The European country with the best mountains – and it’s not Switzerland

This European country is much loved by Brits but not many people know about the beautiful mountains you can visit not far from one of its most famous cities. 

Poland is home to incredible scenery – its cities are popular among tourists. Krakow, Warsaw and Gdansk are home to beautiful architecture and are often visited for their history and culture.

But not far from these popular cities, you can take a trip into the incredible Polish countryside and mountains. Among the hills of the countryside, you’ll find medieval castles, vast woodlands and even huge lakes. 

Of the several mountain ranges in Poland, all located in the southern part of the country, some of the most note-worthy are the Sudeten, Tatras and Bieszczady.

The Tatra Mountains, a range across Slovakia and Poland, are probably among the most famous and are acknowledged for their beauty and importance by being listed in the UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

Lake Morskie Oko, meaning “eye of the sea”, is the largest lake in the Tatra range and a place you can’t miss. One visitor on Tripadvisor said: “Breathing view. We hiked for about 2 hours to get there but it wasn’t difficult. At this time of year there weren’t that many people there and we were able to sit alone and admire the lake. 

“The water was crystal clear and we saw a lot of fish. The atmosphere was amazing and we went around the whole lake in about an hour. The whole path around the lake is made out of big rocks and in some places we were able to stand on the rocks in the water and get beautiful pictures. I would recommend going there 100%.”

The Bieszczady range is largely covered by forests that have mostly preserved their pristine character.

While this range is not the highest, peaking at Mount Tarnica which measures 1,346 metres, the sprawling slopes “are one of the wildest, and for many, most beautiful corners of Central Europe”, according to Poland Soul Travel.

Autumn is the best time to visit the Bieszczady mountain range, when the forest explodes with colour. You’ll also find plenty of wildlife here, from stag and wild boar, to wolves, lynx and even bears.

Tourism in this region of Poland is growing, but with thousands of acres to explore you can still seek out quiet paths for unspoiled views.

For even less interruptions, the Sudeten mountains tend to see fewer visitors than the more popular Tatra and Bieszczady ranges. 

Once, the forest was largely used for industrial purposes, but now the region is better known for its minerals (some 230 types have been discovered so far) and lichen, along with its fresh, clean air.

Another unmissable nature spot is the ‘crooked forest’, the only place of its kind. Located in the village of Nowe Czarnowo near the town of Gryfino, West Pomerania, in north-western Poland, the forest features trees which are growing with an unusual curve – and no one knows why. 

There are many theories about why the trees are growing in this way, some think it may be damage from the snowstorm, others think a special tool must have been made to make the trees grow in this way. 

The Masurian Lakes District is also worth taking a trip to. Often referred to as the “Land of Thousand Lakes”, there are about 2600 lakes in the region which cover 30 percent of the area.

The biggest lake is Sniardwy, and the longest one is Jeziorak, so these are the two most popular lakes to visit. Along the lakes, there are also 23 bike trials, which are much loved by cyclists looking for an adventurous holiday.

If you’re visiting Poland, make sure to explore the beautiful scenery the country has to offer.