Things to Do in Szklarska Poręba: Peaks, Waterfalls and an Artists' Colony
Szklarska Poręba is a mountain town in the Kamienna valley, squeezed between the Karkonosze (Giant Mountains) and the Jizera Mountains in south-western Poland, at 440 to 886 m above sea level. Its name refers to glassmaking: a glassworks is recorded here in the 14th century, and the Józefina works ran from 1842 until 1993. Around 1900 the town, then known by its German name Schreiberhau, was an artists' colony — the writers Carl and Gerhart Hauptmann settled here in 1890. Today it is the gateway to Szrenica, to the waterfalls of Karkonosze National Park and, in winter, to the ski slopes and the Jakuszyce cross-country trails.
This page brings together our picks for a first visit (eight published attractions within the town limits so far), one- and two-day itineraries that add nearby waterfalls and the Snow Cauldrons, transport tips, notes for winter 2026/27 and the full list of sights in the tripto.pl catalogue. Opening hours and prices are on each attraction page; before any mountain walk, read the national park's daily trail bulletin.
Why visit
- A two-section chairlift from the Marysin district reaches the main ridge in about 40 minutes; the summit of Szrenica (1,362 m) is a 15-minute walk from the top station.
- The highest waterfall in the Polish Sudetes is inside the town limits: Kamieńczyk drops 27 m in three cascades into a gorge you enter on steel walkways, wearing a helmet.
- The Schreiberhau artists' colony lives on in the museum in Carl and Gerhart Hauptmann's former home, surrounded by a free park open around the clock.
- Short, free walks suit families: the rocking stone of Chybotek, the Złoty Widok viewing terraces and the hairpin lookout of Zakręt Śmierci.
- In winter the town has the largest ski area in the Polish Karkonosze (12 km of runs), and nearby Jakuszyce hosts the Bieg Piastów ski marathon — from 13 to 21 February 2027.
Top 8: what to see first
Our picks for a first visit — each with a short reason why.
Mountains & peaks
Szrenica
Szklarska Poręba
Szrenica (pronounced shreh-NEE-tsa, 1,362 m) is the rounded granite summit that towers over the resort town of Szklarska Poręba in Poland's Karkonosze, or Giant Mountains. It is one of the easiest high viewpoints in the range to reach: a t…
1. Rounded granite summit at 1,362 m with a mountain hut built in 1921–1922. Views over the Jelenia Góra Valley, the Jizera Mountains and the Czech side; ride the chairlift or hike the red trail.
Hidden gemWaterfalls
Kamieńczyk Waterfall
Szklarska Poręba
Kamieńczyk Waterfall (ka-MYEN-chik) in Szklarska Poręba is the highest waterfall in the Polish Sudetes. The Kamieńczyk stream drops 27 m in three cascades into a narrow granite gorge. Visitors walk down on steel platforms, wearing a helmet…
2. Poland's highest Sudeten waterfall (27 m) in a 100 m granite gorge. Entry to the gorge needs a separate national park ticket (PLN 16 in 2026) and a helmet, provided on site.
Museums
Carl and Gerhart Hauptmann House
Szklarska Poręba
The Carl and Gerhart Hauptmann House in Szklarska Poręba (SHKLAR-ska po-REM-ba) is a museum in the former home of two German writers, the Hauptmann brothers. Around 1900 it was the heart of an artists' colony in what was then Schreiberhau.…
3. The brothers' house in the Valley of Seven Houses, now a museum of the artists' colony with paintings of the Karkonosze. Permanent exhibitions free on Wednesdays; closed on Mondays.
Ski resorts
Ski Lifts in Szklarska Poręba
Szklarska Poręba
The ski lifts in Szklarska Poręba (SHKLAR-ska po-REM-ba) belong to Szrenica Ski Arena, the largest ski area on the Polish side of the Karkonosze, or Giant Mountains. It spreads across the northern slopes of Szrenica peak, with three chairl…
4. Szrenica Ski Arena: three chairlifts, five drag lifts and 12 km of runs with full snowmaking, including the floodlit beginner slope Puchatek. The Szrenica lift also runs outside winter.
Nature
Chybotek Rocking Stone, Szklarska Poręba
Szklarska Poręba
On top of a granite rock group in the forest above Szklarska Poręba lies a boulder about 4 metres across that rests on just two points. That is why it can be gently set rocking – hence the name Chybotek, roughly "the wobbler". The rock has…
Free entry5. A granite tor topped by a boulder about 4 m across that can be gently rocked. A 10-minute walk from the Złoty Widok terraces, outside the national park and free to visit.
Viewpoints
Death Bend (Zakręt Śmierci) near Szklarska Poręba
Szklarska Poręba
On regional road 358 between Szklarska Poręba and Świeradów-Zdrój, the road at 775 m above sea level doubles back almost 180 degrees over about 440 m. Death Bend has an ominous name, but today people come here mainly for the view: from bel…
Free entry6. A near-180-degree bend of the Sudeten Road, built in 1935–1937, at 775 m. The stone terrace beside it is one of the best free viewpoints over the Jelenia Góra Valley.
Amusement parks
Dinopark in Szklarska Poręba
Szklarska Poręba
Dinopark in Szklarska Poręba (pronounced roughly "SHKLAR-skah po-REM-bah") is a forest theme park in Poland's Karkonosze (Giant) Mountains, where a woodland trail leads past life-size dinosaur models set among spruce trees and boulders. Al…
120–360 min7. Forest park next to Szklarska Poręba Średnia station with 32 life-size dinosaurs, a rope course and a 6D cinema. Allow 2–4 hours if the children want the extra attractions.
Museums
Mineralogical Museum in Szklarska Poręba
Szklarska Poręba
In front of the wooden villa on Kilińskiego Street lie petrified tree trunks from the Carboniferous period, and inside you will find a piece of the Gibeon meteorite and stromatolites around 570 million years old. The Mineralogical Museum i…
8. A collection of minerals and fossils on Kilińskiego Street, including a piece of the Gibeon meteorite, stromatolites and trilobites — a good plan for a rainy afternoon.
Top sights on the map
Open the full map1-day itinerary
Morning: chairlift to Szrenica
Take the two-section chairlift from the lower station on Turystyczna Street (about 40 minutes in total), then walk 15 minutes up to the summit hut for the view.
Midday: down to Kamieńczyk Waterfall
Descend the red trail via the Hala Szrenicka meadow to the waterfall and visit the gorge. From November to March the ticket booth closes at 15:00 on weekdays, so do not leave it for late afternoon.
Places: Kamieńczyk Waterfall
Afternoon: the Hauptmann House
Follow the black trail back to the lower lift station and head to Szklarska Poręba Średnia. From October to April the museum is open Tuesday to Sunday until 16:00.
Places: Carl and Gerhart Hauptmann House
Before dusk: Chybotek or Zakręt Śmierci
Walk to the rocking stone from the Złoty Widok terraces, or drive up the road towards Świeradów-Zdrój to the hairpin viewpoint above the valley.
Places: Chybotek Rocking Stone, Szklarska Poręba Death Bend (Zakręt Śmierci) near Szklarska Poręba
2-day itinerary
Day 1: the Karkonosze ridge
Szrenica
Ride the chairlift or hike up the red trail in the morning and take in the view from the summit.
Along the ridge to the Snow Cauldrons
The ridge path past the Trzy Świnki rocks leads to the glacial cirques of Śnieżne Kotły. In winter the park closes some trails there because of avalanche risk — check the bulletin first.
Places: Śnieżne Kotły (Snowy Cirques) Karkonosze National Park
Back via Kamieńczyk Waterfall
Return to Szrenica and take the red trail down via Hala Szrenicka to the waterfall. Plan the walk so you are back in the valley before dark.
Places: Kamieńczyk Waterfall
Day 2: the Kamienna valley and the artists' colony
Hauptmann House and park
Visit the museum at 11 Listopada 23 in Szklarska Poręba Średnia and walk through the park Carl Hauptmann laid out around the house.
Places: Carl and Gerhart Hauptmann House
Chybotek and Szklarka Waterfall
Szklarka Waterfall lies about 600 m south of Chybotek as the crow flies. It can also be reached on a short, level, pushchair-friendly path from the car park on national road 3 in Piechowice.
Places: Chybotek Rocking Stone, Szklarska Poręba Szklarka Waterfall
Dinopark or the mineral museum
With children, spend the afternoon at Dinopark next to Średnia station; if it rains, choose the Mineralogical Museum instead.
Places: Dinopark in Szklarska Poręba Mineralogical Museum in Szklarska Poręba
Or: Jagniątków and Chojnik Castle
With a car, visit Villa Wiesenstein in Jagniątków, Gerhart Hauptmann's home from 1901 until his death in 1946, then climb to the castle ruins on Chojnik above Sobieszów.
Places: Gerhart Hauptmann House (Villa Wiesenstein) Chojnik Castle
Getting there
By train: Direct trains run from Wrocław via Jelenia Góra to Szklarska Poręba Górna in roughly 2.5–3 hours. The town has several stops — Dolna, Średnia (for Dinopark and the Hauptmann House), Huta and Górna. The Jizera Railway continues through Jakuszyce to Harrachov and Kořenov in the Czech Republic.
By air: The most practical airport is Wrocław; continue by train from the city centre.
By car: National road 3 runs through the town from Jelenia Góra towards the Jakuszyce border crossing. There are paid car parks at the Szrenica lower lift station; at weekends, on public holidays and in the school holidays the operator suggests Urocza Street near the Mineralogical Museum.
Getting around: Trails to Kamieńczyk and Szrenica start in Marysin on Turystyczna Street. Do not walk back from Szklarka Waterfall along the national road (there is no pavement) — the park recommends the green trail towards Ponura Małpa.
When to go
Spring and after rain the waterfalls carry the most water. Autumn brings the clearest views from Szrenica; in 2026 the chairlift runs in the low season until 25 October (daily 9:00–16:30, last ride up and down at 16:00), and the first section is closed for maintenance on 12 October.
Winter 2026/27: as of October 2026, Szrenica Ski Arena has not yet announced its opening date or ski-pass prices; in winter the lift usually runs 8:30–16:00, with the last ride down for walkers at 15:30. The ticket booth at Kamieńczyk Waterfall opens 9:00–15:00 on weekdays from November to March and 9:00–16:00 at weekends, on holidays and during school winter breaks; the park decides whether the icy gorge is open. The Hauptmann House is open Tuesday to Sunday 9:00–16:00 from 1 October to 30 April. The 51st Bieg Piastów ski marathon takes place in Jakuszyce from 13 to 21 February 2027.
Safety: expect strong wind, fog and rime on the ridge; the park closes some trails around Śnieżne Kotły in winter because of avalanches. Mountain rescue (GOPR): 985. Some mapping services mark the trail section from Szklarska Poręba Huta to Rozdroże pod Kamieńczykiem as closed for construction works — the reliable approach to the waterfall is the black trail from the Szrenica lower lift station.
FAQ
How many days do you need in Szklarska Poręba?
One day covers the chairlift to Szrenica, the walk down to Kamieńczyk Waterfall and the Hauptmann House. With two days you can add the ridge walk to the Snow Cauldrons, plus Chybotek, Szklarka Waterfall and Dinopark, or a trip to Jagniątków and Chojnik Castle.
Do you have to pay to see Kamieńczyk Waterfall?
Yes. The gorge has its own Karkonosze National Park ticket, separate from the standard park entry. In 2026 it costs PLN 16 (reduced PLN 8), and children under 7 go free. Helmets are compulsory and dogs are not allowed.
How do you get up Szrenica?
Take the two-section Szrenica Ski Arena chairlift from the lower station at Turystyczna 25a. The ride takes about 40 minutes, and the summit hut is a 15-minute walk from the top station. The lift ticket does not include national park entry (PLN 11, reduced PLN 5.50 in 2026).
What can you do in Szklarska Poręba with kids?
Dinopark with life-size dinosaurs and a rope course, the chairlift to Szrenica, the short walk to the Chybotek rocking stone, Szklarka Waterfall with its level, pushchair-friendly path, and the Mineralogical Museum with its meteorite.
What is there to do in Szklarska Poręba when it rains?
The Hauptmann House museum with its paintings of the Karkonosze, the Mineralogical Museum, and Villa Wiesenstein in nearby Jagniątków, where Gerhart Hauptmann lived. The Hauptmann House in Szklarska Poręba is closed on Mondays.
Can you get to Szklarska Poręba without a car?
Yes. Direct trains from Wrocław via Jelenia Góra reach Szklarska Poręba Górna in about 2.5–3 hours, and the line continues to the Czech border. Szklarska Poręba Średnia station is closest to Dinopark and the Hauptmann House.
All attractions (8)
Hidden gemWaterfalls
Kamieńczyk Waterfall
Szklarska Poręba
Kamieńczyk Waterfall (ka-MYEN-chik) in Szklarska Poręba is the highest waterfall in the Polish Sudetes. The Kamieńczyk stream drops 27 m in three cascades into a narrow granite gorge. Visitors walk down on steel platforms, wearing a helmet…
Nature
Chybotek Rocking Stone, Szklarska Poręba
Szklarska Poręba
On top of a granite rock group in the forest above Szklarska Poręba lies a boulder about 4 metres across that rests on just two points. That is why it can be gently set rocking – hence the name Chybotek, roughly "the wobbler". The rock has…
Free entry
Amusement parks
Dinopark in Szklarska Poręba
Szklarska Poręba
Dinopark in Szklarska Poręba (pronounced roughly "SHKLAR-skah po-REM-bah") is a forest theme park in Poland's Karkonosze (Giant) Mountains, where a woodland trail leads past life-size dinosaur models set among spruce trees and boulders. Al…
120–360 min
Museums
Carl and Gerhart Hauptmann House
Szklarska Poręba
The Carl and Gerhart Hauptmann House in Szklarska Poręba (SHKLAR-ska po-REM-ba) is a museum in the former home of two German writers, the Hauptmann brothers. Around 1900 it was the heart of an artists' colony in what was then Schreiberhau.…
Museums
Mineralogical Museum in Szklarska Poręba
Szklarska Poręba
In front of the wooden villa on Kilińskiego Street lie petrified tree trunks from the Carboniferous period, and inside you will find a piece of the Gibeon meteorite and stromatolites around 570 million years old. The Mineralogical Museum i…
Mountains & peaks
Szrenica
Szklarska Poręba
Szrenica (pronounced shreh-NEE-tsa, 1,362 m) is the rounded granite summit that towers over the resort town of Szklarska Poręba in Poland's Karkonosze, or Giant Mountains. It is one of the easiest high viewpoints in the range to reach: a t…
Ski resorts
Ski Lifts in Szklarska Poręba
Szklarska Poręba
The ski lifts in Szklarska Poręba (SHKLAR-ska po-REM-ba) belong to Szrenica Ski Arena, the largest ski area on the Polish side of the Karkonosze, or Giant Mountains. It spreads across the northern slopes of Szrenica peak, with three chairl…
Viewpoints
Death Bend (Zakręt Śmierci) near Szklarska Poręba
Szklarska Poręba
On regional road 358 between Szklarska Poręba and Świeradów-Zdrój, the road at 775 m above sea level doubles back almost 180 degrees over about 440 m. Death Bend has an ominous name, but today people come here mainly for the view: from bel…
Free entry