Lake Drawsko with kids - WAJK campsite, Siemczyno Palace and Drahim Castle

Lake Drawsko is about 80 m deep and the second deepest lake in Poland, after Hancza. It covers more than 1800 ha and has over a dozen islands. We spent five days there in August 2022, in the middle of our "mountains, lake and sea" summer.

This time we were a bigger group: we met friends at the campsite and explored the area together. Our youngest daughter, still a baby then, came with us, and so did Lamia, our golden retriever.

WAJK campsite in the forest by the lake

On 8 August, a day after we came back from the Karkonosze, we drove from home to the Drawsko Lake District. We put up our tent at the WAJK campsite in Piaseczno, a few kilometres from Czaplinek. The campsite is in a forest by a bay of Lake Drawsko, in the Drawsko Landscape Park. It has its own beach with jetties.

On the first evening a sand turtle appeared on the beach.

In the morning our youngest sat in the entrance to the tent and watched the campsite.

The town beach in Czaplinek

On 9 August we went to the town beach in Czaplinek. There is a jetty, lifeguards in season and a lawn with benches. Lamia hid from the sun under a bench.

Siemczyno Palace: a museum where you can touch things

On 10 August we drove to Siemczyno. There is a baroque palace there, built in 1722-1726 in a horseshoe shape. Until 1945 it belonged to the von Bredow family, and since 2019 it has been home to the Museum of the Pomeranian Land.

The cellars hold the Interactive Baroque Museum. Its motto is "here you can touch, search and ask", and that is exactly how it was. What we remember:

• the "Wardrobe" room with old costumes and big mirrors,
• an old keyboard instrument that our daughters tried to play,
• a table with wooden blocks, which we used to build tall towers,
• painted landscape backdrops where you can take a photo.

After the museum we went back to the campsite by the lake.

Drahim Castle and fish at Roman's

On 11 August we drove to Stare Drawsko, to Drahim Castle. Its story starts in 1286, when Duke Przemysl II gave this land to the Knights Templar. After the order was dissolved, the Knights Hospitaller took over and built a brick castle in the 14th century. It was destroyed in 1758.

At the castle we tried on a knight's helmet and held a shield.

After the castle we had fish at "Ryba Romana" (Roman's Fish), a fish bar and smokehouse in Stare Drawsko, right by the lake.

Our last day at Lake Drawsko

On 12 August we went to the lake at the "Czaplinek" campsite in town, and in the evening we went back to WAJK. The next day we packed the tent and drove to the sea, to Rowy.

Practical info

Checked in November 2026.

• WAJK campsite (Piaseczno near Czaplinek): open from April to the end of September. Tent pitch per night: adult 30 zł, child aged 6-16 15 zł, large tent 30 zł, car 30 zł, electricity 25 zł, plus a tourist tax of 2 zł per person. Showers, a camp kitchen and wifi are included.
• Town beach in Czaplinek: Drahimska street, lifeguards from late June to the end of August, 10:00-18:00. The "Czaplinek" campsite next door rents out kayaks.
• Siemczyno Palace: the museum's website does not list opening hours or prices, so it is best to call before you go.
• Drahim Castle: tickets 25 zł for adults, 20 zł reduced. Open every day in summer, after the season only if you contact them first.