Poland is not the first destination that springs to mind when one thinks of sailing holidays, but in fact the country has a rich tradition of seafaring and a 500km stretch of coast by the Baltic Sea, lined with golden beaches, sand dunes, lighthouses, coastal resorts and well-equipped marinas. Indeed the stretch of land from the German border in the West to the historic city of Gdansk is known as 'The Polish Riviera' and long been a flocking point for Poles, Russians and Germans on vacation. Now it is attracting more and more attention from further afield.

If the Baltic Coast, with the jewels of Kolobrzeg, Gdansk and Sopot, along with the Hel Peninsula and Leba Sand Dunes in the Slowinski National Park, is the obviously place to go sailing then equally attractive is the chance to charter a yacht and discover the unbelievable natural beauty of Masuria (or 'Mazury' in Polish). This North Eastern province, not far from Warsaw, is the lake district of Poland, and offers arguably the best inland sailing in Europe, with over 2,000 lakes covering 52,000 sq. kilometres and linked by an 18th century system of canals. Surrounded by forests, this wildlife-rich district offers great fishing and bird-watching opportunities as well as kayaking, swimming and mountain biking. Grilling Polish kielbasa and watching the sunset over the misty lakes with a glass of vodka is an unforgettable experience! In winter, when the water freezes over many come to the Masuria for ice-sailing and ice windsurfing.

Wherever you decide to go sailing in Poland make sure you pack a book or two by Joseph Conrad for your vacation. Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski as he was born is no doubt Poland's most famous maritime figure, even if he did make his name by writing novels in English, such as The Heart of Darkness. Sailing trips in the service of the French and British Merchant Navy inspired his novels The Arrow of Gold and Nostromo.

Whilst Poland's unspoiled natural beauty, the incredibly warm hospitality of the locals, the hearty meat-orientated cuisine and the relatively low cost of boat hire and yacht charters are major pros, obviously the weather is a bit less reliable here in Central Europe than in the Caribbean or sunny Spain. Summers can be surprisingly hot (25-30 degrees is normal in July/August), but winters are bitterly cold and you're never guaranteed a precipitation free trip any time of year. The best months to go are May to September.

Sailing Destinations in Poland

Sailing Baltic Sea > Gdansk Yacht Charter > Gdynia Yacht Charter > Sopot Yacht Charter > Sailing Masurian Lakes

Travel Links Poland

Lonely Planet Poland. The gurus of travel on fair Polska.
New York Times on Poland. Some great articles from one of the world's most respected newspapers.

Sailing & Yacht Charter Links

Millenium. Sailing boat rental company on the Masurian Lakes.
Sail-info.pl. A useful source of info on charters, races and more. Polish only at the moment.