Winter holidays in Poland 2027: where to go with kids

Poland's 2027 winter school holidays (ferie zimowe) start on 18 January and end on 28 February, but each region only gets two weeks within one of three periods. That is good news if you can choose when to travel: when the holidays end in one region they start in the next, and prices and crowds in the mountains change from week to week.

Below you will find the official 2027 holiday dates by region and 12 ideas for a trip with children from our database, from Zakopane and Białka to zoos, a salt mine and science centres for days without snow or with rain. Ticket prices were checked on the official websites in October 2026.

2027 winter school holidays by region

Dates	Regions (voivodeships)
18–31 January 2027	Lower Silesia, Łódź, Opole, Subcarpathia, Podlasie, Silesia
1–14 February 2027	Lublin, Masovia, Pomerania, Świętokrzyskie
15–28 February 2027	Kuyavia-Pomerania, Lubusz, Lesser Poland, Warmia-Masuria, Greater Poland, West Pomerania

The dates were announced by Poland's Ministry of Education. In 2027 Lesser Poland (Małopolska), where the Tatras are, has the last period, while Masovia (Warsaw) has the middle one. If you live in Warsaw and want to go to the Tatras, the first half of February comes before the wave of families from Lesser Poland and Greater Poland.

Click a point on the map to open the page for that place.

At a glance: 12 ideas for the winter holidays

Place	Region	Best for	Bad weather option
Zakopane and Gubałówka	Tatras	everyone	partly
Snowlandia	Zakopane	children of all ages	no
Białka Tatrzańska	Podhale	skiing and thermal baths	yes (baths)
Krynica-Zdrój	Sądecki Beskids	a quieter trip	partly
Karpacz	Karkonosze	skiing, walks	partly
Wieliczka Salt Mine	near Kraków	children from 5	yes
Copernicus Science Centre	Warsaw	children from preschool age	yes
Orientarium Zoo Łódź	Łódź	everyone	yes
Wrocław Zoo and Afrykarium	Wrocław	everyone	yes (Afrykarium)
Hydropolis	Wrocław	school-age children	yes
Gdynia Aquarium	Gdynia	everyone	yes
Experyment	Gdynia	school-age children	yes

To the mountains: snow, sledges and skis

1. Zakopane: Krupówki and Gubałówka

Zakopane is the winter holiday classic. Stroll along Krupówki with a view of Giewont, try grilled oscypek cheese and ride up Gubałówka: the funicular, built in 1938, climbs 299 metres in about three and a half minutes, and from the ridge you can see the whole Polish Tatras. On the ridge there are ski slopes and food stalls, so children will not get bored.

Practical: during the holidays, especially in the second half of February, Zakopane is very crowded. Come by train or leave the car on the outskirts and get around on foot or by minibus. Ride up Gubałówka early, before the crowds.

2. Snowlandia in Zakopane

Snowlandia below the Wielka Krokiew ski jump is a snow labyrinth built every winter since the 2015/2016 season, with an igloo, snow sculptures and a sledging hill. It is a seasonal attraction that opens only when the weather allows.

Practical: in October 2026 it was still closed, and the winter price list will appear on the Snowlandia website. Groups of more than 10 get 10 percent off tickets. Warm, waterproof boots matter more here than in town.

3. Białka Tatrzańska: Kotelnica and Termy Bania

Białka is a good holiday base for children learning to ski. Kotelnica Białczańska has wide floodlit runs, ski schools and rental shops, and Termy Bania thermal baths sit at the foot of the slope. Skiing in the morning, pools with a Tatra view in the afternoon.

Prices: at Termy Bania a 2.5-hour Fun Zone ticket costs adults from 73 zł online and children under 13 from 53 zł online, or 89–99 zł and 69–79 zł at the desk. Check 2026/27 lift pass prices on the Białka website before you go.

4. Krynica-Zdrój: Góra Parkowa and the promenade

Krynica-Zdrój is calmer than Zakopane. A funicular dating from 1937, still with its original carriages, takes you up Góra Parkowa, where a 36-metre viewing tower looks out towards the Tatras. Afterwards, walk along the promenade to the Main Pump Room. For skiing, head to nearby Jaworzyna Krynicka.

Practical: Krynica works well in the second holiday period, while Lesser Poland is still at school. The funicular's operating hours are published by the operator PKL.

5. Karpacz: the Kopa chairlift

In the Karkonosze, Karpacz is the centre of winter fun. The year-round "Zbyszek" chairlift takes eight minutes to reach the area below the summit of Kopa (1,377 m), where there are ski runs, and in good weather adults with older children can head towards Śnieżka. The town also has museums and attractions for a day off the slopes.

Practical: Karpacz is the natural choice for families from Lower Silesia, but their holidays fall in the first period, 18–31 January. Families from other regions will find more space in February.

Underground and indoors: when there is no snow

6. Wieliczka Salt Mine (near Kraków)

At the Wieliczka Salt Mine the weather does not matter. The Tourist Route is about 3.5 kilometres long and leads through salt chambers, lakes and the Chapel of St Kinga, and the temperature underground is 17–18 degrees. The tour takes 2–3 hours on average and includes several hundred steps, so it suits children who are happy to walk.

Prices: standard, reduced and family tickets for the Tourist Route start at 82 zł per person. For families with children aged 5–12 there is the "In the Footsteps of Legends" tour from 105 zł per person. The mine is open from 8am to 6pm. During the holidays, buy tickets in advance.

7. Copernicus Science Centre (Warsaw)

The Copernicus Science Centre on the Vistula has more than 400 hands-on exhibits, a separate exhibition for the youngest and a planetarium. It is a sure bet for Warsaw families during the holidays, including those who stay at home.

Prices: an exhibitions ticket costs 48 zł standard and 34 zł reduced, 2 zł more at weekends, on public holidays and in holiday periods. Exhibitions plus planetarium cost 68 zł standard and 54 zł reduced. Reduced tickets apply to children and school pupils up to 19. Large Family Card holders pay 28 zł on weekdays. Choose your entry time in advance, as holiday tickets sell out quickly.

8. Orientarium Zoo Łódź

The Orientarium is the part of Łódź Zoo opened in 2022: a 26-metre underwater tunnel, a gharial, elephants and Sumatran orangutans. Most exhibits are indoors, making it a great winter alternative to walking around outdoor enclosures.

Practical: the Orientarium building is open from 9am to 5pm, last entry 4pm, and the ticket desks close at 4pm. A zoo ticket includes the Orientarium. Children under 3 go free. Łódź region holidays run from 18 to 31 January, so February is quieter.

9. Wrocław Zoo and Afrykarium

The Afrykarium is an African-themed oceanarium at Wrocław Zoo: a shark tunnel, hippos, manatees, fur seals and penguins. Entry is included in the zoo ticket, and as the exhibition is indoors you can spend several warm hours here in winter.

Prices: a standard ticket costs from 69 zł online or 99 zł at the gate, reduced from 59 zł online or 89 zł at the gate. A 2+2 family ticket costs from 225 zł online. Children under 3 enter with a free voucher. The zoo is open every day, with shorter hours in winter, so check the times for your day.

10. Hydropolis (Wrocław)

Hydropolis occupies a former underground water reservoir from 1892. It is a centre about water, with a replica of the Trieste bathyscaphe, a 360-degree screen and seven themed zones. It pairs well with the zoo on the same day or as part of a weekend in Wrocław.

Prices: standard 45 zł, reduced 36 zł, family 130 zł, a few złoty more on selected days. Combined tickets with Wrocław Zoo and Aquapark Wrocław are also available.

11. Gdynia Aquarium

The Gdynia Aquarium on the South Pier has 76 tanks, more than 600 tonnes of water and around 250 species, from a coral reef to anacondas and Baltic fish. Afterwards you can walk along the waterfront and watch the winter sea.

Prices: a standard ticket costs 43 or 48 zł depending on the date, reduced 30 or 34 zł, and family tickets start at 107 zł. Reduced tickets apply to children from their 5th birthday, pupils and students up to 26 and seniors. Children under 5 go free.

12. Experyment Science Centre (Gdynia)

Experyment in Redłowo is an interactive science centre with exhibitions on water, magnetism, health and the ocean depths. The suggested visit takes about two hours, so it is easy to combine with the Gdynia Aquarium in one day.

Prices: standard 35 zł, reduced 25 zł, family 85 zł plus 20 zł for each additional child. On Fridays after 3pm Happy Hours tickets cost 15 zł. Ticket desks close an hour before the exhibitions.

How to plan the 2027 winter holidays

• Check your region's dates: Lesser Poland is off from 15 to 28 February, so Podhale will be at its busiest then.
• Book early: mountain accommodation for the holidays goes fast, and tickets for Copernicus, Wieliczka and the zoos are best bought online in advance.
• Have a plan B: no snow or a thaw can happen even in February. In every region pick one indoor attraction.
• Budget ahead: at many thermal baths and zoos, online tickets are noticeably cheaper than at the gate, and weekend or seasonal prices apply during the holidays.
• Dress children in layers: the mine is cool, the slopes freezing and the thermal baths hot. Pack spare socks and gloves.
• Large Family Card: Chochołowskie Termy, Copernicus and Hydropolis are among the places offering discounts to large families.

Frequently asked questions

When are the 2027 winter holidays in Poland?

18–31 January in Lower Silesia, Łódź, Opole, Subcarpathia, Podlasie and Silesia; 1–14 February in Lublin, Masovia, Pomerania and Świętokrzyskie; 15–28 February in Kuyavia-Pomerania, Lubusz, Lesser Poland, Warmia-Masuria, Greater Poland and West Pomerania.

When are the 2027 holidays in Warsaw (Masovia)?

From 1 to 14 February 2027.

Where should we go with small children?

To Białka Tatrzańska or Krynica-Zdrój, with gentle slopes and ski schools, or to a city with indoor attractions: Copernicus in Warsaw, the Orientarium in Łódź, the Afrykarium in Wrocław and the aquarium in Gdynia.

What can we do if there is no snow?

Choose the Wieliczka Salt Mine, the Podhale thermal baths, the science centres in Warsaw and Gdynia, or the indoor exhibits at the Łódź and Wrocław zoos.

Where is it least crowded?

In the mountains it is usually quieter when nearby big cities are not on holiday. In 2027 Podhale will be busiest in the second half of February, when Lesser Poland is off.

After the holidays you will have photos and tickets in your jacket pockets. Turn your family trip into a "Your journey" poster for the children's room.