Dzień dobry! Welcome to Zakopane, a mountain paradise in southern Poland and the gateway to the majestic Tatra Mountains. This charming town offers a perfect mix of outdoor adventure, local culture, and relaxation. From scenic hiking trails for all difficulty levels and cozy wooden cottages to unique highlander culture and relaxing thermal baths – Zakopane has it all!
If you love nature and mountains, Zakopane definitely deserves a spot on your Poland itinerary. For us, it’s one of our favourite places in the country, our number one place if we feel like hitting a mountain trail. Without further ado, let us show you great things to do in Zakopane, most beloved mountain town in Poland.
This website uses affiliate links thanks to which we may earn a commission for purchases you made at no additional cost to you. If you like the content, consider using those links to support us. Thank you!
Zakopane, Poland FAQ
Zakopane is located in southern Poland, in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship, right at the foot of the Tatra Mountains which form part of the natural border with Slovakia. It’s about 110km from Krakow, making it an easy and popular day trip or weekend getaway from the city.
Absolutely! Whether you’re after hiking, skiing, relaxing in hot springs, tasting hearty local food, diving into fascinating culture, or simply enjoying striking mountain scenery, Zakopane has something for you. It’s one of the most beautiful destinations in Poland.
Zakopane is the number one mountain resort town in Poland and a perfect base for exploring the Tatra Mountains. It’s best known for its easy access to scenic hiking trails, distinctive wooden architecture, vibrant highlander culture, relaxing thermal baths, lively Krupówki Street, and many skiing opportunities in winter months.
That depends on what kind of trip you’re after. But one thing is for sure – Zakopane is beautiful year-round. For hiking and summer activities, the best time to visit is from June to the end of September when trails are usually snow-free and the weather is pleasant. For winter sports and the magical snowy mountain views, November through April will be ideal.
We recommend spending around 3-4 days in Zakopane to fully experience what the town and surrounding mountains have to offer. This will give you enough time to explore the town center, enjoy a few hiking trails in the Tatra Mountains, and experience the local culture and cuisine. However, if you’re an avid hiker or visiting during ski season, you might want to extend your stay to at least a week.
Things to do in Zakopane, Poland
Krupowki Street
Krupówki Street is the beating heart of Zakopane, the town’s main street and the perfect place to start exploring. This lively pedestrian street stretches for approximately 1 kilometer and is lined with traditional wooden buildings, cozy restaurants serving local highlander food, souvenir stalls, a variety of shops ranging from small boutiques to well-known brands, and numerous family-friendly attractions. So whether you come to shop, eat, or simply soak up the mountain-town vibe, strolling along Krupowki is one of the best things to do in Zakopane.
Along Krupowki Street, you’ll find points of interest like the 19th-century Holy Family Church (pl. Sanktuarium Najświętszej Rodziny) mixing Neo-Romanesque and traditional Zakopane style, and the Tatra Museum. If you wander away about 300 meters from Krupówki, to Kościuszki street, you will find a beautiful Zakopane Sign with a mountain backdrop.
Traveling with kids? You’ll find plenty of quirky attractions nearby, such as the Exhibition of Wax Figures, Myszogród (Mousehouse), Upside Down House, or the Illusion House – all fun stops for families visiting Zakopane.
Gubałówka Market
Just a short walk from Krupówki Street, on the way to the Gubałówka Funicular, you’ll find the vibrant market. It’s packed with stalls selling regional specialties, local food, and handmade souvenirs. It’s the perfect place to sample grilled oscypek cheese with cranberry jam, sip warm mulled wine in winter, and buy cozy wool sweaters or mountain-style décor.
Also, just a few steps from Gubałówka Market, you will find Pęksowy Brzyzek National Cemetery (pl. Cmentarz Zasłużonych na Pęksowym Brzyzku) with beautifully carved wooden and stone tombstones, some of which are dedicated to notable local people. If you’re looking for unique things to do in Zakopane, this is the place you can’t miss.
Gubałówka Hill
Visiting Gubalowka, located at 1123m a.s.l, is another one of the most popular things to do in Zakopane, offering some of the most beautiful views of the Tatra Mountains and Zakopane.
Once you reach the summit, you can stroll along the ridge, relax on benches overlooking the mountains, have lunch with a view in one of the restaurants, or enjoy fun attractions like the Gravity Slide or Rope Park Złota Grań.
To reach Gubałówka, you can either take the funicular railway, which offers a short yet scenic ride to the top, or hike up the fairly easy one-hour trail that starts near the lower funicular station.
Ticket prices for the Gubałówka Funicular vary depending on the season, but for a round-trip you can expect to pay around 30zł for a regular ticket and 25zł for a reduced one. For current prices, schedules, and online tickets, visit the pkl.pl website.
Highlander Cuisine
No visit to Zakopane would be complete without tasting the local highlander cuisine. The food here is hearty, flavorful, and just perfect after a long day of hiking or exploring the town. Must-try dishes include grilled oscypek cheese served with sweet cranberries, other regional cheeses like bryndza or bundz, moskole – potato pancakes, kwaśnica – sauerkraut soup on pork ribs, and placek po zbójnicku – a crispy fried potato pancake served with meat goulash.
To experience the true spirit of highlander culture, we recommend heading to one of Zakopane’s traditional wooden restaurants, known as “karczma”. Inside, you’ll often find rustic interiors, live folk music, and the irresistible aroma of wood-smoked dishes filling the air. It’s one of the most authentic things to do in Zakopane that will warm your stomach and your soul.
If you’d like to taste the freshest oscypek cheese and other traditional highland specialties straight from the source, keep an eye out for wooden shepherd huts (called bacówki in Polish) with smoking chimneys and usually plenty of sheep near various trails around Zakopane. That’s where the magic happens. There, you can also ask if they have zyntyca – a delicious highland drink made from sheep’s milk whey. It’s similar to buttermilk, but it’s known for its strong digestive powers, so maybe skip it if you have a sensitive stomach!
Cable Car to Kasprowy Wierch
Taking the cable car to Kasprowy Wierch (1987 m a.s.l.) is one of the absolute must-do things to do in Zakopane, especially if you’re not really into hiking but still want to see some spectacular landscapes.
The lower station of the cable car is located in Kuźnice, about a 50-minute walk or a short bus ride from Zakopane center. The journey to the top takes around 15 minutes and offers stunning panoramic views over the Tatra Mountains and valleys below. Once you reach the top, you can enjoy breathtaking mountain views, walk along the ridge, or simply relax with a view at the restaurant. It’s a truly unforgettable experience in every season. But please remember to dress and behave according to the prevailing weather conditions.
Ticket prices for the Kasprowy Wierch Cable Car vary depending on the season, and even an hour of the day. For a round-trip you can expect to pay around 130zł for a regular ticket and 100zł for a reduced one. For current prices, schedules, and online tickets, visit the pkl.pl website.
Discover more amazing places in Poland 🤩
Hike to Morskie Oko
The hike to Morskie Oko, a crystal-clear alpine lake surrounded by towering mountain peaks, is probably the most popular one in Tatra Mountains. All thanks to the fact that it’s relatively easy and undemanding, even suitable for wheelchairs.
The trail starts at Palenica Białczańska, easily reachable by car or bus from Zakopane, and follows an 8-kilometre-long (one way) paved forest road. To be honest, the walk isn’t exciting at all, but the spectacular reward at the end is absolutely worth it. We recommend starting early in the morning to avoid the crowds and have a peaceful time at the lake before the crowd arrives.
Once you arrive at Morskie Oko, take your time to stroll around the lake, soak in the mountain reflections, and grab a bite at the mountain hut. You can even continue to hike further to Czarny Staw pod Rysami (Black Lake below Mount Rysy) – it’s about a 1-hour steep hike from Morskie Oko. Whatever you choose, you’ll quickly understand why visiting this spot is one of the most beloved things to do in Zakopane.
Interesting fact. Morskie Oko is also the starting point for the challenging ascent to Rysy, Poland’s highest peak.
Entrance to Tatra National Park, where Morskie Oko is located, costs 11zł for a normal ticket, and 5.5zł for a reduced one (August 2026). If you plan to drive, expect to pay at least 35 zł for parking, and we strongly recommend booking a spot in advance, especially in high season. The price of a bus from Zakopane to Palenica Białczańska is approximately 15zł. For current prices, schedules, and online tickets, visit the tpn.gov.pl website.
Hiking in Tatra Mountains
Zakopane is the perfect base for exploring the Tatra Mountains, and if you love hiking, you’ll be thrilled with the endless choice of trails. From gentle walks through scenic valleys to demanding summit climbs, there are routes suitable for every fitness level – just remember to choose trails wisely and match them to your experience level.
For beginners, we recommend easier trails such as Nosal, Dolina Kościeliska, Dolina Strążyska with Sarnia Skała, Dolina Chochołowska, or Rusinowa Polana with Gęsia Szyja.
If you’re looking for something more challenging, you can choose a trail to Dolina Pięciu Stawów Polskich (with Szpiglasowy Wierch), Czerwone Wierchy (including Kopa Kondracka, Krzesanica, or Ciemniak), Kasprowy Wierch, or Giewont. And experienced hikers should take a look at the legendary trails to Rysy, Orla Perć, Świnica, or Kościelec.
We’ve hiked almost all of the trails mentioned above, and we can confidently say that no matter which one you choose, you’ll have an unforgettable experience. To discover a list of many more hiking trails in the Tatra Mountains, visit the alltrails.com website.
Museums in Zakopane
If you enjoy visiting museums, you’ll be glad to know that there are some interesting ones to explore in Zakopane. To get a deeper understanding of the region’s history and traditions, head to the Tatra Museum (pl. Muzeum Tatrzańskie). We also recommend visiting Willa Czerwony Dwór – it’s a cultural centre located in a beautiful, over a century old villa, that promotes local art, where you can buy unique handicrafts created by local artists.
Food lovers will enjoy the Oscypek Museum (pl. Muzeum Oscypka), where you can learn about and taste the famous smoked cheese. Other interesting stops include the Museum of Zakopane Style (pl. Muzeum Stylu Zakopiańskiego) and Villa Atma hosting a museum dedicated to Karol Szymanowski, one of Poland’s greatest composers.
Thermal Baths
After hours or days of exploring, there’s nothing better than relaxing your tired muscles in warm, mineral-rich thermal waters. The region around Zakopane is home to several natural hot springs, and some fantastic thermal bath complexes have been built in and around the town.
Three most popular ones are Termy Chochołowskie (Poland’s largest thermal baths), Termy Bukovina, and Termy Szaflary, all located a bit outside of the town centre. Also, all of them can get very busy all year round, but it is an amazing experience and one of the best things to do in Zakopane.
In the heart of Zakopane, you’ll also find the large and beautifully situated Termy Zakopiańskie. If you’re staying in the centre and don’t want to drive too far, they are an amazing option too!
Great Krokiew
Are you a fan of ski jumping competitions? Then a visit to the Great Krokiew (pl. Wielka Krokiew) is a must! This iconic ski jump is the largest of its kind in Poland and one of the most famous in the world, hosting international ski jumping events every winter. So no wonder that even outside the competition season, it’s one of the most popular tourist attractions in Zakopane.
Explore local attractions
How to get to Zakopane, Poland?
Zakopane is located about 100km from Krakow, 150km from Katowice, 360km from Wroclaw, and 415km from Warsaw. The most convenient way to get to Zakopane is by car, bus, or train.
Where to park in Zakopane?
If you choose to travel by car, you need to know that it isn’t very easy to find a parking place for a car, especially during peak tourist seasons. Your best option is probably to find accommodation with a parking space.
Parking in Zakopane we recommend for a few hours stay is Parking Pod Skocznią, located about 1.5 kilometers from Krupówki Street.
To Zakopane by bus
You can easily get to Zakopane by bus, especially from Krakow and other Polish big cities. For example, the trip from Krakow will take about 2 hours, 3.5 hours from Katowice, and 6 hours from Warsaw. To learn more about bus connections that might interest you, visit rome2rio.com or flixbus.com website.
To Zakopane by train
You can also easily get to Zakopane by train. For example, a trip from Krakow will take about 2 hours, 4.5 hours from Warsaw, and 5.5 hours from Wroclaw. To learn more about connections that might interest you, visit rozklad-pkp.pl or rome2rio.com website.
To Zakopane with guided tour
If you don’t want to put too much effort into planning you can always take advantage of the guided tours and let someone else take care of all the details. Especially if you plan to visit Zakopane as a day trip from Krakow.
We recommend taking part in this popular and well-rated Krakow To Zakopane Day Trip With Cable Car, Chocholow Baths & Cheese or this fun Zakopane Guided Tour with Cable Car, Local Spirits & Thermal Baths.
Things to do in Zakopane, Poland – Summing up
So there you have it, a wonderful guide to the best things to do in Zakopane. From strolling through the charming town centre and enjoying hearty highland cuisine to hiking in the majestic Tatra Mountains. In this Polish mountain gem there’s something for everyone. No wonder that Zakopane became one of the most beloved destinations in Poland! It offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, outdoor adventure, and cultural experiences! What more could you ask for? We wish you a wonderful time in Zakopane and Tatra Mountains!
Our opinion about Zakopane
As we mentioned at the beginning, we’ve visited Zakopane many times over the years – and to this day, we love coming back whenever we feel like hitting the trails. We usually go in June or September, when the weather is still great and the crowds are smaller.
Over the years, we’ve strolled along Krupówki Street more times than we can count, enjoyed perhaps a few too many oscypek cheeses, stayed in cozy wooden cottages, and tasted countless delicious dishes in traditional karczmas.
But what’s most important for us – we hiked many trails and reached many summits. We even chose the Tatra Mountains for our wedding photo shoot – that’s how much we love it!
If you’re wandering about our favorite trails, we’d pick Dolina Pięciu Stawów with Szpiglasowy Wierch to Morskie Oko, Kasprowy Wierch to Świnica, and the Czerwone Wierchy ridge. But to be honest, you can’t go wrong with Tatras trails!
What we don’t like about Zakopane? Well, it’s usually a very busy town, no matter the time of the year, that can be overwhelming. To avoid the crowds, we recommend picking lesser-known trails and quieter attractions. Overall, we think Zakopane is a must-see destination in Poland.
Restaurants, accommodations, and map
Check out various recommended places below.
Where to eat in Zakopane?
Here are your best, high-rated options in Zakopane:
