Warsaw-Hiking-Świder River

One of the exceptional things about Warsaw is the nature that enfolds it. Large parts of the city are just massive forests of pines, birches, and oaks, and another large percentage is taken up by beautifully maintained parks, like the Łazienki Park near the center of the city. It's really a part of the identity of this city, and you can feel a lot of appreciation for nature in general by the local Varsovians. 

On top of the nature within the city, just outside of Warsaw you can find absolutely lovely day hikes. Undoubtedly one of the best is walking along the Świder River towards the Wisła. This provides a wild setting packed with lots of different micro-environments, and a stunning merger with one of the most important rivers in Europe. 

The merger of the Świder and the Wisła

So how to get there? You will be pleasantly surprised. All you need to do is go to Warszawa Śródmeście station and get on a suburban train. You can take either a red S1 or a green KM7 (you'll need to buy a Zone 2 ticket as you will be leaving Warsaw). Get off at the station named Świder and walk north (the opposite direction that your train is going) along the tracks. Take a left at the river and follow it until you hit the Wisła. If you want to head back to Warsaw when you're done then try to end on the right bank of the Świder when you hit the Wisła.

Getting back to Warsaw is also easy. Walk north along the Wisła for a little while and when you see a chance to go inland you can get to a road that's labeled as 801 on the map (It'll be the first main road you see). All the buses on this road go into Warsaw.

There a few strange things you can see during this hike. I won't spoil all of them, but if you go far enough north along the Wisła you can end up in one of the creepiest, but also most interesting spots in Warsaw, a nude beach! But be careful, because you won't find any pretty young women there, only old men who tend to follow any woman they see. If you end up here, I suggest making a hasty exit, as the vibe can get a little weird. This is quite far from the Świder though, and it's actually a little hard to get to (about 4-5 hours from where you started). 

Parts of the river are so shallow that you can walk in it if the weather is permitting

Don't let the creepy old men deter you! The best thing about this hike is that from the moment you get off of the train you'll always be enveloped in wonderful nature. So if you have a free day to kill in Warsaw, take a train to the Świder. Of course only if the weather is good. 

An old tree