Palenica Mountain and Chairlift, Szczawnica

Palenica (say "pah-leh-NEE-tsah") is a 722-meter (2,369 ft) hill in the Little Pieniny range right above Szczawnica, a historic spa town in southern Poland. A four-seat chairlift whisks you from the town center to the top in under five minutes. In summer it is an easy family outing with views of the Pieniny, Gorce, Beskid ranges and, on clear days, the High Tatras, plus a mountain coaster and ridge trails; in winter it becomes a ski area.

Where it is and how to get there

Szczawnica lies on the Polish–Slovak border, about 2–2.5 hours by car from Kraków and its international airport; buses also run from Kraków. The lower chairlift station is on Główna Street, about ten minutes' walk from the spa center, with a year-round parking lot next to it.

The chairlift

The first two-seat lift opened on September 21, 1991. Today's four-seat chairlift, run by Polskie Koleje Linowe (Polish Cable Railways, PKL), has operated since December 17, 2005. It is about 777 m long and climbs 263 m, from 459 m in Szczawnica to the 722 m summit. It runs year-round.

Things to do at the top

• Viewpoint with a panorama board and a telescope by the upper station.
• Mountain coaster (gravity slide) reaching up to 36 km/h, usually open from May to the end of November.
• Hiking: the yellow trail continues to Szafranówka, where trails split; the blue ridge trail leads toward Durbaszka (about two hours) and, via the green trail, down to the Homole Gorge. Another path drops to the Pieniny Road along the Dunajec.
• Walking up instead? The marked trail from the parking lot gains about 250 m; allow about 70 minutes to Szafranówka. The descent to town takes around 40 minutes.

Tickets and hours (as of October 2026)

The lift usually opens around 9 a.m. and closes between 3:30 and 7:30 p.m., depending on the season. Note: closed for maintenance October 19 – November 6, 2026, reopening November 7. Low-season prices (October 1 – December 18, 2026):

• Round trip: 37 PLN adult / 29 PLN reduced at the ticket office, 32 / 25 PLN online.
• One way: 29 / 23 PLN (online 25 / 20 PLN).
• Family ticket (2 adults + 1 child under 15): 95 PLN (online 79 PLN).
• Children under 4 ride free with an adult.

Reduced fares cover children and teens up to 15, students up to 26 and seniors 65+. Same-day Dunajec rafting tickets earn a discount.

Skiing in winter 2026/27

In winter the hill has runs by three T-bar lifts on Szafranówka for families and beginners, plus a steep black run and a gentle trail beside the chairlift, both ending at the lower station. Slopes have snowmaking and grooming, and there is a rental shop and ski school. The opening date depends on snow — check PKL's website.

A bit of history

Spa guests from Szczawnica were already climbing Palenica in the 19th century. The slopes were once pasture and were reforested after World War II; from 1949 until the 1970s a small ski jump stood on the north side.

Is it worth it?

Yes, as a quick, low-effort viewpoint and a good half-day with kids. Combine it with a stroll on the Pieniny Road or a raft trip.