Where to See the Golden Autumn in Podkarpackie? 20 Exceptional Places

The Park at the Lubomirski Palace in Przeworsk

In autumn, it is well worth visiting the park surrounding the Lubomirski Palace in Przeworsk. Old trees, winding paths and spacious lawns take on shades of gold and rust, creating a picturesque setting for the Neoclassical residence.

During your walk, make sure to find the Sobieski Linden – Poland’s Tree of the Year 2026. Around 320 years old, it is the oldest and one of the most distinctive trees in the park. According to local legend, the linden was planted by King John III Sobieski himself, who visited Przeworsk in the 17th century. Today, right beside its impressive trunk, you can also meet Prince Andrzej Lubomirski – in the form of a sculpture sitting on a bench, of course.

Wiśniowa, photo by Krystian Kłysewicz

The Park at the Manor House in Wiśniowa

For a more intimate experience, head to the park surrounding the historic manor house in Wiśniowa. It is a place for those who prefer peaceful paths, old trees and the atmosphere of a former Podkarpackie country estate to more popular tourist attractions.

The autumn colours blend beautifully with the white façade of the manor house and the surrounding greenery. The walk does not have to be long, so Wiśniowa can easily become one of the stops on a longer trip through this part of Podkarpackie.

Museum of Folk Culture in Kolbuszowa

Autumn suits the landscape of an old Polish village exceptionally well. At the open-air Ethnographic Park in Kolbuszowa, wooden cottages, barns, windmills, wayside shrines and other buildings brought here from different parts of the region stand among the trees. When fallen leaves cover the paths, the museum takes on an even more idyllic character.

This is a good choice for anyone who wants to combine an autumn walk with sightseeing. It is worth allowing plenty of time to wander through the open-air museum, as in autumn it is not only the historic buildings that attract attention, but also the surrounding landscape. You may even feel as though you have stepped onto a film set when visiting the fictional village of Adamczycha – the museum serves as a filming location for the popular Polish series 1670.

Avenue of Horse Chestnuts in Rzeszów

Even in the very centre of Rzeszów, autumn offers places where it is worth slowing down for a moment. One of them is Avenue of Hourse Chestnuts, a short but atmospheric promenade running alongside the Lubomirski Castle and a row of Art Nouveau villas. When the chestnut trees turn golden and rusty and fallen leaves cover the pavement, the avenue reveals one of its most picturesque faces.

It is a lovely place for a leisurely autumn stroll and a reminder that beautiful places worth visiting in autumn can be found without leaving the city centre. You can even combine your walk along the avenue with collecting chestnuts.

The Park at Tarnowski Castle in Tarnobrzeg

The grounds surrounding Tarnowski Castle in Dzików are an excellent choice for a peaceful autumn walk. The extensive landscape park is filled with mature trees that change colour in October, while its paths gradually disappear beneath a carpet of fallen leaves.

It is worth exploring the entire park and looking at the castle from different perspectives. The autumn scenery highlights the historic character of the place, and a walk through the grounds can be combined with a tour of the castle interiors. It is a good option for travellers who enjoy discovering historic castles and their surrounding parks while exploring Podkarpackie.

Arboretum in Bolestraszyce

If autumn colours are the main purpose of your trip, the Arboretum in Bolestraszyce is difficult to overlook. Its impressive variety of trees and shrubs means that in autumn the garden fills with countless shades of yellow, orange and red.

Colourful trees reflected in the water, small bridges, ponds and paths winding through the vegetation offer plenty of opportunities for an autumn walk and photography. Keep in mind, however, that the arboretum operates seasonally, so it is worth checking the current opening hours before visiting.

The Park at Krasiczyn Castle

Krasiczyn Castle is impressive at any time of year, but in autumn the surrounding park becomes an attraction in its own right. Old, magnificent trees grow throughout the grounds, and their changing leaves create a picturesque backdrop for the castle’s distinctive towers.

It is a wonderful place for a leisurely walk. Head a little farther away from the castle itself and explore some of the quieter park avenues. If you are wondering what to visit during an autumn trip around Przemyśl, Krasiczyn should certainly be on your list.

Orthodox Church in Chotyniec, photo by UMWP

Orthodox Church in Chotyniec

The wooden Orthodox Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Chotyniec is one of the most valuable examples of wooden religious architecture in Podkarpackie. In autumn, the trees surrounding the church add even more charm, with their colourful crowns contrasting beautifully with the dark timber of the building.

The church is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, but its history is not the only reason to visit. It is also an atmospheric stop on an autumn journey through the eastern part of Podkarpackie.

Orthodox Church in Radruż

Located near Horyniec-Zdrój, the Orthodox Church of St Paraskeva in Radruż is one of the most valuable examples of wooden architecture in the region. Surrounded by old trees and a historic complex of buildings, it looks particularly beautiful in autumn.

It is worth coming here not only to see the church itself, which is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Radruż encourages visitors to slow down, admire the details of its wooden architecture and experience the atmosphere of this historic borderland. It is also a great starting point for exploring the Podkarpackie part of Roztocze.

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Linden Avenue in Huta Kryształowa

Sometimes you do not need mountains or an extensive park to create a remarkable autumn landscape. In Huta Kryształowa, the historic avenue of old linden trees takes centre stage. When their leaves begin to turn yellow, an ordinary road transforms into one of the most picturesque autumn corners of this part of the region.

It is worth stopping here while exploring the area around Horyniec-Zdrój. The avenue itself does not require much time, but it is a perfect example of a place whose beauty is best discovered in autumn.

Dahany

Dahany is a good choice for those who prefer a quiet walk and the feeling of discovering somewhere off the beaten track to popular tourist attractions. A broad meadow surrounded by forests stretches across the site of a former village that no longer exists. In autumn, the road leading here offers plenty of opportunities to admire the changing colours of the Roztocze landscape.

It is worth reaching the viewpoint at Dahany, which offers a panorama of the surrounding hills and forests. This is a wonderful place to end an autumn trip through Roztocze – without crowds or extensive tourist infrastructure, but with plenty of space, silence and a landscape that plays the leading role.

Prządki Nature Reserve

The extraordinary sandstone formations rising above the forested slope make Prządki unlike anywhere else in Podkarpackie. In autumn, the grey rocks are surrounded by tree crowns in shades of yellow, orange and red, transforming this familiar landscape into something completely different.

A path through the reserve allows visitors to see its most distinctive rock formations. You do not need to devote an entire day to the trip, which makes Prządki easy to combine with other interesting attractions in the area.

Museum of Maria Konopnicka in Żarnowiec, photo by Museum of Maria Konopnicka

Maria Konopnicka Museum in Żarnowiec

Autumn in Żarnowiec has a distinctly more literary and park-like atmosphere. The manor house where Polish writer Maria Konopnicka once lived is surrounded by a historic park filled with mature trees. As their leaves begin to change colour, the estate gains an exceptionally atmospheric setting.

A visit to Żarnowiec offers both an opportunity for a walk and a chance to learn more about the writer’s life. It is a quieter stop on a journey through this part of Podkarpackie and a good option for a day when you would rather combine nature and culture than set off on a longer mountain hike.

Magura National Park and the Area Around Krempna

If we had to choose a place where the forest becomes the true star of autumn, the area around Krempna would be one of the strongest contenders. Magura National Park protects vast forest complexes in the Low Beskids, with beech and beech-fir forests playing a particularly important role. In autumn, entire hillsides transform into a mosaic of seasonal colours.

Krempna is a good starting point for both shorter and longer hikes. It is worth setting off on one of the local trails to see not only the autumn forest, but also the Wisłoka Valley and the gentle ridges of the Low Beskids. It is a completely different kind of mountain autumn from the one associated with the Bieszczady mountain meadows.

Orthodox Church in Świątkowa Wielka

The wooden Orthodox Church of St Michael the Archangel in Świątkowa Wielka is one of those places where the autumn landscape and historic architecture complement each other beautifully. Surrounded by trees, the colourful church becomes particularly picturesque when the Low Beskids take on their autumn hues.

Świątkowa Wielka is well worth visiting during a trip around Krempna and Magura National Park. This makes it possible to combine a walk through an autumn forest with discovering traces of the multicultural history of the Low Beskids in a single day.

Museum of Rural Architecture in Sanok

An autumn journey to the Bieszczady Mountains can begin even before you set foot on a mountain trail. The Museum of Rural Architecture in Sanok occupies an extensive green area at the foot of Biała Góra. Wooden cottages, Orthodox churches, farmsteads and buildings recreating a historic Galician market square create an exceptionally picturesque scene among the changing autumn trees.

It is worth allowing plenty of time for your visit. The open-air museum is extensive, and in autumn the walk between the historic buildings becomes an attraction in itself. It is also a good option when the weather is not suitable for a full-day trip into the higher parts of the Bieszczady Mountains.

Bieszczady Forest Train, photo by Piotr Lisowski

Bieszczady Forest Train

Not every Bieszczady adventure has to begin with putting on hiking boots. The Bieszczady Forest Train offers a completely different perspective on the autumn landscape. Its route runs through forests and valleys that turn into a true kaleidoscope of colours at the height of the autumn season.

A ride on the railway is a great idea for families with children, but also for anyone looking for a more relaxed day in the Bieszczady Mountains. When planning an autumn visit, it is worth checking the current timetable in advance, as services outside the main season may operate on a different schedule.

Bieszczady Mountain Meadows

This is where golden autumn in the Bieszczady Mountains reveals its most spectacular side. Połonina Wetlińska and Połonina Caryńska offer views over slopes covered in colourful beech forests, above which stretch the characteristic open ridges. In autumn, the grasses of the mountain meadows turn golden and rusty, creating one of the region’s most recognisable landscapes.

It is best to plan your hike for a clear day with good visibility. Autumn weather in the mountains can change quickly, however, so before heading out on the trails, check the forecast and the latest announcements from Bieszczady National Park. Even on a sunny day, the exposed ridges can be considerably colder and windier than the valleys below.

Orthodox Church in Smolnik, photo by Podkarpackie Travel

Orthodox Church in Smolnik

After the sweeping mountain panoramas, it is time to discover a quieter side of autumn in the Bieszczady Mountains. The wooden Orthodox Church of St Michael the Archangel in Smolnik stands on a small hill surrounded by old trees. In autumn, the dark wooden structure against a background of golden and rusty leaves creates one of the most distinctive scenes in this part of the Bieszczady Mountains.

The Orthodox church in Smolnik is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and is one of the region’s most valuable examples of wooden religious architecture. It is worth stopping here during your journey, especially if, after a mountain hike, you feel like discovering a quieter and more historic side of the Bieszczady Mountains.