The Białowieża Primeval Forest (Puszcza Białowieska) was created without human intervention and is the only natural place in Poland entered on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

It is a unique place on a European and global scale – most of Europe’s natural forests have been cleared in the last few hundred years. Their place was taken by crops, meadows, pastures, villages, cities. The Białowieża Primeval Forest is exceptional in Europe. It is here that for thousands of years uninterrupted natural processes have been taking place. As a result, this forest is characterized by an extraordinary abundance of fauna and flora.

How to pronounce Białowieża: [bʲawɔˈvʲɛʐa]

Białowieża National Park (17% of the area of the Polish part of the Białowieża Primeval Forest) is a protected area famous for its ancient forest that survived in its natural state to this day and large bison population, as well as hiking and biking trails. It is a perfect place for all those who love nature. The area gives a unique opportunity to observe nature, exceptional biodiversity, rare species of fauna and flora. The Białowieża Forest is known worldwide for the European bison – the largest land mammal in Europe.

The Białowieża Forest is situated on the border of Poland and Belarus. Its Polish part covers about 40%. The village of Białowieża is considered the geographical center of the forest.

The Białowieża Forest is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List (more on UNESCO’s website). UNESCO recognizes that “the area has exceptionally conservation significance due to the scale of its old growth forests, which include extensive undisturbed areas where natural processes are on-going.

The property protects a diverse and rich wildlife of which 59 mammal species, over 250 bird, 13 amphibian, 7 reptile and over 12,000 invertebrate species.

The iconic symbol of the property is the European Bison: approximately 900 individuals in the whole property which make almost 25% of the total world’s population and over 30% of free-living animals“.

How to get to Białowieża?

Białowieża is a large village located in eastern Poland, in the Podlaskie Voivodeship, close to the border with Belarus. The nearest border crossing is located 5 km from Białowieża (Białowieża-Piererow – pedestrian and bicycle border crossing).
Location on Google map.
BY CAR. Approximate (depending on traffic) travel time by car to Białowieża from: Warsaw 3 hrs 15 mins, Kraków 6 hrs 45 mins, Poznań 6 hrs, Gdańsk 6 hrs, Łódź 4 hrs 40 mins, Katowice 7 hrs, Lublin 3 hrs 30 mins.
BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT. There are currently no trains to Białowieża, the nearest train station is Hajnówka, where regional trains go. Trains from all over Poland can reach the city of Białystok (the capital of Podlaskie Voivodeship). From Białystok to Białowieża, you can then take a bus (the duration of the trip is less than 2 hours, 90 km). Here – on the Białowieża Commune website – you will find links to the bus timetables.

Attractions in the Białowieża Forest area

European Bison Show Reserve (Rezerwat Pokazowy Żubrów)

A nature reserve (enclosed park, kind of zoo) with trails allowing you to see bison and other forest animals.
Since it’s really difficult to see a bison in the protected area of the Białowieża National Park, here in the reserve you will have a chance to see European bison.
Other animals include moose, red deer, roe deer, wild boar, a wolf pack, a lynx, tarpan-type horse. There are also specimens of the so-called żubroń cross between European bison and domestic cattle (big animals, weighing up to 1200 kg!).
The animals live in semi-natural conditions so they may not be visible all the time or are quite far from the fence.
Opening hours: April 16 – October 15: open daily, 9 am – 5 pm. October 16 – April 15: open from Tuesday to Sunday, 9 am – 4 pm.
Online tickets. Regular ticket 10 PLN, reduced ticket 5 PLN. Children up to 4 free entrance. Tickets can be purchased in advance for the next 7 days.
Location on Google map.
The reserve is located 7 km from the village of Białowieża. You can get there by car (there is a parking lot), by bike or on foot. From Białowieża, you can take the Żebra Żubra/Bison’s Ribs educational trail (starting point on Google map, 5 km to the reserve). Part of the trail passes through the nature reserve. The trail runs largely on a footbridge made of wooden boards, built due to the waterlogged ground. You can plan your return to Białowieża by following the yellow trail – the Puszczańskie Drzewa/Forest Trees path that connects the reserve with Białowieża from ul. Krzyże (Krzyże street on Google map).
More in English about the reserve.

Strict Nature Preserve (Obręb Ochronny Rezerwat, former Rezerwat Ścisły)

The oldest and most valuable part of the Białowieża National Park. This area is covered with a natural forest – one that has not been planted by man and grows without human interference. Many species living in this area are relics of primeval forests.
Entry to this strict protection area only with a guide with a valid license. Contacts to tourist offices employing tourist guides licensed in the Białowieża National Park.
The trail is called Do Dębu Jagiełły and is 7 km long, walking time: 4-3 hours. Depending on the season, the guide introduces tourists to plants, traces of animals, the role of a dead tree and the processes taking place in the natural forest, undisturbed by human economic activity. A guided walk usually starts near the seat of the Białowieża National Park (location on Google map).
Online tickets. Regular ticket 6 PLN, reduced ticket 3 PLN. Tickets can be purchased in advance for the next 7 days. Tickets should only be purchased after contacting the local tourist office and hiring a guide.
Opening hours: every day from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset.

Other information

Our tip: we recommend to email/call the guides listed by the Białowieża National Park (here you will find contacts to tourist offices employing tourist guides licensed in the Białowieża National Park). Most of them speak English (and some of them many other languages, too). They can suggest the best trail based on the weather, season, your needs – some of the tours they can offer can be very exciting!
The surroundings of the Białowieża National Park are rich in bicycle paths. Here you will find information in English about the bicycle routes in the area and lots of other useful information about the region.
When setting out on the trail, it is worth having comfortable shoes, a map (you can buy it at the local tourist information office), a guide for recognizing plants, fungi and animals (especially when you go without a guide), binoculars, insect repellent (when visiting the area in spring and summer), raincoat.

Read about other interesting places in Poland in our posts:

The town of Zakopane – the heart of the Polish Tatra Mountains
Hiking trails in Poland: the Strążyska Valley in the Polish Tatra Mountains
Hiking trails in Poland: the Morskie Oko Lake in the Polish Tatra Mountains
Hiking trails in Poland: the Kościeliska Valley in the Polish Tatra Mountains
Planetarium of the Copernicus Science Centre in Warsaw
What to do in Warsaw: Multimedia Fountain Park in Warsaw
The Palace and Park in Warsaw’s Wilanów
National parks in Poland: Kampinos Forest near Warsaw
Botanical gardens in Poland: Arboretum in central Poland, 40 km from Łódź, 100 km from Warsaw
What to do in Warsaw: The Gardens of the Royal Castle
Castles in Poland: Medieval castle ruins in Czersk
POLIN – Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw
An idea for a weekend trip in Poland: the town of Sandomierz
Museum for Children (part of the Ethnographic Museum in Warsaw)
The city of Olsztyn – 15 lakes within the city limits
UNESCO World Heritage Site in Poland: the town of Zamość
What to do in Wroclaw: Zoo and Africarium
What to do in Wroclaw: Kolejkowo – a miniature model of the region
The birthplace of Frederic Chopin – Żelazowa Wola village in central Poland
What to do in Wroclaw: Hydropolis knowledge center about water
The Zoo in the city of Łódź and its new part – the Orientarium
UNESCO World Heritage Site in Poland: Historic Silver Mine & underground routes
Malbork Castle in Poland – one of the biggest castles in the world
Museum of Technology in Warsaw
The town of Kazimierz Dolny in eastern Poland
Attractions in eastern Poland: Białowieża Forest
Tours, workshops, events in English at the Palace and Park in Wilanów in Warsaw
What to do in the Kraków area: Wieliczka salt mine
What to do in Warsaw: The Royal Castle in Warsaw
Copernicus Science Centre in Warsaw (Centrum Nauki Kopernik)
Przystań Hotel in Olsztyn
Dr Irena Eris Wzgórza Dylewskie Hotel & Spa
Geological Museum in Warsaw
Narvil Hotel near Warsaw
Ethnographic Museum in Warsaw
Museum of Asia and the Pacific in Warsaw
Natural History Museum in Warsaw (Museum of Evolution)
Museum of Dollhouses, Games and Toys in Warsaw
Kazimierzowka Hotel (Kazimierzówka) in Kazimierz Dolny
Sielanka Hotel (Hotel Sielanka nad Pilicą)
Holiday Inn Hotel in Jozefow near Warsaw
The Royal Łazienki Museum and Park in Warsaw
The National Museum in Warsaw
The Frederic Chopin Museum in Warsaw
Center for Contemporary Art – Ujazdowski Castle in Warsaw

Attractions in eastern Poland: Białowieża Forest

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