Zakrzowek

Zakrzowek is a flooded former limestone quarry in the Debniki district, south-west of the centre. Quarrying here ended and the pit filled with groundwater in the early 1990s, leaving a lake of clear, turquoise water ringed by steep white cliffs. For years it was an unofficial swimming and diving spot with a difficult safety record. After major works the site reopened in 2023 as a managed park, and the swimming ban was lifted that June.

The colour of the water and the pale rock walls make this one of the most striking spots in Krakow, and it sits close to the city rather than out in the countryside. Since the redevelopment it works as a proper day out: you can swim in supervised pools, walk the paths above the cliffs, or just sit by the water. It is a change of pace from the Old Town and popular with locals in summer.

The 2023 works added floating swimming pools set into a smaller arm of the reservoir, so you swim in enclosed, supervised water rather than the open lake. Around the shore there are walking and jogging paths, viewpoints over the cliffs, an outdoor gym, table tennis, climbing walls and a barbecue area. The main deep basin remains cold and steep-sided and is used by trained divers, so casual swimming there stays restricted. Bring water shoes and sun cover, as the rock and decking get hot.

Limestone was cut here through the 20th century for Krakow's building trade. When the quarry closed, groundwater filled the pit to form the lake that exists today. Its clear, deep water drew swimmers and divers for decades, but the cold and the sheer walls led to a series of drownings. The city carried out safety and access works and opened the regulated park in 2023.

The swimming season runs through the warm months, roughly summer into early autumn, and the pools are the main draw then. Entry to the bathing area is free but numbers are capped, so weekends and hot afternoons fill quickly. Come early or on a weekday for space. Outside the swimming season the paths and viewpoints are open year-round and quieter.

Zakrzowek is in Debniki, south-west of the Old Town on the far side of the river. Trams and buses run to stops nearby, from which it is a short walk, and it is a manageable cycle from the centre. For routes and tickets, see the Krakow guide. It pairs well with a wider day outdoors alongside Blonia or Wolski Forest on the same side of the city.

The park added surfaced paths and viewpoints during the works, but the ground around a former quarry is naturally uneven and steep in places. The swimming area and its decking are the most accessible part. Check the park's official information for current step-free routes before you go.

You are on the green, western side of the city:

• Blonia, the large central meadow, back toward the centre.
• Wolski Forest, the big city woodland with trails and the zoo, to the north-west.
• Wawel Castle, on the way back into the Old Town along the river.

Yes, since 2023 there are supervised floating pools in a section of the reservoir. Swimming in the open lake outside the marked bathing area remains restricted because the water is cold, deep and hemmed in by cliffs.

The turquoise colour comes from the clear groundwater filling a limestone quarry, with light reflecting off the pale rock and the fine mineral content. It is one of the most photographed spots in the city for that reason.

Entry to the swimming area is free, but the number of people is limited, so access can be paused when it is full. The surrounding paths and viewpoints are open without charge.