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If you take a stroll along the river on a summer’s day, you’re sure to spot at least a few boats full of passengers. You’ll also see canoeists battling the current, a focused rowing team, or a SUP enthusiast standing tall on their board.
We actively promote navigation on the Vistula so that Warsaw residents and tourists visiting the capital can see the city from the water. To this end, we organise a series of free cruises under the name ‘Żegluga Dzielnicy Wisła’. Throughout the summer season, hundreds of residents and tourists have the opportunity to board various boats and embark on a sightseeing cruise with naturalists and Warsaw experts, who, during the journey, introduce passengers to the charms of the Vistula District, Warsaw’s boatbuilding and rafting traditions, and the heritage of the Vistula’s natural environment. There are also numerous canoeing trips and water-based activities.
Sailing has returned to the Vistula – photo: Marek Misiurewcz
The Municipal Transport Authority (ZTM) was the forerunner of the return of Vistula river navigation accessible to all. For almost two decades, as part of the Warsaw Tourist Lines, ZTM has provided a ferry service between the riverbanks. The ferries Słonka, Pliszka and Wilga are now among the symbols of Warsaw. Warsaw Tourist Lines also offer a boat trip to Serock, operated by the Zefir. Crossings along the central section of the Vistula are provided daily (in various formats) by the capital’s shipowners.
As the Parks and Gardens Authority, we have expanded our free ferry service with a vessel named Dudek. The Dudek catamaran operates on the northern outskirts of the city and is extremely popular among local residents and enthusiasts of cycling trips along the river. During the summer season, the ferry runs daily on the Tarchomin – Przystań Młociny – Tarchomin route.
On the southern stretch of the river, the Inna Bajka boat operates on holiday weekends.
A distinctive feature of Warsaw is the high proportion of non-governmental organisations among the boat owners. It is precisely these water enthusiasts, or those passionate about the Vistula, who have largely ensured that the Vistula has once again come to life.
A group of boat owners fascinated by the history and heritage of Warsaw’s Urzecze district, as well as by boatbuilding and rafting traditions, initiated the gradual revival of inland navigation on the Vistula. The first traditional wooden boats, known as ‘drewniaki’, often built by the owners themselves and fitted with characteristic gaff and square sails, began to appear on the water with increasing frequency. Boat owners began to organise themselves and form a community promoting this form of recreation as well as boatbuilding and rafting traditions. The organisations established in this way successfully carry out projects funded by municipal grants, enabling them to offer city residents free sightseeing, nature and history cruises. Many boat owners possess extensive knowledge of nature and are deeply rooted in Warsaw’s traditions. This unique perspective instils a love for the Vistula.
Once-forgotten vessels such as the szkuta, dubas, koza, łyżwa, bat, byk, komięga, berlinka, krypa, kajlak, galar and tratwa are returning to the river with increasing frequency. Vistula boats are also distinguished by their ability to navigate when the river’s water level is very low. Even when the water level in the Vistula dropped to 20 cm, brave boatmen managed to carry out full-day cruises and take part in the traditional parade to mark Vistula Day. Such capabilities are made possible by traditional boats with a shallow draught, but also by an excellent knowledge of the route, the pilotage and the conditions prevailing on the Warsaw section of the Vistula.
The opportunity to take a boat trip is often part of events organised by the Vistula District.
Over time, commercial operators offering cruise services on various vessels have also appeared on the Vistula. From wooden barges, through glass-top catamarans, to modern motorboats. Large cruise ships also sail on the Vistula. Some of them draw on the tradition of the fleet of vessels providing intercity cruise services. Although there are few of them, and low river levels often prevent them from sailing, new ships are being built that are designed to cope with the specific conditions of the Vistula.
Passenger vessels sailing on inland waters are divided into small and large categories. Small boats may carry a maximum of 12 passengers – regardless of whether their design allows for voyages with a larger number of people. For a boat to be registered as large, in accordance with regulations in force in Poland, it must meet a number of standards, such as those relating to toilet facilities, emergency exits and fire safety. Therefore, if you are told that no more people can board a boat or ferry, do not insist, even if you can see there is still space. By taking on more passengers than specified in the registration documents, the operator risks the safety of passengers and a hefty fine! The good news is that practically every operator will welcome dogs, cats and other domesticated animals on board with a smile. We’ve even had ducks, turtles and even a gecko on board.
Boats belonging to municipal and state services, such as the Police, City Guard, WOPR (Water Rescue Service) and Fire Brigade, also sail on the Vistula in Warsaw. Every day, we can also see vessels designed for specific tasks, such as the ‘Chude Wojtki’, sand dredgers or large-scale technical barges. Occasionally, extremely rare economic or technical waterborne transports can be seen, supporting construction work, or barges towing other vessels.
