Olsztyn Travel Guide, Poland

Olsztyn, also known as Allenstein, is the capital of the Warmian-Mazurian Voievodeship, a region in the North-Eastern part of Poland. Founded in the 14th century by the Order of Teutonic Knights, Olsztyn has grown to be the main economic and academic centre in the region. This Olsztyn Travel Guide highlights some important aspects related to Olsztyn’s economy, transport and accommodation facilities.

Olsztyn Travel Guide – Geography and Climate

The area of Poland where Olsztyn is situated is widely known as the “Region of Thousand Lakes” (there are 15 lakes in the close proximity of Olsztyn). When the castle of Olsztyn was built, the left bank of the Łyna River had to be deforested. Pine tree and aspen forests still cover a large surface o the Warmian-Mazurian region, offering a spectacular display of nuances every autumn. The climate of Olsztyn is continental, with cold winters and warm summers. The best time for visiting are May and September, as the weather is mainly sunny and there are few precipitations.

Olsztyn Travel Guide – Transport

There is no international airport in Olsztyn, but the city has good connections with Gdansk, Poznan and Warsaw (a train journey takes less than 4 hours). Polish people prefer to travel by train, so it can be a little difficult to find buses (however, buses do exist and are comfortable and much cheaper than the train). Olsztyn is a small city of 174 000 inhabitants), so you can see most attractions by visiting on foot. The public transportation is provided by a network of buses – MPK Olsztyn.

Olsztyn Travel Guide – Accommodation

Olsztyn is a bit too small for fancy hotels like Hilton of Marriot, but the advantage is that you can find decent accommodation for very good rates. The list of 3-star hotels includes Hotel Novotel Olsztyn, Hotel Mrongivia, Nad Pisa Hotel, Hotel Kopernic or Warminski Hotel. Budget travelers will be delighted to discover Wysoka Brama, offering a bed in a historical building for almost nothing (students can also try the dormitories in Kortowo campus).

Olsztyn Travel Guide – Attractions around Olsztyn

Despite the fact that this article is named ‘Olsztyn Travel Guide’, the surroundings of Olsztyn deserve their share. Olsztyn, like the entire Warmian-Mazurian region, is a capital of outdoor sports. From, boating, fishing, hiking or horse-riding to paragliding and bird-watching, you have the opportunity to try your skills in any sport you want. Not very far from Olsztyn, you can find Jeziorak Lake, the longest in Poland and hosting hundreds of competitions throughout the year. Just a few miles outside Olsztyn you can visit the small town of Olsztynek, famous for its castle and Village Museum.