Things to do and see in Zakopane

Zakopane Poland, is a city located in southern Poland in the region of Podhale, is known as the winter capital for its ski resorts, one of the mandatory visit you must make is to visit the cable car, its large amount of wooden architecture will leave you amazed, is full of Polish traditions, Its forests have some great routes to get lost in the mountains, it is a city that if you like the snow and go in winter you fall in love but if you go in summer you will love with its amount of green area, a stop if you travel to Poland you can not miss, then we show you what things to do in Zakopane Poland.

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What things to do in Zakopane, Poland?

Walking around town

One of the things to do in Zakopane, Poland, is to take a stroll through the centre, it’s a city with a lot of walking area, and it’s also very beautiful to look at, especially at night with the illuminated promenades. One thing you should do is stroll along Kuprówki Avenue, this is the main avenue, where there is a large market with different stalls, some selling freshly baked Polish bread, others wooden figures, as the city is known for its crafts, we recommend that, if you want to take some souvenirs, you take something carved in wood, these are usually well priced and are very nice, you can also buy home-made preserved food such as jam and sheep’s cheese.

The centre has a lot of charm, besides the market nearby you have the Tatra Museum and the Peksowy Brzyzek cemetery, the climate and vegetation makes the cemetery beautiful to see. It is a place with a lot of charm, the little streets in the centre will surprise you well, and you will want to have your camera handy to take unforgettable photos.

Church of Our Lady of Czestochowa and St. Clement

One of the things to see in Zakopane, Poland is its famous wooden church, you may wonder if it rains so much how come this church is perfect for so many years, we don’t know, but we find it incredible. It was built in the middle of the 19th century in Zakpane Poland, completed in 1847 and a year later the parish priest Józef Stolarczyk enlarged the church.

Its design is made of solid wood found on the site, it is 8 metres high, at first a polygonal chevet and covered by a gable roof, the interior is intact with figures of saints and Our Lady of Czestochowa, certainly something interesting to see. It is free to visit.

The cable car on Mount Kasprowy

One way to see Zakopane Poland in a comfortable and fun way is thanks to the Mount Kasprowy cable car, when you get on a chair you can see a panoramic view and from the top of the city, you can go up to 2000 meters high, it is an activity that should be a must, we advise you to get up early to enjoy this adventure.

One of the things you can do if you don’t want to go by car is to hike up the mountain to the cable car, and then take the chairlift down. Even if you get tired of walking, the experience will be well worth it, although you should wear suitable hiking clothes as there are some sections that are a bit tricky.

Museum of the Style Zakopane

If you want to understand how they treated the wood so that it does not decay over time or how they built their houses and made their homes, we recommend a visit to the Zakopane Style Museum in Vila Koliba. It is a house that has been transformed into a museum, you can enter and see in detail everything carved in wood, it was built in 1892, and today it is still perfect inside and out, it has only one floor and an empty space under the sloping roof. Only at the door you can see the detail of the wood, the details we have both in the porch and in the filigree of the walls, many of them you have to look for.

The furniture is all period, you can see traditional objects from musical instruments to the axes used to cut wood, the staircase railing is carved by hand, this was the first staircase in the village as Zygmunt Gnatowski decided to make two floors. Definitely a highly recommended visit for the curious, entry is free on Sundays and from Monday to Saturday it costs 7 PLN.

Lago Morskie Oko

You can’t leave Zakopane Poland without visiting Lake Morskie Oko, in fact, it provides one of the most beautiful views of the trip, known as the “Eye of the Sea” because it reflects the mountains. It has an impressive turquoise blue colour and its waters are crystal clear, allowing you to see the fish swimming by. If you go in summer, you should go for a swim, although the water is very cold. This is one of the most famous lakes in southern Poland as it is the largest lake and the fourth deepest, the site is beautiful, it is full of greenery and lots of different vegetation. The entrance to the lake is free of charge.

To get there, there is a bus ride from Zakopane to Palencia Bialczanska which is the entrance where the route to Morskie Oko starts, this takes about 20 minutes. The bus costs about 5 PLN, but if you have a student card it is half the price. To get to the lake it’s an easy 8 km walk, it’s like a dirt road, but vehicles can’t get through, from the bus drop off to the lake it takes about an hour and a half, so we recommend going in the morning with food for a picnic and staying for a long time.

Visiting your National Parks

If there is something characteristic of Zakopane, Poland, are its natural parks. The main one of them is the Taras National Park. This is close to the Morskie Oslo Lake. It is the mountain range that connects Poland with Slovakia. The entrance costs 10PLN per person for the whole day. You will have to pay in cash because they don’t accept credit cards. In order to do the hike you have to go to Kuznice and you can take several buses from the centre of Zakopane to the start of the hike.

Another of Zakopane’s parks that you should see is the former Pieniny Nature Park, the most beautiful of which is the Dunajec River. This park offers one of the most beautiful sightseeing routes in the city, as you can see many beautiful mountain houses and a path full of greenery between you and the river. The gorge of the Dunjec River is close to many cliffs at an altitude of 300 metres. We recommend that you follow the route guide and do not go on unmarked paths. As well as wear comfortable shoes, as you will have to walk a long way and make a short stop at the haunted castle of Niedzica.

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Visit Zakopane in three days

Although Zakopane is a relatively small city, if there is one thing that is charming about it, it is its natural forests, and its mountainous area. So, if you are travelling we recommend that you spend time hiking and seeing in depth all of its national parks as this is where its natural charm lies. Here is a small itinerary of what to do in Zakopane, Poland.

First day in Zakopane

• Visit the centre
• Church of Our Lady of Czestochowa and St. Clement

Second day in Zakopane

• Visit the cable car
• Visit the Zakopane Style Museum

Third day in Zakopane

• Visit to Morskie Oko lake or Dunajec river

How to get to Zakopane?

One option is to fly to Kraków. To get from the airport to the centre of Kraków, you can take a train. It takes eighteen minutes and costs 9-16 pln depending on the timetable. Or take a bus on lines 208, 252 and 902, which will drop you in the city in forty minutes and cost 4.60 pln.

Once in Kraków, you can take a bus to Zakopane. There are two buses, the Szwagropol bus company bus costs 18 pln and takes about two and a half hours. The Flixbus company is one that operates all over the country. It usually costs 9-20 pln and takes two and a quarter hours. Another option is by train, which is more expensive at 51 pln and takes three hours.

Where to eat in Zakopane?

Zakopane is a place where you can order cheap and healthy food. If you are a fan of gastronomy and how they do wonders with the same ingredients in different cultures, you have to order typical dishes of Polish cuisine. One of the dishes you can order are pierogi, zupa zurek, zupa pomidorowa, barszacz soup, bigos, and kielbasa. In their gastronomy, they usually cook with lots of meat and lots of fish, here we advise you some bars you can go to.

Bubuja Bistro: Located near Miejski Park, this is a restaurant that makes the best Polish cuisine in the city. We recommend you order the famous pierogi, their famous soup or the lamb special. Plus for dessert they have a famous fruit cake that is irresistible. Price varies between 40 and 99 PLN.

Zakopianskie Smaki Restaurant: Located one kilometre from the Zakopane train station, famous for its customer service and good food, we recommend you order one of the best fish in town and also the famous golonka knuckle. Price between 35 and 90 PLN.

U Slonia: You can find it on Krupówki Street. It is a local establishment, so it gives you the feeling that you are eating in a neighbourhood bar. Most of the people you will meet will not be tourists. They have different menus where you can choose typical Polish dishes. The price usually varies from 20 to 50 PLN.

Where to stay in Zakopane, Poland?

If there’s one thing that characterizes Zakopane, it’s its mountains, lake and lots of greenery. But it’s also worth staying in the city centre to see it at your leisure and get a good night’s rest after a day’s walking. Here’s a list of some reasonably priced places to stay.

Villa Excelsior: Located in the centre, half a kilometre from the Tatra Mountains Museum. This is a small hostel with Wi-Fi, bar, concierge and laundry service, this is a non-smoking hotel, very cosy. The price per night is €50

Hotel Logos Zakopane: Located in the centre, the hotel has very good facilities, including a gym, jacuzzi, free breakfast, as well as rooms with private balconies, suites and family rooms. The latter is a very good option if you are travelling with your group of friends. One of the things that sets it apart from other hotels is that pets are allowed. There are rooms where you can’t smoke so as not to disturb others on the same floor. The price per night is €95.

Javorina: You can find it one kilometre from Dom Do Gory Nogami. It is a very nice hostel with a lot of privacy, ideal if your idea of travelling to Zakopane is with your partner. It has private bathrooms and a toilet equipped with everything you need such as a hairdryer, fridge to store your shopping, TV, kitchenette, restaurant, Wi-Fi zone, free parking and pets are allowed. The price per night is €110.

Travel Tips to Zakopane

• The currency in Warsaw is the Polish zloty (PLN).
• If you are travelling from a country with a different currency, we recommend that you exchange your currency in advance.
• The best time to visit Zakopane is in summer, as it tends to be very cold and mountainous.
• There is no Roaming in Poland, you can use the internet on your mobile phone without any problems.
• Despite being a quiet city, be careful with your belongings.
• Be covered for possible medical emergencies: travel insured.
• Carry comfortable clothes and shoes if your idea is to hike or visit the mountains.
• Carry a small first aid kit.
• Take care of your belongings.

Plan your trip to Zakopane

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Frequently asked questions before travelling to Zakopane