Top tips for ecotourism in Poland

Poland has wonderfully diverse terrain: mountains, forests, lakes and wild valleys all within easy reach, and still largely uncrowded. It’s an ideal destination to have genuine contact with nature and local culture. Poland’s green tourism includes a well-developed hiking and biking trail network, abundant agritourism, and efficient regional transportation.

Green Velo — cycling through the lesser-known side of Eastern Poland

Poland’s longest and best-marked cycling route has 2,000 km of trails through some of its greenest and most peaceful regions. You’ll travel through Suwałki Region, Podlasie, Lublin Region and Roztocze, where you’ll find wooden houses, local fairs, wild rivers and vast stretches of forest. The trail passes through Biebrzański National Park, a mecca for birdwatchers, and Roztoczański National Park, where you can rest in the coolness of a beech forest.

Białowieża Forest — by foot or bike through the remnants of wild Europe

This is no mere “pretty wood”, but the last primeval lowland forest in Europe. Here, nature rules: trees grow, fall, and decay without human intervention. Hiking the Royal Oaks Trail or biking to the forest glade in Teremiski, you might encounter a European bison or the rare, three-toed woodpecker. Villages scattered around the forest offer quiet, eco-friendly lodging, local cheeses and linden flower tea picked nearby.

The forest is a fragment of the bigger story of Podlasie, a region where the borderland culture and closeness to nature are still alive. In the Land of Open Shutters, you’ll pass unique, colorfully decorated wooden houses. In the Narew and Biebrza river valleys, you can cycle for hours through flat, open spaces, stopping at old mills, Orthodox churches, and observation towers.

Mazury’s lakes — from a different angle

Mazury, the “land of a thousand lakes”, is known mainly for sailing, but it’s just as easy to explore on two wheels or two feet. The cycle route around Poland’s largest lake, Śniardwy, passes through villages where time flows slowly and agritourism farms offer lodging with local food —  including homemade currant juice! The area around the Krutynia River is ideal; you can kayak in the river or hike beside it along forest paths and educational trails.

The Bieszczady Mountains — wild mountains without the crowds

The Bieszczady are a real getaway. Trails lead through połoniny, broad mountain meadows with sweeping views of the mountains. On the trail from Wetlina to Tarnica or Wielka Rawka, you might go several hours without meeting another person.

The Izera Mountains — stars, silence, and bike trails far from the city

In Lower Silesia on the Czech border stretch the gentle Izera Mountains. This is a place for deep relaxation: enjoy a dense network of hiking and cycling trails, mountain shelters far from paved roads, and access by train. The Izera Dark-Sky Park is a unique attraction: the lack of artificial light at night makes it one of the best places for stargazing in Central Europe.