The Swing Bridge in Giżycko OPEN AGAIN! Check Opening Hours for 2025
There is news that everyone has been waiting for with bated breath – residents, tourists, and especially sailors! After months of work and patient waiting, the pride and symbol of our city, a unique technical monument on a European scale, is fully operational again. Finally! The Swing Bridge in Giżycko, after a thorough renovation, once again connects the banks of the Łuczański Canal starting today, opening the heart of Masuria wide!
The grand return in the summer glow!
It was a long winter and spring without one of our most characteristic sights. The renovation, which began on January 7th, was necessary to restore full functionality and shine to this over 100-year-old structure. Today, July 4th, exactly at 2:30 pm, this historic moment has become a fact. The swing bridge officially resumed operation, and its reopening marks the symbolic start of the summer season in Giżycko in full splendor. Both vehicular and water traffic are returning to their natural rhythm.
Swing Bridge Giżycko – Opening Hours 2025 (until 31.10)
Planning a cruise? Or maybe a city ride? Save this schedule – it’s the key to smooth navigation around Giżycko and avoiding surprises. Remember, the procedure of opening and closing the bridge is a real spectacle and an attraction in itself!
OPEN FOR SAILORS (Water traffic):
10:30 – 11:0012:35 – 14:2517:25 – 18:25
OPEN FOR CARS AND PEDESTRIANS (Vehicular traffic):
11:05 – 12:3014:30 – 17:2018:30 – 10:25(next day)
WARNING! On August 23rd, the bridge will be closed to boaters due to the "Giżycko Wind Festival" event.
If you want to sail through the canal in September or October, arrangements must be made by phone.
Phone contact for the swing bridge operation in Giżycko: 726 888 878.
Why is our bridge so special? A short history lesson
Did you know that the Giżycko swing bridge is one of only a few such structures in Europe? Built at the end of the 19th century, it is a true engineering gem. What makes it stand out? The entire structure, weighing over 100 tons, is still manually rotated by a single operator! Thanks to a unique counterweight system and precise gearing, the strength of human muscles is enough to rotate the whole span 90 degrees and align it parallel to the quay, thus opening the waterway. This monument lives, works, and has fascinated observers unchanged for over a century.
Rediscover Giżycko with Hotel Wodnik
The reopening of the bridge is a perfect opportunity to rediscover the charms of Giżycko. From Hotel Wodnik, you can reach this extraordinary monument in just a few minutes by a pleasant walk. You can witness the spectacle of its opening and then continue your stroll towards the massive Boyen Fortress or the modern Ekomarina port. Our hotel, located in the very heart of the city, is the perfect base to be at the center of the most important events and attractions offered by the sailing capital of Poland.
Giżycko pulses with life, and its heart beats again in the rhythm of the swinging bridge. We rejoice together with residents and tourists that this important element of the Masurian landscape has returned to its place.
Come and feel this unique atmosphere! Plan your stay at Hotel Wodnik and have all the attractions of Masuria at your fingertips. Booking with us means choosing comfort and proximity to the best of Giżycko.