Śnieżka is made of granite, and its top is made of hard rocks called hornfels. The slopes of the mountain are covered with rock debris, sometimes wrongly referred to as a gravel area. For most of the year, the weather conditions are very severe, similar to those beyond the Arctic Circle: low temperatures, gusty winds and heavy rain and snowfall. A characteristic element is also the fog that occurs here for over 300 days a year.
In nice weather, the peak of Śnieżka is an excellent viewpoint from which you can admire vast panoramas. Under favorable conditions, the visibility reaches up to 200 km.
Śnieżka towering over the Karkonosze Mountains has intrigued people and attracted hikers curious about the world for a long time. The first ascent to the top was probably made in the middle of the 15th century. The following centuries brought Śnieżka more and more popular. In the 18th century, its peak became one of the most visited in Europe. In August 1800, among others, the later president of the United States - John Quincy Adams. The construction of the Chapel of St. Wawrzyńca, founded by Count Krzysztof Leopold Schaffgotsch, to emphasize his rights to these lands. The chapel was consecrated on August 10, 1681. Today, this day is considered a celebration of mountain guides and people. Every year, a mass is held at the top, which attracts crowds.
The symbol of Śnieżka is the building of the Meteorological Observatory, resembling saucers and called "flying saucers". It is one of two in Poland (next to Kasprowy Wierch) High-Mountain Meteorological Observatories. Systematic observations on Śnieżka have been ongoing since 1880.
Currently, it is not possible to visit the Observatory. The restaurant is also closed. The nearest hostels where you can eat and stay overnight are: Dom Śląski, Strzecha Akademicka and Samotnia, and on the Czech side, Jelenka and Luczni Bouda.