Morskie Oko — literally 'Eye of the Sea' — is the most iconic mountain lake in Poland, and one of the most beautiful in all of Central Europe. Cradled at 1395 m above sea level beneath the towering walls of the Mięguszowieckie Peaks, this deep glacial lake with its striking green water is a sight that stays with you long after you leave.

The lake fills a massive glacially-carved rock basin and stretches nearly 900 metres in length, reaching a depth of over 51 metres. Its water is famously clear — visibility reaches up to 14 metres — and carries a distinctive green hue. In summer the lakeside path buzzes with hikers, and a full loop around the lake takes about 50 minutes, rewarding you with ever-changing views of the surrounding peaks. Autumn brings golden hues to the dwarf pine scrub and mirror-like reflections on the calm surface. In winter the lake freezes over and the whole valley transforms into a serene, snow-covered alpine world. The PTTK mountain hut on the northern moraine is one of the oldest and most charming refuges in the Tatras — a perfect spot to warm up with tea after the walk.

• Palenica Białczańska car park — yellow trail along a paved road, approx. 2 h 20 min, easy
• Toporowa Cyrhla — red trail via Psia Trawka and Rówień Waksmundzka, approx. 1 h 30 min from Wodogrzmoty Mickiewicza waterfall to the hut, moderate

• Private cars are not permitted on the road to Morskie Oko — you must park at Palenica Białczańska and walk or take a horse-drawn carriage.
• The lake lies within Tatra National Park — leaving marked trails and entering the water is prohibited.
• The mountain hut is open year-round and offers meals and accommodation.

An old highland legend claims the lake has an underground connection to the Adriatic Sea — that is how it got its mysterious name. What is certainly true is that Morskie Oko is one of the very few Tatra lakes naturally inhabited by trout, and in 2014 'The Wall Street Journal' named it one of the five most beautiful lakes in the world.