Pieniny National Park National Park

Address: Pieniny National Park, Prešov Region, Slovakia

Hours: Open year-round; specific facilities/attractions seasonal

Admission: Park access free; some paid services (e.g., Dunajec river rafting) have fees

Pieniny National Park in Slovakia protects a compact area of limestone mountains and deep river canyons on the Polish-Slovak border known for pronounced cliffs and karst scenery. The park is valued for hiking, river gorge scenery and its botanical and geological features.

The Dunajec River Gorge is the park’s best-known attraction, with traditional raft trips running along the river and viewpoints that look toward the iconic Three Crowns massif on the Polish side. Trails of varying difficulty cross ridges and lead to cliff viewpoints and endemic flora.

The park was established to conserve the Pieniny range’s distinctive limestone formations and river ecosystems and has long been a cross-border destination for nature tourism and cultural heritage visits.

Pieniny National Park sits along the border with Poland in the northern Carpathians, within reach of regional towns such as Červený Kláštor and Szczawnica on the Polish side; the terrain is steep and riverine.

• Dunajec rafting: Rafting trips on the Dunajec River between river towns are a signature activity and provide close-up views of limestone cliffs and the river gorge.

What to See#

• Dunajec River Gorge: A deep river gorge carved by the Dunajec River that forms a dramatic border section with Poland and is the focus for traditional wooden raft trips.
• Červený Kláštor (Red Monastery): A historic Carthusian monastery complex dating back to the 14th century located on the Slovak side close to park trails and river access.

Pieniny National Park lies on the Slovakia-Poland border along the Dunajec Gorge. Common access points on the Slovak side include the village of Červený Kláštor and nearby trailheads; on the Polish side visitors use towns such as Szczawnica and Sromowce for river launches and trails. Regional roads connect the park to larger centres; many visitors drive from the regional city of Poprad or from Kraków and then use local buses, park in nearby villages and walk to trailheads.

A popular way to experience the park is by arranging a raft or boat trip on the Dunajec River from the nearby river launches - these launches are a short walk from the local parking and bus stops.

• Book a Dunajec River raft ride early in the day or late afternoon to avoid the peak mid‑day flotillas and to enjoy softer light along the gorge.
• Start raft trips from less busy put‑in points (ask local operators about departures from Červený Kláštor or Szczawnica at non‑peak times) and reserve seats in advance during summer weekends.
• Include a short hike to viewpoints such as Tri Koruny or Sokolica before or after the raft-many visitors only do the river trip and miss the park's panoramic mountain trails.