Travel Tip – The Maldives of Poland 🙂 🇵🇱
We headed to the Gródek Nature Park near Jaworzno — known as the 'Polish Maldives'. Turquoise lakes in a former dolomite quarry and wooden walkways leading right over the water.
On our latest journey through Poland, we simply couldn’t skip one incredibly famous spot — known by no other name than the “Polish Maldives”. We headed to Gródek Nature Park, situated near the town of Jaworzno. 🌲
From the Czech border — specifically from Bohumín — it’s about 100 kilometres by car, which means a comfortable hour and a quarter drive along the motorway and you’re there. 🚗💨
When you arrive, you leave your car in a paid car park (it costs 20 zloty) and from there you walk a short distance through the forest to the park itself. It’s less than a kilometre and a half to the main attraction — a pleasant walk that absolutely anyone can manage. A huge bonus is that entry to the entire park is free.
As soon as you reach the valley, an extraordinary view opens up before you. The whole area was formed on the site of a former dolomite quarry. Mining stopped here in the nineties, and when the quarry flooded with water, nature worked its magic to create stunning turquoise lakes surrounded by rocky cliffs. 🌊
There’s an interesting story behind the flooding. In 1997, the electricity was cut off due to debts, the pumps stopped, and the water rose at an astonishing rate. Apparently, two giant excavators are still resting on the bottom of the neighbouring lake to this day. The site has since become a renowned diving location, attracting divers from across Europe. 🤿
I’d recommend sticking to the paved path — venturing off it near the cliffs can be dangerous.
But the real highlight for regular visitors are the winding wooden walkways and footbridges with gazebos, which lead directly over the water of Wydra lake.
Sometimes, when the water level is high, the walkways are slightly flooded — so in summer you wade through the water. And as an added bonus, you can watch shoals of fish swimming right beneath your feet. 🐟
The Polish Maldives — Gródek Nature Park near Jaworzno
So is this place worth a visit? Honestly, I was expecting a little more based on the photos online, but the walk itself was really lovely. 🙂
💬 Had you ever heard of the Polish Maldives before? And would you fancy a stroll on a walkway right above the water? 👇
Good to know
How much does it cost to enter Gródek park and to park?
Entry to the whole park is free. You only pay for the car park, which costs 20 zlotys.
How far are the Polish Maldives from the Czech border?
From Bohumín it is about 100 kilometres by car, roughly an hour and a quarter on the motorway.
How far is it from the car park to the lakes?
From the car park you walk a short way through the forest. The main lakes are just under 1.5 km away, a pleasant walk.
Is the trip suitable for children and a pushchair?
Yes, the walk is easy and you can get through with a pushchair without any problem. Just stick to the paved path, as walking close to the rocks can be dangerous.
Can you swim in the lakes?
No, swimming is forbidden here. The lakes are a well-known diving spot, and two giant mining excavators are said to still lie on the bottom of one of them.
When is the best time to visit the Polish Maldives?
We were here in May in the late afternoon and there was hardly anyone around, so we can only recommend the early evening. In summer, when the water is high, the wooden walkways are sometimes slightly flooded, so you wade through water with fish swimming around your feet.
