Things To Do
Zalew Cedzyna
Cedzyna Reservoir is a recreational lake area featuring two supervised swimming beaches: a western beach near Cedzyna & a larger eastern beach near Leszczyny. Facilities include: parking areas, toilets and changing rooms, 2 beach volleyball courts, an outdoor gym, a bar & restaurant & water sport equipment rental. The reservoir is surrounded by walking and cycling paths. Cedzyna Reservoir is also the starting point of: - the blue hiking trail to Wąchock, - the red cycling trail to Nowa Słupia, - the black cycling trail to Kielce.
Kielce
If you fancy popping into the city, we would recommend taking a stroll down Sienkiewicza street which is the main high street which stretches from the train station through to the old town and market square. There are various shops, restaurants and cafes dotted along the city for any needs you may have. We would also recommend visiting and taking a walk through some of the parks which are dotted around within the city, our favourite being central park with a gorgeous water fountain and swans. For fans of architecture, there is also a UFO shaped bus station.
Galeria Echo
Zuzanna’s favourite place to shop when in Poland :) Very big shopping centre. If shopping isn’t your thing don’t worry! Theres a cinema and a bowling alley here too. Plenty of food options too as there’s not only a supermarket here, but also a food court with lots of different cuisines and restaurants! Lots of parking available on site.
Galeria Korona
Another shopping centre, this one is slightly smaller than Echo however still has plenty of shops, including all the crowd favourites. There is also a food court here, as well as a cinema and sport and fitness facilities. Parking available on site.
Kadzielnia Nature Reserve
Former limestone quarry, now a beautiful natural landmark with an outdoor amphitheatre which hosts many Polish and international artists. Lovely to visit for sunsets and panoramic views. You can get here by walking from the city centre, passing many shops and cafes on the way mixing city and rural life together.
Korona Kielce
For those football fans... despite our wedding being outside the football season (oh what a shame! - can you tell Zuzanna is writing this...), some of you may fancy taking a walk to see the ground. Korona is *currently* in Ekstraklasa which is the top division of Polish football however compared to English standards it is quite a small ground, sitting 15,700.
Święta Katarzyna
A small village based at the foot of Łysica mountain & Świętokrzyskie National Park. Popular with tourists due to access to hiking trails. Ice cream booths & fast food. From here you can visit Łysica.
Sabat Krajno Park Rozrywki i Miniatur
Sabat Krajno is a family-friendly tourist complex in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains, best known for its large miniature park called “Aleja Miniatur.” The park features scaled-down models of famous landmarks from around the world, including the Eiffel Tower, the Colosseum, the Statue of Liberty, and many others, all set along a scenic hillside with views of the Łysogóry range. Additionally to the minature park, there is also the following: small rides for children, 6D cinema, rope park, restaurant & cafe, a ski slope during winter months (we appreciate this is not relevant in July but some extra trivia incase you ever fancy revisiting!).
Łysica
A gently hike, lasting approximately 2 hours, up the tallest peak in The Świętokrzyskie Mountain Range. There is a monastery and natural water spring on route - entry up to this point is free but further entry into the National Park entails a small fee, payable at a booth near entrance. Accessed from Święta Katarzyna.
Święty Krzyż, Łysa Gòra
Another hiking trail, leading to the Holy Cross Monastery - which contains relics of the Holy Cross (hence the name!). Panoramic views. This hike is slightly longer, approximately 3 hours.
Dąb Bartek
One of Poland's oldest and most famous oak trees. Although it is a 25 minute drive from Cedzyna, this huge oak tree may spike interest in those wanting to see a natural monument. The tree is nearly 30m tall and has a trunk circumference of over 10m.
Jaskinia Raj
'Paradise Cave' is a limestone cave with underground lakes. Although it is considered a relatively small cave (180m accessible to visitors), it is definitely a sight to see as it traces back roughly 350 million years ago, with Neanderthals living there approximately 50,000 years ago - there is a small museum on entry displaying prehistoric tools and fossils from inside the cave. Again - this is about a 30 minute car journey from Cedzyna.
Royal Castle in Chęciny
The Royal Castle in Chęciny is one of the most famous medieval castles in Poland and one of the top attractions near Kielce. It sits on a hill above the town of Chęciny, offering panoramic views of the Świętokrzyskie region. Built in the late 13th century reign of King Władysław Łokietek. Because of its strategic hilltop location, it became an important royal fortress protecting trade routes and royal treasures. It was damaged in wars in the 17th century causing it to eventually become the ruins it is today.
MeetMe Cafè
We recommend here for all your brunch favourites:) Based down the main high street in Kielce.
Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship
The National Park has a lot to offer! Information on all the above which do not have a link attached can be found below - this website is in English so hopefully will be useful to you all! (Unable to link it directly so typed it out below) https://swietokrzyskie.travel/en/
Kraków Old Town
For those wanting to extend their trip past the wedding - we would recommend spending a few nights in Kraków! Kraków has a lot more to offer in terms of tourism & entertainment than Kielce. We recommend visiting the Main Square as this can lead you to many different parts of Kraków. July usually offers nice weather in Poland and the Main Square in Kraków has a lot of outdoor bars and eateries to make the most of enjoying a refreshing beer and al fresco dining (also plenty of indoor eateries if the weather is playing up!). And if you didn't consume enough wódka at the wedding... we're sure you will find many more places to damage your liver some more in Kraków. Kraków is absolutely gorgeous and once you go you will completely understand why it is so popular right now!
Salt Mines Tour Krakow
If visiting Kraków and the surrounding area - we would recommend going to Wieliczka Salt Mine. The Wieliczka Salt Mine is one of Poland’s most famous attractions and a UNESCO World Heritage Site located just outside Kraków. Operating since the 13th century, it is one of the oldest salt mines in the world. The mine is huge and open to the public for guided tours, it includes many sculptures, underground lakes, salt crystal chandeliers and a beautiful underground chapel. There is a number of tours available, with the main tourist route lasting around 3 hours.
Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial & Museum
Again, for those visiting Kraków, Auschwitz is a historically significant site based approximately 1.5hrs away. This isn't a site for everyone but we have attached a link for those interested in visiting.
Zakopane
Zakopane is Poland's main mountain resort town. based by the Tatra mountains & offers incredible hikes (varying in effort), and is incredible for sight seeing and exploring a completely different way of living in a very traditional, rural Polish setting. 3 hour drive from Kielce, 2 hours by car or bus from Kraków. The main sites are: - Krupówki (the high street offering many different shops, bars or cafes) - Gubałówka Hill (a popoular viewpoint with easy access from town centre, can be accessed by a funicular railway, at the top there is markets, bars and restaurants) - Morskie Oko (one of the most iconic mountain lakes in Poland, the hike up here lasts around 3 hours each way however it is mostly tarmacked road, the distance is absolutely worth the views) - Kasprowy Wierch (one of the most famous peaks in Poland, accessible by cable car and offers incredible views, for those who are experienced hikers - the hike takes approximately 6 to 8 hours each way and is quite challenging)