Winter attractions for children in Poland. Explore the TOP 15 ideas | PolishTrains

At a glance

• Zakopane and Szklarska Poręba are the top mountain destinations reachable by train from major Polish cities
• Direct trains run from Kraków to Zakopane, taking around 3–3.5 hours
• Skis and snowboards travel as hand luggage on PKP Intercity and POLREGIO when packed in a bag
• Gdańsk offers winter attractions including an ice rink, science museum and Baltic coastline walks
• Travelling outside your voivodeship's holiday peak makes it easier to find adjacent family seats
• PolishTrains ticket return and exchange rules vary by carrier — check the dedicated help page

Do you love the sea and the atmosphere of seaside towns? Come here for the holidays too! The Tricity offers many attractions for children also in winter. Both Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia will also appeal to the youngest visitors, especially thanks to a visit to the Baltic Sea. Admiring the beach and the waves at this time of year will be an extremely interesting experience.

Gdańsk

In the colder months, the most popular ice rink in Gdańsk is located at Plac Zebrań Ludowych. Both children and adults can try their hand at skating - great fun for the whole family.

Among the recommended places for the youngest is also the Hewelianum Centre, i.e. a science museum, where you can participate in interesting workshops and experiments connected with astronomy and physics.

Moreover, during the winter holidays, many cultural institutions in Gdańsk prepare special programmes for the youngest. Theatres, museums and other establishments organise performances, exhibitions and workshops tailored to the needs of children of different ages.

Gdańsk itself will be an attraction for children, even in winter. A visit to the Old Town and its characteristic monuments is a fascinating adventure, especially if you go on a guided tour.

Sopot

Sopot in winter will be extremely pleasant for those who don't like crowds. Would you like to take a quiet walk with your family along the longest wooden pier in Europe? This is the best time. If it happens to be snowing, you will enjoy the slightly frozen sea and the snowy beach around the pier. It is also the perfect setting for a souvenir seaside photograph.

Gdynia

Gdynia is a great place for walking, but also for education. You should definitely visit the Gdynia Aquarium, where children can learn about the underwater world whatever the weather. There is also another attraction nearby - the Experyment Science Centre. In this facility, every little explorer can conduct experiments under the guidance of professionals and learn about scientific curiosities.

Apart from the Tricity, other seaside towns and cities are also worth a visit. In Międzyzdroje or Kołobrzeg, for example, there is no shortage of attractions for children in winter! Międzyzdroje, known mainly as a summer resort, in winter delights with tranquillity and natural beauty. Together with your child, you will see the Baltic Miniature Park, which operates all year round, providing a journey through the region's most important monuments in miniature.

Kołobrzeg, in turn, offers the opportunity to visit the lighthouse and admire the sea and watch out for ships from it. Some water attractions can be found in the Millennium Water Park, where, apart from swimming pools, there are slides, a paddling pool for children, saunas and a jacuzzi.

How do you get to the seaside in winter?

If you do not want to use a car or want to spend more time travelling with your children, choose a train ride. You can get to the Tricity, but also to Międzyzdroje and Kołobrzeg, from many major cities in Poland. There are long-distance trains, including InterCity or EIC, as well as regional trains. And you can get to the various winter attractions for children in Gdynia, Sopot and Gdańsk by SKM fast train.

Where is the best place to spend your winter holidays in Poland? In the mountains, of course! The mountains are the ideal place for anyone who wants to try their hand at winter sports. What's more, ski and snowboard resorts not only offer the opportunity to ski down perfectly prepared slopes, but also many other attractions. This includes ski schools for beginners, as well as winter amusement parks for the little ones.

Szczyrk

This is one of the most popular skiing destinations in Poland. Szczyrk in winter offers many attractions for children. These include the Szczyrk Mountain Resort, which has specially prepared trails for the youngest and a ski school where professional instructors help them take their first steps on the slope. For slightly older kids and teenagers, there are trails of varying levels of skill - a total of more than 40 km for skiing and snowboarding. There is also plenty of space for sledging, as well as the opportunity to take part in sleigh rides organised by various resorts.

Szklarska Poręba

In the case of Szklarska Poręba, the ski resort Ski Arena Szrenica, with slopes of various levels of difficulty, is among the attractions available for children in winter. Regardless of their age, your child will learn to ski in safe conditions under the supervision of qualified instructors. The resort also offers ski equipment rental, which makes organising a trip much easier.

In addition to skiing, Szklarska Poręba is a great place for outdoor hiking. A winter walk to the picturesque Szklarki waterfall or a trip to the Karkonosze National Park is an opportunity to show children the beauty of winter nature. Also worth a visit is the Centre for Ecological Education of the Krkonoše National Park with exhibitions on the local fauna and flora.

Karpacz

Karpacz also has a ski resort on the slopes of Kopa Mountain. The slopes here are recommended for people of all levels, including children. For the youngest there is a special safe area for learning to ski. In addition, you can visit the medieval, mysterious Wang Temple in the town, as well as the Toy Museum.

Looking for interesting entertainment for the whole family? Check out the cable car to Kopa, where you can enjoy a spectacular view of the Giant Mountains and the Jeleniogórska Valley from 1350 m above sea level. Another option is the Alpine Coaster toboggan run, an exciting attraction for adrenaline lovers. This year-round track offers a downhill slope varied with numerous turns and loops.

On the occasion of your stay in Karpacz, visit nearby Jelenia Góra, as winter attractions for children can also be found here. In the city, the Cieplickie Terme with its pools and slides is popular - perfect entertainment for a winter afternoon. In addition, in the centre of Jelenia Góra, you can admire the beautiful, colourful townhouses surrounding the market square and visit the Karkonosze Museum, which introduces you to the history and culture of the region.

Zakopane

When it comes to Zakopane, the main attraction for children in winter will, of course, be skiing! Popular ski runs for intermediate and advanced skiers can be found on Kasprowy Wierch. For beginners, however, Polana Szymoszkowa with its gentler slopes and ski schools is recommended. The resorts also offer equipment rentals, making it much easier to organise your holiday, especially if you are travelling by train or bus.

Zakopane is also a great place to learn about mountain culture and nature. Take a stroll with your children along the famous Krupówki Street to admire the local architecture and taste regional delicacies. Another interesting experience is a ride in a cable car to Gubałówka, which offers a beautiful panorama of the Tatra Mountains.

How to get to the mountain resorts?

Zakopane and Szklarska Poręba are directly accessible by train, including InterCity lines departing from many of Poland's larger cities. Szczyrk and Karpacz, on the other hand, do not have direct train connections; alternatives include:

Szczyrk - reach Bielsko-Biała by train and then travel by local buses.

Karpacz - get by train to Jelenia Góra and then travel further by PKS bus or buses of private carriers.

Want to check the details of train connections? Visit the PolishTrains website and compare available travel options!

Silesia, for the holidays or a winter weekend? Why not! This is the perfect opportunity to explore this part of Poland. Although the region is mainly associated with the mining industry, it has much more to offer. Here you can experience typical urban entertainment, as well as skiing with the kids on the slopes.

Katowice and its surroundings

Visit Katowice in winter too - there is no shortage of attractions for children and adults alike at this time of year! The city is vibrant and offers many entertainment and cultural events. A focal point worth visiting is Spodek, where one of the largest indoor ice rinks in Poland has been opened. It is a place for both beginner skaters and more advanced skaters. What's more, next to Spodek, in the Culture Zone, various festivals are organised - the youngest can participate in workshops, watch performances or concerts.

Not far from Katowice, in Chorzów, the Legends of Silesia Wesołe Miasteczko - the oldest amusement park in Poland - is popular. In winter, although only partially open, the park offers selected themed zones providing great fun for the whole family.

Silesian Beskids

The Silesian Beskids are certainly the best place in Silesia for winter sports enthusiasts. Within the Beskids, the most popular slopes are located in Szczyrk, already described in the above section of this article. Another location is Ustroń, where you can go skiing, as well as ride the modern cable car to the Czantoria Mountain.

Another attraction for children in winter is the town of Wisła, the hometown of Adam Małysz. In addition to great skiing conditions, you will also have the opportunity to see a museum dedicated to the ski jumper and visit the ski jump named after him.

How to get to Silesia?

Katowice itself can be reached directly by train from many Polish cities, while towns such as Ustroń or Wisła can be reached directly by the local Silesian Railways.

Think visiting cities in winter is boring? Nothing could be further from the truth! Poland's biggest cities have their charm at any time of year. If the weather is fine, you can explore the city centre and its historic neighbourhoods; if the weather is not so good, you can enjoy typical city entertainment such as museums, theatres, cinemas and ice rinks. In Warsaw and Wrocław in particular, you and your family will never be short of things to do!

Warsaw

A focal point not to be missed in Warsaw is the Old Town, full of historic houses and charming streets. The market square is also home to the famous Warsaw Mermaid, around which you can take a commemorative family photo. The Royal Castle and Łazienki Park are also worth a visit - an important history lesson for people of all ages. After sightseeing, warm up in one of the many restaurants and cafes serving delicious dishes, from traditional dumplings to modern flavours.

For science and technology enthusiasts, the Copernicus Science Centre offers workshops and demonstrations throughout the year. This is a great opportunity to combine science with fun. Interactive exhibitions and experiments will interest both children and adults, providing entertainment for several hours.

Wrocław

When looking for children's attractions in Poland for the winter, look to Wrocław. The city is famous for its dwarf figures scattered throughout the city centre and downtown area. You and your family can go in search of them, if the weather is good for it. While doing so, you can admire the Market Square and stroll through the picturesque streets.

What else is worth visiting? Of course, Hydropolis, a unique water knowledge centre where children can learn many interesting facts about water and its importance for life on Earth. Interactive exhibitions and multimedia presentations will make learning extremely interesting.

Do you want to escape the cold and move to warm countries for a while? The whole family will certainly enjoy the Afrykarium in the Wrocław zoo. Here you can observe exotic animals in their natural habitat - from fish to hippos and penguins.

When to plan a winter trip?

The best time to plan a visit is during the winter holidays. During this time, many places offer special programmes and events dedicated to the youngest, which will make discovering Poland even more interesting.

Not sure when the winter holidays are? Here's a little cheat sheet for all the provinces:

20 January - 2 February 2025: kujawsko-pomorskie, lubuskie, małopolskie, świętokrzyskie, wielkopolskie,

27 January - 9 February 2025: podlaskie, warmińsko-mazurskie,

3 February - 16 February 2025: dolnośląskie, mazowieckie, opolskie, zachodniopomorskie,

17 February - 2 March 2025: lubelskie, łódzkie, podkarpackie, pomorskie, śląskie.

Whether you choose Karpacz, Szczyrk, Wrocław or perhaps Warsaw as your destination for children's attractions in winter, many of them can be reached without a car, using buses and trains. If you want to find out the best way to travel by train from your area, visit the PolishTrains website, where you can purchase tickets for connections straight away.