Białowieża

Białowieża is a small village in the Podlaskie Voivodship in eastern Poland, the centre of the eponymous gmina (commune). It is on the edge of the Białowieża Forest and Białowieża National Park.

Get in

There is a bus service to/from Białystok several times a day, as well as to/from Hajnówka (centre of the powiat). The terminus is on ul. Waszkiewicza1, an additional stop on ul. Kolejowa2. A border crossing from Belarus at 3 (close to Grudki village and about 4 km from Białowieża proper) operates in daytime only. No motorized traffic passes through, bicycles and foot travellers only.

See

• Białowieża National Park (Białowieski Park Narodowy), a UNESCO World Heritage Site just next to the village, is the last remains of the primeval forest which once covered most of Europe.
• 1 Open Air Wooden Architecture of Rus' Population of Podlachia Museum in Białowieża (Skansen Architektury Drewnianej Ludności Ruskiej Podlasia w Białowieży), ul. Zastawa 66B. Complex of wooden huts, windmills and other farm buildings. Also a chapel and a sauna. Some buildings around one hundred years old were transported and assembled on this site. 
• 2 Nature and Forest Museum (Muzeum Przyrodniczo-Leśne), Park Pałacowy 11, ☏ +48 85 682 97 04. 9:00—16:00. Mo closed. 12 PLN normal, 8 PLN discount. 
• Palace Park (Park Pałacowy). An English garden park from 19th century. It assisted the (now non-existent) palace located on the hill which Russian tzars used in summer while on hunts. 
• 3 St. Nicholas Orthodox Church (Cerkiew pw. św. Mikołaja), Sportowa 9 (near eastern gate of the garden park). 

Do

The Kupalle festival takes place in mid-summer. Singers perform Ukrainian and Belarusian songs from stage4, and a theatrical presentation of East Slavic celebrations takes place at Narewka bank.

Eat

• 1 Parkowa Restaurant (Restauracja Parkowa), Park Pałacowy 11 (in the museum building, esp. its southern façade). 
• 2 Irena (Irena. Restauracja) (west of the Narewka foot bridge). 

Drink

• Sarenka Cafe Gallery, ul. gen. Waszkiewicza 8. A nice place, which sells art as well as hot drinks, fruit juice and similar (sadly no beer, wine or spirits). The owner often organises live music, film screenings, impromptu feasts etc.

Sleep

• PL Outback, ul. Graniczna 13, 17-230 Białowieża, ☏ +48 72 313 5666, pl.outback@gmail.com. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 11:00. Open from mid-April to mid-September. A new guest house with clean and modern double and twin rooms, all with ensuites. Shared kitchen facilities and lounge/terrace area. The owner Rose speaks excellent English. 40-50zł per night per person. (updated Jun 2022)
• Chatka Puchatka, Cegielniana 1, ☏ +48 502 419 167. Farmstay accommodation "Chatka Puchatka" is situated in a lovely quiet area far away from housing in the nearby Narewka valley. Five basic double-rooms with bathroom. No meals. The house is situated aback with panoramatic view of Bialowieza. The main tourist attractions are 15-20 minutes on foot away. Bike rental and campfires. From €30 (120 zł) per night. (updated Jun 2022)

Go next

• Białystok, capital of the Podlaskie Voivodeship
• Hajnówka
• Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park – cross-border, restricted area; a Belarusian guide required

External links

• https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1nABd-DMUooUg3xcq-B6E87OuxOs – some places of interest marked and annotated