Biebrza National Park

Why visit?

Biebrza National Park is the largest national park in Poland — 592 km² of marshes, peatlands and floodplains in the Biebrza Basin, covering about 155 km of the river's course. Established in 1993, it protects one of the last such extensive and natural wetland complexes in Central Europe; it has been listed under the Ramsar Convention since 1995 and lies entirely within an IBA bird area of European importance. Birds are the park's chief currency — 271 species have been recorded here, including the aquatic warbler and the ruff, whose silhouette features in the park's emblem, as well as the great snipe and the double snipe. Around 400 moose also live here, Poland's largest refuge for the species. The natural base for excursions is Osowiec-Twierdza, a nineteenth-century Tsarist fortress that now houses the park headquarters. Around it stretches a network of trails — Czerwone Bagno, Długa Luka, the Grobla Honczarowska causeway with observation hides, and the viewpoint on Góra Skobla — with the legendary Carska Droga running through the marshes. Kayaking trips down the Biebrza and cycling routes such as Green Velo are also popular. The best time to visit is April and May, when the marshes are full of water and ruffs display at dawn; another good moment is September and October, when cranes stop over here. In summer a mosquito repellent is essential. Within the park you move along designated roads and paths, and wandering onto the bogs off-trail is forbidden. Allow at least half a day for a trail and a viewpoint, and a full day or two for kayaking and longer hikes.

What you’ll see

• Największy park narodowy w Polsce (592 km²)
• 271 gatunków ptaków, w tym wodniczka i batalion
• Około 400 łosi — największa ostoja w Polsce
• Carska twierdza Osowiec i Carska Droga
• Spływy kajakowe Biebrzą i Green Velo
• Wiosenne rozlewiska widoczne z Góry Skobli

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