KRYNICA-ZDRÓJ – WINTER ATTRACTIONS

Visiting Krynica-Zdrój in winter is an excellent idea for winter sports enthusiasts and those wanting a holiday based on the slow travel concept. This is the perfect location for both couples and families with young children. Why visit here? What to do in winter in Krynica-Zdrój? Here are our tips!

Krynica-Zdrój — tourist attractions available in winter

Krynica-Zdrój, a picturesque town in the Nowy Sącz district, not far from Muszyna, is famous not only for its special climate or the spa pump room. When planning a trip to Krynica-Zdrój in winter, you can enjoy many different attractions, such as:

• Promenade in Krynica-Zdrój — a wide, illuminated promenade with 19th-century buildings, forming the heart of the town. It is worth checking out how magical this place looks at different times of the day;
• Słotwiński Park — within the park there is the Słotwinka Pump Room (known as the Chinese Pavilion), in winter you can also enjoy the beneficial properties of the brine graduation towers with water from the Bochnia salt mine;
• evergreen mini-botanical garden at the Main Pump Room in Krynica-Zdrój — the spa is home to a real jungle featuring monstera, rubber plants, ferns, banana trees and palm trees;
• Lookout tower in Krynica-Zdrój — this is Poland’s first lookout tower in the treetops with a unique wooden structure. The viewing platforms offer beautiful views of Beskid Sądecki, Beskid Niski and Lewockie Mountains.

Many museums are also open in winter in Krynica-Zdrój. In the basement of the New Mineral Baths, at 2 Marszałka Józefa Piłsudskiego Street, there is a Toy Museum with exhibits from all over the world. The blue “Romanówka” villa at 19 Bulwary Dietla is home to the Nikifor Krynicki Museum, a Lemko artist working in the primitivist style. At 37 Halna Street, there is a very interesting Private Museum of Nature and Hunting called “Łuczakówka”, where you can admire collections gathered over 30 years. These include replicas of hunting weapons, firearms and military weapons, as well as deer antlers. The extensive collection also includes stuffed game, including, among others, moose, fallow deer and mouflon antlers as well as antelope horns brought back from Africa.

Krynica-Zdrój — mountain trails perfect for winter

It is a great idea to visit Krynica-Zdrój in winter to enjoy wonderful winter walks along mountain trails. From the town centre, for example, you can get to Parkowa Mountain, which stands high at 741 metres above sea level. The route follows a red and then a yellow hiking trail and takes about an hour one way to complete. At the top, you can relax in the Spa Park, the only park in Poland that has no flat surfaces. There is no shortage of attractions for the little ones up there, such as a rope park, pontoon slide and paradise slides. Visitors can also see an exhibition entitled “Time Machine’, dedicated to the history of Krynica-Zdrój.

Other recommendations for winter excursions in and around Krynica-Zdrój include:

• hike up Krzyżowa Mountain — he summit is 812 metres above sea level and offers beautiful views of the surrounding mountain ranges. A walk from the centre of Krynica-Zdrój to the Krzyżowa Mountain takes about an hour;
• hike to Huzary — the peak is 864 metres above sea level, it is located in the side ridge of the Jaworzyna Range in Beskid Sądecki. A hike from Krynica-Zdrój to here takes about 1.5 hours; you can go back the same way or through the abovementioned Parkowa Mountain.

If you are in good shape, while in Krynica-Zdrój in winter you can also visit:

• the highest peak in the area – Jaworzyna Krynicka. The shortest (6 km) green trail starts in Krynica-Zdrój and should take about 2.5-3 hours to complete. Not far from the summit, you can rest and warm up in the mountain hut of the same name;;
• the peaks: Szalone (832 metres above sea level) and Bradowiec (770 metres above sea level). A walk across these hills from Krynica-Zdrój (one way) takes about 3-4 hours, so it is worth booking accommodation in advance. You can stop in Powroźnik or take the same route back to Krynica-Zdrój.

Krynica-Zdrój — skiing in winter is a great idea

Krynica-Zdrój is well known to winter sports enthusiasts. The town has great slopes for both beginners and more advanced skiers. Beginners can improve their skills in ski schools in Krynica and the surrounding area (there are even ski kindergartens available).
Meanwhile, advanced skiers can enjoy exciting skiing down the slopes, for example:

• Jaworzyna Krynicka ski station;
• Słotwiny Arena in Krynica-Zdrój;
• Slotwiny Ski Resort;
• Master Ski Centre;
• Henryk Ski Krynica-Zdrój;
• Two Valleys Muszyna-Wierchomla Family Ski Station.

Apart from classic downhill skiing, Krynica-Zdrój also offers snowboarding, cross-country skiing and ski-touring opportunities. Snowshoe and snowmobile rentals, toboggan runs and ice rinks are also available. When planning a winter trip to Krynica-Zdrój, consider an organised sleigh ride with torchlights and a dog-sled expedition. These attractions of Krynica-Zdrój will appeal in particular to children.

Krynica-Zdrój — thermal baths to warm up

After mountain hiking and skiing, take a relaxing dip in thermal baths. There are several facilities of this type in the vicinity of Krynica-Zdrój — they are very attractive in the winter, as you can bask in the warm waters while admiring the snowy peaks. Tired muscles can be soothed with water whips, jacuzzi and sauna, such as those offered in the Termy Gorce complex (approx. 96 km from Krynica). Spacious pools and thermal baths are available to visitors at AquaCity Poprad (approx. 90 km from Krynica) in Slovakia.