Read on, check out our top picks and plan a trip you’ll remember for years to come.

Fly to Rzeszów and start your adventure

Ryanair flies to Rzeszów from:
Alicante, Bristol, Dublin, Edinburgh, London Stansted, Manchester

Check the current flight timetable >> www.rzeszowairport.pl/en/passenger/timetable

Rzeszów: Your Gateway to the Region

Rzeszów feels young and buzzing, yet its town charter dates back to 1354. Leafy riverside boulevards, a beautifully restored Market Square with a Renaissance town hall and a dazzling multimedia fountain make it easy to fall for. Better still, it’s the perfect base - most of Podkarpackie’s highlights are an easy day trip away.


 

Don’t miss:

• Lubomirski Castle - an imposing fortress that now houses the district court, plus the elegant Lubomirski Summer Palace nearby.
• The Bedtime Cartoon Museum (Muzeum Dobranocek) - a nostalgic trip into the world of classic Polish children’s animation.
• Łukasiewicz Subcarpathian Science Centre - hands-on exhibits right next to the airport, ideal for your first or last day.
   

Rzeszów Underground Tourist Route: A Journey Back in Time

Step below the Market Square and into the city’s past. The Rzeszów Cellars underground route stretches for almost 400 metres through 25 cellars and 15 corridors, reaching up to 10 metres below ground. Merchants once stored their goods down here; today it’s an immersive, multimedia adventure where light, sound and special effects put you at the centre of the story.

Good to know: allow around 90 minutes, bring a light jacket (it’s cooler underground) and check opening hours before you go. It’s also a brilliant rainy-day plan.
 

Festivals and Big Events in Rzeszów

Rzeszów has a packed cultural calendar all year round, but summer is when it really comes alive. Time your trip to catch one of these:

• European Stadium of Culture - the region’s biggest music festival and part of the “East of Culture” project, usually held in June, with Polish and international stars often teaming up in surprising duets.
• Carpathia Festival - an international song contest where young talent from around the world performs with a live festival orchestra; 2026 marked its 22nd edition.
• Open-air concerts and city celebrations - summer evenings by the multimedia fountain, riverside events and major sporting fixtures at the Podpromie arena.
   

RZE tip: festival dates are usually announced in spring. Check the city’s events calendar and book your flight early - accommodation goes fast on festival weekends.
 

Castles and Palaces: Fairy-Tale Residences on Your Doorstep

Podkarpackie is one of Poland’s richest regions for heritage. Within a two-hour drive of the airport, you’ll find residences that could easily star in a period drama.

Krasiczyn Castle: A Renaissance Masterpiece

If you only see one castle, make it Krasiczyn. Set near Przemyśl, this Renaissance gem wows visitors with its arcaded courtyard, walls covered in intricate sgraffito and four towers with wonderfully grand names: the Divine, Papal, Royal and Noble Towers. A romantic park of ancient trees surrounds it - perfect for a slow stroll. And here’s the best part: you can actually stay the night and live like an aristocrat.

Pair it with: Przemyśl, one of Poland’s oldest towns, with a hillside old town, grand cathedrals and the forts of the Przemyśl Fortress.

Łańcut Castle: Aristocratic Splendour

Just a short drive from Rzeszów stands one of the finest and best-preserved noble residences in Poland. Opulent interiors, landscaped gardens, an orchid house and a famous Carriage House full of historic coaches make it unmissable. Each spring, the castle fills with music during the Łańcut Music Festival.

More Castles Worth the Detour

• Baranów Sandomierski - nicknamed “Little Wawel” for its stunning Renaissance courtyard.
• Kamieniec Castle in Odrzykoń - atmospheric hilltop ruins linked to one of Poland’s best-loved comedies.
• Sanok Castle - home to the Historical Museum, a remarkable icon collection and a gallery of surrealist painter Zdzisław Beksiński.

Podkarpackie Vineyards: A Taste You Won’t Expect

Polish wine? Absolutely. It was in Jasło that Roman Myśliwiec founded the Golesz vineyard in the 1980s, widely seen as the pioneer of modern Polish winemaking. Today the region has around 150 vineyards - and counting.

What to plan:

• Jasło Wine Route - over a dozen vineyards around Jasło, including Golesz, Jasiel and Dwie Granice, where you can taste fresh, aromatic whites and meet passionate winemakers.
• Carpathian Wine Route - a cross-border trail linking vineyards on both the Polish and Slovak sides of the Carpathians, ideal for a multi-day tasting trip.
• International Wine Days in Jasło - traditionally on the last weekend of August, when the town square turns into a celebration of wine, music and local food.

RZE tip: many vineyards welcome visitors by appointment only, so call ahead - and bring a designated driver or hop on a bike so you can enjoy every glass.
 

Kayaking in Podkarpackie: Go with the Flow

Craving real freedom? Grab a paddle. Podkarpackie’s rivers wind through wild valleys, forests and meadows, and the only sounds you’ll hear are the splash of your paddle and birdsong.

• The San - the queen of the region’s rivers. The stretch around Lesko and Sanok is a classic, with gentle currents, scenic gorges and Bieszczady views.
• The Wisłok - a calm, intimate river that’s great for beginners and families, flowing right through Rzeszów.
• The Wisłoka - a picturesque route through the Low Beskids near Jasło, easy to combine with a vineyard visit.

Local rental companies provide kit, transfers and guides, so you don’t need to bring a thing. The season usually runs from May to September - always check water levels before you set off.
 

The Bieszczady Mountains: The Wild Heart of the Carpathians

Dreaming of a place where time slows down and your phone stays in your pocket? You’ve found it. The Bieszczady are all about rolling alpine meadows, deep beech forests, free-roaming European bison and trails where you might not meet another soul all day.

Your Bieszczady bucket list - tick off every one:

• Połonina Caryńska and Połonina Wetlińska - iconic ridge hikes with jaw-dropping views, especially at sunrise.
• Tarnica - the highest peak in the Polish Bieszczady, crowned with a summit cross that’s made for photos.
• Bieszczady Forest Railway - a narrow-gauge ride through the woods that kids and grown-ups love.
• European Bison Show Farm in Muczne - your chance to see Europe’s largest land mammal up close.
• Wooden tserkvas - including UNESCO-listed churches in Smolnik and Turzańsk, a window onto the region’s multicultural past.

Lake Solina and Eko Marina Polańczyk: Sailing with a Mountain View

Lake Solina is Poland’s largest reservoir - a mountain “sea” framed by green hills. Walk across the top of the mighty dam, ride the Solina Gondola up Mount Jawor and climb the 55-metre observation tower for a panorama you’ll never forget.

For water lovers, the real highlight is Eko Marina Polańczyk - a modern, eco-friendly harbour where you can:

• rent a yacht, an electric boat (no licence needed) or a kayak,
• swim safely in pools set right into the lake, with the bottom always within reach,
• moor your own boat and use full sailor facilities,
• feast on freshly grilled fish as the sun sets over the water.

RZE tip: Lake Solina is at its most beautiful in late summer and early autumn - the water’s still warm, the crowds have thinned and the hills start turning gold.
 

Bieszczady Dark Sky Park: A Night You’ll Never Forget

When did you last see the Milky Way with your naked eye? In the Bieszczady, it’s part of everyday life. The Bieszczady Dark Sky Park was created in 2013 to protect some of the darkest skies in this part of Europe. With almost no artificial light, a clear night reveals thousands of stars, the planets and - if you’re lucky - even the northern lights.

How to plan your stargazing night:

1. Check the forecast and moon phase - a new moon gives the best views.
2. Head for open ground away from buildings, such as a mountain pass or meadow.
3. Pack warm layers, a blanket and a red-light torch.
4. Give your eyes 20-30 minutes to adjust to the dark.

In summer, look out for guided stargazing sessions with astronomers and Perseid meteor shower nights in August.
 

More Hidden Gems in Podkarpackie and Beyond

• Sanok - the Museum of Folk Architecture, one of the largest open-air museums in Poland.
• Krosno - the Glass Heritage Centre, where you can try blowing your own glass creation.
• Przemyśl - a terraced old town and the vast forts of the Przemyśl Fortress.
• Spa towns - Iwonicz-Zdrój, Rymanów-Zdrój and Polańczyk, perfect for unwinding after an active day.
• Neighbouring regions - Podkarpackie sits close to the Slovak Carpathians, Kraków and the Roztocze hills, so it’s easy to build a multi-region adventure.

Discover Podkarpackie: Start Your Adventure at Rzeszów-Jasionka

Fairy-tale castles, sun-kissed vineyards, wild mountain meadows and skies full of stars - it’s all waiting for you just moments after landing. Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport is your gateway to the region: no long queues, no stress, just a quick hop into the city and on into the heart of Podkarpackie.

Don’t put your dreams on hold. Discover Podkarpackie - the region that will steal your heart at first sight.