Mountains and National Parks

Małopolska is an extraordinary region, especially in terms of natural beauty. Its landscape features fantastical rock formations and the hot sands of a desert, the picturesque ribbon of the Vistula River and the Dunajec cutting through cliffs, the green Beskids and the bare peaks of the Tatras, shadowy caves and roaring waterfalls… As much as 55.3% of Małopolska’s area is under nature protection. The region is home to 6 national parks, 11 landscape parks, 10 protected landscape areas, and 86 nature reserves. There are also over 2,000 natural monuments. Two areas—the Babia Góra and Tatra National Parks—have been recognized as UNESCO biosphere reserves, places of global significance with unique natural value.

Tatra National Park (TPN)

It is the only high-mountain national park in Poland, protecting the highest of the country’s mountains. It includes two distinct areas – the High Tatras and the Western Tatras. Among the most notable features of inanimate nature in the park are Poland’s highest peak, Rysy (2,499 m a.s.l.), the lake Morskie Oko at its base, and the lakes of the Valley of Five Polish Lakes.

The most famous Tatra caves, of which there are estimated to be over 800, include Wielka Śnieżna Cave (the deepest and longest in Poland, though not open to visitors), and those accessible to tourists: Mroźna, Raptawicka, Mylna, and Obłazkowa, as well as Smocza Jama and the small Dziura Cave. The park is also home to waterfalls such as Mickiewicz’s Waterfalls and Wielka Siklawa – the highest waterfall in Poland (70 m).

In 1992, Tatra National Park and its Slovak counterpart (TANAP) were designated a UNESCO International Biosphere Reserve.

The national park is very well developed for tourism, and even the most scenic areas are accessible to people with disabilities.

Especially worth seeing:

Morskie Oko is a glacial cirque-moraine lake. It was once called Fish Pond or Fish Lake because it is one of the few naturally fish-populated lakes in the Tatras. The trail to Morskie Oko starts at the parking lot in Palenica Białczańska. Marked with a red trail, the route gently ascends and takes about 3 hours. Morskie Oko captivates with the stunning panorama that surrounds it. A walk around the lake is also recommended to admire the PTTK Morskie Oko mountain hut from the opposite shore. More persistent hikers can continue on to Czarny Staw under Rysy, enjoying a new perspective on Morskie Oko along the way.

The cable car to Kasprowy Wierch (at an altitude of 1,987 m a.s.l.) has, since 1936, allowed visitors to embark on a journey into the world of Tatra nature seen from a bird’s-eye view. It is the only high-mountain cable car in Poland. The lower station is located in Kuźnice, Zakopane, the intermediate station is at Myślenickie Turnie, and the upper station is at the summit of Kasprowy Wierch. Operating year-round, the cable car carries 60 people in a suspended cabin. Kasprowy Wierch is not only the most well-known peak in Poland but also the only place where one can feel, even for a moment, like being in the Alps. The upper station is located just 25 meters below the summit. There you will also find a restaurant, restrooms, a waiting area, and a small shop. The summit offers breathtaking views. Visitors can admire the High Tatras and Western Tatras, as well as Zakopane and nearby villages nestled in the valleys at the foot of the mountains.

Pieniński Park Narodowy

Established in 1932, Pieniny National Park is the oldest in Poland. Together with its Slovak counterpart, it protects the main ridge of the Pieniny Mountains from Czorsztyn to Szczawnica, with the impressive rocky peaks of Trzy Korony (the highest peak in the park, 982 m a.s.l.), Sokolica, Czerteż, and Czertezik, as well as the unique Dunajec River Gorge, winding through the limestone rocks of the Pieniny. A rarity among the park’s fauna is one of the last remaining habitats in Poland of the Apollo butterfly (Parnassius apollo).

Especially worth seeing:

Rafting down the Dunajec River – the park’s most famous tourist attraction is the traditional wooden raft ride down the Dunajec River. In the past, the rafting was done in dugout boats made from poplar trees, but today the rafts consist of five sections made from pine planks tied together with rope. These raft sections can be quickly disassembled for transport. Each rafting raft holds 12 passengers and two raftmen who steer it. The trip lasts between 2 and 3 hours, depending on the weather and water level. While taking in the views, the raftmen share entertaining stories about Pieniny legends and interesting events from the region. It's worth experiencing the Dunajec Gorge in different seasons, as the changing vegetation offers spectacular scenery.

Redyk – the seasonal sheep grazing. Redyk begins on Saint Adalbert’s Day (April 23) and ends on Saint Michael’s Day (September 29). During this period, shepherds can be seen grazing sheep in the mountain pastures. Starting in late April, the shepherds’ huts (traditional wooden shelters) come back to life, inviting visitors with the pleasant scent of smoked cheese. In Małopolska, sheep's milk is used to produce regional cheese – oscypek (a hard smoked cheese) as well as milder varieties such as bryndza and bundz, and the refreshing drink żętyca. A particularly spectacular event is the autumn Redyk in Szczawnica, during which shepherds with their helpers drive the sheep from the mountain pastures to the places where they will spend the cold winter. This unique event, deeply rooted in local tradition, attracts numerous tourists every year who want to see flocks of sheep walking through the town streets and join them on their way through the center, accompanied by music and traditional highlander costumes.

Ojcowski National Park

Located north of Kraków, it is the smallest national park in Poland. Despite its size, it contains some of the richest sites of vascular plants in the country, bat colonies, and extraordinary rock formations. The most spectacular feature is the Prądnik Valley – a true gallery of karst formations. Here you’ll find tall rocks (sometimes several dozen meters high) with fantastic shapes (Hercules’ Club, Deotyma’s Needle), karst springs, and numerous caves (over 400 are estimated to exist in the park). Open to visitors are, among others, Łokietek’s Grotto, where the future King of Poland is said to have once hidden, and the Dark Cave. The park also features two castles – in Ojców and Pieskowa Skała. The symbol of the park is the bat.