Many tourist trails and several beautifully situated mountain hostels encourage one to enjoy activities to the benefit of one’s health. The most popular and scenic trails lead to the top of Pilsko, Wielka Racza and Babia Gora (the most demanding scramble of the three). Many paths are accessible by bike, but the mountains are quite steep and one needs to have some experience and to be relatively fit.

Zywiec is one of the main beer producers in Poland. The local museum is in the old brewery building established by Prince Albrecht Habsburg in 1856, where you can learn about the processes involved in traditional brewing and then explore a fresh beer or two.

The ethnographic region to the south-east of Mt Babia Gora is known as Orawa. Boasting a rich and specific folklore, Orawa is a region of multinational influences typical for the borderlands. Visit the open-air museums of Zubrzyca or Zawoja, or head for Lipnica Wielka – a traditional Orawa village.

The region has well-developed skiing facilities, especially in Zwardon, which has a variety of different slopes. The most difficult slopes are on Skalanka, Duzy and Maly Rachowiec; while the easier can be found on Karlik, Karolinka, and Orawcowa. Other ski resorts worth considering are Korbielow (Pilsko skiing area) and Zawoja (Mosorny Gron).

If you prefer sightseeing, then you will find many attractions to while away your time. The most interesting are: Zywiec with its nice old town and castle, the open-air museum in Zawoja and an old wooden church in Gilowce. Ancient timber inns that you can still sample include the “Old Inn” (Stara Karczma) in Jelesnia or “Rzym” in Sucha Beskidzka (on the border between Beskid Zywiecki and Beskid Makowski) – these are a local curiosity, and certainly worth a visit.

Lake Zywieckie is an artificial reservoir north of Zywiec offering many opportunities to chill out, including lying on the beach, swimming, sailing, windsurfing, canoeing, angling or watching regattas (August).