What to do in Poland in summer?
3 ideas for those who are waiting for a residence permit and love active recreation

Idea #1: Hiking in the Tatras

There are enough days off to enjoy a hike in the rugged Tatra Mountains. The plan is as follows: tickets to the mountains, accommodation rental, route selection, and entertainment if you still have energy left.

Tickets: If you're far from Zakopane, it's best to arrive on Friday evening. For those in Kraków or Katowice, transportation is available from Saturday morning. You can reach Zakopane directly by train from Warsaw (which passes through Kraków). However, getting tickets can be tricky, so plan ahead. Tickets can be bought on the website.

If you can't get a direct train, there’s still an option. There are many more train connections to Kraków, and from there, you can take a FlixBus. Keep in mind that the bus ride takes longer and may encounter traffic on the way back. Plan your schedule with extra time.

Accommodation: Choose a comfortable place on Booking, considering your plans. For example, if you’re heading to Giewont, you can rent accommodation right at the park entrance. If you’re planning to go towards Morskie Oko, it’s better to look for accommodation near public transport stops or the exit from Zakopane towards Lysá Poľana. The cost per night is around 50 euros, but you can find cheaper options with breakfast included.

Hiking Routes: On Saturday morning, head for a hike in Tatra National Park (Tatrzański Park Narodowy). We recommend choosing less popular routes compared to the paved one to Morskie Oko, though it’s incredibly beautiful there as well.

Route options:

• The trail to Giewont – Zakopane's iconic peak, with the cross at the summit visible from almost anywhere. The highest point is 1895 m. The hike will take 4-5 hours, with an elevation gain of about 900 meters, but steps are installed for convenience. If that seems too easy, you can continue from the Giewont saddle towards Dolina Małej Łąki or to Czerwone Wierchy. Don’t worry, there are signposts, and with the large flow of hikers, you'll always find someone to ask for directions. A full day hike through Czerwone Wierchy is 20 km. Giewont hike is up to 10 km.

• Dolina Pięciu Stawów Polskich (Valley of Five Polish Lakes) – Probably the most scenic spot in all of the Tatras. The trail is relatively easy – about 10 km with an elevation gain of around 500 meters. Along the way, you’ll pass five mountain lakes and will likely want to stop for a photo shoot at each. The views are like something from a National Geographic ad. From Zakopane, you'll need to take a bus (to Morskie Oko), a taxi, or drive yourself to the trailhead.

• Morskie Oko – An easy breezy trail. The path is paved all the way to the lake. It’s 9 km one way, but you can ride a horse-drawn carriage with a dapper coachman in traditional woolen pants.
  
  Life hack: We highly recommend at least walking around the lake, or better yet, hiking up to Czarny Staw under Rysy. From there, you’ll get an even better view of Morskie Oko, and there will be fewer people. For high-level hikers, the trail continues to Rysy at 2500 meters, which is the highest point in Poland.

What you need to know:

• Equipment: Choose shoes with a good grip and non-slip soles. Trekking poles will help you maintain balance and relieve pressure on your back while ascending and descending. You can buy affordable ones at Decathlon or on Allegro.

• Water: It's rare to find places to refill water along the routes, so make sure to bring enough – 1.5 to 2 liters per person.

• Entrance Fees: National Park entry is charged. This season, it’s 10 zlotys per person per day. To avoid standing in line at the entrance, buy a ticket online. It’s cheaper in bulk – if you plan a longer hike, you can pay for 7 days at once.

• Documents: The Tatras are located on the border with Slovakia. Sometimes trails run right along the border or even cross into Slovakia, so bring your ID just in case.

• Navigation: Download maps with tourist trails. Our favorites are Organic Maps and Osmand, but Maps.me will work too. These apps allow you to build routes, find viewpoints, and track elevation gains and losses.

Summary: Over a weekend in the Tatras, you can go on 1-2 one-day hikes. Keep in mind that camping is not allowed in the National Parks in Poland, so it’s best to rent comfortable accommodation. If you’re exhausted after the first day, you can spend the second day at thermal baths or strolling around Kraków.

Idea #2: Cycling in Poland

It’s not yet the Netherlands, but cycling culture is growing each year. The number of cyclists is increasing, infrastructure is improving, and there’s more room for outdoor activities across the country. We recommend combining pleasure with utility and setting up a cycling trip for the summer weekend. This way, you’ll see many sights, get away from the city, and tone your muscles.

For the trip, we’ll need: a route, accommodation along the route, a bicycle, gear, and tickets to the start and back.

We’ll offer a couple of route options, and you can choose one that fits your strength and preferences. Even if you don’t have your own bike or gear, you can break the route into days and ride on a rented bike (e.g., Veturilo).

Choose your route:

• Green Velo – A 2200 km bike route that stretches almost across all of Poland. The route mostly follows paved roads, but there are few cars, and bike markings are present. You can choose to ride short one-day sections or the full trip. For example, along the Baltic Sea coast or through the hills near Przemyśl.

• The R-10 Coastal Trail – An international route along the Baltic Sea, 7930 km long, of which 588 km runs through Poland. This is more than enough for a weekend cycling trip. The best part is you can rent a bike right on the coast, ride as much as you like, and then stop at a cafe for some fish soup.

• Hel Peninsula: You can ride about 45 km to the Hel Peninsula and back in one day. The route starts in the forest, goes along the coast, and passes by historical buildings.

• Vistula Bike Route in Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship: These routes connect major cities like Bydgoszcz, Toruń, Włocławek, and Chełmno. Note: The trails go through forests and are meant for experienced cyclists. Beginners are advised to choose an easier route.

What you need to know:

• Tickets: There are limited spots for bikes on trains, and you’ll need to pay an additional fee for the bike. Buy tickets in advance and don’t forget a bike lock.

• Bike Rental: Here are some options for bike rentals in Poland and throughout Europe:

  • Rentals in Warsaw for trekking or city bikes for more than one day.
  • Comfortable city bikes available across Poland – Veturilo or Nextbike (the website has a map with rental locations and bike availability).

• Gear: For the cycling trip, you’ll definitely need a helmet and, preferably, medical insurance. Helmets and bike bags can be rented, bought new, or found used on OLX.

Idea #3: Yachting on the Baltic

If you've never tried sailing, now is the time! Fortunately, Poland has both mountains and the sea, so you can experience everything in one season. Even if you live near the sea, yachting might not surprise you, but feeling like a true sea wolf is priceless.

Yachting schools in Gdańsk:

• Ocean Team Sailing School – Various courses starting from 400 zlotys. They’ll teach you how to sail literally in any conditions. Classes are in Polish!
• Sailpro School of Yachting – Skipper academy and courses for any skill level. The introductory course is only 2 days. Price on request.
• “Da Mora” – Belarusian guys have set up a sailing school in Gdańsk with a basic course for 270 euros and cruise routes to the Canary Islands and Norwegian fjords. You can learn and then set sail for real!

If you don’t live on the Polish coast, you can sign up for a weekend course or a regatta in advance. All that’s left is to plan your summer!

What you need to know:

• Licenses: To independently manage a yacht in Poland, you need at least the Żeglarz Jachtowy (Yacht Sailor) certification – this is the basic level that allows you to sail yachts up to 12 meters long on inland waters and up to 2 nautical miles from shore on sea waters. You can start learning from age 14, and you need to pass both theoretical and practical exams.

• Career: After obtaining Żeglarz Jachtowy, you can move on to becoming a Jachtowy Sternik Morski (Yacht Skipper), and only after that can you become a Kapitan Jachtowy (Yacht Captain). The size of the vessel you can control depends on your skills and certification.

Courses: 4-6 months in advance, especially in summer. The cost is about 1500-2000 zlotys per course for Żeglarz Jachtowy. You can take a weekend course or sign up for longer options.