Palenica in the Pieniny Mountains

Palenica is a popular, not very high peak (722 m above sea level) rising just above the centre of Szczawnica, in the heart of the Pieniny Mountains. Although the climb is not difficult, most visitors choose the convenient four-person chairlift, which takes them to the top in just a few minutes. The lower station is located at 7 Główna Street, right next to the bus station, making Palenica one of the most easily accessible attractions in the region and a great idea for a family trip. The lift has been operating since 1991, and after a modernisation in 2005 it offers comfortable four-seat chairs; the route is about 780 metres long, with a height difference of 263 metres. The cable car runs all year round (with a short break for technical inspection), so you can visit both in summer and winter. From the summit there is one of the most beautiful panoramas of the Pieniny – you can see the Three Crowns (Trzy Korony), Sokolica, and on a clear day also the snow-capped Slovak Tatras with Lomnica, as well as the Beskid Sądecki range and the Dunajec valley. At the upper station there is the "Groń" mountain hostel and several food outlets, and a major attraction for children and adults alike is the summer toboggan run – a gravity slide where you can ride down in a special cart. In summer, competitions and family games are organised here, and paragliders often take off from this spot. Palenica is also an excellent starting point for hiking – in 15 minutes you can reach the neighbouring viewpoint of Szafranówka, offering a panorama of the Pieniny, Gorce and Beskid Sądecki, and from there continue on trails to Wysoka (the highest peak of the Pieniny) via Wysoki Wierch and Durbaszka. If you buy a one-way ticket, you can walk down towards Homole Gorge, Rozdziela Pass, or even cross to the Slovak side of the mountains. Getting to Szczawnica is easy – the town lies about 115 km from Kraków, and there is a car and coach parking lot at the lower station. Tickets for the chairlift can be bought at the ticket office or online, which helps avoid queues in peak season; it is worth checking the current price list on the operator's website, as prices vary by season.