Things to see and do in Augustów and the surrounding area

Lake Necko — beach and water sports

VITA is located beside Lake Necko, a flow-through lake. The private beach has sand, a gently sloping entry into the water and a jetty. Kayaks, a pedal boat, a rowing boat and a SUP board are included in your stay (the SUP requires a refundable deposit of 200 PLN) — set off straight from our beach. Check the current rules for bathing areas and water services outside VITA directly with the operators. Augustów's public beach is by the boulevard, about 3 km from VITA.

Boulevard along the Netta River and Lake Necko

A promenade along the Netta River and Lake Necko. The Polish Radio Three Pier, ice cream and Augustów's famous blueberry buns. An evening walk overlooking the lake is a must.

Augustów Canal — a Historic Monument

The Augustów Canal is a historic waterway running through lakes, forests and locks. Cruises along different routes depart from Augustów. Check the current journey time, route, timetable and tickets directly with the operator. The marina by the boulevard is about 3 km from VITA.

Cruise timetable and tickets — Żegluga Augustowska (official website)

Augustów Meadery and Museum of Tree Beekeeping Culture

This place grew from a passion for tree beekeeping and home mead making. The museum tells the story of tree beekeeping, displays the “tree-hive sarcophagus” and has an educational area devoted to bee biology. The organiser confirms the current scope of the exhibition directly.

A visit can be combined with a mead tasting. The organiser directly confirms the current tour languages, dates, programme and availability.

Workshops and additional attractions: tree-beekeeping workshops, candle-making with beeswax sheets and beeswax, a walk through the Kalejty Reserve with a tree beekeeper, and tastings of local products — smoked fish, Biebrza cheeses, sękacz cake and marcinek cake. It is a good idea for a rainy day or a group trip for rural women's associations, seniors, companies and school groups.

For a group visit, the range of workshops, availability, group size and travel arrangements must be confirmed with the organiser. We help groups staying at VITA coordinate the date — simply mention it when booking your stay.

Augustów Meadery — official website

Augustów Forest — walking and cycling trails

The Augustów Forest offers marked walking and cycling trails as well as places for a peaceful walk and mushroom picking. Before setting out, check the current route, its difficulty, field notices and any closures with the site manager.

Green Velo — accommodation right on the route

The Green Velo route network runs through the Augustów region and connects with local loops around the lakes. Bicycles are included in your stay, you have somewhere secure to leave them, you can have breakfast before setting off and dry your things after rain. Check the current route and length of your chosen option in the official route planner.

Official Green Velo planner · loop around Lakes Białe and Studzieniczne

Wigry National Park

Lake Wigry — one of Poland's most beautiful lakes. The Camaldolese Monastery stands on a lakeside peninsula. Walking, cycling and kayaking routes. Well worth a full-day trip.

Official Wigry National Park website

Wigry Narrow-Gauge Railway

The historic forest railway departs from the station in Płociczno-Tartak and follows a scenic route through the Augustów Forest and Wigry National Park, with viewpoint stops by Lake Wigry.

The timetable changes seasonally. Before travelling, check current services, availability and tickets directly with the organiser.

Enter the full name “Płociczno Tartak” in your navigation app, as “Płociczno” alone may lead to the wrong place.

Railway excursion details · online tickets

Lake Hańcza

Lake Hańcza is popular with divers and visitors seeking the landscapes of the Suwałki Region. Before travelling, check current information from the site manager about shore access, rules for using the area and conditions for divers.

Official Suwałki Landscape Park website

Suwałki Landscape Park

A glacial landscape of hills, ravines and lakes around Lake Hańcza. The Bachanowo boulder field and the viewpoint on Cisowa Mountain are worth seeing. The park publishes current entry rules, route availability and field notices.

Official Suwałki Landscape Park website

Studzieniczna / Sejny / Puńsk

The Suwałki Region — Lithuanian influences, the chapel on the water in Studzieniczna, a pilgrimage site, multicultural Sejny (around 45 km) and Lithuanian Puńsk with regional specialities (around 65 km). A distinctive borderland atmosphere.

Biebrza National Park and Osowiec Fortress

The Biebrza Marshes, boardwalk nature trails over peat bogs and observation towers make this a good place for watching birds and moose. Osowiec-Twierdza is home to the park headquarters and the Tsarist Osowiec Fortress. The park publishes current entry rules, route availability and field notices.

Official Biebrza National Park website

Day trips from Augustów

Local tour operators may organise trips from Augustów to cities in Lithuania and Latvia. Destinations, dates and conditions change seasonally.

Confirm the current programme, prices, booking details and contact information directly with the organiser: Zoobi-Tour Augustów.

Rospuda and Czarna Hańcza kayaking routes

The Rospuda and Czarna Hańcza routes take you through forests, lakes and protected areas in the region. The route length, difficulty, water conditions and minimum participant age must be agreed with the kayaking operator according to current conditions and the group's experience. VITA's own kayaks are included in your stay and are intended for paddling on Lake Necko, setting off from our beach.

Sports and active leisure at VITA

A floodlit tennis court, bicycles, natural-grass sports pitches, billiards, table tennis and a gym are included in your stay. The banana boat, towable ring behind a motorboat, lakeside sauna and garden hot tub are extras; check current prices and availability in the VITA price list and confirm them before booking.

Augustów — town, restaurants and shopping

In central Augustów, you will find the market square, restaurants, shops, pharmacies, a post office and cash machines. Check the current route and journey time from VITA and your home town on the map.

Things to do with children in and around Augustów

At VITA, children have a playground by the beach, a trampoline and water sports equipment available on Lake Necko. Augustów also has attractions including the BALANS Rope Park, a swimming pool and cruises on the Augustów Canal. Check participation rules, prices and opening hours with the operators. Separate guide: things to do with children in Augustów →