węgorzewo, 190/115 PLN.

Reduced tickets are for children and young people aged 5–18. A cruise only runs with at least 10 passengers, and routes may change in bad weather. Larger ships have a snack bar.

When do the boats run? (as of October 2026)

The operator states that day cruises run from the early-May holiday weekend to the end of September, and evening cruises in July and August. So there are no regular cruises in October or over winter 2026/27; check the website in spring for the 2027 season.

Tickets and piers

Buy tickets at the pier, by phone or online; an online ticket can be shown on your phone, but you must collect a boarding pass at the ticket office before boarding. The Giżycko pier is at ul. Kolejowa 9, next to the train station. Giżycko is about 250–280 km from Warsaw and about 250 km from Gdańsk. Prices are in Polish złoty (PLN).

Other piers

Besides Giżycko, the boats call at Mikołajki (pier on Plac Wolności), Ruciane-Nida, Węgorzewo and Rydzewo. Departures from Ryn are irregular and only happen on days when a ship comes in, so confirm with the Mikołajki pier first. If you are based in Mikołajki, the one-way legs let you combine a cruise with a bus or bike ride back.

Is it worth it?

Yes, if you visit between May and September. Short trips suit families; the full-day cruise to Mikołajki shows off the lake chain at its best. Bring a warm layer, as it can be windy on open water.