Things to do
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Dunajec River Gorge
A twisting gorge of the Dunajec through limestone walls on the Polish and Slovak border, floated on wooden rafts poled by highlanders in embroidered dress. The trip starts at Sromowce Kąty, lasts around two and a half hours and ends at the landing in town, with buses back to the start. Rafts sail from spring to autumn and stop in high water.
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Homole Gorge
A short limestone gorge near Jaworki, east of town, where a stream cuts between cliffs and wooden footbridges and steps follow the water. The path continues up to open meadows in the Small Pieniny with wide views south. The gorge entrance is ticketed, and the rock steps turn slippery after rain.
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Niedzica Castle
A fourteenth century Hungarian border castle on a rock above Lake Czorsztyn, facing the ruin of Czorsztyn Castle across the water. Its courtyards and rooms hold a small museum of the Spisz region, and boats cross the reservoir between the two castles in summer. Entry is ticketed, and the approach from the car park is a short uphill walk.
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Pieniny National Park
A small national park of limestone crags and beech woods above the Dunajec, founded in 1932 together with a Slovak twin across the river. Marked trails climb from Krościenko and Sromowce to the main viewpoints, past hay meadows still mown by hand. The summit platforms are ticketed at park kiosks, and the paths are steep and rocky near the top.
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Sokolica
A crag above a sharp bend of the Dunajec, known for the stunted relict pine clinging to its edge. From the town end of the gorge a small ferry boat crosses the river to the trail, which climbs steeply to the top in about an hour. The summit platform is ticketed and fenced, and the ferry runs only in season.
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Trzy Korony
The five-turreted massif of the Three Crowns, whose top platform on Okrąglica stands about five hundred metres above the bends of the river. A steep marked path from Krościenko or Sromowce Niżne reaches the summit in about two hours. The fenced viewing platform is small and ticketed, with queues on summer weekends.
