Krynica-Zdrój

Nowy Sącz County · Lesser Poland Voivodeship · Poland
Krynica-Zdrój — photo 1 Krynica-Zdrój — photo 2 Krynica-Zdrój — photo 3 Krynica-Zdrój — photo 4 Krynica-Zdrój — photo 5 6

Photos: Henryk Bielamowicz, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Igor123121, CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Mach240390, CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Mach240390, CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Igor123121, CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Arek N., CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Krynica-Zdrój is a spa town in southern Poland, located in a picturesque mountain basin at 590 meters above sea level. The town lies in the valley of the Kryniczanka river and its tributary Palenica, surrounded by the slopes of the Sądecki Beskids. Krynica-Zdrój is part of Nowy Sącz County in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship.

The settlement was established as a Ruthenian (Ukrainian) village in 1547 by Danko from Tylicz, with other sources mentioning the first written record in 1595 or 1721. In the 18th century, Krynica became part of the Austrian monarchy. From then on, the town began to develop as a resort thanks to its mineral waters, and it was granted town rights in 1889.

Krynica-Zdrój is known for its mineral springs, sanatoriums, and the scenic landscapes of the Sądecki Beskids. The town is located within the Poprad Landscape Park, making it attractive for nature lovers. It features historic villas, churches, guesthouses, and the Krynica-Zdrój Pump Rooms, where visitors can taste mineral waters.

Visitors can explore the Nikifor Museum in Krynica-Zdrój, the Church of St. James in Powroźnik, and hike to peaks such as Jaworzyna Krynicka and Lackowa. There are numerous trails, including the Wincenty Pol Trail, Krynica-Zdrój – Krynica-Zdrój, and Łomnica – Hala Łabowska, as well as mountain huts: PTTK Jaworzyna Krynicka Hut, Hala Łabowska Hut, and PTTK Nad Wierchomlą Hut. Those interested in crafts can visit the Barć Apiary in Kamiana, a beekeepers’ village near Krynica.

Getting there from Ukraine

Lviv – Krynica-Zdrój ≈338 km, ≈5 h without queues: M-10 to Krakovets → Krakovets – Korczowa checkpoint → toll-free A4 via Rzeszów to Tarnów (≈163 km) → DW977 towards Gorlice → DW981 to Krynica (≈260 km, ≈3 h 35 min from the border). Via Smilnytsia – Krościenko the distance is about the same (≈335 km) but the mountain roads are slow (≈7 h 40 min): DK84 – Sanok – DK28 via Krosno and Gorlice.

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 centreTrail of Wincenty PolHardMulti-dayMarkedTrail of Wincenty PolElevation profile310–1 106 m73.5 kmascent 3 162 munder 1 km from the centreCzarne Garby – Krynica-ZdrójModerateOne-dayMarkedCzarne Garby Krynica-ZdrójElevation profile481–870 m15.5 kmascent 781 m≈ 5.5 h walkingunder 1 km from the centreKrynica-Zdrój – Krynica-ZdrójModerateTwo-dayMarkedKrynica-Zdrój loopElevation profile569–899 m18.4 kmascent 689 m≈ 6 h walkingunder 1 km from the centreBacówka PTTK pod Wierchomlą – Krynica-ZdrójEasyOne-dayMarkedBacówka PTTK pod Wierchomlą Krynica-ZdrójElevation profile571–1 080 m11.1 kmascent 238 m≈ 3.5 h walkingunder 1 km from the centreMochnaczka Wyżna – PtaszkowaModerateTwo-dayMarkedMochnaczka Wyżna PtaszkowaElevation profile497–882 m22.4 kmascent 692 m≈ 7 h walking3.2 km from the centre

Peaks nearby

All peaks
Jaworzyna KrynickaPeakJaworzyna KrynickaJastrzębikaltitude 1 114 m4.6 km from the centreJaworzyna Krynicka, or simply Jaworzyna, is a 1,114 m summit in the Sądecki Beskids and the highest point of the Jaworzyna Range.LackowaPeakLackowaIzbyaltitude 997 m10 km from the centre1 trail to the topLackowa (Slovak Lacková, Lemko Лацкова) is a 997 m summit on the Polish–Slovak border and the highest mountain of the Polish part of the Low Beskid.RotundaPeakRotundaRegietówaltitude 771 m21 km from the centreRotunda is a 771 m hill in the Low Beskid in south-eastern Lesser Poland. It lies on a side spur that leaves the main Carpathian ridge at Jaworzyna Konieczniańska and...

What to visit

All
Nikifor Museum in Krynica-ZdrójMuseumNikifor Museum in Krynica-ZdrójKrynica-Zdrójunder 1 km from the centreThe Nikifor Museum (Muzeum Nikifora) in Krynica-Zdrój is devoted to one of the world's best-known self-taught painters — Nikifor of Krynica, the Lemko Epifaniy...Krynica-Zdrój pump rooms: tasting the mineral watersWater parks & thermal poolsKrynica-Zdrój pump rooms: tasting the mineral watersKrynica-Zdrójunder 1 km from the centreKrynica-Zdrój grew up around its mineral springs, and the best way to feel the spa is to walk round its pump rooms and taste the local waters.St James's Church in PowroźnikChurchSt James's Church in PowroźnikPowroźnik5.7 km from the centreThe Church of St James in Powroźnik is one of the oldest wooden churches in the Carpathians and is considered the oldest surviving church of the Lemko region.Hala ŁabowskaMountain meadowHala ŁabowskaUhryńaltitude 1 061 m12 km from the centreHala Łabowska is a large glade in the Sącz Beskids (Beskid Sądecki), in the middle part of the Jaworzyna Krynicka range, at about 1,060 m.Łomniczanka WaterfallWaterfallŁomniczanka WaterfallŁomnica-Zdrój15 km from the centreŁomniczanka Waterfall (Wodospad na Łomniczance) is a natural waterfall on the stream of the same name in the village of Łomnica-Zdrój, in the commune of Piwniczna...Klimkówka Reservoir (Lake Klimkówka)LakeKlimkówka Reservoir (Lake Klimkówka)Klimkówka17 km from the centreThe Klimkówka Reservoir (Zalew Klimkówka, commonly called Lake Klimkówka) is an artificial lake on the Ropa river in the Beskid Niski, near the villages of Klimkówka,...

Craft nearby

All craft places
Barć Apiary in Kamianna, the Beekeepers' VillageHoney & meaderiesBarć Apiary in Kamianna, the Beekeepers' VillageKamianna12 km from the centreThe Barć ("Bee Tree") apiary in the Lemko village of Kamianna, between Krynica-Zdrój and Nowy Sącz, is one of Poland's best-known beekeeping places, and Kamianna is...Żegiestów-Zdrój spa: the Anna pump room and the Spa HouseWater parks & thermal poolsŻegiestów-Zdrój spa: the Anna pump room and the Spa HouseŻegiestów12 km from the centreŻegiestów-Zdrój is a small spa in the narrow Poprad valley in the Beskid Sądecki, a kilometre and a half from the village of Żegiestów and a few kilometres from Muszyna.Wysowa-Zdrój spa: pump room, Franciszek and Henryk watersWater parks & thermal poolsWysowa-Zdrój spa: pump room, Franciszek and Henryk watersWysowa-Zdrój16 km from the centreWysowa-Zdrój is a quiet spa at the source of the Ropa river in the Beskid Niski, at 500–550 m, 20 km from Krynica-Zdrój and 25 km from Bardejovské Kúpele in Slovakia.Gładyszów Hucul Horse Stud, RegietówHorse ridingGładyszów Hucul Horse Stud, RegietówGładyszów25 km from the centreThe "Gładyszów" Hucul Horse Stud (Stadnina Koni Huculskich „Gładyszów”) in the Lemko village of Regietów is one of the largest places in the world where Hucul ponies...Chodorowa vineyard near Grybów: tour and wine tastingWine & tastingsChodorowa vineyard near Grybów: tour and wine tastingChodorowa27 km from the centreThe Chodorowa vineyard (Winnica Chodorowa) lies in the hills of the Rożnów Foothills (Pogórze Rożnowskie), a few kilometres from the small town of Grybów in the...Personall Kraft Brewpub, Stary SączCraft beer & breweriesPersonall Kraft Brewpub, Stary SączStary Sącz27 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.

Spas and thermal pools nearby

Krynica-Zdrój pump rooms: tasting the mineral watersWater parks & thermal poolsKrynica-Zdrój pump rooms: tasting the mineral watersKrynica-Zdrójunder 1 km from the centreKrynica-Zdrój grew up around its mineral springs, and the best way to feel the spa is to walk round its pump rooms and taste the local waters.Żegiestów-Zdrój spa: the Anna pump room and the Spa HouseWater parks & thermal poolsŻegiestów-Zdrój spa: the Anna pump room and the Spa HouseŻegiestów12 km from the centreŻegiestów-Zdrój is a small spa in the narrow Poprad valley in the Beskid Sądecki, a kilometre and a half from the village of Żegiestów and a few kilometres from Muszyna.Wysowa-Zdrój spa: pump room, Franciszek and Henryk watersWater parks & thermal poolsWysowa-Zdrój spa: pump room, Franciszek and Henryk watersWysowa-Zdrój16 km from the centreWysowa-Zdrój is a quiet spa at the source of the Ropa river in the Beskid Niski, at 500–550 m, 20 km from Krynica-Zdrój and 25 km from Bardejovské Kúpele in Slovakia.

Huts, shelters and springs nearby

1 100 mMountain shelterJaworzyna Krynicka PTTK HutSądecki Beskids · PolandStandingOn a trailStaffed
587 mDrinking waterDrinking water below Góra Parkowa (north-west slope)Sądecki Beskids · PolandNot verifiedOn a trail
577 mDrinking waterUzdrowiskowe wody lecznicze TapSądecki Beskids · PolandNot verified60 m from a trail
648 mSpringBocianówka SpringSądecki Beskids · PolandHas water28.06.2026100 m from a trailFlows all yearMarked as drinkable
646 mDrinking waterDrinking water below Góra Parkowa (north-east slope)Sądecki Beskids · PolandNot verified70 m from a trail
638 mDrinking waterDrinking water below JasiennikSądecki Beskids · PolandNot verified

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 – Krynica-Zdrój ≈338 km, ≈5 h without queues: M-10 to Krakovets → Krakovets – Korczowa checkpoint → toll-free A4 via Rzeszów to Tarnów (≈163 km) → DW977 towards Gorlice → DW981 to Krynica (≈260 km, ≈3 h 35 min from the border). Via Smilnytsia – Krościenko the distance is about the same (≈335 km) but the mountain roads are slow (≈7 h 40 min): DK84 – Sanok – DK28 via Krosno and Gorlice.

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

What's nearby