check_circle Stroller-friendly
check_circle Bike paths
check_circle Mainly in the sun
check_circle Paths adapted for children with disabilities
Azure water, wooden walkways over crystal-clear water where you can observe fish swimming beneath them, a picnic meadow, and kilometers of forest walking trails - all just 60 km from Krakow! Park Gr贸dek, officially known as Arboretum in Jaworzno, is often called the "Polish Maldives" or the "Silesian Croatia" by tourists. It is located in a picturesque former dolomite quarry, about 8 km from the city center of Jaworzno. This is a place where you can spend the entire day!
- Free admission to the park
- Two free parking lots at the entrance of the park
- No swimming area available
- Pets are allowed
- The park is not closed at night
- Kilometers of forest walking trails - suitable for strollers, bicycles, and scooters!
Getting to Park Gr贸dek in Jaworzno - Directions and Parking
- By public transport from Jaworzno: buses 304, 314, 344, and night bus N1, stop at "Pieczyska Centrum Nurkowe"
- By car: Park Gr贸dek is located between Krakow and Katowice, 60 km from Krakow and 30 km from Katowice. There are two free parking lots near the park, we recommend the parking lot at Jaworowa Street and entering the park through the path between two scenic steep rock walls.
- By train: You can also reach Park Gr贸dek by train from Krakow to Katowice. Get off at Jaworzno-Szczakowa station and it is about a 20-minute walk (1.6 km) from the station to the park.
Zalew Wydra - Feel Like in Croatia!
The highlight and the most beautiful part of the park is Zalew Wydra. The surrounding rocks give the water a turquoise color. You can walk on wooden walkways above the water and admire the fish swimming in the transparent water. This walk brings a lot of joy to children, and the photos taken here are like a fairytale! It's no wonder that the park is often used as a backdrop for many photo sessions, including weddings. Near the water, there is a spacious picnic meadow with wooden shelters and benches, and in one of the shelters, you can see a monument of an otter! The area is mostly sunny, but if you don't have a stroller, there are many forest walking trails around the quarry with benches, so you can find some shade. There are no food facilities directly at the lake, but there are food trucks near the parking area.
Park Gr贸dek - Viewpoints and Hiking Trails
One of the most beautiful scenic trails leads us to the top of the quarry. Here, we have to climb wooden steps, which are quite steep. But the views are amazing! The slope is secured with wooden railings, ensuring safety for a peaceful walk with children and adding to the atmosphere of the trail!
Park Gr贸dek - Accessible for Strollers and Disabled Visitors
Park Gr贸dek is easily accessible for strollers and disabled visitors thanks to an asphalt pedestrian and cycling path, closed to car traffic. The path from the parking lot to Zalew Wydra is a nice half-hour walk, and you can bring a bike or scooter for your child. If you have a stroller, it is best to park at Jaworowa Street, where you will find a wide and scenic path suitable for strollers, leading to P艂etwonurk贸w Street. The passage through the diving base is closed, so we follow the signs for "Wydra" along the forest path. From above, you can see the diving base and another water reservoir called the Kamienio艂om Koparki.
Easy
Gr贸dek Park - Walking Route with a Stroller or Bicycle
Park Gr贸dek and Arboretum in Jaworzno - entrance to the park from Jaworowa Street
Kamienio艂om Koparki
From the upper paths and walking trails, we can see the second reservoir - Kamienio艂om Koparki. There is a diving base here, but access is restricted to tourists due to the water intake for drinking purposes. Interestingly, at the bottom of the reservoir, you can find submerged old mining equipment used to extract the local stone! At some point, the company couldn't pay the electricity bills, and the power was cut off. This caused the pumps to stop working, resulting in the rapid flooding of the reservoir! The water engulfed the abandoned equipment - two large excavators, which gave the reservoir its name. The excavators are still at the bottom and are a popular attraction for divers!
PS. We have included this place in the article "10 Ideas for a One-Day Trip near Krakow". Discover the other suggestions!
10 ideas for a one-day trip outside Krakow
Looking for an idea for a trip outside the city? Preferably not too far away, so you don't spend a lot of time in the car? Check if you've been here before: ...
Publish Date: 2022-05-29
More in the Region Okolica Krakowa (The Surroundings of Krakow)
Total Length 280 km
