Santa Claus experiences - 16 best places

Mikołajki is a fantastic place in Masuria, lying in the very heart of it, on the Great Masurian Lakes Trail. It is the most popular and beautiful shipping route in Poland. It is the Polish capital of sailing and there is nothing surprising about it, after all, it lies on Lake Mikołajskie itself, and additionally there are: Lake Talty, Łuknajno, Bełdany and great fame - Lake Śniardwy. This is the largest lake in Poland already called magnetizes, but it is worth seeing it with your own eyes!

After the war, there are not many monuments in the city, but in Mikołajki you will find other advantages that make you not want to leave here🙂 Even if you are not attracted to sailing, you will enjoy walking along the Promenade, as well as the proximity of nature around. Mikołajki offers beautiful coves, marina, swimming pools and a lot of celebrities who come here in the summer, because the stay in Mikołajki is one of the good ones lately.

Experiences in Mikołajki

Santa Claus is a place where you just have to be! A large number of experiences means that everyone will find something interesting here. We'll tell you what the most beautiful attractions are and what to see here. We marked all these places on the map to make it easier to plan a visit to this city 🙂 We will be happy to get to know this city better and spend more time here, but see the best attractions of Mikołajki today!

1. Promenade in Mikołajki

The promenade in Mikołajki is the heart and new showcase of the city! The promenade, revitalized in 2020, is now 1.3 km long and significantly wide. It allows you to really enjoy this place, experience the summer atmosphere and admire the charms of Lake Mikołajskie. 

It is the most important tourist route with taverns, cafes, shops, water equipment rentals, sailing marinas and a port for passenger ships. It begins with the Sailors' Avenue - the contractual border between Tałty and Mikołajskie lakes - the current road bridge. This part was modernized in 2011.

The newer part, revitalized in 2020, begins with a wooden viewing platform in the Sailing Village, deep into the lake. It is a place of concerts and events, with a wonderful view in the background! On the other side of the lake there is a view of the Masurian Landscape Park with the Puszcza Piska Forest.  Thanks to the modernization, the Masurian Venice in Mikołajki is even more beautiful!

2. Lake Mikołajskie

It is Lake Mikołajskie that largely determines the attractiveness of Mikołajki. Cut into the buildings of the city, it creates an amazing atmosphere. It has a length of 5.8 km and a maximum width of 1.6 km. It belongs to the Great Masurian Lakes Trail, in the north it connects with Lake Talty under the road bridge in Mikołajki. King Sielaw - the symbol of Santa Claus - is chained to one of the bridge pillars in the spring.

In the south-eastern part, Lake Mikołajskie connects with Lake Śniardwy, and in the south-western part, it connects directly with Lake Bełdany. The Promenade runs along the eastern shore of the lake, while the Piska Forest stretches on the western shore of the lake.

Lake Mykolaiv also had its dark moment. On August 21, 2007, a strong wind blowing at a speed of up to 130 km/h (12 on the Beaufort scale) overturned and sank several dozen boats. As a result of the storm, which lasted only 10 minutes, 8 people were killed and 3 are considered missing.

3. Sailing village in Mikołajki

The Sailing Village is nothing more than the largest port in Mykolaiv, with long traditions. It is accessible from the Promenade. It is here that the Shanty Festival takes place every year and regattas are organized.

4. Mikołajki Market Square

Market Square, or Freedom Square, is the central point of Mikołajki. In the middle of the square there is a fountain depicting the King of Sielaw - a fish with a crown, which is a symbol of the city and found in the coat of arms. 

The most impressive building here is the former town hall from 1888. There is also a Tourist Information Point on the Market Square, from where you can start visiting Mikołajki.

5. Kajki Street in Mikołajki

Anyone who has crossed Kajki Street knows Mikołajki. This is a popular saying here, because Kajki Street - the oldest and most picturesque in the city - is like the essence of Mikołajki. 

Kajki Street stretches for 2.5 km along the shore of Lake Mikołajskie. On its high shore, the traditional Masurian architecture has been preserved.

6. Footbridge in Mikołajki

The pedestrian and bicycle footbridge was built quite recently, in the place of an older pedestrian footbridge, which hindered the movement of ships. The new footbridge is beautiful, spectacular and beautifully lit in the evening. It sparkles with different colors. 

The pedestrian and bicycle footbridge in Mikołajki allows you to walk comfortably away from the noise of cars and enjoy beautiful views of Lake Mikołajskie and Tałty, with yachts and ships passing here every now and then. Under the footbridge, it is worth stopping for a sunset, directing your eyes towards Lake Talty, which begins conventionally at the nearby car bridge.

7. "Łuknajno Lake" reserve in Mikołajki

The "Łuknajno Lake" reserve is a very valuable reserve, entered by UNESCO in 1976 on the list of biosphere reserves. It is an ornithological reserve with the largest dumb swan colony not only in Poland but also in Europe. Other birds also live here, 170 species have been found. 

You will see this lake, among others, from the observation tower near the Łuknajno farm. The tower is available free of charge, about 200 meters from the free parking lot at Folwark. Around Lake Łuknajno there is an 18 km long bicycle and pedestrian path with additional towers.

8. Tower at Lake Śniardwy in Mikołajki

The observation tower at the Łuknajno Farm allows you to admire the immensity of Poland's largest Lake Śniardwy. It is so large that it is sometimes called the Masurian Sea. 

The entrance to the tower is paid in Folwark, but guests of restaurants and rooms in Folwark can use the experience free of charge. It is a very charming corner in nature.

9. Lake Tałty in Mikołajki

Lake Talty is the deepest lake on the Great Masurian Lakes trail. It is 12.5 km long and 1.8 km wide. The average depth of the lake is about 14 m, but the largest depth is as much as 50.8 m and is located near Skorupek. 

In Mikołajki, this lake connects with Lake Mikołajskie, by the road bridge. Here you will see magical sunsets!

10. Masurian Landscape Park

The Masurian Landscape Park protects the abundance of local forests, peat bogs, lakes and flowing waters. It is a beautiful natural place. It was established in 1977 and covers parts of the following municipalities: Piecki, Mrągowo, Świętajno, Ruciane-Nida, Mikołajki, Orzysz and Pisz. 

Within the Masurian Landscape Park, there is the largest lake in Poland, Śniardwy, and the northern part of the Piska Forest with the Krutynia River. In total, the Park includes 60 lakes with an area of over 1 ha!

11. Museum of the Polish Reformation in Mikołajki

This interesting museum devoted to the history of the Reformation in Poland was established in Mikołajki in 1973. Among the exhibits you will also see, of course, those showing the life and culture of the former inhabitants of Masuria. 

Old prints related to the faith of the ancient Masurians are interesting. Among the collections, the Polish Bible published in Magdeburg in 1726 is valuable. The museum is located next to the Evangelical church and is open during the tourist season.

12. Holy Trinity Evangelical Church in Mikołajki

The Evangelical-Augsburg church in Mikołajki dates from the 19th century, and more precisely from 1842. It is a classicist church of the Holy Trinity designed by Karol Fryderyk Schinkel. 

It is visible from a distance, because it is characterized by a high clock tower in a sand color. It towers over the lake, and was built 38 years later than the temple itself.

13. Lookout tower in the church of St. Nicholas in Mikołajki

St. Nicholas Church is a red brick temple with a high tower, open to tourists in summer. From the vantage point on the church tower, you can see the city and the area with five lakes. The tower is 30 meters high!

14. Kirkut in Mikołajki

The Jewish cemetery was established in the city in the second half of the 19th century. It is located at Dybowska Street. The oldest tombstone preserved here dates back to 1881.

15. Church of Our Lady of the Rosary in Mikołajki

The Church of Our Lady of the Rosary is a neo-Gothic church built in 1910 for evangelicals. During World War II, the building served as a firehouse, and later even became a stable for Russian troops.

16. Research Station of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Popielno

About 9 km from Mikołajek, there is an interesting research station in Popielno, where you will meet Polish horses, beavers and bison. A guided walk is payable and possible every day during the tourist season. You can reach the place by ferry running in the summer at Wierzba, for a fee.

Map of Mikołajki attractions

Below you will find a map with marked Mikołajki attractions to make it easier to plan your visit to this city.

Our film about Santa Claus

Check out our video from Mikołajki with a charming walk along the promenade and Kajki Street and beautiful views from the lakes. We invite you!

Where to eat in Mikołajki?

We have many gastronomic possibilities in Mikołajki. A tavern or restaurant is waiting at the Promenade every few steps. On the Promenade there is the Tavern Pod Broken Pagajem, and nearby there is the interesting Sopra restaurant (28 Kajki Street). At the footbridge, the Port of Taste (Pl. Wolności 13) and the Restaurant Pantry (Plac Handlowy 14). The Knife in the Water Restaurant (Kasztanowa Avenue) at Ekomarin is also worth recommending.

You can also taste interesting flavours in hotel restaurants. Very good food is offered by Hotel Robert's Port in Stare Sady, and if you want to experience the luxury of a mega taste in the center of Mikołajki, then go to Hotel Mikołajki Leisure & Spa behind the city beach, additionally with a beautiful view.

Accommodation in Mikołajki

Mikołajki as a very popular resort among tourists offers a wide range of accommodation in various standards. In the very center, on the promenade and on Kajki Street, there are guest houses and hotels waiting for you. The Mikołajki Guest House is quite large, looking at Lake Mikołajskie, while the nearby Kameralny Resort on Kajki Street invites you with its beautiful doors. The 5-star Hotel Mikołajki at Spacerowa Street cuts into the lake.

And if you want to get away from the bustling center of Mikołajki, the large and very family Hotel Robert's Port is waiting for you in Stare Sady on Lake Tałty. It offers a nice family holiday, with meals, activities for children, baking sausages and other attractions. The hotel has its own fleet, so you can take a cruise to Mikołajki and not only, either with a smaller ship like Sybilla or the huge Gałczyński.

You can also spend an interesting night in the vicinity of nature, in the Łuknajno Farm. A few steps from here, you can reach the observation tower by the Śniardwy Lake and about 200 meters to the tower above the Łuknajno Reserve. A very atmospheric place.

Here you will find a wide selection of accommodations. By booking your stay on Booking.com through our link, you support the development of our blog — and we thank you in advance! It helps us reach many interesting places that we later love to show you and share our experiences and information with you.

Getting to Mikołajki

Although Mikołajki is an extremely popular tourist town, it is not easy to reach it - also by car. There is no expressway nearby, only the country road number 16 and voivodeship roads remain. Even from not so distant Warsaw (about 220 km), the journey may take about 3.5 hours. On the spot, traffic is also very slow, because the city is located on two banks of lakes connected by only one bridge. It will also not be easy to park your car, as there are few large car parks and they are usually paid (approx. PLN 30-40 per day). In the center there is a paid parking zone operating from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., although these are only separate streets (3 May, Plac Wolności, Wawrzyniec Prusa, Dybowska). The price for the first hour is about PLN 4 (2022).

You will not get to Mikołajki by train, because there is no railway station here. There is a railway station in Giżycko and a change to the bus station. You can also use private coach carriers offering rides from Olsztyn or Warsaw.

Events in Mikołajki

Mikołajki is a popular resort, every year there are many tourists, including famous names. Therefore, there can be no shortage of parties here. Santa Claus Days are held at the turn of June and July. Then the launching ritual of King Sielaw takes place here, combined with a parade of vessels. 

There are also typical sailing events, such as the Sailing Song Festival or Sailing Regattas. These events take place in the Sailing Village at the Promenade.

History of Santa Claus

The first mention of Mikołajki comes from 1444, when the Grand Teutonic Master Konrad von Erlichshausen gave Wawrzyniec Prus the lands located next to the church village of Mikołajki. The name Santa Claus comes from Santa Claus - the patron saint of the chapel on the wind hill. According to legends, Nicholas was a keeper of sailors and water crossings. Permanently, this name became part of the name, initially of a village, and from 1726 of a city. And although this name changed over the centuries, it always retained the name of the patron saint - St. Nicolas, Niclausdorf or Nikolaiken.

The first village called Mikołajki included the areas of today's Evangelical church, 3 Maja Street and the Market Square - Plac Wolności. On the other side was the village of Kozłowo, with which Mikołajki communicated only by boat. It was not until 1515 that a wooden bridge was built connecting both banks. Today, a footbridge is suspended here - a characteristic and popular place in the city. It is the narrowest crossing on the entire waterway. Earlier, a chain was stretched between the two shores of the lake. If someone wanted to swim to the other side, they had to pay a fee. Part of this fee was transferred to the Teutonic Knights, who built a manor and an inn in Mikołajki by the bridge, and also had a monopoly on fishing.

Rent a car

Exploring becomes much easier when you have your own means of transport. You don’t have to worry about buses or taxis, and you can plan each day your way. The search box below will help you find the right car – right where your journey begins.

What's worth seeing in the area?

If you are looking for more ideas for interesting places to visit, we have it for you some options in the area. There are several attractions within a radius of 100 kilometers, that are worth adding to your travel plan.

• Masuria, distance: 4.3  km
• Olsztyn, distance: 72.2  km
• Warmia, distance: 72.2  km
• Gołdap, distance: 76.8  km
• National parks in Poland, distance: 78.2  km
• Biebrza National Park, distance: 80.1  km
• Podlasie, distance: 82.9  km
• Suwałki, distance: 95  km