You’ll likely see the park’s name written in a number of ways: Las Wolski, Lasek Wolski, Wolski Forest, and Wolski Woods are the most common. (Las means “forest” and Lasek means “grove.”) Once you’ve found it, this tranquil woodland is a wonderful retreat, with 22 miles (35 kilometers) of marked hiking trails covering eight different routes, plus a range of wildlife too. You can enjoy spectacular city views from Pilsudski’s Mound, a manmade peak perched atop Sowiniec Hill.
The Wolski Forest is a great choice for hikers, cyclists, nature lovers, horseback riders, and cross-country skiers.
There’s no charge to visit the Wolski Forest, but some attractions within the forest have admission fees.
There are some disability-friendly walking options and wheelchair-accessible bathrooms in the Wolski Forest, but much of it is not accessible.
The Wolski Forest starts about 1.5 miles (2.5 kilometers) west of Krakow Old Town and sprawls for some miles. Car access is extremely restricted, so most travelers visit by bus. From the bus stop by the Cracovia stadium (Stadion Cracovii im. Józefa Piłsudskiego), about a 15-minute walk from Main Market Square, the #134 bus runs to the zoo, while the #109 drops off at Przegorzaly Castle.
Summer and winter are the seasons to enjoy the Wolski Forest: summer because the weather is warm and the woods alive with life, and winter for the joy of cross-country skiing (be aware that winter weather in Krakow is unpredictable). The area never closes but, as always, attractions are best visited midweek rather than over the weekend.
Krakow Zoo (also known as the Krakow Zoological Garden or Ogród Zoologiczny w Krakowie) makes a good focal point for a Wolski Forest adventure with little kids. It’s not a world-class institution, but there’s a petting zoo, animals including giraffes, zebras, meerkats, pygmy hippos, and snow leopards, and bird life from penguins to owls and condors.
