Piwniczna-Zdrój

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

Photos: Bajarka, CC BY-SA 3.0 pl (Wikimedia Commons); Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain (Wikimedia Commons); Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain (Wikimedia Commons); Teo ns, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons); marek7400, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Bajarka, CC BY-SA 3.0 pl (Wikimedia Commons)

Piwniczna-Zdrój is a town in Poland, located in the valley of the Poprad River in Nowy Sącz County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship. The town is set amidst the scenic Sądecki Beskids, part of the Western Carpathians. At an elevation of 562 m, Piwniczna-Zdrój is a notable spa and tourist destination in the region.

The town was founded in 1348 by decree of King Casimir III the Great to strengthen the defense of Poland's borders. Its original name, "Piwniczna Szyja," referred to the narrowing of the Poprad River. Thanks to its location on a trade route to Hungary and royal privileges, the town developed rapidly. In the 19th century, a school, inn, mills, paper factory, and hospital were built, and in 1908, the railway station was established.

Piwniczna-Zdrój is known for its mineral waters, discovered in 1931, rich in magnesium and iron, used for treating stomach ailments, diabetes, and pancreatic inflammation. The town features historical architecture, including a 19th-century town hall, burgher houses, a 1913 well, and the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary with a 16th-century bell tower. The regional museum houses a significant collection of antique skis and craft artifacts. The area is attractive for skiing, rafting on the Poprad, and mineral water springs.

Visitors can enjoy over 280 km of marked trails. Popular routes include "Piwniczna Zdrój – Niemcowa," "Piwniczna-Zdrój – Jaworki," and "Piwniczna Zdrój – Obidza." Notable sights are the Lomniczanka Waterfall and Gala Labowska. Accommodation is available in huts such as Magóry, Cyrla, Gala Labowska, Obidza, PTTK nad Wierchomlą, Wonturówka, and PTTK pod Roztoką. For wellness, the nearby Żegiestów-Zdrój offers the "Anna" pump room and Spa House.

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
Piwniczna Zdrój – NiemcowaEasyOne-dayMarkedPiwniczna Zdrój NiemcowaElevation profile371–985 m6.1 kmascent 614 m≈ 3 h walkingunder 1 km from the centrePiwniczna-Zdrój – JaworkiModerateTwo-dayMarkedPiwniczna-Zdrój JaworkiElevation profile370–997 m17.5 kmascent 627 m≈ 5.5 h walkingunder 1 km from the centrePiwniczna Zdrój – ŁabowaModerateTwo-dayMarkedPiwniczna Zdrój ŁabowaElevation profile364–1 039 m18.7 kmascent 776 m≈ 6 h walkingunder 1 km from the centrePiwniczna-Zdrój – FrycowaModerateTwo-dayMarkedPiwniczna-Zdrój FrycowaElevation profile364–1 062 m17.5 kmascent 759 m≈ 6 h walkingunder 1 km from the centrePiwniczna Zdrój – ObidzaModerateOne-dayMarkedPiwniczna Zdrój ObidzaElevation profile370–1 023 m11.3 kmascent 705 m≈ 4 h walkingunder 1 km from the centreŁomnica – Hala ŁabowskaModerateOne-dayMarkedŁomnica Hala ŁabowskaElevation profile379–1 035 m10.8 kmascent 696 m≈ 4 h walking2.3 km from the centre

Peaks nearby

All peaks
RadziejowaPeakRadziejowaJaworkialtitude 1 266 m8 km from the centreRadziejowa is the highest summit of the Sącz Beskids (Beskid Sądecki), 1,266 m high, and one of the mountains of the Crown of Polish Mountains.Złomisty WierchPeakZłomisty WierchJaworkialtitude 1 224 m10 km from the centreZłomisty Wierch is a pair of wooded tops on the main ridge of the Radziejowa Range in the Sądecki Beskids, about 700 m apart.WatriskoPeakWatriskoJaworkialtitude 960 m12 km from the centreWatrisko is a rocky 960 m summit in the Small Pieniny (Małe Pieniny), the eastern part of the Pieniny range.Wysokie Skałki (Wysoka)PeakWysokie Skałki (Wysoka)Jaworkialtitude 1 050 m13 km from the centre1 trail to the topWysokie Skałki, also called Wysoka (Slovak: Vysoké Skalky), is a 1,050 m summit on the main ridge of the Small Pieniny and the highest point of the entire Pieniny and...Jaworzyna KrynickaPeakJaworzyna KrynickaJastrzębikaltitude 1 114 m13 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.DurbaszkaPeakDurbaszkaJaworkialtitude 934 m14 km from the centreDurbaszka is an inconspicuous 934 m summit on the main ridge of the Small Pieniny (Małe Pieniny), in the eastern part of the Pieniny.

What to visit

All
Łomniczanka WaterfallWaterfallŁomniczanka WaterfallŁomnica-Zdrój3.3 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...Hala ŁabowskaMountain meadowHala ŁabowskaUhryńaltitude 1 061 m7.8 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.Żegiestów-Zdrój spa: the Anna pump room and the Spa HouseWater parks & thermal poolsŻegiestów-Zdrój spa: the Anna pump room and the Spa HouseŻegiestów11 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.Homole GorgeNatureHomole GorgeJaworki13 km from the centreThe Homole Gorge (Wąwóz Homole) is one of the most beautiful rocky gorges in Poland. It lies in the Little Pieniny, in the Lemko village of Jaworki near Szczawnica.Józef Szalay Pieniny MuseumMuseumJózef Szalay Pieniny MuseumSzlachtowa14 km from the centreThe Józef Szalay Pieniny Museum (Muzeum Pienińskie im. Józefa Szalaya) is a branch of the Nowy Sącz District Museum (Muzeum Ziemi Sądeckiej).Zaskalnik FallsWaterfallZaskalnik FallsSzczawnica15 km from the centreZaskalnik is a small but very picturesque waterfall on the Sopotnicki stream (Sopotnicki Potok) near the spa town of Szczawnica.

Craft nearby

All craft places
Personall Kraft Brewpub, Stary SączCraft beer & breweriesPersonall Kraft Brewpub, Stary SączStary Sącz15 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.Szczawnica spa: pump room, waters and the InhalatoriumWater parks & thermal poolsSzczawnica spa: pump room, waters and the InhalatoriumSzczawnica16 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,...Krynica-Zdrój pump rooms: tasting the mineral watersWater parks & thermal poolsKrynica-Zdrój pump rooms: tasting the mineral watersKrynica-Zdrój18 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.Barć Apiary in Kamianna, the Beekeepers' VillageHoney & meaderiesBarć Apiary in Kamianna, the Beekeepers' VillageKamianna18 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...Autumn Redyk in Szczawnica: sheep drive, oscypek and shepherdsMarkets & fairsAutumn Redyk in Szczawnica: sheep drive, oscypek and shepherdsSzczawnica19 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...Fruit Harvest Festival in Łącko: village stands, fruit and folkloreMarkets & fairsFruit Harvest Festival in Łącko: village stands, fruit and folkloreŁącko25 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...

Spas and thermal pools nearby

Żegiestów-Zdrój spa: the Anna pump room and the Spa HouseWater parks & thermal poolsŻegiestów-Zdrój spa: the Anna pump room and the Spa HouseŻegiestów11 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.Szczawnica spa: pump room, waters and the InhalatoriumWater parks & thermal poolsSzczawnica spa: pump room, waters and the InhalatoriumSzczawnica16 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,...Krynica-Zdrój pump rooms: tasting the mineral watersWater parks & thermal poolsKrynica-Zdrój pump rooms: tasting the mineral watersKrynica-Zdrój18 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.

Huts, shelters and springs nearby

823 mMountain shelterMagóry ShelterSądecki Beskids · PolandStanding280 m from a trailStaffed
827 mMountain shelterCyrla HutSądecki Beskids · PolandStanding40 m from a trailOpen fire inside (smoke hut)Staffed
351 mMountain shelterPTTK Inn under RoztokaSądecki Beskids · PolandStandingOn a trailSleeps up to 31Meals served
931 mMountain shelterBacówka na ObidzySądecki Beskids · PolandStandingOn a trailStaffed
899 mMountain shelterChatka WątorówkaSądecki Beskids · PolandStanding90 m from a trailStaffed
Hala Łabowska Hut1 061 mMountain shelterHala Łabowska HutSądecki Beskids · PolandStandingOn a trailOpen fire inside (smoke hut)Staffed

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