Żabnica

Powiat żywiecki · Silesian Voivodeship · Poland
Żabnica — photo 1

Photos: Hala Boracza

Żabnica is a village in Powiat żywiecki, Silesian Voivodeship, Poland, nestled among the scenic slopes of the Żywiec Beskids. Surrounded by mountain ranges, the area attracts travelers with its landscapes and natural beauty. The village has a population of about 3120 and serves as a popular starting point for mountain excursions.

The history of Żabnica is linked to the development of mountain settlements in the Żywiec Beskids region. The village preserves local cultural and economic traditions, which are reflected in the life of the community today.

Żabnica is known for its location in a region rich in nature—nearby peaks include Romanka and Barania Góra, as well as picturesque spots like Hala Boracza, Hala Lipowska, and Hala Rysianka. The area features the waterfall in Sopotnia Wielka, and visitors can experience local crafts at the "Na Bukowinie" shepherd's hut with sheep cheeses and alpacas, or at the PINTA brewery in Wieprz near Żywiec.

For visitors, there are over 30 trails in and around Żabnica, such as "Korbielów – Hala Miziowa – Witasówka," "Żabnica Skałka – Hala Boracza," and "Rajcza – Romanka." You can climb the peaks of Romanka and Barania Góra, visit mountain huts like Schronisko na Zagroniu, Schronisko na Rysiance, Schronisko na Hali Boraczej, Schronisko na Hali Lipowskiej, as well as tourist stations Słowianka and Abrahamów. For relaxation, the Lesna Aquapark in Żywiec is nearby.

Getting there from Ukraine

Lviv – Żywiec ≈412 km, ≈5 h 30 min without queues or tolls: M-10 → Krakovets – Korczowa → A4 to Kraków (≈249 km) → DK52 via Wadowice → DW781 and DW946 to Żywiec. ≈333 km, ≈4 h from the border. Alternative via the tolled A4 Kraków – Katowice and the S1 via Tychy and Bielsko-Biała: ≈457 km, ≈5 h 25 min.

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

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 centreRajcza station – ŻabnicaModerateOne-dayMarkedRajcza station ŻabnicaElevation profile470–1 002 m14.4 kmascent 658 m≈ 5 h walkingunder 1 km from the centreMilówka – CięcinaHardMulti-dayMarkedMilówka CięcinaElevation profile396–1 276 m30.5 kmascent 1 066 m≈ 10 h walking1 km from the centreŻabnica Skałka – AbrahamówEasyOne-dayMarkedŻabnica Skałka AbrahamówElevation profile591–796 m2.6 kmascent 3 m≈ 45 min walking3.2 km from the centreWęgierska Górka – FajkówkaEasyOne-dayMarkedWęgierska Górka FajkówkaElevation profile412–791 m8.3 kmascent 543 m≈ 3 h walking3.4 km from the centreSłowianka – BrzuśnikEasyOne-dayMarkedSłowianka BrzuśnikElevation profile401–946 m8.5 kmascent 94 m≈ 2.5 h walking3.6 km from the centre

Peaks nearby

All peaks
RomankaPeakRomankaSopotnia Wielkaaltitude 1 366 m7.1 km from the centreRomanka is a 1,366 m summit in the Żywiec Beskids, the highest of the Lipowski Wierch and Romanka group.Barania GóraPeakBarania GóraKamesznicaaltitude 1 220 m11 km from the centreBarania Góra ("Ram Mountain"; German Widderberg) is a dome-shaped summit in the south-eastern Silesian Beskids, the second-highest in the range after Skrzyczne.SkrzycznePeakSkrzyczneSłotwinaaltitude 1 257 m14 km from the centreSkrzyczne (German Rauhkogel) is a 1257 m mountain, the highest peak of the Silesian Beskids in southern Poland.Wielka RycerzowaPeakWielka RycerzowaSoblówkaaltitude 1 226 m19 km from the centreWielka Rycerzowa (Slovak Rycierova hora) is a 1226 m summit in the Wielka Racza group on the Polish–Slovak border.CzupelPeakCzupelMiędzybrodzie Bialskiealtitude 930 m21 km from the centreCzupel is the highest summit of the Little Beskids at 930 m; the latest geodetic and LiDAR measurements give 931 m, and some publications quote 933 m.KlimczokPeakKlimczokSzczyrkaltitude 1 117 m21 km from the centreKlimczok (formerly also Klimczak) is a 1117 m mountain in the Klimczok and Szyndzielnia range of the Silesian Beskids, south-west of Bielsko-Biała.

What to visit

All
Bacówka na Bukowinie, Żabnica: sheep's cheese and alpacasCheese dairies & pasturesBacówka na Bukowinie, Żabnica: sheep's cheese and alpacasWęgierska Górka2.5 km from the centreBacówka na Bukowinie stands on a slope above the village of Żabnica, next to Węgierska Górka, where the Żywiec Beskids meet the Silesian Beskids.Hala BoraczaMountain meadowHala BoraczaŻabnicaaltitude 854 m4.7 km from the centreHala Boracza is a shepherds' pasture in the Żywiec Beskids, in the Lipowski Wierch and Romanka group. It occupies a pass saddle at about 860 m between Prusów (1,010 m)...Hala LipowskaMountain meadowHala LipowskaZłatnaaltitude 1 290 m8 km from the centreHala Lipowska is a large glade on the south-eastern slope of Lipowski Wierch (1,324 m on most maps) in the Żywiec Beskids, within the Żywiec Landscape Park.Sopotnia Wielka FallsWaterfallSopotnia Wielka FallsSopotnia Wielka11 km from the centreSopotnia Wielka Falls (Wodospad w Sopotni Wielkiej) is the largest waterfall in the Polish Beskids. It drops on the Sopotnia stream right in the centre of the village...Żywiec castles: Old Castle, Habsburg Palace and parkCastleŻywiec castles: Old Castle, Habsburg Palace and parkŻywiec12 km from the centreIn the very centre of Żywiec, two residences of the former lords of the Żywiec estate stand side by side — the Old Castle and the Habsburg Palace, or New Castle —...Lake Żywiec (Jezioro Żywieckie)LakeLake Żywiec (Jezioro Żywieckie)Żywiec16 km from the centreLake Żywiec (Jezioro Żywieckie), also known as the Tresna Reservoir, is a large artificial lake on the Soła river beside the town of Żywiec, on the boundary of the...

Craft nearby

All craft places
PINTA Brewery, Wieprz near Żywiec: tours and taproomCraft beer & breweriesPINTA Brewery, Wieprz near Żywiec: tours and taproomWieprz7.5 km from the centrePINTA is the brewery that Poles associate with the start of the “beer revolution”; it calls itself the country's first craft brewery.Aquapark Leśna (Żywiec)Water parks & thermal poolsAquapark Leśna (Żywiec)Leśna10 km from the centreAquapark Leśna (also called Aquapark Żywiec) is a swimming-pool complex in the village of Leśna, a few kilometres from Żywiec, in the Żywiec Basin, surrounded by the...Folk Art Fair in Żywiec during the Beskidy Week of CultureMarkets & fairsFolk Art Fair in Żywiec during the Beskidy Week of CultureŻywiec12 km from the centreThe Beskidy Highlanders' Week of Culture (Tydzień Kultury Beskidzkiej, TKB) is Poland's largest folklore festival: it was first held in Wisła in 1964, and today, at...Browar Zarzecze in the Żywiec Basin: craft brewery shopCraft beer & breweriesBrowar Zarzecze in the Żywiec Basin: craft brewery shopZarzecze15 km from the centreBrowar Zarzecze works in the village of Zarzecze near Pietrzykowice in the Żywiec Basin — a region where beer has been brewed since at least the 19th century and home...Browar Wisła: craft brewpub in Wisła's old railway stationCraft beer & breweriesBrowar Wisła: craft brewpub in Wisła's old railway stationWisła23 km from the centreBrowar Wisła is a brewpub in the heart of the Silesian Beskids, in the spa town of Wisła, where Poland's longest river of the same name rises.Ustroń spa: brine, peat and brine poolsWater parks & thermal poolsUstroń spa: brine, peat and brine poolsUstroń28 km from the centreUstroń is the only spa of the Silesian Beskids: the town lies where the Vistula valley leaves the mountains, between the ridges of Równica (884 m) and Czantoria Wielka...

Spas and thermal pools nearby

Aquapark Leśna (Żywiec)Water parks & thermal poolsAquapark Leśna (Żywiec)Leśna10 km from the centreAquapark Leśna (also called Aquapark Żywiec) is a swimming-pool complex in the village of Leśna, a few kilometres from Żywiec, in the Żywiec Basin, surrounded by the...Ustroń spa: brine, peat and brine poolsWater parks & thermal poolsUstroń spa: brine, peat and brine poolsUstroń28 km from the centreUstroń is the only spa of the Silesian Beskids: the town lies where the Vistula valley leaves the mountains, between the ridges of Równica (884 m) and Czantoria Wielka...

Huts, shelters and springs nearby

796 mMountain shelterAbrahamów Tourist StationŻywiec Beskids · PolandStandingOn a trailStaffed
837 mMountain shelterMatlakówka Mountain Tourist StationŻywiec Beskids · PolandStanding270 m from a trailStaffed
848 mMountain shelterSłowianka Tourist StationŻywiec Beskids · PolandStandingOn a trailStaffed
854 mMountain shelterPTTK Hut on Hala BoraczaŻywiec Beskids · PolandStandingOn a trailStaffed
Hala Lipowska Hut1 262 mMountain shelterHala Lipowska HutŻywiec Beskids · PolandStandingOn a trailSleeps up to 43Meals served
Rysianka Hut1 290 mMountain shelterRysianka HutŻywiec Beskids · PolandStandingOn a trailSleeps up to 50Meals served

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 – Żywiec ≈412 km, ≈5 h 30 min without queues or tolls: M-10 → Krakovets – Korczowa → A4 to Kraków (≈249 km) → DK52 via Wadowice → DW781 and DW946 to Żywiec. ≈333 km, ≈4 h from the border. Alternative via the tolled A4 Kraków – Katowice and the S1 via Tychy and Bielsko-Biała: ≈457 km, ≈5 h 25 min.

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

What's nearby