Lötzen (Giżycko)

Nikolaiken (Mikołajki) is a small town with over 3,300 inhabitants in the heart of the Masurian Lake District. The town lies at the narrow passage between Lake Tałty and Lake Mikołajki, which merge here, and only a few kilometres from Lake Śniardwy, Poland's largest lake. Nikolaiken was first mentioned in 1444; it received town privileges in 1726. Today, Mikołajki is one of Masuria's most important sailing centres. Along the shore are a marina, excursion boat piers, and houseboat rentals. The centre is small: restaurants and guesthouses line the market square and church square, and a pedestrian bridge, completed in 2016, connects the waterfront promenades across the narrow lake passage. About five kilometres to the east lies Lake Łuknajno, a nature reserve and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve with one of Europe's largest mute swan colonies. In the vicinity is also the Krutynia, a popular river for canoe trips.

The Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship (Warmińsko-Mazurskie) in northeastern Poland unites two historic landscapes. Ermland (Warmia) in the west was shaped for centuries by the Warmian Cathedral Chapter, whose castles and cathedrals in Allenstein (Olsztyn) and Frauenburg (Frombork) still stand today. Masuren (Mazury) in the east is known for the Masurian Lake District, featuring Lake Spirdingsee (Śniardwy), the largest lake in Poland. Until 1945, the region predominantly belonged to East Prussia. For travelers, Ermland-Masuren is primarily a destination for water sports and nature: sailing on the large lakes, excursion boats between lakeside towns, and canoe tours on rivers like the Krutynia. Additionally, there are testimonies to a turbulent history, from Copernicus and baroque pilgrimage churches to the ruins of the Wolf's Lair.

Allenstein (Olsztyn) is the capital of the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship and, with over 165,000 inhabitants, the largest city in the region. It is situated on the Łyna River (Alle) in historical Warmia and was founded in 1353. Above the Old Town stands the Castle of the Warmian Cathedral Chapter, where Nicolaus Copernicus lived from 1516 as the administrator of the chapter's estates. Since 1999, Allenstein has also been home to the University of Warmia and Masuria. Its core is the Old Town (Stare Miasto) with the High Gate, remnants of the medieval city wall, the late-Gothic Old Town Hall, and the Co-Cathedral of St. James. Surrounding it are the City Centre (Śródmieście) and districts such as Kortowo, Zatorze, and Jaroty; in total, the city is divided into 23 districts. Unusual for a large city is its proportion of water and forest: within the city limits lie more than ten lakes, the largest being Lake Ukiel with its city beach, plus a large municipal forest. Allenstein is therefore an excellent starting point for excursions into Warmia and the Masurian Lake District.

Podlachia (Podlasie) is located in the far north-east of Poland, bordering Belarus. The regional capital is Białystok. For centuries, the region has been shaped by multiple cultures: Alongside the Polish majority, the Belarusian minority lives here, Orthodox churches stand beside Catholic ones, and until World War II, Jews constituted a large part of the population in many towns. For travellers, Podlachia is primarily a destination for nature experiences. In the south-east lies the Białowieża Forest with its European bison, north-west of Białystok is the vast marsh and river valley of the Biebrza, home to Poland's largest national park. In between are small towns like Tykocin on the Narew, whose history is closely tied to the region's Jewish heritage.

Białystok is the capital of Podlaskie Voivodeship and, with approximately 290,000 inhabitants, its only large city. It lies northeast of Warsaw (Warszawa), not far from the border with Belarus. Białystok received city rights around 1691, and owes its appearance primarily to the Branicki magnate family, whose baroque palace is known as the 'Versailles of Podlachia'. In the 19th century, the city grew into an industrial center. The heart of the city center (Centrum) is Kościuszko Market (Rynek Kościuszki) with its baroque town hall. To its west, on ul. Lipowa, stand the Orthodox St. Nicholas Cathedral and, a little further on, the modernist St. Roch's Church. To the east, the Branicki Palace with its gardens and the Bojary district connect, known for its old wooden architecture and home to the Zamenhof Center. For centuries, Białystok was a city of many cultures. In 1931, around 40,000 of the approximately 100,000 inhabitants were Jewish, and there were more than 60 synagogues. Today, a Belarusian minority lives in the city, visible among other things in its Orthodox churches. Białystok is a good starting point for excursions to the Białowieża National Park in the southeast of the region.