Three ski areas, a short drive from the door

The big one: a 10-person gondola from Szczyrk to Hala Skrzyczeńska, six-seat chairlifts and over 23 km of pistes on Skrzyczne and Małe Skrzyczne, with runs 1 and 3 (about 5 km) floodlit for evening skiing. Rental and ski service at the gondola; the resort’s ski school is in step 2.

The historic way up: a two-section chairlift from Szczyrk via Jaworzyna to the summit of Skrzyczne, the highest peak of the Beskid Śląski, and a six-seat chairlift from Doliny, with the ski runs below them. Run by COS OPO, the Olympic preparation centre in Szczyrk.

The closest and the calmest: the six-seat “Beskid” chairlift (750 m), two drag lifts and four runs, 3.2 km in all, in the Biła valley, floodlit for evening skiing. Ticket office, ski school, rental, service and a restaurant at the lower station.

The resort’s own school: skiing and snowboarding for adults and children, the “Max the Teddy Bear” academy for children aged 6 to 16, and Maxiland, a beginners’ area with two 60 m conveyor belts and a 120 m button lift.

Three rentals: at the gondola (skis, boots, snowboards, poles, helmets, goggles; ski service and storage), at Czyrna (children’s and beginners’ kit, by Maxiland) and the DYNAFIT centre for touring skis and splitboards.

Ski and snowboard lessons for children from six, teenagers and adults, in groups of 3 to 8 or one to one; BASIC and TOP rental kit, children’s sets with a helmet, and ski service on the ground floor of the lower station.

Short loops used for cross-country skiing in winter (435 m and 545 m), with ski rental and an instructor; the rental is open daily 10:00–18:00.

Guided ski tours from the gondola to the summit of Skrzyczne, about 1.5 to 2.5 hours up and 4 hours in all, down on blue run 3, for anyone who skis blue runs well. Touring skis and splitboards to rent. Guides may turn back by 13:00 in bad weather.

Guided snowmobile trips of about 1.5 hours with an instructor, from Szczyrk-Biła towards Klimczok and Błatnia, and a “snowmobile taxi”; off-road rides when there is no snow.

A Wisła outdoor company with snowmobiles to rent with an instructor and guided mountain trips in winter, and quads and off-road vehicles the rest of the year.

Snowmobile trips of one to three hours with a guide, and sleigh rides behind a snow vehicle; the Istebna base covers the Beskid Śląski and Żywiecki.

Guided quad rides on its own ground and marked tracks, from 30-minute beginners’ rides to half-day trips, and winter sleigh rides with torches and a bonfire.

A free outdoor rink on the market square: 45-minute sessions on the hour for up to 45 skaters, 10:00–20:00, with skates, helmets and beginners’ “penguins” to rent.

The hotel next door opens its Water & Fun and Hot & Chill zones to outside guests daily 8:00–22:00 (adults only in Water & Fun from 21:00). Guests from outside the hotel are asked to phone first.