Sports and Outdoor activities in Poland

The most popular sport is soccer and the national and top league teams often attract sell-out crowds, but even local village matches invariably draw gangs of enthusiasts. Co-hosting the Euro 2012 with Ukraine was enough to make a soccer fan out of nearly everybody, and threw the country into a frenzy of stadium construction. Despite lacking any international stars, the Poles also enjoy tennis and cycling while American sports – especially basketball – are starting to make an impact. For most hikers, the highlight of Poland is the Tatra Mountains in the south, though the country’s 23 national parks offer plenty of opportunities for beautiful walks and horseriding. Watersports are concentrated around Sopot in the north and Mazury in the northeast, while the skiing season (Nov–Feb) brings tourists flocking to southern mountain resorts like Zakopane.