If you, like me, have spent a week in Wroclaw and started looking for places to visit nearby, you might discover a hidden gem called Szklarska Poręba. I decided to visit on a whim, hoping to enjoy some nature outside the city—but it ended up exceeding my expectations in every way. In this post, I want to introduce you to this amazing spot.
Table of Contents
Szklarska Poręba
Szklarska Poręba is a small mountain resort village located about 120km southwest of Wroclaw. Chances are, you’ve never heard of it—unless you live in Poland, it’s not somewhere you’re likely to have visited, and most travelers overlook it completely.
Wroclaw Poland: Cathedral Island & the Multimedia Fountain
While it’s not well-known in Korea (or, really, outside Poland), Szklarska Poręba borders Karkonosze National Park and has some reputation within Poland for outdoor activities. Karkonosze itself is a section of the Sudetes mountain range, stretching across eastern Germany, southwestern Poland, and northern Czech Republic. The Polish-Czech border follows the ridgeline here.
In Germany, these are called the Riesengebirge, and in Czechia, the Krkonoše. With heavy snowfall in winter, the mountains are a major ski destination for locals and well-known among winter sports enthusiasts.
Getting there is simple: You can take the D20 train directly from Wroclaw Central Station to Szklarska Poręba Górna with no transfers, making this an ideal day trip from Wroclaw.
Szrenica
While Szklarska Poręba itself is a small, quiet village, the real adventure is hiking to the peak of Szrenica, one of the summits in the Karkonosze mountains.
You can hike up the well-maintained trails, or, like I did, take the chair lift directly to the top and walk back down. The chair lift (Szrenica Lift) is divided into two sections, and entering the Karkonosze National Park on the upper section requires an additional entrance fee.
The chair lift operates all summer (it serves as a ski lift in winter), but be prepared: it’s long and slow, taking over 30 minutes to reach the summit.
Szrenica Lift Information
- Operating Hours: Daily 09:00-16:30 (subject to seasonal changes)
- Ticket Prices (PLN):
- Adult: Round-trip 75, One-way up 70, Down 52
- Ages 7–14: Round-trip 58, Up 42, Down 31
- Under 7: Free
- For more details and information, visit Szrenica Ski Arena Website
Entrance Fees to Karkonosze National Park
| Ticket Type | Regular | Discount |
|---|---|---|
| 1-day | 11.00 PLN | 5.50 PLN |
| 2-day | 20.00 PLN | 10.00 PLN |
| 3-day | 26.00 PLN | 13.00 PLN |
*Free entry for children under 7, local residents
Hiking on the Plateau
When you reach the top, a wide plateau opens before you. There are several hiking routes, many of them flat and accessible, so anyone can enjoy trails here.
Unique Rock Formations
A unique feature of the Karkonosze is the abundance of massive, fissured rock formations scattered everywhere. According to local information, these rocks were formed as ancient magma cooled and cracked, with water freezing and thawing in the crevices over millennia. It’s a great tidbit for kids’ science education!
I hadn’t chosen a particular trail in advance, but spotted an imposing building in the distance and decided to head there.
Wildlife Encounters
Along the way, the unusual rock shapes keep things interesting—no room for boredom here. Some rocks are covered in moss, and there were notes saying it takes decades for moss to grow and that these patches are quite rare.
And, to my surprise, a wild fox appeared! It was my first time seeing a fox up close, and it was incredibly cute—I almost wanted to take one home as a pet.
Sniezne Kotly: The Cliff and the TV Station
As you walk, you eventually approach the red building you saw in the distance. If you take it easy from the chair lift, it takes about an hour. That building was originally a hotel, but over time (and through wars), it’s now used as a TV transmission tower. Seen from the other side, it’s perched right on the edge of a cliff, which was quite a surprise.
This cliff, called Sniezne Kotly, is a glacial cirque—essentially, a bowl-shaped valley carved by glacial activity. Seeing it in person, the steepness and open views are staggering.
Elbe Falls and the Source of the Elbe River
Not far from Sniezne Kotly, I saw a parking lot sign on the map, which was puzzling—it’s hard to imagine a proper parking lot atop a mountain! Turns out, the “P” marked the Polish side of the border.
Remember, the Karkonosze Mountains form the boundary between Poland and Czechia. Along the trail, there were endless wooden poles marking the border. My phone kept switching between Czech and Polish mobile networks, sending welcome texts each time I crossed—an amusing experience, as I rarely get to cross borders on foot!
Czech Republic Travel Guide: Prague Public Transport & More
From the summit, it’s about a 30-minute stroll along a small trail to reach the Elbe Falls (Wodospad Łaby). The waterfall tumbles over a cliff and is quite scenic—definitely worth the detour.
After cooling my feet in the frigid water, it was time to continue to the Elbe river’s source. From the waterfall, it’s only about a 20-minute walk to the spring. The Elbe (Łaba in Polish, Labe in Czech, Elbe in German) flows through Czechia and Germany all the way to the North Sea—a massive 1,200km river, all beginning at this tiny mountain spring. Seeing such a major European river originate in a trickle was fascinating.
There’s a wall near the spring with the coats of arms of all the main cities the Elbe passes through. Nothing fancy, but standing at the river’s source was meaningful by itself.
Back to Wroclaw
I was tempted to keep hiking down into the Czech side of the mountains, but had to head back to Wroclaw before the last train. The roads, while well-paved, follow the mountain’s slope straight down, so the descent is tough on the knees. Thankfully, there’s another beautiful waterfall near the end to make up for it.
After another hour’s walk from the last waterfall, I finally reached the train station. The building you can see in the photos impossibly perched on the mountain top—that’s where I started my hike down. Completely wiped out, I fell asleep as soon as I boarded the train.
Final Thoughts
Today’s post covers my trek in the Karkonosze mountains, which straddle southern Poland and northern Czechia. It’s not a famous travel destination, but the wide-open views and diverse trails make it a fantastic day trip. In summer, enjoy trekking; in winter, the area is renowned for skiing. If you find yourself in Wroclaw with a bit of extra time, I highly recommend a visit.
HDND travel
All around the world
Read More
