Ujście Warty National Park

Warta Mouth National Park (Park Narodowy "Ujście Warty"; roughly "OOSH-cheh VAR-tah") protects the floodplain where the Warta River joins the Oder, right on Poland's border with Germany. It is one of the most important wetland bird sanctuaries in Poland: in spring the meadows turn into a shallow lake, and in fall tens of thousands of geese stop over on their migration. With flat terrain, wide horizons and free entry, it is ideal for a day of cycling and birdwatching.

Where it is and how to get there

The park lies in Lubusz province between Kostrzyn nad Odrą, Słońsk and Witnica, along national road 22. Kostrzyn sits on the German border and has direct regional trains from Berlin; by car Berlin is about 1.5 hours away, Gorzów Wielkopolski around 40 minutes and Poznań roughly 2.5 hours. The park office is in Chyrzyno, near Kostrzyn, and the visitor museum Ornitovo is in Słońsk.

Why it matters

The park was created on July 1, 2001, from the Słońsk nature reserve and part of a landscape park, and covers 8,074 hectares (31 sq mi). Much of the landscape is man-made: from the 18th century the Warta marshes were drained, dammed and settled by colonists. Today the park has two halves: the North Polder, protected by a dike and crossed by the oxbow of the Old Warta, and the South Polder, which floods regularly and hosts the largest bird gatherings.

Birdwatching highlights

245 bird species have been recorded here, 174 of them breeding, and 26 are globally threatened. The park is Poland's largest wintering site for whooper swans, and about 30 white-tailed eagles spend the winter here. Since April 2020 its emblem has been the tundra bean goose, which makes up around 90% of the migrating goose flocks. Breeding birds include the aquatic warbler, corncrake, black-tailed godwit, bittern and black tern.

Things to do

• "Mokradła" (Wetlands) trail — a short boardwalk route (about 0.8 km, 1 hour) near Kostrzyn along the Red Canal.
• "Olszynki" trail — 3 km, about 1.5 hours through alder woods and meadows.
• North Polder by bike — a 30 km (19-mile) cycling route of about 3.5 hours past the Old Warta and old colonist villages.
• Ornitovo museum in Słońsk — eight interactive rooms with a virtual balloon flight over the park, a simulated boat trip on closed waters, a walk-on peat bog model, aquariums and the history of the Warta marshes.
• Viewing towers along road 22 near Kostrzyn and on the Kamieńska Grobla dike. The tower at Chyrzyno is currently closed for safety reasons.

Allow half a day for one trail plus Ornitovo, a full day for the bike loop. Bring binoculars and waterproof boots.

When to visit (including winter 2026/27)

The best times are fall (October–November goose migration) and late winter to early spring, when floodwaters attract thousands of birds. In winter, look for whooper swans and eagles. During high water, roads and paths on the South Polder may be impassable, and driving on flooded roads is prohibited. The Kamieńska Grobla dike south of the tower is rough for cars, and parts of the "Yellow Road" are in poor condition. Check the park's notices and water levels before you go.

Tickets, hours and rules

As of October 2026:

• Park entry: free; visits are allowed only from dawn to dusk.
• Ornitovo (ul. 3 Lutego 90, Słońsk): until October 30 Tuesday–Friday 9 a.m.–4 p.m., weekends 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; from November 1 Tuesday–Saturday 9 a.m.–3 p.m.; last entry one hour before closing. Tickets 25 PLN, reduced 15 PLN; children under 4 free. Phone +48 95 757 21 10.
• Dogs: allowed only in the North Polder – Witnica section north of the Warta, on a leash.
• Watch out for electric fences around grazing cattle; kayaking is allowed only on the Warta itself.
• Park office: Chyrzyno 1, 69-113 Górzyca; phone +48 95 752 40 27 (Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.).

Is it worth visiting?

For birders, absolutely — the autumn goose spectacle and wintering eagles are world-class and easy to reach from Berlin. Add the ruins of Küstrin Fortress in Kostrzyn's old town and the castle of the Knights Hospitaller in Słońsk.