INTRODUCTION
Poland is a great country for camping - there are over 250
campsites (more dense in the South). We found the standards reasonable, even in the
cheaper sites. The toilet blocks have either been modernised, or are in the process of
being updated. Be aware that the holiday season is shorter, so that smaller sites may not
open to mid-June. A campsite book is very useful to avoid finding sites closed! A good
book that we found at our first stop-off was the "PASCAL 2005 Agroturystyka i
Kempingi" book, which contained Farm B&B's as well as campsites.
There are no free Aire de Services in Poland, and wild camping is definitely not
recommended - there is a danger of opportunistic crime, even in the daytime. We saw an
example of this in Krakow, when a French motorcaravanner stopped at a Carrefour
hypermarket and made the mistake of leaving the van unattended - it was broken into
through a side window by the time they'd returned! Having said that, we felt safe enough
in smaller towns, and always found the people very friendly and helpful - just watch the
cities!
Watch out for the roads - motorways are mostly OK, though a lot
of road widening going on. The side roads are another story, and it's best to go slower,
regardless of the locals.
At the time we travelled (May 2005), the Zloty (PLN) was 6 to
the pound - about 16 pence.
________________________________________________________________
DOBCZYCE - Camping Dobek. All Polish visitors, we were the
only foreign tourists. 10PLN/van, 6PLN/person. Level, some shade, showers/toilets OK.
Electric points post had a birds nest on top - obviously not used much! Small town with
historic walk signposted. (June 2005).
DUSZNIKI ZDROJ - Camping 227, Sloszow 2. a large
site with some sloping hedged plots, some with shade. 8PLN/van, 8PLN/person, Elec/7PSN.
Guarded, no English spoken. Old facilities - not yet cleaned for the new season (if
ever!), although 1 shower and toilet were clean. Nice old spa town in the Klodzko valley,
with a pretty park and spa where one can take the waters. (May 2005).
JELENIA GORA - Hotel Camping Park
No 130, ul Sudecka 42. Tel:75 752 45 25. A tiered campsite for 40 vans + tents
on the outskirts of the town. Illuminated, guarded (all night patrolling) showers,
toilets, chem. disposal, kitchen, laundry facilities. Clean, wooded setting. Situated at
the foot of the Karkonosze mountains in the south east, the town centre is interesting
with an attractive old square, but the walk in was depressing, with graffiti, disrepair,
etc. 40PLN/night, elec. 10PLN. (May 2005)
KARPACZ - Police Station car park. The campsites in
this holiday resort seemed to be closed (end of May), so we opted for this guarded car
park. A bit scruffy, but safe and quiet. Old chemical toilet and waste bins, but no fresh
water. We were on our own overnight, apart from the guard, who had a small caravan parked
in the corner. The charge was 30PLN/24 hours - as much as some campsites! The town is
situated at the end of the Lomnica valley, in the Karkonosze mountains, and was quite
lively, but a bit dingy, with lots of traffic, and comprised mainly a long main street
leading up to the skilifts. There is a famous Norwegian church close by. (May 2005).
KLODZKO - Lossanna Baza Campingowa 3, Nowy Swiat
57. Situated at the head of the pretty Klodzko valley. Nice campsite in mature woodland,
slightly sloping, but not a problem. Van - 14PLN, 6PLN/person, Elec/8PLN. English spoken.
Very clean modern toilet/showers. Chalets, picnic tables, amphitheatre (not used!). Very
friendly owners. Klodzko is a nice old town - the centre is within easy walking distance
of the campsite. There was an open-air concert on hen we visited - very good. (May 2005).
KRAKOW - Camping KORONA No 241. Well signposted
through Krakow, situated to the South of city. Well kept site, immaculate shower block.
Bar, picnic tables, chem disp. hair dryer, playground. Level, unshaded, guarded.
18PLN/van, 12PLN/person, elec 8PLN. Avoid the motorhome service point at entrance, - extra
10PLN! No need as facilities in the camp were adequate for us. Popular with foreign
tourists, especially Dutch. Easy trip into Krakow on regular mini bus service outside gate
- 1.5PLN going, 2.5PLN returning??? Watch out coming back - so crowded it's very difficult
to get off. Krakow is a beautiful city, crowded with schoolchildren. (June 2005).
KUDOWA ZDROJ - Hotel Osrodek Sportu i
Rekreacji, No 183. Lakowa 12. Guarded, shaded campsite with toilets/showers next to hotel.
10PLN/van, 8PLN/person. Van parked in separate area to toilets, which were in an area with
chalets. Lovely old spa town in the Klodzko valley, with a large park and pump room - very
genteel! There was a very large open market next to the campsite selling everything. (May
2005).
LEGNICKIE POLE - Kemping 234. Nice site
in village just off A4 motorway. Slight slope, toilets over other side of site from
designated area for use in low season. Also only ladies showers open - dodgy! Guarded,
only 29PLN/night. Large Benedictine abbey in the village. Convenient stopover en route to
Krakow and the East. (June 2005).
MILKOW - Wisniowa Polana campsite, by the side of
the river Lomnica, between Jelenia Gora and Karpacz. Flat shaded site with new
toilet/shower block (very clean), bar, swimming pool (just being filled). 31PLN/night (15
- van, 8 per person) - very good value. No English spoken, but very helpful owners. Milkow
5 min walk, small town, somewhat rundown, shops open til 10.00pm. (May 2005)
OTMUCHOW - PTTK No 42, Plazowa 6. Pretty campsite
about 4Km from Otmuchow, along lakeside, next to several other campsites. Railway track a
bit noisy, also Disco club noise late into night (on a Wednesday!), although it was
quieter when we stayed here a week later. Ladies toilets were being renovated while we
were here, so Men's shared by both sexes. Shaded, flat, nice views. 6PLN/van, 8PLN/person.
(June 2005).
ZAKOPANE - Harenda Camping No 160, Harenda 51b.
Open, slightly sloping, views of the Tatra mountains. Mens toilet not yet open, Ladies
shared. (Not a problem). 14PLN/van, 10PLN/person, Tax 1.5PLN/person. Zakopane centre about
2 miles away (we walked in, but there are buses). Very busy town, but nice buildings and
very quaint cemetery with "totem pole" headstones. Well worth a visit. (June
2005).
