Soccer, the king of sports
As is often the case, it's soccer that unleashes the passions in Poland. Although the great moments of the 1970s (third place at the 1974 and 1982 World Cups) seem a long way off, recent years have seen a revival in Polish soccer, thanks in particular to star striker Robert Lewandowski, who captained the national team after spells with Bayern Munich and Barcelona. At the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022, the Red and Whites reached the Round of 16 before losing out to eventual finalists France. Since the outbreak of war in Ukraine, Ukrainian clubs have regularly played their "home" matches in Krakow.
The assault on nature!
Hiking. Poland has a superb natural heritage, with numerous mountain ranges, forests and national parks (twenty-three, spread throughout the country). Hiking is therefore a very popular sport in Poland, with thousands of kilometers of marked trails dotting the countryside and mountains, particularly in the south, in the Carpathian Mountains, where the Tatras, Pieniny and Bieszczady are concentrated, which is a Mecca for hiking and trekking in the country. In the mountains, dozens of day hikes are possible (not to be missed, for example, Morskie Oko Lake). Also worth considering are the Beskides Sądecki and Beskides Niski (or Lower Beskides) massifs. For experienced walkers who want to get an overview of Poland's incredible mountain scenery, consider the Sudeten Mountains (350 km), the Beskid Mountains (500 km) and the Holy Cross Mountains (100 km). To get a good overview of the Sudetenland and wind your way between high-altitude lakes and glacial cirques, you should also explore the Karkonosze National Park in Masuria, nicknamed the Giant's Mountain.
Also not to be missed, Białowieża National Park, a Unesco World Heritage Site and on the list of World Biosphere Reserves, is Europe's largest primeval forest (1,200 km2) and bison reserve. There are almost 700 heads of the Old Continent's most imposing animal. There are also wolves, elk, deer, roe deer, wild boar, lynx... Birdwatchers will also want to take their binoculars to observe some 250 species of birds. There's plenty to do on foot, of course, but also by bike along the many signposted trails.
Horseback riding. Lovers of horseback riding, whether for a few hours or for several days, will also find a beautiful playground in many national parks and on hiking trails throughout the country.
Cycling and mountain biking. The same goes for cycling enthusiasts: the vast majority of hiking trails are accessible on two wheels, and cycle paths are legion. Of course, the Carpathian Mountains are ideal for mountain bikers, and the Karkonosze National Park is very popular with mountain bikers. Be careful, however, not to take your bike out of the national park - it's forbidden! Maps are available from local tourist offices.
Climbing. One region is particularly popular with climbers. This is the Cracow Jura (the Kraków-Częstochowa high plateau, between Częstochowa and Kraków), where the presence of numerous boulders provides an ideal setting for climbing at all levels of difficulty. In the south of Poland, the Tatra mountains also offer climbing opportunities for beginners and advanced climbers alike. Don't hesitate to ask at tourist offices, especially in Zakopane. And don't forget: these regions are also home to a large number of caves that will delight speleologists.
A wide range of water sports
For water sports enthusiasts, there are two main possibilities: the lakes and rivers of Masuria and the Baltic coast.
The Baltic coast, particularly around Gdańsk, and its many currents are a delight for sailing, windsurfing and, increasingly in recent years, kitesurfing enthusiasts.
On the Masurian lakes, the town of Giżycko is the best starting point for lake activities. Boating is very popular here, as it is on the Ostróda-Elbląg canal in the northeast of the country. Some lakes are also explored by divers (notably Lake Hancza, the deepest). Kayaking and rafting are also on the agenda in the northern rivers. In the Carpathians, head for Solina, Poland's largest man-made lake.
Fishing. All the time, everywhere, in rivers and lakes, like Lake Morskie Oko in the Tatras. Even the cold of winter can't stop the fishermen, who dig a hole in the ice and wait for the fish to bite.
A ski destination
Since the multiple successes of hero Adam Małysz, one of the greatest ski jumpers of all time (four big crystal globes and four Olympic medals at Salt Lake City in 2002 and Vancouver in 2010), Poland has been buzzing with alpine skiing. Winter sports have a strong presence in a country where winter is always white. They are practiced in southern Poland, mainly in the Carpathian Mountains. Winter sports resorts are increasingly well-equipped and welcome large numbers of skiers and snowboarders every year. In the Tatras, in Zakopane, where more than 100,000 people could move to the ski jump when Małysz jumped, winter sports are very popular as soon as the first snow arrives. But let's face it, this isn't the Alps, and the slopes of Poland's small ski resorts are rather gentle... Ideal for beginners, however, for prices that are also (much) gentler than in the French Alps. While Zakopane (and the surrounding area such as Bukowina Tatrzańska) is the "capital" of Polish skiing, other options are available in the Sudetenland and the Silesian Beskids. Downhill skiing, snowboarding and cross-country skiing are all on the agenda!
