Białowieża National Park 2026: tickets, bison reserve, guide rule
Short answer: Bison Show Reserve is 25 zl (15 zl reduced). The old-growth route needs a park-licensed guide. From 16 October the reserve is closed on Mondays.
Białowieża National Park in eastern Poland is the best-known place to see European bison and old-growth forest. Prices and rules are set by the park itself, and one rule surprises many visitors: the oldest part of the forest can only be entered with a licensed guide. This guide uses the park's own "opening hours and fees" page, checked on 18 October 2026. The page is undated, so confirm prices with the park before you travel.
The three paid sites
The park charges separately for three places. Each has a full and a reduced price.
- Bison Show Reserve (Rezerwat Pokazowy Żubrów): 25 zl full, 15 zl reduced. It covers the area with animal enclosures and the educational pavilion.
- Protected area "Rezerwat" (the former Strict Reserve), the route "To Jagiełło's Oak": 10 zl full, 5 zl reduced. Entry is only with a guide.
- Nature and Forest Museum: 16 zl full, 10 zl reduced, plus extra fees depending on how you tour it.
Who gets a reduced price or free entry
Reduced tickets apply to students and pupils, pensioners, people with disabilities with their carers, and active-duty soldiers. At the Bison Show Reserve and the museum, children from the age of 5 also pay the reduced price. Children up to age 4 enter free there. For the protected area, the park lists free entry for children up to age 7.
Holders of the Large Family Card (Karta Dużej Rodziny) get 20 percent off at the Bison Show Reserve and the museum. At the protected area they enter free, but the park states the card does not remove the duty to hire a park guide. The site does not say whether foreign family cards or student cards from other countries are accepted, so ask the park before you rely on one. Residents of the Białowieża and Narewka municipalities also have free entry.
The guide rule for the old-growth forest
The former Strict Reserve can be visited every day from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset, only with a guide licensed by the park. The 10 zl ticket is for the entry. The guide fee is separate, and the park's page does not give a price for an individual guide on this page. Plan ahead and contact the park or a licensed guide before arrival.
* Photos: Białowieża Forest (cover, 2021, and body, 2020), CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Opening hours: winter schedule from 16 October
The Bison Show Reserve is open every day from 16 April to 15 October, 9:00 to 17:00. From 16 October to 15 April it is open Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 to 16:00. So, as of 18 October 2026, the winter schedule applies, and Mondays are closed.
The museum runs a similar split. From 16 April to 15 October it is open Monday to Friday 9:00 to 16:30 and on weekends 9:00 to 17:00. In the rest of the year it is open Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 to 16:00. The last entry is one hour before closing. Both are closed on 1 January, 7 January, 1 November, 25 December and the second day of Catholic and Orthodox Easter.
Note that 1 November, All Saints' Day, falls soon and the museum and reserve will be closed.
Museum extras and other fees
In the museum, the ticket includes temporary exhibitions and the viewing tower. Visiting the permanent exhibition can be done with an audio guide (4 zl extra), with a park guide (15 zl extra), or with a park employee. A ticket for the temporary exhibitions and the viewing tower only costs 10 zl full or 6 zl reduced. Organised groups need a booking: 120 zl per group of up to 25 people for a Polish-speaking guide, 150 zl for an English-speaking one.
Other listed fees: bringing a bicycle into the Bison Show Reserve costs 5 zl and into the protected area 15 zl. Fishing from the bank of ponds and the Narewka river in the Palace Park costs 40 zl for a day, 80 zl for 3 days and 120 zl for 7 days, and you must show a fishing card.
What the page does not say
The page does not give a publication date, but it refers to a fee order numbered 4/2025. It does not explain how to book a guide or whether advance online tickets exist. It does not describe special conditions for foreign visitors. Contact the park by email at [email protected] or by phone at +48 85 682 97 00 before a trip, especially in winter.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Bison Show Reserve ticket?
25 zl full and 15 zl reduced, according to the park's page checked on 18 October 2026. Children up to 4 enter free.
Can I enter the old part of Białowieża Forest alone?
No. The route "To Jagiełło's Oak" in the former Strict Reserve can only be visited with a guide licensed by the park.
Is the Bison Show Reserve open on Mondays in winter?
No. From 16 October to 15 April it is open Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 to 16:00.
Does the Large Family Card give a discount?
Yes, 20 percent at the Bison Show Reserve and museum, and free entry at the protected area, but you still need a guide there.
