Castles, vineyards, salt mines and a dragon's lair. Hundreds of kilometres of cycling, trekking, skiing and canoeing trails. Luxury spas overlooking mountain peaks. Active travellers, adrenaline junkies and nature lovers will all be captivated by Małopolska. Meanwhile, foodies will be treated to traditional dishes that are specific not just to Poland, but to the region itself.
For the adventurer
On a bike
Get on your bike and ride along Velo Czorsztyn - a 44 kilometre route considered to be the most beautiful in Poland. It winds around the placid Lake Czorsztyńskie, past the picturesque castles of Czorsztyn and Niedzica. In the distance you can see the peaks of the Gorce, Pieniny and Tatra mountains. An equally spectacular alternative is the Velo Dunajec loop, which is 237 km in length.
On the water
If water is your favourite element, take a 23-kilometre rafting trip down Dunajec Gorge. Rafting in traditional wooden boats through seven picturesque meanders, you can admire the rocky peaks of the Three Crowns, the highest of which is Sokolica at 982 metres above sea level. There are also pontoons and kayaks waiting for you on the riverbank, nestled among bright limestone rocks. Don't miss this natural wonder – the Dunajec is one of the few rivers in the world to reverse its course and flow in the opposite direction, to the sea.
In the air
If you have a head for heights, head to Krynica. At the top of the Modoń mountain there is a 49-metre-high observation tower; from here you can see not only the Beskid Wyspowy mountains, but also the Beskid, Pieniny and Tatra ranges. Legend has it that, if you meet love here, you will stay together for the rest of your life, so watch out! You can also look down on the world from above at Energylandia – Poland's largest amusement park. Covering an area of 70 hectares, it offers no less than 123 attractions, including a 53-metre-long Ferris wheel and the Hyperion mega-coaster, which reaches speeds of 142 km/h.
On the ski slope
Or how about a winter holiday in Małopolska – Poland's most popular ski resort? Here, you can ski or snowboard at almost 60 resorts on more than 150 km of slopes. Head to the Tatra Mountains to ski down the longest slope in the country at Kasprowy Wierch. Less experienced skiers should head to the resorts in Białka, Bukowina, Czorsztyn, Szczawnica or Krynica.
Tracking UNESCO sites
Krakow - European Cultural Centre
A visit to the capital of Małopolska is like travelling back in time. Thanks to perfectly preserved monuments, such as the Barbican, the Florian Gate, the Main Square and Wawel Castle, you experience the architecture of the Middle Ages in its authentic form! You should also visit Kazimierz, a district with Jewish roots. Today, it is a bustling area around the clock with historical monuments such as the Old Synagogue and the Temple Synagogue, a colourful music scene and a thriving global culinary scene showcasing flavours from all over the world.
The Wieliczka and Bochnia Salt Mines
Wieliczka is a salt mine near Kraków, which has existed since the Middle Ages and that was included in the first ever UNESCO World Heritage List. The mine can be visited either via a tourist or a mining route. The route is 3 kilometres long and leads through more than 20 chambers, chapels and corridors, carved into the salt at a depth of 64 to 135 metres. Highlights include the most beautiful and largest chapel of St. Kinga, covering an area of 465 square metres.
Bochnia is the oldest salt mine in Poland, dating from 1248. It can be visited via four underground tourist routes. Attractions include an underground mine train and a boat crossing.
Architecture and nature in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska
In a small village near Wadowice, between the mountains of Żar and Lancokorona, lies a Bernardine monastery, with a so-called Calvary of 42 chapels and churches integrated into the landscape. The complex is a perfect example of natural and spiritual values meeting. The sanctuary buildings blend in perfectly with the natural landscape. In the run-up to Easter, colourful Passion Plays are performed, while August sees one of the most impressive fairs in Poland held here, with stalls selling toys and sweets. Also in the area are the John Paul II Museum in Wadowice, the birthplace of the Polish Pope, along with Wygiełzów Museum, which brings together monuments of traditional Polish rural life with elements of folk history and regional traditions.
Historic wooden churches
Małopolska's wooden architecture – including sacral architecture – fascinates and delights tourists from all over the world. Some of the sites – including churches in Dębno, Sękowa, Binarowa and Lipnica Murowana – have made it onto the UNESCO World Heritage List. The small buildings with characteristic shapes were mostly made of fir wood, without using nails.
Orthodox wooden churches
Wooden Orthodox churches in Brunary Wyżne, Kwiatoń, Owczarach and Powroźnik have also earned their place on the UNESCO list. They can be found in the Lemko region, in Poland’s east and are are characterised by their all-wood construction, the bulbous domes of the towers towering over the villages and the original iconostasis or rich polychromy. They are all part of the wooden architecture of the Małopolska voivodship.
Popular destinations and beyond
Colourful Zalipie
Małopolska is so more than just Kraków. If you are looking for less obvious attractions, head to Zalipie. This small village in the Powiśle Dąbrowskie region offers a fairytale setting andsince the 18th century, its buildings have been decorated with floral paintings that are typical of the region. The most beautiful of these can be seen in the homestead of Felicia Curyłowa, which has held its "Painted Cottage" competition for 60 years and where you can see folk artists at work.
Aviation Museum
Those interested in aviation should not miss the Kraków Aviation Museum in Małopolska. Located on the former Rakowice-Czyżyny airfield, it houses 240 aircraft, gliders, helicopters and over 140 aircraft engines and rocket sets. Not only are the collections interesting, but the museum building itself is fascinating. Its contemporary design has been recognised as the best concrete building in the world and nominated for the Mies van der Rohe Award.
Nikifor Museum
An inconspicuous blue wooden house attracts art lovers to the centre of Krynica-Zdrój. Epifaniusz Drowniak, known as Nikifor Krynicki was one of the most outstanding representatives of naïve painting and was born in this house, living there all his life. Today it houses a museum with a large collection of the artist's works and memorabilia of this Lemko painter.
Tatra Museum
Zakopane is home to one of Poland’s oldest regional museums. The Tatra Museum has been passionately collecting and exhibiting items related to the culture of the Podhale region for 134 years. The main building houses ethnographic, historical and natural history exhibitions and there is also a branch of the museum – the wooden Villa Koliba. This was the first house built in the Zakopane style and was designed by Stanislaw Witkiewicz.
The local table
Traditional Małopolska dishes
If you can't imagine travel without the joy of tasting new places, then Małopolska will not disappoint. When in Kraków, keep an eye out on the streets for stalls selling obwarzanki. They are traditionally soft inside and have a crispy crust sprinkled with salt, sesame or poppy seeds. Oscypki – a small cheese made from sheep's milk – comes from the Podhale highland region. For dinner, choose dumplings, delicate pastries filled to the brim with sauerkraut and mushrooms, cheese or seasonal fruit such as strawberries or blueberries.
Małopolska Taste Festival
The annual Małopolska Taste Festival is a great opportunity to discover regional delicacies. Soup fans should try kwaśnica – a sauerkraut soup with a smoked meat base, often served with potatoes. For a filling main course, try maczanka krakowska, a dish that, according to urban legend, inspired the hamburger! Made from marinated pork neck, it is served in a bun, with vegetables and an aromatic sauce.
The Małopolska Wine Trail
Today there are more than a hundred vineyards in the vicinity of Kraków, Nowy Sącz, Jura, the Dunajec Valley and near Tarnów and they are particularly worth visiting in autumn. The vineyards are full of juicy grapes, and some winemakers organise joint harvests, followed by feasts and tastings of the young wine. From Krakow it is not far to the wine paradise of the Ojców National Park.
Of course, man does not live on wine alone. You can also try other local drinks such as Okocim beer, that has been brewed to a traditional recipe for 150 years, or Śliwowica, a high-proof plum liqueur.
Land of water
Every third bottle of mineral water in Poland comes from Małopolska. The local springs are rich in natural minerals, some of which have medicinal properties. Don't miss a visit to a water pumping station when you visit Szczawnica, Muszyna, Tylicz, Krynica-Zdrój or Piwniczna-Zdrój. You can also try fresh fish in Małopolska! Zatorski carp and Ojcowski trout are bred in the surrounding ponds.
Sweet Małopolska
If you are in the mood for something sweet, try the local pastries. Cracovian cheesecake is a tasty variation on the popular dessert;a cottage cheese filling sits atopa shortcrust pastry, topped with a characteristic lattice of icing. Wadowice cream cakes – the favourite pastry of Polish-born Pope John Paul II – are also legendary here . The combination of shortcrust pastry and custard cream is perfect with afternoon coffee or tea.
Relaxation in nature
Hiking
Małopolska is home to a range of beautiful and diverse nature, with about 60% of the region protected across six national parks. In the Tatra National Park you can climb granite peaks such as Rysy (2,499 metres above sea level) or take a family trip through the Chochołowska, Kościeliska and Gąsienicowa valleys. In the Babia Góra National Park you can climb to the top of Babia Góra (1,725 metres above sea level) to watch the sunrise, while in the Pieniny National Park you can admire the towering white cliffs and take a 23-kilometre trip down the Dunajec Gorge in traditional boats. The Gorce National Park is a good choice if you like peace and quiet and easy trails and the Ojcowski National Park is ideal if you are fascinated by rock formations in amazing shapes.
Relax at a mountain spa
After skiing, trekking, canoeing and intensive sightseeing, there is nothing better than a visit to a spa.The best spas can be found in the south of Małopolska, in Krynica, Szczawnica, Białka and Zakopane. Imagine relaxing with a panoramic view of mountain peaks, with a choice of swimming pools, saunas, whirlpools, massage and body treatment rooms. But that's not all – you can also expect sensational hotel restaurants and attentive service that will know exactly what to do to ensure you have a well-deserved rest.
Małopolska offers everything you need for a successful trip. Whatever the time of year, this region offers attractions that will satisfy lovers of adventure and active leisure, as well as those who prefer peaceful relaxation and sightseeing in picturesque nature.
Images contained within this article are copyright of Archives of Marshal’s Office of the Małopolska Region