The town of Zakopane is located in southern Poland in the Tatra Mountains, 100 km from the city of Kraków. It’s the heart of the Polish Tatra Mountains – the highest mountains in Poland. Zakopane is a popular tourist destination, called the winter capital of Poland, serving as a starting point for hiking trails.

Zakopane arouses various emotions among visitors – some very positive and some… Some people appreciate that it is the center of attractions, others do not like streets full of stalls, overcrowded all year round, where traditional architecture is intertwined with contemporary, often neglected buildings. An example of such contradictory emotions is the town’s main street, Krupówki.

All this is compensated by the proximity of the incredible mountains, at your fingertips! When you are in Zakopane, you can feel the mountains. The mountains are rich in trails suitable for families with children (including toddlers), seniors, and all those who love nature. 275 km of marked hiking trails of varying difficulty!

Jump to ideas for things to do in Zakopane
Jump to the souvenirs from Zakopane
Jump to how to get to Zakopane by train, by car, by plane
Jump to hiking in the Polish Tatra Mountains: hikes for beginners and families with children & tips for hiking with children
Jump to skiing in the Zakopane area

Ideas for things to do in Zakopane

A funicular – Gubałówka cable railway

Gubałówka is a 1,126-meter hill in Zakopane, which offers a panoramic view of the Tatra Mountains and Zakopane (the town also looks nice when lit at night).
Gubałówka is reached by a funicular railway from the center of Zakopane (a cable railway was built in 1938 and modernized in 2001).
How long does it take to get to Gubałówka by cable car? Don’t be surprised – very fast, approx. 3 minutes.
Location of the ticket office and cable car base station: Kolej linowo-terenowa „Gubałówka” – stacja dolna, Na Gubałówkę 4 Street, location on Google map.
Website available in English (including online tickets, opening hours, info about restaurants, etc.).
In winter, Gubałówka is illuminated and decorated with over 1 million lights.
The railway is adapted to the transport of people in wheelchairs.

Photo source: Polskie Koleje Linowe (PKL)

A gravity slide at Gubałówka hill

Location of the slide, the ticket office – Gubałówka hill, cable car upper station: Zjeżdżalnia grawitacyjna – Gubałówka, location on Google map.
The track is 700 m long. The cable cars accelerate up to 23 km/h.
Children can use the slide under adult supervision. Children must sit in front. If your child is under 4 years old, he or she uses the slide for free. Older children (4-8 years old) must have a ticket and descend under the supervision of an adult. This means you have to buy two tickets (for the child and yourself), even though you will be riding together.
The slide is right next to the upper railway station. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket office at the slide.
The gravity slide works from April to the end of November.
For safety reasons, the slide may be closed on rainy days.
Website available in English.

Photo source: Polskie Koleje Linowe (PKL)

Don’t miss it in Zakopane: OSCYPEK cheese and oscypek-making demonstration

Oscypek [os-tseh-peck] is a traditional cheese made of salted sheep milk in the Tatra Mountains. Along some pastures and hiking trails, you can go inside a bacówka – a wooden hut where shepherds used to live. Now you can buy from them a fresh sheep cheese/highland cheese called oscypek – white one or smoked one of different shapes. Oscypek cheese is a protected trade name under the European Union’s Protected Designation of Origin geographical indication.

Oscypek Cheese Museum

The museum offers Oscypek shows – how the most popular Polish highlander cheese is made, the stages of its production following the traditional recipe, from where shepherds started in the Tatra Mountains.
Location: Muzeum Oscypka, Jagiellońska 28 Street, location on Google map.
The shows are in Polish. You can order the Oscypek Show in English in advance (by e-mail: biuro@muzeumoscypka.pl or by phone: +48 888 92 05 06).
Website in Polish, Facebook. Instagram.

Photo source: Muzeum Oscypka Zakopane

Winter attraction – a snow maze

Location: Snowlandia, ul. Piłsudskiego 38, 34-500 Zakopane (location on Google map).
Open during the winter season.
Attractions include a snow maze, snow sculptures, sledding track.
Website in Polish.

Playgrounds in Zakopane

Stanisława Staszica Street, a playground in the very center of the town, location on Google map.
Henryka Sienkiewicza 26C Street, location on Google map.
Słoneczna 2A Street, playground with a panoramic view of the Tatra Mountains, location on Google map.

Aquapark in Zakopane

Location: Termy Zakopiańskie, ul. Jagiellońska 31, 34-500 Zakopane (location on Google map).
Open all year round – outdoor and indoor pools.
Attractions include five slides, a rapid river, waterfalls, a water swing, thermal pools, and a terrace with deckchairs – a view of the Tatras. Other attractions include an indoor playing area for children and a bowling alley.
Website in Polish and English. Facebook. Instagram.

Photo source: Aquapark Zakopane

Thermal baths, 17 km from Zakopane

Chochołowskie Termy – the biggest thermal pools in Poland.
Location on Google map.
“Termy Chochołowskie” offers the largest thermal pools in Poland – 3,000 m² of water surface and 30 pools. There are outdoor and indoor thermal pools and attractions typical for an aquapark – slides, geysers, a wild river, an artificial wave, hydromassage stations, and a sandy beach and outdoor water playground in the summer.
Website in English. Website in Polish. Facebook. Instagram.

Photo source: Chochołowskie Termy

2 rope parks on the Gubałówka hill in Zakopane

Rope courses in Poland are usually open from mid-April to October/November, depending on the park.

Location: ADVENTURE – Park Przygody Gubałówka, Gubałówka 9/1, 34-500 Zakopane (location on Google map).
From the park, you can admire the panorama of the Tatra Mountains. Good photo opportunity;)
Attractions of this park include two ropes courses (one for children, one for teenagers and adults – requires a minimum height of 145 cm), a 350-meter zip-line, swing jump from a 14-meter tower.
Website in Polish. Website in English. Facebook. Instagram.
Contact: +48692 849 611, info@park-przygody-gubalowka.pl.

Photo source: ADVENTURE – Park Przygody Gubałówka

Location: Park Linowy Złota Grań, Gubałówka 231b, 34-500 Zakopane (location on Google map).
There are 7 routes of varying difficulty in the park.
Website in Polish.
Contact: +48602 191 305, info.watra@gmail.com.

Photo source: Park Linowy Złota Grań

A rope park in the town of Zakopane

Location: Gugu Park Zakopane, ul Piłsudskiego, 34-500 Zakopane (location on Google map).
There are 4 routes of varying difficulty in the park. Mini Park – for the youngest from 3-5 years old. Small Park – for children 5-10 years old. Medium Park – children aged 8+. Large Park – for children from 10 years old and adults.
The park has a large clearing with a view of the Tatra Mountains and a cafe/restaurant.
Website in Polish. Facebook. Instagram.
Contact: +48 795 543 184, gugupark@gmail.com.

Photo source: Gugu Park Zakopane

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The souvenirs from Zakopane

Zakopane, like every tourist town, is full of souvenir stalls. We present some of the most popular souvenirs related to the local tradition:

Ciupaga – a highlander’s cane in the form of an ax. The ones that are now sold in Zakopane are typically “touristic”. In the old days, highlanders used a ciupaga as an aid in climbing or to strike a blow. Today, it is used mainly in highland dance, depicting a fight between men.
Kapelusz góralski – black highlander hat, often made of sheep wool, usually decorated with bird feathers and shells. Where do shells come from as part of a traditional highlander costume, so far from the sea? The shells were probably given to the highlanders as a payment or as souvenirs from their expeditions.
Kapcie – slippers are a very Polish thing, and highlanders, of course, have their version of slippers. Slippers bought in Zakopane are often insulated with sheep’s wool; you can also buy a leather version.
Kierpce – in Zakopane, you can also buy ‘kierpce’ – hand-sewn leather shoes that highlanders wear.
Korale – red beads – an attribute of every highlander woman. The ones sold at stalls are usually wooden balls painted red or entwined with folk patterns. The authentic highlander beads were made of coral and passed down from generation to generation. Red beads were worn with ceremonial attire for the greatest festive and family occasions.

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How to get to Zakopane by train, by car, by plane

The town of Zakopane is located in southern Poland. It is the largest town in the immediate vicinity of the Polish Tatra Mountains. Zakopane’s location on Google Maps.

How to get to Zakopane by car

Approximate (depending on traffic) travel time from: Warsaw 4 hrs 40 mins, Wrocław 4 hrs 30 mins, Poznań 6 hrs 15 mins, Kraków 1 hr 45 mins, Gdańsk 7 hrs 20 mins, Katowice 2 hrs 20 mins, Lublin 5 hrs, Toruń 5 hr 50 mins, Łódź 4 hrs 20 mins.

How to get to Zakopane by train

The railway station in Zakopane on Google Maps and the train timetable. There are direct train connections to Zakopane from most larger cities in Poland.

How to get to Zakopane by plane

The closest Polish airport to the town of Zakopane is the international airport in the city of Kraków, located a 120 km/2-hour drive from Zakopane. From Kraków to Zakopane, you can get by direct train, bus, taxi, or rented car. Kraków’s international airport (Polish name: Port Lotniczy Kraków-Balice, location on Google map, website in English) is just 15 km from the Old Town in Kraków. How to get from Kraków airport to the city center? By taxi (info in English about Krakow airport taxi service), Uber (you can get a price estimate for Krakow here on Uber’s website), train to Kraków Główny main railway station in the city center (info in English about train connection from Krakow airport), public bus (info in English about bus connection from Krakow airport).

Another option is to use the international airport in the city of Katowice, located a 200 km/3-hour drive from Zakopane. Katowice International Airport (location on Google map, website in English) is located in Pyrzowice, 30 km north of the city of Katowice, the capital of the Silesian Voivodeship.

How to get to Zakopane from the city of Kraków/Cracow

Travelers often go to Zakopane with a change in Kraków (for example, 2 hrs 30 mins by train from Warsaw to Kraków). Then they travel to Zakopane by bus (bus timetables: Omio, Busfor). Kraków’s bus station website and location on Google map.

Another option is to take a train, rent a car or Uber to Zakopane (you can get a price estimate for Krakow here on Uber’s website).

Check our tips on visiting the city of Kraków.

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Hiking in the Polish Tatra Mountains: hikes for beginners and families with children & tips for hiking with children

Hiking in the Tatra Mountains in Poland

The highest peak in the Polish Tatras (Rysy) is 2,499 m, but the mountains are rich in trails suitable for families with children (including toddlers), seniors, and all those who love nature.

The Polish Tatras are covered by the Tatra National Park, offering 275 km of marked hiking trails of varying difficulty: from very easy to extremely demanding and equipped with devices like chains, buckles, and ladders. You will find in the Tatra Mountains many well-marked trails of easy to moderate difficulty – perfect for beginners, usually half-day to one-day tours.

Our post Hiking in Poland: the Tatra Mountains and Zakopane trails covers:

When is the best time of the year to visit the Tatra Mountains and Zakopane for hiking?
Do I need to buy a ticket to enter the Tatra National Park?
How to dress for a trip to the Tatra Mountains?
What time is best to go on the trail in the Tatras? And why is it early morning?

The top 3 hikes for beginners and families with children (stroller-accessible trails) in the Polish Tatra Mountains

The Kościeliska Valley (Dolina Kościeliska)

One of the most picturesque valleys in the Polish Tatra Mountains. The trail leads along a comfortable, wide path, very gently climbing up. It’s rather a long walk than hiking in the mountains. It’s suitable for everyone in fair hiking conditions, including children and seniors. However, you need to take into account it’s a relatively long walk – it takes about 90 minutes one way. The Kościeliska Valley is a stroller-accessible trail (preferably with bigger wheels or air-filled tires).
Our tips on hiking in the Kościeliska Valley.

The Morskie Oko Lake (Eye of the Sea in English)

The trail leads to the largest lake in the Tatra Mountains, called Morskie Oko. The route to Morskie Oko runs along an asphalt road (only at the end, there is a stony but passable road with strollers). It’s a relatively easy trail in terms of little elevation gain, but a difficult trail in terms of mileage (16 km total, about 2 hours one way). Morskie Oko itself makes a huge impression – it’s a truly stunning lake.
Our tips on hiking the Morskie Oko trail.

The Strążyska Valley (Dolina Strążyska)

The best trail in the Polish Tatras for a trip with children, seniors, or for beginner hikers. It is not very long, it stretches along the swift creek, on the way you will encounter a lot of bridges, boulders, small waterfalls where you can soak your hands – a lot is going on for a little (or bigger) weary tourist. The Strążyska Valley is an easy trail, especially in terms of the length of the trail (the whole trip back and forth takes a little over an hour). Compared to the flat Kościeliska Valley, the trail has a moderate elevation gain. At the end of the trail, the route gets a little steeper, but the finishing line (the Strążyska Glade/Polana Strążyska) is really close (depending on the model of your stroller, it may be necessary to carry it on a path with larger stones at the end of the trail).
Our tips on hiking in the Strążyska Valley.

Tips for hiking with children in the Polish Tatra Mountains

Prepare your family to explore the Tatra Mountains in Poland so everyone can enjoy it (including parents!!!). Our post Hiking with kids in the Polish Tatra Mountains covers 8 tips to make your adventure in the Tatras fun for the whole family:)

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Skiing in the Zakopane area

Zakopane is called “the winter capital of Poland” (in the area of Zakopane, there is the highest ski mountain in Poland, and the most skiers and tourists visit, especially during Christmas time and school breaks in Poland – January and February).

You will find there slopes for advanced skiers, children, and those who want to learn skiing with the instructor.

The most popular skiing options in the Zakopane area include:

Kasprowy Wierch: the highest ski mountain in Poland
Polana Szymoszkowa: with a hotel next to the ski slope
Nosal: all runs and lifts for beginners
Białka Tatrzańska: many kilometers of ski runs and many attractions for children, 20 km from Zakopane

Our post Skiing in Poland includes more information on the Zakopane area skiing options, as well as other popular ski resorts in Poland and small local ski slopes.

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The town of Zakopane – the heart of the Polish Tatra Mountains
Hiking trails in Poland: the Strążyska Valley in the Polish Tatra Mountains
Hiking trails in Poland: the Morskie Oko Lake in the Polish Tatra Mountains
Hiking trails in Poland: the Kościeliska Valley in the Polish Tatra Mountains
Planetarium of the Copernicus Science Centre in Warsaw
What to do in Warsaw: Multimedia Fountain Park in Warsaw
The Palace and Park in Warsaw’s Wilanów
National parks in Poland: Kampinos Forest near Warsaw
Botanical gardens in Poland: Arboretum in central Poland, 40 km from Łódź, 100 km from Warsaw
What to do in Warsaw: The Gardens of the Royal Castle
Castles in Poland: Medieval castle ruins in Czersk
POLIN – Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw
An idea for a weekend trip in Poland: the town of Sandomierz
Museum for Children (part of the Ethnographic Museum in Warsaw)
The city of Olsztyn – 15 lakes within the city limits
UNESCO World Heritage Site in Poland: the town of Zamość
What to do in Wroclaw: Zoo and Africarium
What to do in Wroclaw: Kolejkowo – a miniature model of the region
The birthplace of Frederic Chopin – Żelazowa Wola village in central Poland
What to do in Wroclaw: Hydropolis knowledge center about water
The Zoo in the city of Łódź and its new part – the Orientarium
UNESCO World Heritage Site in Poland: Historic Silver Mine & underground routes
Malbork Castle in Poland – one of the biggest castles in the world
Museum of Technology in Warsaw
The town of Kazimierz Dolny in eastern Poland
Attractions in eastern Poland: Białowieża Forest
Tours, workshops, events in English at the Palace and Park in Wilanów in Warsaw
What to do in the Kraków area: Wieliczka salt mine
What to do in Warsaw: The Royal Castle in Warsaw
Copernicus Science Centre in Warsaw (Centrum Nauki Kopernik)
Przystań Hotel in Olsztyn
Dr Irena Eris Wzgórza Dylewskie Hotel & Spa
Geological Museum in Warsaw
Narvil Hotel near Warsaw
Ethnographic Museum in Warsaw
Museum of Asia and the Pacific in Warsaw
Natural History Museum in Warsaw (Museum of Evolution)
Museum of Dollhouses, Games and Toys in Warsaw
Kazimierzowka Hotel (Kazimierzówka) in Kazimierz Dolny
Sielanka Hotel (Hotel Sielanka nad Pilicą)
Holiday Inn Hotel in Jozefow near Warsaw
The Royal Łazienki Museum and Park in Warsaw
The National Museum in Warsaw
The Frederic Chopin Museum in Warsaw
Center for Contemporary Art – Ujazdowski Castle in Warsaw

The town of Zakopane – the heart of the Polish Tatra Mountains

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