Lesser Poland Voivodeship

Poland województwo małopolskie
Lesser Poland Voivodeship — photo 1 Lesser Poland Voivodeship — photo 2 Lesser Poland Voivodeship — photo 3 Lesser Poland Voivodeship — photo 4 Lesser Poland Voivodeship — photo 5 5

Photos: Zakopane (Maksym Kozlenko, CC BY-SA 4.0); Kościelisko (Jerzy Opioła, CC BY-SA 4.0); Zawoja (Artur Kozioł, CC BY-SA 3.0); Szlachtowa (Jerzy Opioła, CC BY-SA 4.0); Bukowina Tatrzańska (Ic pomorzanin, Public domain)

Lesser Poland Voivodeship is an administrative region in southern Poland, bordering Silesia, Świętokrzyskie, Subcarpathian Voivodeship, and Slovakia. Its capital is Kraków, which is also the historic capital of Poland. The voivodeship's current borders were established on January 1, 1999, following an administrative reform. It has a population of over 3.4 million, with one of the highest population densities in Poland.

The region covers part of the Carpathians, including the Tatra Mountains—the highest in Poland—as well as the Pieniny and Beskidy ranges. Its landscape features mountains, valleys, and numerous natural landmarks. The area is home to UNESCO World Heritage sites, renowned resorts, thermal complexes, and historic towns.

On karpaty.rocks, the main tourist centers featured are Tatra, Nowy Targ, Nowy Sącz, Limanowa, Sucha, Gorlice, Myślenice, Wadowice, Bochnia, Tarnów, and Wieliczka counties. Highlights include trails such as Kuźnice – Myślenickie Turnie and Chochołowska Polana – Trzydniowiański Wierch, as well as peaks like Giewont, Kasprowy Wierch, and Trzy Korony. Visitors will find wooden villages, caves, valleys, shepherds' huts, thermal baths, and mountain shelters.

Getting there from Ukraine

Lviv – Nowy Sącz ≈335 km, ≈4 h 25 min without queues: M-10 to Krakovets → Krakovets – Korczowa → toll-free A4 via Rzeszów and Tarnów to Brzesko (≈198 km) → DK75 to Nowy Sącz (≈47 km). ≈257 km, ≈3 h from the border. Via Shehyni – Medyka (Przemyśl, DK28, DK77 to the A4) ≈348 km, ≈4 h 50 min.

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

Towns, villages and districts

Tatra CountyTatra Countypowiat tatrzański85 trails, 22 peaks, 36 sightsNowy Targ CountyNowy Targ Countypowiat nowotarski70 trails, 28 peaks, 20 sightsNowy Sącz CountyNowy Sącz Countypowiat nowosądecki62 trails, 3 peaks, 8 sightsLimanowa CountyLimanowa Countypowiat limanowski65 trails, 11 peaks, 6 sightsSucha CountySucha Countypowiat suski42 trails, 10 peaks, 6 sightsGorlice CountyGorlice Countypowiat gorlicki23 trails, 4 peaks, 10 sightsMyślenice CountyMyślenice Countypowiat myślenicki33 trails, 1 peak, 1 mountain hut or shelterWadowice CountyWadowice Countypowiat wadowicki14 trails, 3 peaks, 2 sightsBochnia CountyBochnia Countypowiat bocheński5 trails, 2 craft places, 2 mountain huts and sheltersTarnów CountyTarnów Countypowiat tarnowski1 trail, 1 sight, 3 craft placesNowy Sącz (city county)Nowy Sącz (city county)Nowy Sącz3 trails, 1 sight, 1 mountain hut or shelterWieliczka CountyWieliczka Countypowiat wielicki1 trail, 1 spa or thermal pool, 1 settlementKraków (city county)Kraków (city county)Kraków1 trail, 1 spa or thermal pool, 1 settlementTarnów (city county)Tarnów (city county)Tarnów1 trail, 1 settlementBrzesko CountyBrzesko Countypowiat brzeski1 craft place, 1 settlement

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 – Nowy Sącz ≈335 km, ≈4 h 25 min without queues: M-10 to Krakovets → Krakovets – Korczowa → toll-free A4 via Rzeszów and Tarnów to Brzesko (≈198 km) → DK75 to Nowy Sącz (≈47 km). ≈257 km, ≈3 h from the border. Via Shehyni – Medyka (Przemyśl, DK28, DK77 to the A4) ≈348 km, ≈4 h 50 min.

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

What's nearby