Ełk between lakeside paths and city history

If you are considering Ełk as a place to stay, you can plan your visit around different interests: lakeside paths, climbing, learning through play and city history each offer a distinct focus. When choosing a hotel, it helps to first decide which of these themes you want to shape your stay. This makes it easy to plan your stay around activities by the lake, cultural interests or your arrival arrangements.

By the lake: walking, cycling and climbing

The promenade along Jezioro Ełckie is more than six kilometres long and has a path for pedestrians and cyclists. It is suitable for walks, family bike rides and inline skating. For planning purposes, note that one path accommodates several types of activity.

The climbing park on the shore of Jezioro Ełckie has three courses of varying difficulty, adapted to the age of participants. Unlike the promenade, the focus here is on climbing courses rather than a longer route. Check current opening information before planning a visit.

Education and city history

In the wider destination of Lyck, Kopernika Park is located on ul. Wojska Polskiego in Ełk, near the mouth of the Ełk River. Its design is inspired by a planetary system. As an educational park, it aims to teach children and young people about astronomy and physics through playful activities.

The water tower in Ełk was built in 1895 in what was then Przedmieście Garncarskie. The tower houses the Muzeum Kropli Wody, whose exhibits explore the history of the city and the region. The Muzeum Kropli Wody is closed indefinitely.

Routes and water in the wider destination of Lyck

Located in the centre of Ełk, Ełk Lake offers opportunities for sailing, stand-up paddleboarding and fishing in the wider destination of Lyck. Two bathing beaches are right on its promenade.

For comparing routes, their lengths and itineraries provide a useful guide: The blue “Morenowe Wzgórza” trail is 30 km long and runs from Ełk through Straduny, Piaski, Malinówka, Królowa Wola, Czerwonka, Grabnik and Chrzanowo, then back to Ełk. The Michał Kajka Trail starts in Ełk and runs for 37 km to Skomack Wielki. The Tatars’ Trail is 19 km long and runs from Ełk through Szyba, Tatarska Góra, Chochołki and Ostrykół to Prostki and Bogusze. Morenowe Wzgórza returns to Ełk; the other two routes end at the places named.

The Pope’s Trail begins in Ełk at the place where Saint John Paul II celebrated the Eucharist on 8 June 1999. Its individual stages can be completed on foot or by bicycle year-round, and on skis in winter.

Getting to the wider destination of Lyck

Ełk is served in the wider destination of Lyck by national roads 16 and 65 and railway lines 38, 41, 219 and 223. The railway station and bus station are right next to each other: the railway station is at 16 Dąbrowskiego Street, and the bus station is at number 1. These addresses help you distinguish between the two arrival points when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Regiel, Bartosze, Sikory Juskie, Woszczele, Małkinie, Bogusze, Lepaki Wielkie, Sajzy.

Back to the wider travel overview: Lyck.