Kabacki Forest in Warsaw

Kabacki Forest (Las Kabacki, roughly "lass kah-BAHTS-kee") is a protected nature reserve on the southern edge of Warsaw, covering more than 900 hectares of old mixed woodland right at the end of the city's M1 metro line. It is the easiest way to swap Warsaw's concrete for 150-year-old oaks and beeches without leaving the city, and it hides a surprising piece of World War II history. If you are looking for things to do in Warsaw beyond the Old Town, this is a refreshing half-day outing.

How to get to Kabacki Forest

Take metro line M1 south to its last stop, Kabaty; the forest begins a short walk east of the station. The ride from the city center (Centrum station) takes roughly 20 minutes, and Warsaw Chopin Airport is only about 8 km away. Buses also serve the southern edge near the Powsin Culture Park and the forest education center. If you drive, be careful: Moczydłowska Street is a residential zone where parking outside marked bays gets you a fine.

What makes it special

The reserve was established on August 11, 1980, and covers about 903 hectares (roughly 2,230 acres), with a buffer zone of more than 1,000 hectares around it. Many stands of trees are 120 to 160 years old: oak, pine, beech, linden, hornbeam and birch. The eastern edge follows the Warsaw Escarpment, giving the paths a little elevation rare in this flat city. Roe deer, wild boar, foxes and badgers live here.

History lovers should look for the memorial to the Polish Cipher Bureau cryptologists near Pyry. It was here, in July 1939, that Polish mathematicians shared their work on breaking the German Enigma machine with British and French intelligence, a step that later helped the Allies at Bletchley Park. The forest also holds wartime graves and memorial sites.

Trails and things to do

• 3 marked hiking trails and about 33 km of walking and cycling routes in total.
• 2 nature trails, each around 4 km with information boards (in Polish).
• The Forest Education Center at Rydzowa 1a, with a forest playground and a wooden forester's lodge from 1890.
• A recreation meadow in the south with a designated campfire site.

Rules you need to know (as of October 2026)

• Entry is free and there are no opening hours.
• Stay on marked trails; going off-trail is not allowed in the reserve.
• Dogs are not allowed, not even on a leash, since December 2017.
• Fires only in the designated spot.
• The reserve can close temporarily after major storms, as it did in 2022.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, especially in spring, when the beech woods glow green, or in October, when the oaks and lindens turn gold. It pairs well with the Wilanów Palace, about 5 km away, or the Powsin Culture Park and Botanical Garden next door. Bring water and comfortable shoes; facilities inside the forest are minimal.