When you imagine magical forests, what comes to mind?
Despite Europe’s many stunning castles and fanciful fairy tales, it’s not home to many memorable forests. Aside from Germany’s Black Forest, the only one that comes to mind for me is Białowieża National Forest in Poland.
If you’ve never heard of it, you’re not alone.
The only reason I know about Białowieża is thanks to a trip to Poland. When me and my partner traveled to Poland a few years ago, we heard about Białowieża almost non-stop. (He speaks the language, so I like to think we got a bit of a VIP experience.)
Białowieża is home to Europe’s only wild bison population. It’s regarded as the final stronghold of Europe’s long-lost primeval forests.
it’s also where the grass in Żubrówka bottles comes from. Żubrówka is a delicious vodka that’s traditionally distilled and infused with a single blade of grass that’s preferred by Poland’s bison.
Though it doesn’t often make it onto travel guides for Poland, Białowieża is on my bucket list. Here’s why I think it should be on yours, too, especially if you’re heading to Warsaw or Białystok anytime soon.
Białowieża: Kind of a big deal
Białowieża was established back in 1921 as one of the last vestiges of wilderness in Europe. Around the same time, major efforts were being made to protect and rehab Europe’s last native bison species. (They aren’t like ours here in North America.)
By the 1950s, the forest was healthy enough for these re-wilded bison to be released. Following their reintroduction, Białowieża was left to its own natural devices—which you’ll immediately sense when you visit.
Typically, national parks are managed by rural agents who do things like clear underbrush and remove dead logs. However, Białowieża has been left unregulated.
That’s part of its magic—you’ll notice towering oak trees, plenty of growth, and a myriad of animal and bird life.
Białowieża in pop culture
Ecology aside, Białowieża is culturally important to Poland. You can find shout-outs to Białowieża in pop culture, from the spooky and magical forests found in the Witcher series (from Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski) to 1:1 scale models of Białowieża in games like Minecraft.
The latter project was designed to preserve the forest digitally after it was put at risk.
In 2018, after almost a century of protection, Poland’s government decided to allow large-scale logging in Białowieża. Though the EU ruled this to be illegal, it’s unclear what’s being done to prevent further logging.
As of 2021, logging has started up once more—though there seems to be a short moratorium on logging at the moment in 2024.
How to visit Białowieża
I doubt Białowieża is under serious threat from loggers—at least, that’s why I like to think.
The forest covers around 2,000 square miles and shelters some 800 wild bison. And given that Białowieża bleeds across Poland’s border with Belarus, much of that 2,000-square-mile stretch is already safe from logging. (Well, Polish loggers, at least.)
If you want to explore Białowieża, you can do so by taking a longer day trip from Warsaw or a shorter trip from Białystok.
There are a few different ways to explore Białowieża—but keep in mind that you’ll need an official tour guide if you want to walk through the forest’s protected zone.
Here’s how I recommend exploring Białowieża Forest:
- Take a private tour with a guide of your choice. I’ve been on a few different tours with Art. He’s based in Warsaw. I highly recommend contacting him for a private tour.
- Book a day trip from Warsaw. This is great for anyone who wants to quickly explore the forest and enjoy the Polish countryside. This will also give you access to the protected zone.
- Book a private tour if you’re staying nearby. That way, you can explore the park at your leisure and according to your interests. This also gives you access to Białowieża’s protected area.
- Some tours include all the other cool sites, including the Bison Reservation and Museum.
- Others allow you to focus on building the right trip for your group.
- Drive to the main attractions yourself. I recommend checking out the Bison Reservation and the Nature and Forest Museum.