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Voykit pocket guide · Poland
Solina
Spend one full day on the lake and dam, or two if you want to hike in the Bieszczady. A half-day stop is enough to see the dam and have lunch.
Solina is a small village in the Bieszczady mountains, built around Poland's largest dam and the artificial Lake Solina. It works as a water-sports and spa base for a short break, not a sightseeing destination. Most travellers come for the dam, the lake and the surrounding hills, then move on to Sanok or Lesko.
- Country
- Poland
- Best months
- May–Sep (lake activities), Jan–Mar (winter sports)
- Avoid
- Nov (cold, many places closed)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- PLN
- Money
- Currency is the Polish złoty (PLN, zł). Cards and contactless payment are accepted almost everywhere.
- Daily spend
- Budget zł 120–180 excl. bed · Mid zł 200–350 excl. bed · High zł 400+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Orange, Play, Plus and T-Mobile sell prepaid SIMs; registration with a passport is required.
- Emergency
- Police 997 · Fire 998 · Ambulance 999 · Mountain and water rescue 985
- Plugs
- Types C, E · 230 V · 50 Hz · Type E sockets; German type F plugs fit with the hybrid plug most chargers have.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: About 10%; tell the server or add it on the card terminal.; Saying 'dziękuję' when paying cash: Means keep the change — say it only if you mean it.; Taxi: Round up.
- Water
- Tap water is safe. Restaurants sell bottled water.
- Toilets
- Station and mall toilets often cost PLN 2–4.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | zł 8–15 |
| Lunch (soup + main) | zł 30–50 |
| Beer (0.5 L) | zł 8–12 |
| Boat rental (1 h) | zł 40–80 |
| Bus from Rzeszów | zł 25–35 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- RZE · Rzeszów International Airport
- About 2 h by car or bus; check connections.
- KRK · Kraków John Paul II International Airport
- About 3.5 h by car or bus.
Typical fares
- Rzeszów → Solina by bus
- about zł 25–35, about 2 h (check)
- Taxi Solina → Sanok
- zł 60–90
- Kayak rental on Lake Solina, 1 h
- about zł 30–50 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Solina is walkable. A car or bike is best for exploring the lake and nearby hills. Buses connect to Sanok, Lesko and Rzeszów.
See and do
Known for
- Solina Dam – the largest hydroelectric dam in Poland
- Lake Solina – artificial lake for sailing, kayaking and swimming
- Bieszczady mountains hiking and winter sports
- Spa and wellness resorts
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Sanok | Bus or car, about 20 km (12 mi) south-eastBus or car, about 12 mi (20 km) south-east | 30–40 min |
| Lesko | Bus or car, about 15 km (9.3 mi) northBus or car, about 9.3 mi (15 km) north | 20 min |
| Bieszczady National Park | Car, about 30–40 km (19–25 mi) southCar, about 19–25 mi (30–40 km) south | 45 min–1 h |
| Polańczyk | Car or bus, about 5 km (3.1 mi) north-westCar or bus, about 3.1 mi (5 km) north-west | 10 min |
Sleep
- Solina village centre
- Close to the dam and lake; guest rooms and pensions.
- Polańczyk
- Spa port 5 km (3.1 mi) away; more restaurants and nightlife.Spa port 3.1 mi (5 km) away; more restaurants and nightlife.
- Lesko / Sanok
- Larger towns 15–20 km (9.3–12 mi) away with more accommodation choices.Larger towns 9.3–12 mi (15–20 km) away with more accommodation choices.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Dzień dobryjen DOH-bri |
| Thank you | Dziękujęjen-KOO-yeh |
| How much? | Ile to kosztuje?EE-leh toh kosh-TOO-yeh |
| Where is the bus stop? | Gdzie jest przystanek autobusowy?gjeh yest pshi-STA-nek ow-toh-boo-SO-vih |
| Do you speak English? | Czy mówi pan po angielsku?chi MOO-vee pan poh an-GYEL-skoo |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Dzień dobry, handshake; Pan/Pani with surname; avoid: First names with older people too early
- Home visit: Shoes off; bring flowers (odd number) and something sweet; avoid: Chrysanthemums (for graves) and yellow flowers
- Name days: Wish people well on their name day (imieniny); avoid: Ignoring it if a colleague mentions it
- History: Show interest; avoid: Calling Poland 'Eastern Europe' or jokes about WWII
- Queues: Let older people and pregnant women go first where signs ask; avoid: Skipping the queue at the kasa
Scams and watch-outs
- The dam and hydroelectric plant have limited visiting hours; check the official site.
- Lake Solina can be windy – check weather before kayaking or sailing.
- Winter sports depend on snow conditions; check local reports.
- Public transport is sparse outside summer; a car is recommended.
Solina is safe. Standard precautions apply: lock valuables, watch for slippery surfaces at the dam, and check weather before water activities.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Solina yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Solina Dam – the largest hydroelectric dam in Poland
- Lake Solina – artificial lake for sailing, kayaking and swimming
- Bieszczady mountains hiking and winter sports
- Spa and wellness resorts
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Solina, revision 4920488 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4920488
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Solina
Proszę pod ten adres
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
The nearest major embassy is in Warsaw; consular services may be available in Kraków or Rzeszów (check).
Emergency numbers work from any phone in Poland.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/solina). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.