Lower Oder Valley Could Become a Wonder of Poland 2026
10.09.2026
One of the most remarkable natural areas near Szczecin has a chance to receive nationwide recognition. Lower Oder Valley Landscape Park has been nominated in National Geographic Traveler’s Wonders of Poland 2026 competition. The winners will be chosen by an online vote, which remains open until 13 October.
The Lower Oder Valley is a perfect example of how quickly visitors to Szczecin can leave the urban landscape behind and enter an almost completely different world. At its heart lies Międzyodrze, a vast area between the Western and Eastern Oder filled with wetlands, peatlands, old river channels, floodplains and waterways.
A landscape best explored from the water
The network of old riverbeds, ditches and channels within Lower Oder Valley Landscape Park stretches for more than 200 kilometres. This makes kayaking and small-boat trips one of the most interesting ways to discover Międzyodrze.
Travelling through the area reveals a very different side of Western Pomerania. Reed beds, wetlands, islands and difficult-to-access areas create ideal conditions for wildlife. Remnants of historic hydrotechnical structures also tell the story of attempts to use Międzyodrze for agricultural purposes before the Second World War.
The Lower Oder Valley is particularly important for birds. Its location along migration routes makes it possible to encounter cranes, geese, ducks, kingfishers and white-tailed eagles, among many other species. This combination of wildlife, waterways and history makes Międzyodrze one of the most distinctive places to visit around Szczecin.
Three nominees from Western Pomerania
Lower Oder Valley Landscape Park is one of three places representing the West Pomeranian region in the Wonders of Poland 2026 competition. The other nominees are the Świna Reverse Delta and the Baltic seaside village of Chłopy.
Voting is open every day until 13 October 2026. For travellers planning a trip to Szczecin, the nomination is also a good reason to look beyond the city centre and discover an extraordinary natural landscape located surprisingly close to the city.
Will the Lower Oder Valley become one of the Wonders of Poland 2026? The online vote will decide. Whatever the final result, Międzyodrze deserves a place on the itinerary of anyone looking to discover the natural side of Szczecin and Western Pomerania.
