Stary Sącz is a small town best explored on foot: from the Market Square you will reach the convent, the parish church or the museum in a few minutes. Further afield lie the forest of Miejska Góra, Bobrowisko in the fork of the Dunajec and the Poprad, and the banks of the Poprad. Below we have gathered information checked against municipal sources and with the transport operators. Hours, timetables and rules can change, however – where it matters, we say so plainly: check before you travel.
Getting here
By car
Stary Sącz lies right next to Nowy Sącz, in the Poprad valley. From Nowy Sącz the national road no. 87 leads here (across the bridge over the Poprad), while the centre is bypassed by a ring road on regional road no. 969, with St Kinga’s suspension bridge over the Poprad. The bridge on the DK87 is awaiting reconstruction – delays are possible while work is under way, so check the latest traffic announcements before you set off.
By train
Stary Sącz has a railway station on the line linking Tarnów and Nowy Sącz with the Poprad valley – the railway reached here as early as 1876. Regional POLREGIO trains and PKP Intercity trains stop here. According to journey planners, you can travel from here to, among other places, Nowy Sącz, Tarnów, Kraków, Krynica-Zdrój and Muszyna, and seasonally further afield in Poland too. The timetable changes every few months and services on the line are sometimes suspended – always check before you travel on the Portal Pasażera or with the operator.
By bus
On ul. Pod Ogrodami, next to the “Sokół” cinema, there is a “Park and Ride” interchange, from which buses depart, among other destinations towards Nowy Sącz. Operators and timetables change fairly often, so it is best to check current services at the tourist information office or with an online journey planner.
Where to park
The municipality points drivers to three main places:
- “Park and Ride” interchange – ul. Pod Ogrodami, next to the “Sokół” cinema (ul. Batorego 23); free of charge, according to the municipality.
- Car park behind the Town Hall – entrance from ul. Batorego; free of charge, according to the municipality.
- The Market Square and surrounding streets – parking spaces in the very centre; on weekdays parking here is paid (parking meters), at weekends free according to the municipality.
Charges and rules on the Market Square may change, and during festivals, fairs and celebrations some spaces may be closed off – check the signs on the spot. If you are coming for the whole day, it is more convenient to leave the car at the car park by the “Sokół” or behind the Town Hall and see the rest on foot.
Tourist information
The Tourist Information Point is right on the Market Square. Here you can ask about routes, events, accommodation and timetables, and pick up maps and leaflets while you are at it.
By bike
Stary Sącz is a good stopping point on the cycling map of Małopolska. According to the municipality, the following routes run through the town and its surroundings:
- EuroVelo 11 – runs along the Poprad towards Barcice; a cycle footbridge over the Poprad links it with Nowy Sącz.
- VeloDunajec – a route starting in Zakopane; one of its sections leads around the Bobrowisko Nature Enclave.
- Carpathian Cycle Trail – marked out by the Sącz Tourist Organisation along an old trade route from southern Europe to Wieliczka and Kraków.
- Royal Cycle Trail – an easy route in the footsteps of the stays and journeys of kings, mostly on tarmac.
The “Stawy” bathing area makes a good starting point. The forest trails on Miejska Góra are intended for more experienced riders – they are not easy family paths. Remember too that cycling is not allowed on Bobrowisko boardwalks – leave your bike at the entrance.
Hire shops and workshops listed by the municipality:
- MobiSport – at the “Stawy” bathing area, tel. 502 558 952; bikes, trailers, child seats and scooters.
- Velowoj – tel. 884 937 788.
- JM Bike Service – ul. Piłsudskiego 4; hire, repairs and shop.
- “Opoka” Diocesan Pilgrimage Centre – ul. Papieska 10.
- Pro Ride – ul. Kazimierza Wielkiego 3; electric scooters.
Check availability of equipment, prices and hours directly with the hire shop – especially outside the summer season.
Seasons and weather
Each season shows Stary Sącz in a slightly different light. Summer is the time of the “Stawy” bathing area, bikes and festivals, but also of the greatest crowds – especially around 24 July, when the town celebrates its patron saint, St Kinga. Spring and autumn are quieter; a good time for Bobrowisko, where nature is waking up or preparing for winter, and for the forest of Miejska Góra in its autumn colours. In winter the town is quiet, and the tourist information office keeps shorter hours.
A few things worth bearing in mind:
- The bathing area and some of the recreational facilities operate seasonally – check before you travel.
- Orbisfera on Miejska Góra is open all year round according to the municipality, but the condition of the equipment and boardwalks depends on the weather.
- After rain the forest paths and climbs can be slippery; in a storm or strong wind it is better to give the forest a miss.
- For the views – from the Forest Pier or from the Ślimak (“Snail”) in Wola Krogulecka – choose a clear day. Mist in the Poprad valley can hide everything.
Accessibility
We do not want to promise more than we know. Here is what can honestly be said:
- The Market Square is paved with granite setts of Dunajec stone – beautiful, but uneven. For wheelchairs, suitcase wheels and unsuitable footwear it can be a challenge; the pavements along the frontages are usually easier.
- Miejska Góra and the Forest Pier – to reach the Forest Pier you have to walk uphill along a forest track, “with a little effort”, as the municipality puts it. The pier itself is a wooden path more than 200 m long, and Orbisfera has a boardwalk raised above the ground. The municipality gives no information on wheelchair accessibility.
- Bobrowisko – wooden boardwalks about 400 m long and two bird hides cross the site. This is an easier surface than a forest path, but the approach and the details are worth checking before you come.
- The churches and the museum are housed in historic buildings; thresholds and steps are commonplace here.
If you use a wheelchair, are pushing a pram or simply need more rest – ring the tourist information office beforehand. They know best the current state of the approaches and sites.
How to behave
Stary Sącz is not an open-air museum – it is a town where people live, pray and remember their loved ones. A few simple rules will make the visit pleasant for everyone:
- Churches and the convent. Visit outside service times, keep quiet and dress appropriately – covered shoulders and knees are a good custom. Before photographing interiors, check whether it is permitted.
- The Poor Clares’ enclosure. The convent is the living home of the Poor Clare sisters, who live in enclosure. Part of the buildings is closed to visitors – respect this and do not try to peer where entry is forbidden.
- Cemeteries. The old cemetery by the Church of St Roch and war cemetery no. 348 are places of rest. Do not step on the graves, speak quietly and do not photograph people visiting their loved ones without their consent.
- Piaski. The mass grave and memorial in the forest by the Poprad commemorate the Jews of Stary Sącz murdered by the Germans on 17 August 1942. This is a place of remembrance, not an attraction – come in silence, in reflection and without haste. In keeping with Jewish custom, you may leave a small stone on the memorial.
- Bobrowisko. Keep to the boardwalks, do not make noise and do not feed the animals. Beavers are wild animals – you may see them, but no one can guarantee it. Leave bikes at the entrance.
- The forest of Miejska Góra. Take your litter home with you and keep to the paths – that way the forest will stay as you found it.