Discover Augustow: Water, Trails and Culture

For your travel planning, Augustów offers several clearly distinct themes: water sports on Lake Necko, trails along the Netta River and Bystry Canal, canal history and regional specialties. If you are looking for a hotel in Augustow, you can consider which of these aspects of the city you would like to shape your stay.

Water activities on Lake Necko

Lake Necko has a 740-metre water-ski cable lift, built in 1999. Check whether it is currently operating before your visit. Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) is also suitable on the lakes of Augustów. The Augustów city beach on Lake Necko has the 147-metre Molo Radiowej Trójki pier. The cable lift and pier are specifically associated with Lake Necko, while SUP is possible on the lakes of Augustów. This makes it possible to distinguish the named water activities by whether they relate to a single lake or to the city’s lakes more broadly.

Trails and nature themes

The city boulevards along the Netta River, Lake Necko and Bystry Canal are suitable for walking and Nordic walking. Augustów has around 10 kilometres of city trails for pedestrians and cyclists. This approximate total length describes the trail network, not the length of a single route. This allows you to distinguish between the named boulevard areas and the extent of the city trails without reading the total as a specific distance for a walk.

Along the Netta River and Bystry Canal, information boards explain ecosystem services and the work of beneficial animals. A walk or a Nordic walking session can also offer a thematic perspective on these connections. The trails link different points of interest: the named areas along the Netta, Lake Necko and the canal, on the one hand, and the information on the boards, on the other.

Bystry Canal and the city’s history

Bystry Canal is an artificial canal dating from 1834–1835. It channels excess water from the Netta River reservoir and the lakes of Augustów to Lake Sajno. Its date and function give the canal both historical and water-engineering significance. In addition to the trails along the canal, its role in draining water is also a focus.

The Museum of the History of the Augustów Canal is located in the so-called Prądzyński House, a reconstruction of the original 19th-century port administration office. The building dates from the 1880s. On a viewing terrace overlooking Lake Necko, a sculpture and a multimedia bench commemorate singer Maria Koterbska. The bench plays her best-known songs for visitors. The history of the canal and the musical tribute to Maria Koterbska thus stand side by side as distinct cultural themes.

Regional specialties

Kartacze are a regional dish: large, oval potato dumplings made from raw and cooked potatoes and filled with seasoned minced meat. By contrast, Augustowska Jagodzianka is a soft, light yeast bun with a generous filling of fresh wild blueberries. It is included on the European Union’s list of traditional products. The two specialties differ in form and ingredients: potato and a savoury minced-meat filling on the one hand, yeast dough and wild blueberries on the other. For travellers who take regional cuisine into account when choosing a destination, these offer two specific culinary points of interest.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Jabłońskie, Bryzgiel, Rudawka, Kopanica, Jaminy, Blizna, Cisówek, Sztabin.

Go to the overview of the wider region: Augustowski.