Updated: 2025
Apart from the summer holidays, the winter school break (known in Poland as “ferie”) is most children’s favourite time of the school year – especially when it comes with snow or a trip away. Kids love filling these weeks with all kinds of winter activities: skiing, sledging down hills, sleigh rides and ice skating. So where should you go for the 2026 winter break to give your children an unforgettable time? Here are more than 20 suggestions for interesting places in Poland and beyond!
The winter break is almost here! Winter break dates for 2026
The Ministry of Education and Science has announced that in the 2025/2026 school year the winter break will take place in three rounds rather than four, as in previous years. Here is the exact schedule:
- 19 January – 1 February 2026: Mazowieckie, Pomorskie, Podlaskie, Świętokrzyskie and Warmińsko-Mazurskie voivodeships. Gov.pl+2Edubaza News+2
- 2 February – 15 February 2026: Dolnośląskie, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Łódzkie, Zachodniopomorskie, Małopolskie and Opolskie voivodeships. Gov.pl+1
- 16 February – 1 March 2026: Podkarpackie, Lubelskie, Wielkopolskie, Lubuskie and Śląskie voivodeships.
According to the Polish Tourism Organisation, more than 6.2 million domestic trips were made during the 2025 winter break, and family trips were up 17% year on year. Forecasts suggest that interest in travel will be even higher in 2026.
Why does the winter break fall on different dates?
The winter break dates for individual voivodeships are announced by the Minister of National Education, in accordance with § 3(1)(2) of the Regulation of the Minister of National Education and Sport of 18 April 2002 on the organisation of the school year and § 3(1)(2) of the Regulation of the Minister of National Education of 11 August 2017 on the organisation of the school year.
Introduced in 2003–2004, the rule of rotating dates between groups of voivodeships means that if a given group had its winter break in the second half of January, the following year that group’s break will fall in the first half of February. When dividing the dates between voivodeships, the Minister of Education also takes into account the number of pupils in each region.
Holding the winter break at the same time in all voivodeships would cause enormous logistical problems in terms of access to holiday resorts, tourist facilities and popular destinations during the winter season.
Where to go for the 2026 winter break?
It all depends on the budget you can set aside for the trip and what you expect from it. Do you want to be surrounded by a winter landscape, where the main attractions are long walks through snow-covered mountains or skiing at a resort? Or have you had enough of the cold and would rather escape to a warm country where the sun shines, the sand warms your feet and a gentle breeze ruffles your hair?
Before you look through our suggestions for where to spend the winter break with children, think about which direction interests you and what matters most to you. And don’t forget about safety!
More and more parents are also using trackers for luggage and children to make travelling safer. According to Border Guard data, more than 14,000 lost items were recorded during winter trips in 2024. A small tracker (for example, clipped to a child’s backpack or a suitcase) lets you quickly check their location in real time.
Organised winter break trips for the youngest
Unfortunately, not every parent can afford to take a long holiday from work during their child’s winter break. If you don’t want your child to be bored at home or spend all day playing on a console or watching TV, you can sign them up for a day camp or an organised trip.
Your town or city will almost certainly offer attractions for children during the winter break. Day camps usually take place right where you live. Children have their time organised for most of the day – they visit museums, go to the cinema or to the municipal ice rink. They may also go on a day trip to a nearby town for sightseeing or to visit a specific attraction.
Some schools also offer parents the option of sending their children on an organised winter trip. Such trips are also available from local government organisations and extracurricular activity clubs, or parents organise them themselves. A trip like this is a great adventure for a child, who makes new friends and gets to spend time somewhere other than their home town.
Winter break in Poland – discover the beauty of the mountains
Poland is beautiful! If you haven’t had the chance to explore it yet, the winter break is the perfect time. You can head for the mountains, the seaside or the lake district of Masuria.
Most people choose a mountain holiday at this time of year because of the many winter attractions waiting for them at mountain resorts. Trips to the Bieszczady Mountains are just as popular – their vast open spaces invite you to go on long hikes and admire the beauty of nature.
The Tatra Mountains are also in great demand and, together with the Tatra National Park, encourage an active way of spending your time. You’ll find 279 km of hiking trails here, popular with tourists all year round.
Winter break in Poland – unforgettable views by the sea
Have you ever seen the sea in winter? It’s a unique sight that’s not easily forgotten! There may be far fewer attractions at the seaside in winter, but it’s worth going even just for a weekend to see the beautiful ice cliffs on the (usually) sandy beach.
In winter you can easily head for the larger seaside towns, such as Kołobrzeg, Międzyzdroje, the Tri-City or the Hel Peninsula. Accommodation won’t be a problem, as many resorts are open all year round.
Winter break in Poland – the land of lakes
The Masurian Lake District is buzzing with life in summer. Tourists and sailors flock here, camper vans roll in… but what happens here in winter? There’s certainly no shortage of activity! The land of 2,000 lakes attracts visitors with its beautiful views and tempts them with long walks in the fresh air. It’s a great place to come with children for an active winter break.
If you’re lucky, you might even get to sail on Lake Śniardwy! Although we recommend having a qualified sailor with you for this one. And if a lake adventure isn’t your thing, Masuria also invites you to test your skills on cross-country skis. You can also try winter swimming, ice diving or brave some winter kayaking.
Winter break in Poland – exploring small towns
Many Polish towns and cities have their own charm as well as a fascinating history. You don’t have to go to the most sought-after big cities such as Poznań, Wrocław, Kraków or Warsaw. They are beautiful, but it’s worth considering some alternatives too.
If you’re interested in the south of the country, head for Tarnów in the Małopolska region, which usually lives in the shadow of Kraków. Waiting for you there is a wonderful market square, the ruins of the Tarnowski family castle, a beautiful Renaissance town hall and the mausoleum of the Polish-Hungarian hero Józef Bem.
The Trail of the Eagles’ Nests – a chain of medieval strongholds built by Casimir the Great – is also a wonderful sight and well worth visiting in winter! The route doesn’t lead into the mountains, but it does have a few sizeable hills. And it fits beautifully into the landscape and nature of the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland.
Winter break in Poland – visiting the biggest cities
Warsaw is easy to like! Especially in winter, when you can visit 60 different museums, the Łazienki Palace or the Copernicus Science Centre. Krakowskie Przedmieście also invites you for an atmospheric stroll, taking in Sigismund’s Column, the Presidential Palace and the Nicolaus Copernicus Monument.
Kraków is an equally popular Polish city. Many people go there to see Wawel Castle, the Kazimierz district or the 19th-century Planty park. On cold days, Kraków’s museums open their doors, with plenty of amazing exhibits waiting for you and your children.
The Tri-City is worth visiting not only in summer! Gdańsk, Gdynia and Sopot hide many fantastic corners that draw tourists all year round. And while you’re there, you might even get to see a snow-covered beach!
Wrocław is an interesting destination for young children and teenagers alike. The atmospheric old town welcomes you with the warmth of many interesting restaurants where you can also sample local delicacies. On top of that, you’ll find plenty of museums, and you can take on the challenge of finding all 350 dwarfs – tiny bronze figurines hidden all over the city.
Winter break abroad
At the moment, because of the coronavirus pandemic, travelling abroad is considerably more difficult. But that doesn’t mean you can’t go anywhere. There are plenty of interesting destinations to choose from. The United Arab Emirates will appeal to architecture fans, Cape Verde to water sports lovers, and Zanzibar invites you to a heavenly getaway.
A trip to the Caribbean or Mexico is another great idea. You certainly won’t be short of warmth or local attractions there. Above all, the local specialities are worth trying – they will stay in your memory for a long time.
Hitting the slopes abroad
Fans of skiing trips certainly know where to go with their children for a winter holiday. Every year, the mountain regions of Italy welcome all keen skiers. If you haven’t been on the Italian slopes with your children yet, we guarantee you’ll fall in love with them at first sight!
You can also head for Spain’s Sierra Nevada, where there is no shortage of opportunities to whizz down snowy slopes. Of course, other attractions await you there too, such as sledging, cross-country skiing and local delicacies. Other popular destinations for winter skiing trips are the Austrian mountains and Slovakia. These four locations lead the way among winter sports fans.
Winter break and cultural events in 2026
There are many ways to spend the winter break enjoyably all over Poland. One of them is simply going to a concert by your favourite band or artist.
In January and February 2026, it’s worth looking out for:
- winter markets and festivals of light (Gdańsk, Wrocław, Toruń)
- family educational events at science centres (Copernicus Science Centre, EC1, the Silesian Museum)
- winter LEGO and robotics workshops
- food festivals and chocolate fairs
- winter family runs and sports competitions
What to do with your pet when you go away for the winter break?
If you have a trip planned for the whole family, don’t forget to plan a holiday for your pet too! If it’s a cat, the best option is to ask someone close to you to look after it so it doesn’t have to change its surroundings. Cats really don’t like that and will certainly feel better in their own home, even if a stranger has to drop by to check how they’re doing and top up the food and water bowls.
You can take your dog with you if you’re travelling by car or train. We’ve already written about how to travel with your canine friend by train here – read up on the rules and don’t worry, your dog will certainly cope with the journey.
Small animals such as rodents, fish or snakes can be left in the care of someone close to you. There’s no point disturbing their peace and taking them on a long journey. They’re better off staying at home, and you can tell them all about your adventures when you get back from the break.The winter break is a great time to spend together with your children. If you’re able to organise a trip, above we’ve given you a few tempting suggestions for places worth visiting at this time of year. And if you can’t get away from work and provide the kids with a different attraction every day, see how you can spend the winter break at home – here.
