Mikołajki is built for the water. Sailing, kayaking, windsurfing, and motorboat hire are available from marinas on both Lake Mikołajskie and Lake Tałty. In winter, ice sailing on the frozen lakes draws enthusiasts from across Poland. On land, a network of cycling and walking trails fans out through the forests and lake shores surrounding the town. The Legend of the King of Vendaces is the town's founding myth — a giant fish said to rule these waters — and the bronze statue chained to a bridge pillar at the northern end of town commemorates it.