You may have seen photos of the beautiful new pools at Zakrzowek- or you may have seen the headlines being shared all over Facebook in click-bait articles reading- “Local Cracovians wait 5+ hours in line to use new pools!” Well, we’re here to explain the new pools; the updated rules for the 2024 Summer Season, and how you can avoid the lines all together!

Don’t forget the best way to learn about the city of Krakow is by going on a walking tour with us!

So what’s up with swimming at Lake Zakrzowek? We answer all the frequently asked questions below.

Are they pools or are they a lake? What the heck even is Zakrzowek? 

So Zakrzowek is a lake, that used to be a limestone quarry, that now includes both floating pools (meaning they use the lake water) with decks; as well as, a beach area where you can wade into the water.

What are the rules for the Pools of Zakrzowek and why is there sometimes a line? 

So this gets a little complicated- so stay with me. And keep scrolling to learn how to avoid the long line that sometimes forms for the pool area.

The pools at Zakrzowek have different rules at different times. If it’s a holiday or weekend- and the team expects a line to form- you are unable to access the pools prior to their opening at 9am and you must have a wristband to get in up to 7pm. There is a limit of several hundred people. So once they reach that number- the line begins and it is one-in-one-out for the day. This is when very long lines form.

But, generally speaking, if it’s a normal day where large crowds won’t be forming, you can access the pool decks before they open for the day officially, and they will start handing out wristbands once the pools officially open for the day.

The difference between being there during official hours and unofficial hours, is just that there are lifeguards during official hours. Since there is no current here, it’s a man-made lake, if you know how to swim the lifeguards are really just an extra precaution. If you don’t know how to swim- there are probably better places for you to go to relax near the water.

Oh, and don’t forget, the pools are closed on Mondays for cleaning, so you can still access the lake, but only from the area where the “Sports Recreation Complex” is. We’ll explain how to get to that section next.

How do I avoid the lines that sometimes forms at Lake Zakrzowek? 

Sometimes, not always, there is a wait to get into the pools at Zakrzowek. As headlines have read recently, sometimes those lines are hours long. BUT the key here is that the line is ONLY FOR THE POOLS at Zakrzowek. There is an entire area of the lake (literally the same water as the pools) that is ALWAYS open, doesn’t have a limit on people, and is really easy to access. It’s literally next door in the “Sports Recreation Complex” area.

How do I get to the ALWAYS-OPEN-NEVER-A-LINE section of Zakrzowek? 

To get to the “Sports Recreation Complex” area, you just have to bypass the entry to the pools. So as you walk towards the pools section, you’ll see changing rooms, a new cafe, and the area to enter the pools section– DO NOT GO THROUGH THIS ENTRANCE.

Instead, keep walking. You’ll pass a huge section of bike racks, and see that the road splits off, downhill to the left.

Take that downhill path toward where the handicap parking spots are, and you’ll be at the unregulated beach.

There is NEVER a limit on people here, it’s swim AT YOUR OWN RISK, and there are both shaded spots, grassy spots, benches, and places on the limestone rocks to sit.

You can climb down into the water (not hard at all) or wade into the water at one of the entry spots.

That’s me swimming in the lake! The best part- how clean and clear the water is!

Why do people even go to the pools if the line is so long? 

There’s a lot of people that just don’t know you can go to this other beach area, and how comfortable this area really is compared to the decks. There’s also a lot of people that wouldn’t go to a beach without a lifeguard, or refuse to go into the open lake- because they want a pool with a bottom. What’s my personal opinion? I always go for the pool decks if there is no line- because I love jumping off the decks into the open lake (not the pools).  But if I ever get to Zakrzowek and there is a line, I just go straight for the open lake by accessing the beach area I wrote about above, I find a little spot to lay my blanket out, and wade into the water instead of jumping.

How do I get to the Pools at Zakrozwek or this beach area where you never have to wait in line? 

To get to either section you should navigate to “Pools at Zakrzowek” on Google Maps- seen here. The easiest way to do this from the city center is by taking a tram to the stop “Norymberska” and then walking on foot a few minutes. Or getting an Uber/Bolt as close as possible to the same Google Map point linked above.  If you don’t want to go to the pools, you’ll still want to enter the park using this navigation, but instead of walking down to the pool area, you’ll just keep walking past the entry point like I said and go to the beach area. So once again, go past the new cafe, the changing rooms, the entry point (turnstile) to the pools and follow the fork in the asphalt road to the left. You’ll walk downhill on the paved road until you get to the beach area, and can find a spot to relax in there.

What’s the difference between the pools at Zakrzowek and the beach area? 

Essentially the pool area consists of five pools- with varying depths. You’ll notice the pools are different colors- but they are all the same water coming directly from the lake. The pools float on the lake with nets under the decks to allow in the water. The darker the water in a pool, the deeper the pool is. These varying depths are why the water appears to be a different color in some of the pools- but I promise you it’s all the same water. When you are on the pool decks you can access these five pools, and at certain hours the city even provides lifeguards. In addition, you can go under the ropes to the outer decks and jump directly into the open lake- this area is never under supervision of lifeguards. Entering the pools is currently free of charge. 

The “beach area” where there is never a line, is an open area that has multiple entry points to the water. Some people jump in from the rocks (never recommended), some people climb down off the rocks (easier than it sounds), and most wade into the water from the many access points in this area. Because there are never lifeguards here, there is no limit to the amount of people, it’s always open, and even dogs are allowed!

How much does Zakrzowek cost?

No matter which area of Zakrzowek Lake you choose to access it is currently free of charge.

Are their changing rooms or bathrooms available? 

Yes, there are both. Currently they have hours from 8am to 10pm, but that could change.

Is there food at Zakrzowek? 

In addition to the food trucks that were there last year, there is also now a cafe that overlooks the lake. We’ve gotten ice cream there a few times- not only is it delicious, but it’s a pretty cool view as well.

Are there other things to do at Zakrzowek besides swim?

Yeah! You can walk around the entire park, there’s swings here and there for kids, the cafe we just wrote about above, walking trails throughout, as well as bike/scooter paths. There are plenty of people that come to the lake everyday just to use the pathways, and see the cool views!

What was Zakrzowek before it was a Lake? 

It was a functioning limestone quarry for many years. In fact, Pope John Paul II worked in this quarry during World War II and you’ll see a plaque on one of the cliffs dedicated to his work here; as well as a small monument dedicated to all the people who ever worked in the quarry as well.

What did Zakrzowek look like before it was redone last year? 

The beaches were smaller, and it didn’t have as much room for people to access it. If you want to see old pictures of where we used to swim just visit our old article here.

What is the crowd at Zakrzowek like today?

Wondering how busy Zakrzowek is today? Just check out the live camera of the decks!