Vistula River Cruise in Sandomierz

The oldest engravings and paintings show Sandomierz from the Vistula — and that is exactly the view you get from the wooden boat "Sandomierka". It is a replica of a traditional raftsmen's dubas run by the Sandomierka Foundation; it takes up to 12 passengers, and the basic cruise lasts at least one hour. Along the way you hear how the town and the river have shaped each other over the centuries.

The dubas and passenger boats

A trip on the dubas is an intimate alternative to the larger boats. The foundation also takes private bookings — for wedding photo shoots, breakfasts, lunches or gatherings on a beach or island — and longer trips or cruises over an hour are arranged individually. Passenger boats also sail the Vistula at Sandomierz: inland navigation captain Tadeusz Prokop has run cruises for years and, according to Radio Kielce, obtained a permit for a landing stage below the Pepper Mountains (Góry Pieprzowe), so that a view of the town can be combined with a short walk in this nature reserve.

"Sandomierka" fares

• cruise of about 1 hour: PLN 45 adults, PLN 40 children under 14,
• private hire of the boat: PLN 350 (weekdays) or PLN 380 (weekends),
• booking by phone or text message (the number is on the foundation's website).

Tripto tip

Book ahead, especially at weekends — with only 12 seats the dubas fills up quickly. Confirm the meeting point when you book: the Old Port in Sandomierz silts up from time to time, and the town plans to dredge it and add new jetties. It can be cooler on the water than in the market square, so bring an extra layer, and allow about an hour and a half for the cruise including the walk to the landing.