The Vistula Lagoon is a much more challenging body of water than inland rivers, which is why we ought to navigate here on centreboard/keel sailboats. Unfortunately, it is also very shallow, with the depth in some places dropping below 1 m. Keep this in mind and watch out for fishing nets which should be properly marked, but not all of them are fulfilling this obligation.
Most recommended mooring spots are new marinas, built in the second decade of the 21st century, as part of the Żuławy Loop.
The Vistula Lagoon is a large body of water with an area of 838 km2, 328 km2 (40%) of which is located in Poland, and the remaining part – known as the Kaliningrad Lagoon – is located on the Russian side of the border. It is the second largest body of water on the southern shore of the Baltic Sea, surpassed only by the Curonian Lagoon in western Lithuania, which is connected to the Vistula Lagoon by the rivers Pregoyla and Dejma. The Vistula Lagoon is 90.7 km long (the Polish section – 35.1 km) and its width ranges from 6.8 to 13 km. It is a shallow waterbody with an average depth of 2.7 m, and the surface area of the Polish section of the Lagoon is three times larger than the biggest lake in Poland, Lake Śniardwy.
The Polish section of the Vistula Lagoon is only indirectly connected with the Baltic Sea – through the Szkarpawa and Vistula rivers. On the Russian side, the Kaliningrad Lagoon connects to the Baltic Sea via Pilawa Strait, also known as Baltic Strait. There is also the Kaliningrad Canal, leading further towards Kaliningrad, whose depth ranges from 10-11 m (for commercial and military reasons). The Vistula Lagoon connects the Polish and western European inland waterway networks with Russian and Lithuanian waters.
The southern section of the Vistula Lagoon is called the Elbląg Bay. It is a very shallow part of the Lagoon (1-1.5 m deep), with a waterway on its edge that is min. 2.2 m deep. The Elbląg Bay offers tiny marinas for yachts with a draught of up to 1.5 m. You can find them in Suchacz, Kamienica Elbląska, and Jagodna. The Elbląg Bay Nature Reserve was established here in 1991.
On the Warmian-Masurian side, you can find the following marinas: Kamienica Elbląska, Nabrzeże, Suchacz, Kadyny, Tolkmicko, Frombork, Nowa Pasłęka. On the northern side of the Lagoon, manager by the Pomeranian Voivodeship, you can stop at these marinas: Kąty Rybackie, Krynica Morska, Piaski.
The Elbląg river flows out of Lake Druzno and ends its 20 km course in the Vistula Lagoon. The river is very navigation-friendly. The last obstacle – a pontoon bridge in Nowakowo – will be replaced by a swing bridge in 2023, and depth the river itself will be increased to 5 metres – all of this is part of the investment including the construction of a canal through the Vistula Spit. The Elbląg will take us to a bird sanctuary – Druzno Lake – further to the Elbląg Canal, as well as Ostróda and Iława – towns that are particularly famous among water sports afficionados.
The Pasłęka is 211 km long and it is navigable only along the 9-km section to Nowa Pasłęka, where we can find a newly-built mooring platform. The only obstacle here is one drawbridge that is no longer functioning. The Pasłęka can take us all the way to Braniewo (9 km).
In the city of Elbląg, the Elbląg river is regarded as internal sea water and a fairway of the Elbląg harbour. There are several marinas in the city and a renovated wharf, right at the Zygmunt August Boulevard. In 2021, a new marina of the “Grupa Wodna” group was opened, together with a water equipment rental (canoes, motor boats, sailboats, pedal boats) open in the summer season. We recommend stopping to visit the Old Town that was renovated using “retroversion” – a rather controversial technique, nonetheless used in multiple cities worldwide. During the renovation scientists conducted a thorough archaeological research, which is why the Elbląg Museum has one of the richest collections of urban archaeology exhibits in the world. The museum is located right by the river and you should definitely check it out.
Frombork is the largest town on the southern shore of the Vistula Lagoon, with a sea border crossing for yachts sailing to Kaliningrad. The port will be further developed and deepened to 3.5 m – the works started in 2021. We recommend stopping to visit Wzgórze Katedralne (EN: Cathedral Hill), with its medieval cathedral where Nicolaus Copernicus rests, as well as the museum devoted to the most famous Polish astronomer himself, who made his most important discovery – right in Frombork.
Kąty Rybackie is the harbour on the Lagoon which is the closes to the mouths of the Wisła Królewiecka and the Szkarpawa. You can find several marinas here. There is also the Żuławy Wiślane Museum right next to the harbour, and a cormorant reserve – also nearby. These birds are protected in many countries but are becoming quite a hassle for the Vistula Spit. They are destroying trees over an area of 100 ha, which is why experts aim to actually reduce the colony residing in the region.
Krynica Morska is a famous spot for tourists. You can easily navigate from here to Frombork and there are always plenty of yachts in the harbour. You should definitely visit the local lighthouse or climb Wielbłądzi Grzbiet (EN: Camel’s Back) to take a good look over the Vistula Lagoon and the Bay of Gdańsk, from the height of 49.5 metres.
Piaski is the last Polish town in front of the Russian border, offering a marina and beautiful beaches. It is the perfect place for nature-lovers looking for peace and a place to relax.
Suchacz is a small village with a marina, located on the southern shore of the Vistula Lagoon. In 1463, Suchacz was a witness of a large sea battle between the combined forces of Gdańsk and Elbląg defeated the Teutonic Knights – a special boulder commemorates this event.
Tolkmicko is beautifully situated right on the Vistula Lagoon. About 4 km from the town, in the waters of the Lagoon, you can find the so called „Holy Stone” – a former sacrificial altar of the Prussians – which is almost 14 metres in circumference. There is also a marina built as part of the „Żuławy Loop” project.
