National Parks of Poland

Poland has 23 national parks that are special places to protect nature and help people learn about the environment. These parks cover about 186,000 hectares of forest, which is around 2% of all the forests in Poland. Each park has areas that are very protected and areas where people can visit.

These parks are important for research and teaching people about nature. Visitors can walk on trails and learn more by visiting museums and educational centers that many parks have. The parks work with the Ministry of Climate and the Environment to keep these special places safe for animals, plants, and people to enjoy.

Legal basis and governance of Poland's national parks

To become a national park in Poland, an area must be at least 1000 hectares big and have special natural or cultural importance. The plants and animals there should live in a mostly natural way, often including rare or protected species.

National parks are split into different areas with various rules to protect nature. Some parts are very protected, while others allow more human activity. There are also rules around the areas just outside the parks. All national parks follow laws set by the government and get money from the state. Each park has a director and a team to help manage it, with overall supervision from the Ministry of Climate and Environment.

List of Poland's national parks

Image	Name (Polish)	Name origin	Seat	Area (km²)	Year	Symbol	UNESCO status	Neighboring national parks
	Babia Góra National Park (Babiogórski Park Narodowy)	Babia Góra Massif	Zawoja	33.92	1954	Laserpitium archangelica Laserpitium archangelica	Biosphere reserve	Horná Orava Protected Landscape Area, Slovakia
	Białowieża National Park (Białowieski Park Narodowy)	Białowieża (village) and Białowieża Forest	Białowieża	105.02	1932	Wisent European bison	World Heritage Site, biosphere reserve	Belavezhskaya Pushcha National Park, Belarus
	Biebrza National Park (Biebrzański Park Narodowy)	Biebrza River	Osowiec-Twierdza	592.23	1993	Ruff Ruff	Biosphere reserve
	Bieszczady National Park (Bieszczadzki Park Narodowy)	Bieszczady Mountains	Ustrzyki Górne	292.01	1973	Lynx Lynx	Biosphere reserve	Poloniny National Park, Slovakia
	Tuchola Forest National Park (Park Narodowy „Bory Tucholskie”)	Tuchola Forest	Charzykowy	47.98	1996	Capercaillie Western capercaillie
	Drawno National Park (Drawieński Park Narodowy)	Drawa River	Drawno	114.41	1990	Otter Otter
	Gorce National Park (Gorczański Park Narodowy)	Gorce Mountains	Poręba Wielka	70.29	1981	Fire salamander Fire salamander
	Kampinos National Park (Kampinoski Park Narodowy)	Kampinos (village) and Kampinos Forest	Izabelin C	385.44	1959	Moose European elk	Biosphere reserve
	Karkonosze National Park (Karkonoski Park Narodowy)	Karkonosze (Giant Mountains)	Jelenia Góra	55.76	1959	Mountain Campanula bohemica and Gentiana asclepiadea	Biosphere reserve	Krkonošský NP, Czech Republic
	Magura National Park (Magurski Park Narodowy)	Magura Wątkowska massif	Krempna	194.39	1995	Buzzard Lesser spotted eagle
	Narew National Park (Narwiański Park Narodowy)	Narew River	Kurowo	68.1	1996	Marsh harrier Western marsh harrier
	Ojców National Park (Ojcowski Park Narodowy)	Ojców (village)	Ojców	21.46	1956	Bat Bat
	Pieniny National Park (Pieniński Park Narodowy)	Pieniny Mountains	Krościenko nad Dunajcem	23.46	1932	Trzy Korony Trzy Korony Mountain and the Dunajec River		Pieninský NP, Slovakia
	Polesie National Park (Poleski Park Narodowy)	Polesie region	Urszulin	97.62	1990	Crane Common crane	Biosphere reserve	Shatskyy NP, Ukraine
	Roztocze National Park (Roztoczański Park Narodowy)	Roztocze (range of hills)	Zwierzyniec	84.83	1974	Konik Konik
	Slovincian National Park (Słowiński Park Narodowy)	Slovincian tribe	Smołdzino	186.18	1967	Seagull Seagull	Biosphere reserve
	Stołowe Mountains National Park (Park Narodowy Gór Stołowych)	Stołowe Mountains	Kudowa-Zdrój	63.40	1993	Sandstone Szczeliniec Wielki
	Świętokrzyski National Park (Świętokrzyski Park Narodowy)	Świętokrzyskie Mountains	Bodzentyn	76.26	1950	Deer Deer
	Tatra National Park (Tatrzański Park Narodowy)	Tatra Mountains	Zakopane	211.64	1954	Tatra chamois Tatra chamois	Biosphere reserve	Tatra National Park, Slovakia
	Warta Mouth National Park (Park Narodowy „Ujście Warty”)	Warta mouth	Chyrzyno	80.38	2001	Tundra bean goose
	Wielkopolska National Park (Wielkopolski Park Narodowy)	Greater Poland region	Jeziory	75.84	1957	Owl Tawny owl
	Wigry National Park (Wigierski Park Narodowy)	Wigry Lake	Krzywe	150.86	1989	Beaver Beaver and Wigry Lake
	Wolin National Park (Woliński Park Narodowy)	Wolin Island	Misdroy	109.37	1960	White-tailed eagle White-tailed eagle

Museums in national parks

Here are some special places to learn and explore in Poland's national parks:

• Museum of Nature and Forest in Białowieża National Park, Palace Park, Białowieża
• Educational Centre of Babia Góra National Park, Zawoja
• Museum of Natural History in Bieszczady National Park, Ustrzyki Dolne
• Museum of Natural History in Kampinos National Park, Kampinos
• Science Museum at Karkonosze National Park, Jelenia Góra
• Museum im. prof. Władysława Szafera, Ojców
• Centre for Education and Museum at Polesie National Park, Załucze Stare
• Centre for Education and Museum at Roztocze National Park, Zwierzyniec
• Museum of Nature and Forest at Slovincian National Park, Smołdzino
• Museum of Natural History at Świętokrzyski National Park, Święty Krzyż
• Natural History Museum of Tatra National Park, Zakopane
• Natural History Museum of Wielkopolska National Park, Jeziory
• Wigler Museum (Museum at Wigry National Park), Stary Folwark
• Natural History Museum of Wolin National Park, Misdroy
• Field Station DNP "Bogdanka", Drawno
• Karkonosze Environmental Education Center, Szklarska Poręba