Cross-country skiing | PolishTrains

At a glance

• Otwock is reachable by train from Warsaw and serves as a starting point for cross-country skiing in nearby forests
• The Kampinos Forest offers several hundred kilometres of marked trails at various difficulty levels
• Wawer district in Warsaw provides forest skiing terrain just one kilometre from the nearest station
• The villa 'Lala' at 29 Reymonta Street in Otwock is linked to Nobel Prize winner Wladyslaw Reymont
• Ski equipment rental is available in the Kampinos Forest for visitors who prefer not to travel with their own gear
• Ski transport rules vary by carrier and train type - always check the PolishTrains baggage guide in advance

Skiing trails near Warsaw - take the train to Otwock

For a start, take a cross-country skiing trip near Warsaw to Otwock. For example, in the 2022/2023 winter season, the train from Cracow leaves at 20.44 and arrives at Otwock station at 01.03. In the morning, you can set off on cross-country skis, and there is plenty to choose from! Start your walk in the forest on Andriollego Street, and then head towards the Janusz Kozłowski Nature Reserve on the Torfach, or use the boulevards by the Vistula or the Świder river. This way you can choose which views you will have along the way - fragrant green spruce trees or the river - and how long your route will be.

In addition to your cross-country skiing activities, you can also explore a bit of the surrounding area. As you walk through the streets, take a look at the architecture in the Swidermajer style. The old wooden buildings with poetic annexes, glazed verandas and openwork wooden ornaments are very impressive. The author of the style is the famous Polish draughtsman, illustrator and painter, representative of Romanticism, Michał Elwiro Andriolli.

At 29 Reymonta St. is the villa "Lala", where Władysław Reymont stayed; it was here, among other things, that he wrote part of his novel "Chłopi" (Peasants), for which he received the Nobel Prize. There is a commemorative plaque on the fence surrounding the property.

By train to cross-country ski in Warsaw Wawer and the Kampinos Forest

Otwock is located on the outskirts of Warsaw, with which it is well connected, so you can also go cross-country skiing in the Mazowiecki Landscape Park in the Warszawa Wawer district. Just one kilometre from the station is the King Jan Sobieski Nature Reserve. Numerous walking paths leading among peat bogs and trees are ideal for cross-country skiing.

In the south-eastern corner of the Warsaw Wawer district is Lotnik Mountain. This is a memorial to the 1944 air crash that killed three Allied airmen. In nearby Miedzeszyn, in turn, there is the largest concentration of old oak trees in Mazovia, 34 of which have the status of natural monuments. The largest oak is over 400 years old and 6.7 metres in circumference. Walking around the area, you can see beautiful villas and manor houses from the interwar period.

Excellent cross-country skiing areas can be found in the Kampinos Forest, which is easily accessible from Warsaw by public transport. Around 300 km of trails are available to skiers here. There is a winter equipment rental service on site, which contributes to the great interest in these areas for cross-country skiing by tourists. What's more, all trails are signposted, making it much easier to find your way around.

By train to cross-country ski in the centre of Warsaw

You can also go cross-country skiing near the right bank of the Vistula River. Start your cross-country skiing at Grota Roweckiego Bridge and finish in Saska Kępa. The trail is artificially snowed, which, if the temperature is right, allows you to use it even when there is little precipitation. The route is just over 8 km long.

After skiing ... time to explore Warsaw!

After an active day outdoors, we recommend relaxing in the heart of Warsaw. Start your evening walk from Warsaw's Old Town. In the Old Town Square, stop by the Mermaid, take a photo by the Barbican and by the Sigismund's Column located in front of the Royal Castle. End the day at a café, tea shop or in one of the restaurants located on Krakowskie Przedmieście. On the way to Nowy Świat, you will see, among others, the Presidential Palace, the historic campus of Warsaw University and reconstructed tenement houses. In winter, the entire Royal Route is beautifully decorated with lights. If you have more time to explore Warsaw - check out our day trip recipe for Warsaw.

Winter trips by train can be really exciting. Remember that ski equipment that fits under or over your seat doesn't require an extra charge. We encourage you, follow our suggestions for weekend train trips. Look for inspiration and travel. Remember to buy your ticket in advance!