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Zakopane, Poland
Zakopane, Poland's premier mountain resort, is one of the country's most popular holiday destinations, both in the winter for ski-ing, and in the summer, for hiking and camping. Until recently, Zakopane has been enjoyed primarily by Poles and travellers from Eastern Europe, but its splendid natural scenery, world-class ski slopes, and great value-for-money hotels and apartments, means that it is quickly becoming a popular spot for visitors from further afield.
How to get to Zakopane?
By bus
Bus is by far your best bet for getting up to Zakopane. Two private lines and one PKS all leave from the main bus station (dworzec autobusowy) at regular intervals. If you’re going at any civilised time of the day you will probably have to wait no longer than an hour for your next carriage. What’s more they are dirt cheap - it will only cost you around 15 zloty for the two-hour trip from Cracow. If you’re in a hurry you can even buy your ticket from the driver. That said advance tickets are advised in season, and there may be the odd jam on the roads.
Cheap transfer from Budapest, Vienna or Bratislava
Contact us and we take you to Zakopane, from Budapest or Krakow airport as well. (it is around 5-6hrs from Budapest, 2hrs from Krakow)
Getting around in Zakopane
As Zakopane is not a big place, go take your own foot to get around in the city.
If you would like to go further, take any of the available public transportations
Sleighs in the winter and carriages in the summer for the tourists make Zakopane picture postcard pretty, but for all practical purposes, go for the state bus service (PKS) or for the burgeoning number of small minibus operators who can ferry you to the popular setting-out points at the bottom of the The Tatra Mountains. Pick them up from Zakopane's Central Bus Station (Dworzec Autobusowy), ten minutes' walk from the town centre. By cable car and train
Most visitors at some stage try to take the cable car to Kasprowy. Book your ticket early, unless standing in a queue for a few hours is your idea of a holiday. The cable train to Gubalowka is not usually quite so oversubscribed, however. Take it to the top, then walk back down again - it only takes 20 minutes or so back to Zakopane's town centre.
Good to know in Zakopane
Don't hail your taxis from the rank - ask someone to phone for one - it's 30 percent cheaper. Better still, walk - nothing is that far away.
Coin-operated phone boxes are almost non-existent. You'll need to buy a telephone card (karta telefoniczna) from a Post Office or kiosk.
Tipping is not expected. No self-respecting waiter will turn away a few extra zloty, but you won't get the customary grimace if you don't. You're not guaranteed a smile if you do either.
Unlike in the UK, pubs don't close at 11. Most just about get going then. Zakopane has embraced the apres-ski culture with a passion - even when there's no snow around.
Bring warm clothes and a hat. Even at the height of the summer, it can be pretty chilly in the mountains, and rain can arrive without warning.
Poles are passionate about their food. Throw away your preconceptions about miserable eastern bloc stews, and be prepared for a great surprise.
Poland has adopted its own uniquely confusing symbols for differentiating public toilets for men and women (see adjacent) - Remember, too, that in Zakopane you will almost certainly have to pay. Oh, and by the way, the circle is for women, the triangle for men! Or is it the other way around?
Attractions in and around Zakopane
Dunajec River Gorge
Dunajec Gorge is also one of the best-known tourist attractions in the Pieniny Mountains. Wooden canoe trips have been organized daily by Goral highlanders Sromowce Katy, and ends in the resort town of Szczawnica, 18 km downstream. It takes about 2-3 hours. The second leg of the tour is only 5 km long. It begins in Szczawnica and ends in the town of Kroscienko. The Gorge makes 7 loops in its length. The surrounding rock reaches 300 m in height almost all the way through.
Winter in Zakopane
Zakopane has it all. Most spectacular location with beautiful scenery, skiing for families on gentle and long cruising slopes and runs were experts can explore endless chutes, glades, gullies and remote bowls. When it comes to skiing and snowboarding, here you will find it for families and groups of varying abilities to ski together. There are beginner and intermediate runs on most slopes. Nosal and Kasprowy with more demanding runs are for the experts. You don't have to bring the equipment with you, there are many conveniently located rental facilities. For the beginners there are many instructors at each run and for those who wish to explore further the mountains Zakopane has the finest guides. With certified instructors, you will learn all about snow pack and avalanche awareness, and be able to enjoy the incredible beauty of the wilderness. The skiing season usually lasts here from December till the early May.