Kampinos National Park

Kampinos National Park begins at the western edge of Warsaw in Poland's Masovian region and is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The park protects a mosaic of pine forest, inland dunes, wetlands, meadows and oxbow lakes on the old Vistula floodplain, and it is one of the largest forested areas close to a European capital. The park headquarters is at ul. Tetmajera 38 in Izabelin, where visitors can pick up maps and information. A network of marked hiking and cycling trails crosses the park, with routes ranging from short loops of a few kilometres to long full-day circuits. The sandy dunes, some of them covered in heather and pine, give the landscape an unexpected open character, and the wetlands support elk, deer, beavers and many bird species. Walkers also find memorials at Palmiry, where Polish civilians and members of the elite were murdered by German forces in 1939 and 1940, and the Palmiry cemetery and museum form a solemn stop on the trail. A visit takes anywhere from three to six hours, depending on the route. Admission to the park is free, though some museums charge a small fee, and the park is open around the clock, with the headquarters open on weekday mornings and early afternoons. Mornings are the best time to start, because trails are cooler and quieter, and weekdays are calmer than weekends, when cyclists and families fill the paths. Spring and autumn are particularly pleasant, while summer brings ticks, so repellent from April to October is advisable. Trail maps can be downloaded from kampinoski-pn.gov.pl before travel. Buses run from Warszawa Młociny Metro station on line M1 to Truskaw, Izabelin and Kampinos, and bike hire is available in Warsaw for the greenway into the park. Sturdy shoes and water are advised, because shops inside the park are few.