Krościenko nad Dunajcem

Nowy Targ County · Lesser Poland Voivodeship · Poland
Krościenko nad Dunajcem — photo 1 Krościenko nad Dunajcem — photo 2 Krościenko nad Dunajcem — photo 3 Krościenko nad Dunajcem — photo 4 4

Photos: mik Krakow, CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Jerzy Opioła, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Vrabcak, CC0 (Wikimedia Commons); Happa, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Krościenko nad Dunajcem is a village in Poland, located in Nowy Targ County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in the western Lemkivshchyna region. The village lies in the valley of the Dunajec River, where the Krośnica stream flows into it, at the meeting point of three mountain ranges: the Sądecki Beskids, Pieniny, and Gorce. Surrounded by picturesque mountain ridges, it serves as the administrative center of the Krościenko nad Dunajcem commune.

The history of Krościenko nad Dunajcem dates back to the late 12th century, when it was a settlement serving the now non-existent Pieniny Castle. In 1348, King Casimir the Great granted it Magdeburg rights, fostering its development. In 1770, the village was annexed by the Habsburg Monarchy, later becoming part of the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, Krościenko was a county seat, and in 1932 it lost its town status.

Krościenko nad Dunajcem is known as a tourist and spa destination, located near Pieniny National Park. The village is home to three mineral water springs, including “Stefan i Michalina,” “Maria,” and “Zdrój Ziemroźka.” Notable landmarks include the 15th-century All Saints’ Church, Pieniny Castle, several chapels, the Dziewolski family manor, and numerous natural monuments. The area is a gateway to the nature of the Pieniny, Sądecki Beskids, and Gorce mountains.

Visitors can explore over 20 hiking trails, such as “Krościenko nad Dunajcem – Burzana,” “Sromowce Niżne – Krościenko nad Dunajcem,” and “Krościenko nad Dunajcem – Sosnów Pass.” Mountain enthusiasts can summit peaks like Trzy Korony, Sokolica, Wysoki Wierch, Palenica, and Jarmuta. Attractions include the Czorsztyn Reservoir, Czorsztyn Castle, Dunajec rafting, and the Józef Szalay Pieniny Museum. Mountain huts in the region include “Trzy Korony,” PTTK Orlica, Pod Durbaszką, and Na Przehybie. Local cheese and żętyca can be tasted at the shepherd’s hut in Pieniny National Park.

Getting there from Ukraine

Lviv – Szczawnica ≈384 km, ≈5 h 25 min without queues: M-10 → Krakovets – Korczowa → A4 to Brzesko (≈198 km) → DK75 to Nowy Sącz → DW969 via Stary Sącz and Łącko to Krościenko nad Dunajcem → Szczawnica. ≈306 km, ≈4 h from the border.

Sources: Wikipedia, Wikidata, OpenStreetMap, Karpaty.rocks data. More on Wikipedia

Trails nearby

All trails
Main Trail of BeskidyHardMulti-dayMarkedMain Trail of BeskidyElevation profile309–1 723 m499.9 kmascent 19 519 munder 1 km from the centreSromowce Niżne – Krościenko nad DunajcemEasyOne-dayMarkedSromowce Niżne Krościenko nad DunajcemElevation profile424–789 m6.5 kmascent 353 m≈ 2.5 h walkingunder 1 km from the centreKrościenko nad Dunajcem – BurzanaEasyOne-dayMarkedKrościenko nad Dunajcem BurzanaElevation profile424–774 m3 kmascent 352 m≈ 1.5 h walkingunder 1 km from the centreKrościenko nad Dunajcem – Przełęcz SosnówEasyOne-dayMarkedKrościenko nad Dunajcem Przełęcz SosnówElevation profile424–682 m3 kmascent 262 m≈ 1.5 h walkingunder 1 km from the centreTarnów – Wielki RogaczHardMulti-dayMarkedTarnów Wielki RogaczElevation profile206–1 211 m191.5 kmascent 6 941 m2.2 km from the centrePTTK Orlica Hut – PrzysłopEasyOne-dayMarkedPTTK Orlica Hut PrzysłopElevation profile429–992 m7.1 kmascent 568 m≈ 3 h walking2.4 km from the centre

Peaks nearby

All peaks
Bajków GrońPeakBajków GrońTylkaaltitude 716 m2.5 km from the centreBajków Groń (also simply Groń) is a wooded 716 m summit in the western part of the Pieninki, a ridge of the Pieniny proper, inside the Pieniny National Park.CzerteżPeakCzerteżKrościenko nad Dunajcemaltitude 774 m2.5 km from the centreCzerteż is a 774 m summit in the Central Pieniny, the highest point of the Pieninki ridge and of the famous Sokola Perć path.CzertezikPeakCzertezikKrościenko nad Dunajcemaltitude 772 m2.6 km from the centreCzertezik is a 772 m summit in the Central Pieniny, the second-highest top of the Pieninki ridge and one of the best viewpoints over the middle part of the Pieniny...Zamkowa GóraPeakZamkowa GóraTylkaaltitude 799 m3 km from the centreZamkowa Góra (“Castle Hill”) is a summit of about 799 m at the end of the north-eastern spur of the Trzy Korony massif in the Central Pieniny.SokolicaPeakSokolicaKrościenko nad Dunajcemaltitude 747 m3.2 km from the centre1 trail to the topSokolica is a 747 m rocky summit in the north-eastern part of the Central Pieniny, in the so-called Pieninki.CzołoPeakCzołoSromowce Niżnealtitude 815 m3.6 km from the centreCzoło ("forehead" in Polish) is a modest 815 m summit in the Pieniny proper, the easternmost top on the main ridge of the Czorsztyn Pieniny.

What to visit

All
Zaskalnik FallsWaterfallZaskalnik FallsSzczawnica5.5 km from the centreZaskalnik is a small but very picturesque waterfall on the Sopotnicki stream (Sopotnicki Potok) near the spa town of Szczawnica.Dunajec River RaftingNatureDunajec River RaftingSromowce Wyżne6.2 km from the centreRafting down the Dunajec is the best-known attraction of the Pieniny and probably of the whole Polish Carpathians.Wodospad Wielki in ObidzaWaterfallWodospad Wielki in ObidzaObidza7.7 km from the centreWodospad Wielki ("Great Waterfall") is a natural cascade 5 m high on the Majdan stream, also called Majdański Potok, in the village of Obidza in the Łącko commune of...Wierch Lubania GladeMountain meadowWierch Lubania GladeKrośnicaaltitude 1 190 m7.9 km from the centreWierch Lubania is a meadow on the summit of Lubań, the highest mountain of the Lubań range in the south-eastern part of the Gorce.Niedzica Castle (Dunajec Castle)CastleNiedzica Castle (Dunajec Castle)Niedzica-Zamek8.3 km from the centreDunajec Castle in Niedzica is one of the most beautiful castles in Poland. It stands on a rock at 566 m above sea level, about 35 m above the surface of Lake Czorsztyn...Lake CzorsztynLakeLake CzorsztynFalsztyn11 km from the centreLake Czorsztyn (Jezioro Czorsztyńskie) is a reservoir on the Dunajec river in the Nowy Targ Basin, between the Pieniny and the Gorce.

Craft nearby

All craft places
Autumn Redyk in Szczawnica: sheep drive, oscypek and shepherdsMarkets & fairsAutumn Redyk in Szczawnica: sheep drive, oscypek and shepherdsSzczawnica3.4 km from the centreRedyk is an old Carpathian shepherding custom: in spring the flocks are driven up to the mountain pastures (hale), and in autumn, after the cheese-making season, they...Szczawnica spa: pump room, waters and the InhalatoriumWater parks & thermal poolsSzczawnica spa: pump room, waters and the InhalatoriumSzczawnica4.7 km from the centreThe Szczawnica spa (Uzdrowisko Szczawnica) is all about water and air: in the valley of the Grajcarek stream, between the Pieniny and the Beskid Sądecki at 430–500 m,...Majerz Meadow Shepherd's Hut, Pieniny National Park: oscypek and żętycaCheese dairies & pasturesMajerz Meadow Shepherd's Hut, Pieniny National Park: oscypek and żętycaKrośnica6.9 km from the centreMajerz meadow (hala) sits on a 689 m hill between Czorsztyn-Nadzamcze and the village of Hałuszowa, above Lake Czorsztyn.Fruit Harvest Festival in Łącko: village stands, fruit and folkloreMarkets & fairsFruit Harvest Festival in Łącko: village stands, fruit and folkloreŁącko13 km from the centreŁącko, in the Dunajec valley between Stary Sącz and the Pieniny, is one of Poland's best-known fruit-growing areas: the slopes around are covered with apple, pear and...Personall Kraft Brewpub, Stary SączCraft beer & breweriesPersonall Kraft Brewpub, Stary SączStary Sącz21 km from the centrePersonall Kraft is a family-run brewpub in Stary Sącz where the beer is brewed right in the dining hall: the big brewing vessels are visible from the tables.Terma BaniaWater parks & thermal poolsTerma BaniaBiałka Tatrzańska25 km from the centreTerma Bania is a large thermal water park in the village of Białka Tatrzańska, at the foot of the Kotelnica ski slope.

Spas and thermal pools nearby

Szczawnica spa: pump room, waters and the InhalatoriumWater parks & thermal poolsSzczawnica spa: pump room, waters and the InhalatoriumSzczawnica4.7 km from the centreThe Szczawnica spa (Uzdrowisko Szczawnica) is all about water and air: in the valley of the Grajcarek stream, between the Pieniny and the Beskid Sądecki at 430–500 m,...Terma BaniaWater parks & thermal poolsTerma BaniaBiałka Tatrzańska25 km from the centreTerma Bania is a large thermal water park in the village of Białka Tatrzańska, at the foot of the Kotelnica ski slope.Termy BukovinaWater parks & thermal poolsTermy BukovinaBukowina Tatrzańska28 km from the centreTermy Bukovina is a modern thermal pool complex in Bukowina Tatrzańska, a village lying about a thousand metres above sea level on the edge of the Tatra National Park.

Huts, shelters and springs nearby

457 mMountain shelterOrlica HutPieniny · PolandStandingOn a trailSleeps up to 44Staffed
Trzy Korony Hut470 mMountain shelterTrzy Korony HutPieniny · PolandStandingOn a trailSleeps up to 50Meals served
424 mMineral springZiemroźka Mineral SpringPieniny · PolandNot verified80 m from a trailMineral water
511 mSpringStefan i Michalina SpringSądecki Beskids · PolandNot verified200 m from a trail
424 mDrinking waterDrinking water below GródekPieniny · PolandNot verified60 m from a trailMarked as drinkable
525 mSpringMaria Spring, 525 mSądecki Beskids · PolandNot verified170 m from a trail

All springs of the CarpathiansAll Carpathian huts

Getting there from Ukraine

Border crossings

  • Krakovets – Korczowa — road, 24/7
  • Shehyni – Medyka — road, 24/7 Pedestrian crossing is not confirmed by the Ukrainian border service — check dpsu.gov.ua before the trip.
  • Smilnytsia – Krościenko — road, 24/7
  • Hrushiv – Budomierz — road, 24/7
  • Mostyska – Przemyśl (rail) — rail, 24/7

By car

Lviv – Szczawnica ≈384 km, ≈5 h 25 min without queues: M-10 → Krakovets – Korczowa → A4 to Brzesko (≈198 km) → DK75 to Nowy Sącz → DW969 via Stary Sącz and Łącko to Krościenko nad Dunajcem → Szczawnica. ≈306 km, ≈4 h from the border.

Checked 23.10.2026; border crossing hours and timetables change — check before you travel.

What's nearby