Narew National Park

Mazovia & Podlasie


Protects an unusual stretch of the Narew River that's nicknamed the 'Polish Amazon', where the river splits into dozens of channels that spread out across a 2km-wide valley, forming a constellation of swampy islets in between. Most of the park's 73 sq km is comprised of rivers, feeder streams and bogs, and much of it is inaccessible to visitors, though you can kayak on stretches of the Narew River and some of its tributaries.

There's also a network of paths and gravel roads that encircle the park, which can be hiked or biked. There's a good nature hike at the Kurowo visitor centre.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Mazovia & Podlasie attractions

1. Talmudic House

7.05 MILES

Standing opposite the synagogue, this small structure dates to 1772. It houses an annex of the Tykocin Museum and is where you buy tickets. The permanent…

2. Tykocin Museum

7.06 MILES

Tykocin's former synagogue, erected in 1642, is considered to be the best-preserved Jewish house of worship in Poland and is an extraordinary window into…

3. Orthodox Church of the Holy Spirit

13.87 MILES

Begun in the early 1980s, this monumental building is Poland's largest Orthodox church. The huge central onion-shaped dome is topped with a large cross …

4. Cytron Synagogue

15.06 MILES

Before WWII, central Białystok had 60 synagogues serving a population of over 40,000 Jews, or about half of the city's population. Only three synagogue…

6. Girl With a Water Can Mural

15.08 MILES

This four-storey high mural of a little girl appearing to water an actual tree has become a Białystok icon. It was painted by Natalia Rak in 2013 and has…

7. Podlasie Museum

15.23 MILES

Rebuilt after WWII and modelled on the 1745 original, the town hall houses this museum. It features a modest collection of Polish paintings on the ground…

8. Rynek Kościuszki

15.27 MILES

Białystok's focal point, the much-rebuilt Rynek is an odd trapezoidal shape. Important buildings from the city's past have been reconstructed here,…