It’s unlikely you’ll find anyone who disagrees that the modern world is tiring. Notifications beep, news is frightening, and the neighbor with the jackhammer seems determined to drill a portal to Narnia right through your wall. In moments like these, you don’t just want a vacation, you want to get away from it all. Preferably somewhere beautiful. Preferably somewhere where you can take a photo for social media so everyone thinks you’re a forest elf who has found zen.
And if you think that Europe is just endless cobblestones, expensive espresso, and queues at the Louvre, then I hasten to disappoint (or delight) you: Poland has a couple of aces up its sleeve. It’s not just a country of delicious pierogi and unpronounceable city names. It’s a real green bunker for the tired city dweller.
Today we’ll take a walk through six places where nature is so cool that you’ll forget to check the exchange rate. Let’s go!
Białowieża Forest: Jurassic Park, but with Bison
Let’s start with the heavy artillery. Białowieża Forest is not some suburban forest park where there’s a barbecue grill under every bush. This is the oldest forest in Europe. So old that the local trees probably remember what mammoths looked like and are still grumbling at the youngsters (us).
The main highlight here is the bison. These are huge, shaggy tanks that wander through the forest looking like they own the place. Seeing a bison in the wild is like meeting a celebrity, only you shouldn’t ask for an autograph, because this “star” weighs almost a ton and has a Nordic temperament.
Why you should go now: In an era of total online presence, the forest offers a unique “Forced Digital Detox” service. The air here is so thick and clean that city dwellers can get dizzy from the unfamiliarity. And it’s also one of the few places where you can feel like a character in a Brothers Grimm fairy tale, only without the risk of being eaten by a witch (although the mosquitoes will try).
Morskie Oko: A Lake That Will Steal Your Heart (and Phone Space)
If you’ve ever seen a photo online of a lake that makes you want to cry with delight, it’s most likely Morskie Oko in the Tatra Mountains. It’s hidden high in the mountains, like a precious stone in a miser’s box.
Getting there is quite the quest. You’ll have to hike about 9 kilometers each way. Yes, you could take a horse-drawn carriage, but we’re all about healthy living and overcoming challenges, right? (Actually, it’s just that I’m too cheap to pay, and I feel sorry for the horses). While you’re walking, you’ll curse your new sneakers, but when you get there… Oh, guys! Emerald-colored water, reflecting the mountain peaks and absolute silence (except for the excited cries of other tourists).
Pro Tip: Get there at dawn. Then you’ll have a chance to take a selfie without a crowd of people in the background munching on sandwiches. And remember: swimming is forbidden. Even if it’s very hot. Even if “I’m just going to dip my toes.” The fine is so high that you’ll have to sell a kidney, and you’ll still need it to filter Polish beer.
Słowiński National Park: A Desert in the Middle of Europe
Have you ever wanted to visit the Sahara, but were afraid of scorpions and temperatures of +50? Poland has a budget-friendly solution – Słowiński National Park. This is a place where nature seems to have gone a little crazy and dumped a mountain of sand right on the Baltic Sea coast.
There are real moving dunes here. Like huge, lazy caterpillars, they crawl at a speed of several meters a year, devouring the forest. The sight is surreal: you walk through the forest, and then bam – you’re in Frank Herbert’s “Dune,” looking for spice.
Reality Check: This is the perfect place for cardio. Climbing up the sand is not for the faint of heart. But what a view opens up from the top! On one side – the endless sea, on the other – Lake Łebsko. The wind here is so strong that it can blow all the bad thoughts about mortgages and deadlines out of your head. Just protect your eyes and equipment – sand will be everywhere. Really everywhere. You’ll be finding it in your pockets even a year after the trip.
Masurian Lakes: Venice for Introverts
Masuria is a land of a thousand lakes. Well, they say “thousand,” but there are actually more than two thousand. Apparently, someone lost count and waved their hand. It’s a paradise for those who love the water, but hate beaches with sun loungers packed “heel to toe.”
Here you need to take a yacht, boat, or kayak. Don’t know how to handle a sail? No problem, rent a houseboat. You don’t even need a license to operate many of them – just common sense and the ability not to crash into the shore. You just sail, drink coffee on deck, feed the swans (which are as brazen as debt collectors here) and enjoy life.
Why It’s Cool: In today’s reality, when social distancing is the new black, your own boat in the middle of a lake is the best way to self-isolate. No one will sneeze on you in line, no one will step on your foot. Just you, the water, and sunsets that make you want to write poetry, even if you only rhyme “blood” and “love.”
Ojców National Park: Small, But Precious
The smallest national park in Poland, but the concentration of beauty per square meter here is off the charts. It’s located very close to Krakow, so it’s an ideal option for the lazy: coffee in the old town in the morning, rocks and caves during the day, back to the bar in the evening.
The main feature of Ojców is the rocks of bizarre shapes. The most famous one is called “Hercules’ Mace.” It looks as if a giant forgot his club, sticking it into the ground with the narrow end down. Physics nervously smokes on the sidelines, watching this structure.
And there are also plenty of caves with bats. If you’re not afraid of Batman, be sure to take a look. It’s a great way to cool off in the heat and feel like a caveman looking for shelter from a saber-toothed tiger (or from a boss calling on Zoom).
Bieszczady Mountains: For Those Who Want to Give It All Up
There is a saying in Poland: “Rzucić wszystko i wyjechać w Bieszczady” (Throw everything away and go to the Bieszczady). This is the local equivalent of our “go to the village to your aunt, to the backwoods, to Saratov,” only more romantic. The Bieszczady are wild mountains in the southeast of the country. There are fewer people here, less civilization, and more bears.
The mountains here are not high and rocky like the Tatras, but gently sloping and covered with “polonynas” – high-altitude meadows. Walking along them is a pleasure: the wind rustles the grass, there is space around, and it seems that you are walking along the spine of a sleeping green dragon.
Philosophy of the Moment: People come here not for mountaineering records, but for peace of mind. The Bieszczady treat nerves better than any psychotherapist. Here, looking at the starry sky (and the Bieszczady have one of the darkest sky parks in Europe, billions of stars are visible), you realize how small our problems are. Well, so what if you didn’t submit the report. The universe is expanding here, what the hell are reports?
Summary: Poland is not just a transit point or a place for shopping. It is a country where nature knows how to surprise. So, the next time you want to escape reality, you don’t have to fly to the other end of the world. Just turn off the highway into the forest. Just don’t forget comfortable shoes and mosquito spray. Mosquitoes here also love tourists. They love them very much. In a gastronomic sense.
