Nature in Olsztyn
Lake Ukiel (Jezioro Krzywe)
The biggest lake inside the city itself, with a 22 km shoreline of beaches, marinas and water sports.
Reviewed and updated July 2026
What to do at Lake Ukiel in Olsztyn
Lake Ukiel, also known as Jezioro Krzywe, is the largest lake within Olsztyn and the city's main outdoor space. Its roughly 22 km of shoreline carries beaches, marinas and a spread of recreational facilities, making it the default spot for a warm-weather day out.
Water sports and beaches on Lake Ukiel
The lake supports swimming, sailing and other water sports from its beaches and marinas. Several of Olsztyn's lakeside restaurants and hotels sit directly on the Ukiel shore, so a meal with a water view is easy to combine with time by the lake.
Where Lake Ukiel is in Olsztyn
Ukiel lies on the western side of the city and is part of the wider ring of lakes that gives Olsztyn its green, watery character. It is reachable from the centre and forms a natural counterpoint to a day among the Old Town's brick landmarks.
Frequently asked questions
More natures in Olsztyn
More to explore in Olsztyn
Castle
Olsztyn Castle (Castle of the Warmian Cathedral Chapter)
The 14th-century Gothic castle where Nicolaus Copernicus lived, worked and left behind the only astronomical instrument of his that survives.
Attraction
Co-Cathedral Basilica of St James in Olsztyn
A red-brick Gothic hall church at the centre of Olsztyn's Old Town, raised for a Latin greeting.
Attraction
High Gate (Wysoka Brama)
The last of Olsztyn's three medieval gates and the most striking surviving piece of the old city walls.
Attraction
Olsztyn Old Town
A compact market square of gabled burgher houses, ringed by fragments of the medieval walls.
Attraction
Central Park (Park Centralny), Olsztyn
Central Park is a 13-hectare English-style riverside park along the Łyna in central Olsztyn, best known for its elliptical fountain whose submerged hemispheres represent the solar system.
Museum
Olsztyn Planetarium and Astronomical Observatory
A Copernicus-themed planetarium under a 15-metre dome, paired with an observatory set inside a 19th-century water tower.