Olsztyn's main appeal as a base is access to the Mazurian Lakes, Poland's great lake district, which begins about an hour's drive east — a maze of interconnected lakes, sailing routes, and reedy shores that fills with boats and kayakers all summer. Closer to town, the Grunwald Battlefield makes an easy half-day trip for anyone drawn to the medieval clash that shaped Polish history, and the rolling Warmian countryside around it is pleasant driving in its own right.
