The characteristics of the Karkonosze are strangely shaped, unique rock formations, the post-glacial lakes called Maly Staw and Duzy Staw, the mountain bogs at the foot of sniezka Mount- the highest (1603) peak at he Karkonosze Range, and steep pot-holes - Sniezne Kotly in the region of Szklarska Poreba.
A great part of the Karkonsze on both sides of the Polish-Czech border has been turned into the Karkonoski Park Narodowy (The National Park of the Karkonosze) St. Laurentius Chapel on the top of Sniezka was built as early as the XVth century for even then the mountain lured wanderers. The characteristic buildings which resemble "flying saucer" are the meteorological observatory constructed in the sixties. There is also a shelter-home for tourists. Four other shelter-homes are situated below the summit.
At the foot of Sniezka (480 - 850 m above the sea level) lies Karpacz, one of the most popular holiday resorts in the Karkonosze.
A considerable attraction of Karpacz is the thirteenth-century timber temple Wang brought in there from South Norway in the XIX century.
In the Karpacz region snow remains late in spring, sometimes until April. In Karpacz and in adjacent areas one can find numerous chairs-lifts, ski-lifts and skis-runs. Karpacz is a convenient starting point for trips; several, well marked paths of different difficulty lead to the Karkonosze : taking the blue path you will reach Sniezka summit within 3,5 hours having seen the most picturesque parts of the mountains.
In the western part of the Karkonsze, at the foot of Szrenica Mt. (1362 m above the sea level) there is situated another popular holiday resort - Szklarska Poreba which is considered the winter capital of the Karkonosze. One can reach the summit of Szrenica taking the chair lift from Szklarska Poreba. On the top there is a big shelter home "Na Szrenicy", and not far from there - three other shelter-homes: "Pod Labskim Szczytem" ( on the Czech side of the border are springs of the Elbe river), "Na Hali Szrenickiej" and "Kamienczyk".The greatest peculiarity of this part of the Karkonosze are nearby Sniezne Kotly; deep, steep, almost 150 m high walls make them look wild; at the bottom one can see three small post-glaciar lakes. The area of Sniezne Kotly is a sanctuary. In Szkarska Poreba there are numerous lifts and ski-runs, the most popular of them being 4,8 km long "lolobrygida" and Snieznynka" of 2,5 km. The less advanced skiers prefer "Puchatek" of 1,65 km. In nearby Jakuszyce there are excellent routes for ski-runners and trace-skiers. On Polona Jakuszycka the snow remains as long as the end of March and sometimes even longer. Every year on the Polana there takes place the famous "Bieg Piastow" (The Piat Ski-Run) - a great international enterprise for ski-runners.