Getting Started
Best time of year to visit
Season-by-season breakdown for wildlife, weather and what to expect when you arrive.
BiałowieŸa Forest undergoes remarkable change over the year. A visit during any season is worthwhile, as each has its own unique charm and character.
Summer and winter represent the two opposing states of the forest: the state of life and state of dormancy. Autumn and spring are transitional seasons. Over the year the forest life cycles with the changing temperatures — it flourishes as the temperatures warm, and retreats as they cool.
Knowing how the forest changes over the year matters for two main reasons. Firstly, it determines the plants and animals you will see. Secondly, it determines the activities you’ll be able to carry out — cycling or skiing? Oh, and thirdly, it determines how warm your clothes need to be.
BiałowieŸa Forest Climate
Summers are warm (average 20°C) and usually dry, though expect the occasional storm. Winters are traditionally cold and snowy, though the warming climate has made snow cover increasingly unpredictable.
Autumn and spring sit between these extremes. Extreme temperatures are rare but possible: expect a few days above 30°C in summer, and a few below −10°C in winter.
Summer
The forest is alive. Animals are busy rearing their young and plants are putting down roots and shoots. This is the time to see the exuberance of nature in full swing.
With warm, sweet weather, the days are perfect for biking and hiking, and the evenings for beers and BBQs. Do carry water for the mid-day heat and bring insect repellent — there are plenty of insects.
Despite the forest being in full swing, seeing animals in summer can be surprisingly difficult. The undergrowth is dense and the forest floor is dark. Many species have plenty to eat deep inside the forest, giving them little reason to emerge onto open meadows.
The meadows remain your best bet for seeing bison. Set off shortly after sunrise to maximise your chances. And if you want peace and quiet, stay further afield — in Pogorzelce, Teremiski, Budy, or Narewka — rather than in BiałowieŸa village itself, which gets busy at weekends.
Autumn
Though summer can extend well into September, the weather inevitably turns cool by month’s end. This is the trigger for the forest to prepare for winter. Animals fatten themselves up or store food for the months ahead.
The tree leaves flow through a gradual colour transition — from light green, through golden yellow, to reddish brown — before dropping and carpeting the landscape. Meanwhile, flocks of cranes migrate overhead, their eerie calls reverberating throughout the forest. It’s a truly magical time.
🦌 Autumn highlights
The rut — Starting in mid-September, the red deer mating season begins. The males, full of testosterone, roar throughout the night to attract females, generating an electric atmosphere.
Peak autumn colour — At the end of October and start of November, the trees race to lose their leaves before the first frosts. The forest becomes painted in red and gold. By December, most birds have migrated and the forest falls dormant.
Winter
The forest lies dormant. It’s often grey and bleak, but once the snow arrives, the fairy tale begins. Plants and most birds all but disappear, leaving only leafless trunks, owls and woodpeckers.
By contrast, winter is the best season for seeing land mammals. As the undergrowth dies off and the canopy opens up, the forest floor brightens — making for optimal photography conditions on the rare sunny days. A bonus: insects disappear too, so no ticks or mosquitoes to hassle you.
The bison change their behaviour noticeably. More than in other seasons, they emerge from the forest to forage on the meadows surrounding the villages. Most herds also gather at feeding spots dispersed throughout the forest. Both the meadows and feeding spots are reliable places to see bison in winter.
ℹ️ Bison feeding station
The bison feeding stations are off-limits to tourists — with one exception: the station at Kosy Most, in the north of the national park, has a public viewing area. Worth a visit in winter for a near-guaranteed bison sighting.
🌡️ Climate change in Białowieża
Winter here is changing fast. Between 1967 and 2017, the length of snow cover in Białowieża Forest almost halved — from around 80 days per year to just 40. Average temperatures have risen by two degrees, and erratic temperature swings have become more common.
Most years it snows by the end of December, but mid-winter snow-free periods are increasingly frequent. When fresh snowfall does arrive, grab the opportunity to cross-country ski. You never know how long it will last.
Spring
The awakening. By March it feels like winter has lasted forever. Temperatures rise above freezing, but the real change begins in April. Life returns to the forest with a trickle — then, by mid-April, the waterfall begins to flow, and not just figuratively.
As the snow melts, water collects in every hollow and cranny. With the canopy still open and the leaves just budding, the forest floor bursts into life. From March, each successive week brings new flowers eager to capture the light before the trees shade them out.
Simultaneously, the birds that wintered in southern climes return. Storks arrive in February, then more migrants follow through March and April. May brings a full spectrum of greens as the leaves take on their summer shapes. As they block out the sun, the forest floor darkens, and plant-life moves from the ground up to the canopy. By June, summer finally takes the place of winter.
Go deeper
Explore the forest with an expert
Five days tracking wolves, finding bison and walking ancient old-growth — guided by a PhD ecologist.
Our seminars run in May and September, the two best months for wildlife and forest walks. Find out what to expect on our 5-day old-growth seminar.
Hello I’m considering visiting the National Park again (last time in early September). I am considering late April – am particularly interested in seeing plants, flowers and birds and want to do a tour with English-speaking nature guide. Other option would be October to see autumn leaves. Would you recommend spring over autumn? Also is it likely to be too wet underfoot to enter forest in April.