Bad Rabka: Park, Hiking Trails and Culture

Zdrojowy Park is located in the centre of Rabka-Zdrój. The marked hiking trails include a 2.4-kilometre route through the park and a 4.8-kilometre route from the park to Góra Krzywoń. The Władysław Orkan Museum is housed in the bell tower of a listed larch-wood church dating from 1606.

There are ten themed gardens in the western part of the park. These include a rose garden, a rock garden, a garden for climbing plants and a heather area. The different garden themes give the 30-hectare park several distinct focal points. Visitors interested in plants and garden design can explore these areas as individual themes during their visit to the park.

The facilities also include a health trail, an outdoor gym, a beach volleyball court, tennis courts and children’s playgrounds. Alongside the gardens, these offer various opportunities for exercise and play in the park. Individual facilities may be undergoing maintenance; check their condition during your visit.

The two hiking trails mentioned differ in both length and route: a 2.4-kilometre route runs through Zdrojowy Park, while a 4.8-kilometre route goes from the park to Góra Krzywoń. These are two separate routes, not consecutive sections of a single trail. The recreational routes start in the centre of Rabka-Zdrój, at the intersection of Orkana and Chopina Streets.

The Rabczańskie Bulwary nad Poniczanką combine a pedestrian promenade with a cycle path. Those who prefer to combine their walks with a nature theme can also visit the Leśna Ścieżka Edukacyjna, which is intended for active recreation and nature education for children and young people. The trails can therefore be distinguished by their stated purpose without combining them into a single route.

Rabka-Zdrój lies on the 519-kilometre Główny Szlak Beskidzki. From Rabka, the trail leads to Turbacz, the highest peak in the Gorce Mountains at 1,310 metres. In addition to the shorter routes through the park or to Góra Krzywoń, this brings a longer-distance hiking trail and a named summit into focus.

A viewing tower over 25 metres high stands on Królewska Góra. From there, panoramic views extend across the Gorce Mountains, Beskid Wyspowy, Babia Góra and the Tatra Mountains. Access is described via the blue hiking trail from Kościuszki Street, heading towards the pass between Bania and Grzebień.

The Tężnia Solankowa, on the edge of Zdrojowy Park, is an open-air inhalatorium. The described way to use it is to walk around the structure while inhaling brine aerosol. This clearly distinguishes the activity from the hiking and sports opportunities in the park.

The museum is housed in the bell tower of a listed larch-wood church dating from 1606. Its exhibitions present the tangible and intangible heritage of the Podhalans, Zagórzans, Kliszczaks, Babiogórans and White Gorals. Instruments from the Podhale microregion displayed at the museum include the gusle, Fujara postna and Trembita. The building, exhibitions and instruments offer distinct ways to explore history and regional culture.

An Easter palm competition with Easter stalls takes place every year in Rabka-Zdrój on Palm Sunday. It is described as one of the oldest competitions of its kind in Poland. This is another cultural event in the annual calendar, alongside the museum’s permanent themes and exhibitions.

Discover more destinations: Spytkowice, Gronków, Podwilk, Szaflary, Czorsztyn, Niedzica, Bańska Niżna and Szczawnica.

How do the two marked hiking trails differ?

The 2.4-kilometre route runs through Zdrojowy Park. The 4.8-kilometre route goes from the park to Góra Krzywoń; they are two separate routes.

How is the Tężnia Solankowa used?

You walk around the structure of the open-air inhalatorium while inhaling brine aerosol.

Which instruments are displayed at the Władysław Orkan Museum?

Instruments from the Podhale microregion displayed there include the gusle, Fujara postna and Trembita.

For the main travel overview: Nowotarski.