Updated photos of The Bagry Lake from June 2023

Relax Lakeside in Krakow

The Bagry (Zalew Bagry) is somewhere I had always wanted to go.  My students always talked about it, but it was hard to imagine.  Really? You can wakeboard in Krakow?! And also windsurf, or swim, or kayak, or take a mini-yacht?  I thought they had to be playing a trick on me.  So, with the recent cold weather across Europe finally ending, and the heat of July finally setting in, I made my way.  I had found on In Your Pocket’s website some basic directions for how to get there, so I started with that (which was only a little helpful) and a map…. and now for you, I present the full directions for how to get to The Bagry.

Logistics

Coming from the Tourist Town (Edit: I don’t know why I call the Old Town, Tourist Town here! But I guess it’s true):

1. The easiest way from the Old Town is to get yourself to either the Teatr Bagatela tram stop to catch Tram 20— or get to Plac Wszystkich Swietych 2t to catch Tram 6. If you are staying in Kazimierz you can catch Tram 6 from Stradom 2t. {Not familiar with the trams? Learn how to ride them successfully here.  And remember once you learn how to use the route planner jakdojade, you can build your best route based on where you are actually coming from.

2.  No matter which tram you catch- you will get off at the stop Rzebika.  (About a 15 minute ride, it is the next to last stop).

3.  When you get off the tram, cross the street so that you are walking towards the grocery store Biedronka.  Then take a a right onto Lanowa.  At the end of this street you will be at The Bagry!!!  (In total only a 750m walk).

4. Walk around the left side of the lake to get to the swimming areas; bathing beaches, food carts etc…

The Bagry: What’s That? What’s There?

Swimming

If you follow the path to the left, you will walk along the lake, with open fields to your left, perfect for picnicing, and eventually reach the designated swimming area.  Here there is a little beach, complete with sand and sun, and a few lifeguards for safety.  They even treat the water in this section so it is always safe for swimming!  And you will find lines floating in the water to designate water-depths.  Nearby are also some ice-cream and snack stores [Edit: they now have more food offerings than before, and a much larger sand area than these pictures show. The Bagry was updated recently and it has greatly added to the amount of space for sunbathing and swimming.]

Boats, Boats, Boats….

Keep going around the lake and you will find several rental points offering different water-craft.  From kayaks, to mini yachts, to paddle-boats and bicycles, you can even go wind-surfing or sailing!  At the last rental point, there is a restaurant as well, offering full meals, beer, etc… You will see lots of local kids swimming about, and playing, as many of them come to this complex for swimming lessons. [Edit: I cannot guarantee this complex is still here– and please keep in mind the photo of pricing was from 2015- so they are much higher now. But entrance to the lake is of course free.]

Wakeboarding

Walking straight on Lanowa, you will run straight into the lake and WakePoint.  Here is where you can pay to get a board, wetsuit, helmet, and instructor to teach you how to wakeboard on the lake.  What is really cool is that you aren’t holding onto a line attached to a boat, but actually to a line that is attached to what I can only describe as a zip-line aparatus, that is controlled by an instructor to help you get speed!  There are even a few jumps for the more adventerous!  And they have a little bar with snacks and ice-cream too.  Watch their awesome video here. And if this is something you are interested in, check their website and get in touch with them to learn their current schedule. 

What I Thought

So, that’s the logistics and the layout, but what was it really like?  I had a wonderful time the afternoon I went.  I watched the kids wakeboarding for a while, and then I headed down to check out the rentals, talked to some of the people there who were really friendly, and then ended up back at the designated swimming area, where for a few hours I read a book, swam around, and caught a sun-tan.  I grew up at the beach, and having this body of water to splash around in, is like having a little piece of home with me here in Krakow, one much less crowded than the beaches at home.  And all if cost me was two 2.80zl tram tickets.

The Bagry isn’t anything spectacular if you’re used to lakes or seas, but if you’ve been back-packing around Europe for months, and need a little city-break but don’t want to go far, it is a welcome attraction.  Or hey, just here for a few days, and the sweltering heat in the city is hitting you hard?  Go take a dip at The Bagry!

If you’re looking for less sand- and more beautiful landscapes while you are swimming- head to Zakrzowek instead.

Don’t forget if you have any questions, comments, or want us to make you a custom made list or itinerary, you can always email us at emilysguidetokrakow@gmail.com