How to relax / 02.01.2024

Life in Poland. Active recreation, recreation and nightlife in Zakopane. Where to go for a cultural holiday What to visit in Zakopane in summer

If you think about it sensibly, then a map with the sights of Zakopane will be many times more modest than a map of the same Paris. But, like any city, Zakopane has its own highlights that attract tourists. And evidence of this is the numerous colorful tourist avenues of Zakopane with magnificent photos of highland attractions, alluring with the aura of original mountain culture.

Of course, we do not forget that Zakopane is first and foremost a ski resort. But not a single description of the attractions of Zakopane is complete without mentioning that the city is the cultural center of the Gurals.

This is an ethnic group of Poles, which has its own traditions, culture, customs and folklore. The unique Gural dialect (using Old Polish and Slovak words), hearty and original Gural cuisine, as well as folklore performances and processions on holidays are the highlight of the Zakopane resort.

If we talk about the sights of Zakopane, it is worth noting the historical and architectural monuments of the so-called Zakopane style, which can be visited in the city. The 15-meter cross on the top of Mount Giewont, as if overshadowing the city, became one of the elements of its coat of arms.

Representatives of the Polish intelligentsia, artists, musicians, and scientists have been coming to Zakopane for vacation for more than a century and a half. The nature of this amazing place is simply mesmerizing and gives impetus to creativity. The Zakopane style, the author of which was the artist and writer Stanislav Witkiewicz, is the result of rethinking folk Gural motifs in a modern way.

Sebastian Szaraniec

One of the famous attractions of Zakopane was the villa called “Koliba”, built according to the design of Witkiewicz in 1893. Such mansions, located next to the real houses of the Gurals, give the city a unique flavor.

Numerous maps of Zakopane with attractions also recommend visiting the village of Chochołów, where the Gurale have lived for several centuries and an authentic complex of wooden houses has been preserved.

In the villages of Spisa and Pieniny there are knightly castles built on the border with medieval Hungary.

Vacationers with children will certainly enjoy a trip to the town of Rabka, where the Rabkoland family recreation park is located. With older children, you can visit museums of antique carriages and locomotives, the Order of Laughter, and a folk ceramics factory.

Pete Halewood

Lovers of natural beauty will enjoy excursions to the Koshteli Valley with caves or to the most beautiful lake in Europe, Morskie Oko. And fans of extreme recreation will pay tribute to rafting on the Dunajec River.

It is worth noting that a lot of Russian-speaking tourists come to Zakopane, so getting to know the city’s attractions can be done in Russian without any problems. You can safely turn to the resort residents for help, they will understand you and will definitely help you.

TOURISTS' ANSWERS:

Of course, you can’t count on the fact that Zakopane simply has an abundance of attractions.

Nevertheless, tourists have something to pay attention to when visiting this small but colorful town.

If you are traveling with your own car (or have rented one), then the first thing I would recommend looking at is Chocholow village. This small village with a population of just over 1,100 inhabitants is located just 17 kilometers from Zakopane, close to the Slovak border.

The village of Chochołów is unique in its own way. It is built almost entirely from original wooden houses. Most of them were built back in the 19th century. In fact, the entire village consists of one main street, only expanding slightly in places. In the historical center, wooden houses seem to mirror each other on both sides of the road.

During the season, the village of Chocholow is visited by many tourists from various countries. Tourists can purchase unique pottery products produced there. One of the houses, built from one large pine tree (it is also called the “one tree house”), is popular. It’s a pity that I learned about this later and therefore did not see this house.

A stone Gothic church stands out against the general background, strangely unlike the rest of the village buildings.

Although the village gained fame after the uprising in 1846 against the rule of Austria-Hungary, which was led by local teacher John Andrusikevich. Now those interested can visit the Museum of the Chochołów Uprising, which is open from 10:00 to 14:00 (Wednesday - Sunday). Although, to be honest, the museum is of interest only to those very interested in the Polish history of the struggle for independence.

Along the same road, but much closer to Zakopane (only 4 kilometers away), you can see and visit something significant for Poles Temple of Our Lady of Fatima. It is located in the small village of Koscielisko. Along the road next to the temple there are white-yellow (symbolizing the papacy) and white-blue (I don’t know what) flags.

The temple was erected in 1992 in gratitude for the fact that Pope John Paul II was saved from an assassination attempt on May 13, 1981. John Paul II himself believed that it was Our Lady of Fatima who saved his life. This is one of the most famous churches in the area and Pope John Paul II visited it several times.

There's an interesting story here. The church is called Fatima in honor of the appearance of the Mother of God, which occurred back in 1917 in the small town of Fatima in Portugal. Then she appeared to three shepherd children and told three secrets of future events. I did not find out on the Internet what secrets we are talking about, but it is reliably known that two of them are now already known and have come true.

It remains to add that the church has a magnificent interior decoration, beautiful stained glass windows with images from the life of John Paul II, and a stunning altar. And getting to a service is something when the priest begins to read a prayer, and the people pick up and everyone prays out loud with one voice.

There are many religious sculptures around the church. Also from the territory of the Church of Our Lady of Fatima there is a stunning view of Mount Giewont and the Tatras.

In Zakopane itself it is worth visiting pedestrian promenade street Krupówki. By and large, it is very similar to similar pedestrian streets in other cities (and not only Poland). Very colorful. The street runs through the center of Zakopane and stretches along the entire city to the foot of the Gubałówki Mountain. It's always crowded here. There are many shops, taverns (called taverns) and restaurants in Krupówki. You will be entertained by clowns, mimes, and musicians. And at one of the markets located along the street, you will definitely buy something. At least some Polish souvenir, tanned skin or traditional local sheep cheese. There are several exchange offices here (Kantor). In general, it is believed that it is simply unthinkable to visit Zakopane and not stroll through Krupówka and feel its pulse.

This is the lyrics. Everyone talks about Krupówka so beautifully that it’s simply breathtaking. But, frankly speaking, this street is actually described more vividly than it actually is. In reality, the locals just want your money and it seems that the hype around Krupówki is artificially organized: another place where numerous tourists should spend their money. After all, in fact, there are no serious attractions in Zakopane. So they come up with something to lure tourists...

But to climb Mount Gubałówka(altitude 300 meters above the city) is definitely worth it. You can “drive up” to the top by cable car or so-called mountain tram. In fact, Krupówki Street runs directly into the foot of the Gubałówki Mountain. From the top, from the observation deck, there is a stunning view of Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains.

There is an opportunity to walk a little along the paths and look at the gorgeous views using optical instruments tuned to mountain landscapes. There, on Gubałówka, there are several food outlets and trading stalls. But it's a little cooler at the top than at the bottom.

Among the attractions of Zakopane, several more museums and the Theater named after. Stanislav Vitkevich.

To be honest, I’m not sure that anyone would be interested in these objects. It seems to me that few tourists have heard anything about these people before visiting Zakopane. But there is no arguing about tastes. Therefore, I will describe it very briefly.

Theater named after Vitkevich, named after the famous Polish writer, is located on Chramcówki Street. The theater is the first professional in the city, has its own repertoire and a real stage. The theater's repertoire proclaims the cult of “pure form” (I assume that you don’t know what that means either), and it is based on the avant-garde direction in creativity.

Karol Szymanowski Museum at Villa Atma. Szymanowski spent six years of his life in this villa after he was diagnosed with tuberculosis. The museum stores things and objects related to the life and work of the famous Polish composer. In the museum premises, the interior of the composer’s house during his lifetime was reconstructed from photographs.

It might be more interesting to visit Local History Museum of the Tatras. The museum exhibits exhibits related to the life, culture and traditions of the local population. Everything here is connected with the history of Zakopane. Separately presented are exhibits introducing local nature. In general, it’s also not for everybody.

There is more in Zakopane Jan Kasprowicz Museum, Museum of Cornelius Makushinsky, and Alpinarium (mountain botanical garden). If you have extra time and nothing to occupy yourself with, then you can visit.

The only thing that is convenient is that the prices for entrance tickets to museums are approximately the same and amount to approximately 3 zlotys (just under a dollar).

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Regardless of what time of year you find yourself in Zakopane, you can always diversify your holiday. This resort is considered a winter resort. But, as in the Ukrainian Carpathians, in the summer you can relax here. Walking through the forest and mountain rivers, horseback riding, picking berries and mushrooms, as well as exciting fishing are a small part of what we did with the whole family at the winter resort in the summer.

In order to see the city as a whole, it was decided to climb Mount Gubałówka. The decisive factor was that there was no need to leave the resort and climb on foot. You can reach the top by cable car, which is located behind the Zakopane market at the bottom of the main street of the city of Krupówki. The ascent to the top is made in glassed trailers that can accommodate up to 100 people. During the ascent, you can admire the mountain scenery for 4 minutes. This pleasure costs 8 zlotys one way or 14 zlotys both ways. In summer, the funicular operates from morning until 22:00. From the top platform there is a beautiful view of the city and the Tatra Mountains. You can have a snack in numerous cafes. Many tourists sunbathed right on the grass, although it was possible to rent sun loungers. A scenic walk leads to a cable car to the top Butorov Top. Those who wish can move on or return to the city by cable car or on foot, like we did.

In the city you can stroll along the central Krupowki street. There are many souvenir shops, national-style taverns and curved street lamps. Small wooden houses decorated with carvings and cozy coffee shops reflect the local flavor. Only once a year on this street you can see herds of sheep, which are driven to the mountains for summer pastures. While walking around the city center, we bought a cute toy marmot. This animal is a symbol of Zakopane.

We had the opportunity to become more familiar with local traditions and way of life in Tatra Museum. This museum is a local history museum. All exhibits relate to the history of Zakopane. Stuffed animals are displayed on one floor. Many of them are over a hundred years old. The children did not appreciate the trip.

For those who cannot take a walk through the Tatra National Park, there is an opportunity to get acquainted with the history of the reserve in Museum of Nature or with flora in Rock gardens(Mountain Botanical Garden). Both places are located on the main street of the city.

Curious visitors to the city, like my family, can look into Museum named after Stanislav Vitkevich, located on the oldest street of the city, Kościeliska, 18. It is a component of the Villa "Koliba". Five rooms of the museum have been completely restored. We admired the paintings and furniture. The city still has Church of the Holy Family, which was partially designed by Vitkevich. Its green roof is a city landmark. Inside the church there is a beautiful antique oven and carved benches.

I was pleasantly surprised that tickets to all museums in the city cost the same - 3 zlotys.

Travelers with children will have a great time at the local Aquapark. It is open all year round from 9:00 to 22:00. There is a place for family recreation on Jagiellonsky Street, 31. A full-day ticket for an adult costs 60 zlotys, a child ticket costs 40 zlotys, children under 3 years old swim for free. While in the outdoor pool you can admire the view of the Tatra Mountains. Like many water parks, there is a wild river, slides and a sauna. The children found this place interesting.

For a change, you can take a trip to Zakopane.

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Zakopane is a ski resort in southern Poland, 110 km from Krakow, near the border with Slovakia.
The center of Zakopane stands at an altitude of 840 m above sea level. The town is beautiful, the nature there is wonderful, the air is fresh and clean, it smells of fir trees and herbs - what else do you need for people tired of offices and computers? That's right, Zakopane. The air here is considered super-healthy for those who suffer from respiratory diseases and allergies.

The resort has three riding areas: Kasprowy Wierch, Gubalowka and Nosal. The highest of them is Kasprowy Wierch (height - 1988 m). It stands on the slopes of the main Tatra ridge. The ski area Gubałówka is located on mountains 1120 meters high, and slalom competitions take place on the steep slope of Nosal (930-1135 meters). This resort can be called quite popular, and the slopes are difficult. By the way, back in 1907, the first alpine skiing competitions for the Polish championship were held here.

The skiing season starts in November and ends in early May.

In addition to skiing and sledding, Zakopane is attractive for its hiking trails, as well as picturesque wooden architecture. And Zakopane can be called quite a cultural city. Writers and artists have long flocked here for inspiration.

So, here's what you can see in Zakopane.

Observation deck

It is located at the foot of Mount Giewont (at an altitude of 1894 meters) above the Wielka Krokiew ski jump. This observation deck offers stunning views of Zakopane and the Gubałówki ridge. A lift will take you to the site.

Karol Szymanowski Museum at Villa Atma (Muzeum Karola Szymanowskiego w willi "Atma")

To begin with, Karol Szymanowski is a Polish composer and pianist who lived and worked at the beginning of the last century. And Villa Atma is the very place where he spent six years of his life. In the museum you can see the musician’s personal belongings, as well as things related to his work. The villa was built at the end of the 19th century, in the chalet style. The composer rented this villa, and it was here that he wrote several of his works. He rented it when he was diagnosed with tuberculosis and had to leave his position as director at the Warsaw Conservatory. This villa was often visited by his friends, no less famous musicians and artists. In 1974, the villa was transferred to the National Museum of Krakow, which accepted it for reconstruction. The interior that can be seen in the villa remains the same as when the musician left the villa. Today this place hosts concerts and seminars.

Pedestrian street Krupowki

This street is one of the five most famous streets in Poland. What did you think! In principle, the street is not very long, only a kilometer, stretches towards Gubałówka. The street is extremely busy and interesting, where you can see street musicians, clowns, artists, and merchants. On the street there are a couple of the best hotels in the city, as well as restaurants and cafes. It must be assumed that people who come to the town on vacation all come out to this street in the evenings, so there are tons of people here. By the way, there is a ski lift to Mount Gubalowka nearby.

On the street you can buy and try a variety of national products, delicious bunz and oscilok cheeses, for example. Don't pass by the shops with woolen sweaters, blankets, leather slippers, wooden kitchen utensils and other souvenirs and useful things. For a change, you can ride along the street in a horse-drawn carriage. By the way, once a year sheep are driven along this street and driven into the mountains to pasture.

Tatra Museum (Muzeum Tatrzanskie)

The interesting Tatra Local History Museum invites its guests to admire exhibits telling about the culture, life and traditions of the local population, and a little about the local nature. This museum has been operating since the end of the 19th century.

Address: Krupówki 10

Schedule:(from May 1 to September 30 also on Tuesdays from 9.00 to 17.00)

Tickets: 7.00 zł (1.7 euros), children 5.50 zł (1.3 euros)

Interestingly, the museum has small branches throughout the city, all dedicated to the art and architecture of the Zakopane area. For example, a permanent exhibition has been running in the new branch of the museum for five years now. “Zakopane style – inspiration”, where you can look at how construction, art, folk crafts developed in this area, and ethnographic collections of the late 19th century are also stored here. This exhibition hall is located at Droga do Rojów 6, in the house of Gonsenitsov Sobchak.

Schedule: Wednesday - Saturday from 9.00 to 17.00, Sunday from 9.00 to 15.00

Tickets: 6.00 zł (1.4 euros), children 4.50 zł. (1 euro), if you buy a joint ticket along with a visit to the main building of the museum - 10 zł and 8 zł respectively.

You can also visit Museum of Zakopane Style. Stanislav Vitkevich in “Koliba”, where you can admire the Zakopane-style architecture and the interior furnishings of residential buildings. Look for this section of the museum by the address ul. Kościeliska 18.

Schedule: Wednesday - Saturday from 9.00 to 17.00, Sunday from 9.00 to 15.00

Tickets: 7.00 zł, children 5.50 zł.

Another department - Art Gallery named after. Kulchitsky, where some exhibitions from the Tatra Museum are held.

Address: Droga na Koziniec 8

Schedule: Wednesday - Saturday from 9.00 to 16.00, Sunday from 9.00 to 15.00

Tickets: 7.00 zł, children 5.50 zł.

Visit also Museum of the Khocholow Uprising, where you can learn more about the history of the Chocholow Uprising (which occurred in 1846), and the museum is located in a house with mid-19th century furnishings.

Address: Chocholow 75

Schedule: Wednesday - Sunday from 10.00 to 14.00

Tickets: 6.00 zł, children and pensioners 4.50 zł.

Don't forget that the ticket office usually closes half an hour before the closing of the main building and the branch of the Tatra Museum.

Gallery of Vladislav Hasior

Address: ul. Jagiellońska 18b

Schedule: Wednesday - Saturday from 11.00 to 18.00, Sunday from 9.00 to 15.00

Tickets: 7.00 zł, children 5.50 zł.

In general, the city is cultural, as you can see, the locals are very proud of their history and traditions, and tourists find it all a joy!

Everything big starts from small things. Zakopane was once a tiny urban village, but became a city eighty years ago. From that moment on, it acquired the status of the main tourist base located in the Polish Tatras. This city is a ski resort from December to April, and in the remaining seven months of the year, the attractions of Zakopane attract tens of thousands of tourists from all over the world.

City and citizens

Zakopane has such a national flavor that an ordinary walk along its central street – Krupowka – always turns into an exciting journey. The Poles themselves call the local residents “bacha”, and treat them with pronounced irony. They are similar to the Russian Chukchi - they are the same object of numerous jokes. On holidays and on Sundays, they sedately walk through the streets of the city in national costumes.

The Bacha speak their own language, you can’t even call it a dialect: it includes Polish, Old Polish, and Slovak. The exposition of the Tatra Museum, located on the main street and open to everyone from Tuesday to Sunday, tells in detail about them, about this magical land, local traditions, about the nature around the lying mountains. In addition to it, there are four more museums in the city. An interesting excursion is offered by the house-museum of Cornelius Makushinsky, a famous children's writer, a native of these places. You can also learn more about the history of the region in the Museum of Zakopane Style and the Museum of Nature of the Tatra National Park. The cost of visiting is the same everywhere - ? 0.25.

Gubalovka

Of course, there is something to see in Zakopane for those who are not fans of museums. You should start with a wonderful road over the mountain peaks on a funicular, the final station of which is the top of Gubalovka. The lower station is located on the street of the same name - “Na Gubalówka” and is a continuation of Krupówka. Are round-trip cable car tickets worth it? 1, and the price is the same for all categories of passengers and seasons. There are a huge number of tourist facilities at the top. Equipment rental includes sun loungers, skis, and sleds.

Particularly popular here is an attraction reminiscent of a Russian roller coaster. This is a metal chute that goes down like a serpentine, and you can slide down it in a special cart. The rider has no way to control it other than braking with his feet. Simple, but enough courage for three – and the price for the descent is ridiculous, just? 0.4. The observation deck offers the best view of the city. For those who are not eager to walk in the mountains, but just want to sit on the grass, enjoying the picturesque panorama, they will find their desires fulfilled on this peak.

Morskie Oko

Traveling along the mountain slopes on horseback or in a horse-drawn carriage leaves no one indifferent. This is how you can get to a real miracle - Lake Morskoe Oko, which lies high in the mountains. This path is best covered on horseback, the journey will take more than half an hour, and such a trip will cost from? 2 in the summer and before? 10 in winter. The lake is popular because of its accessibility; a person on foot can easily get to it in three hours along an excellent asphalt road. On the shore of the lake you can have a snack and spend the night - one of the tourist stops provides an excellent menu and overnight accommodation for everyone. It is difficult to say that the blueness and purity of the local waters is unique; there are many unique mountain lakes in the world. There would be something to compare with, but Morskie Oko is the most famous in the Tatras - that’s for sure.

Walk in the park

Is it worth entering the park? 2 in one day. For this money you can only walk along special paths, because a ticket giving the right to absolutely free movement and setting up tents will cost more. All paths in the National Park are paved with stones and there are steps on the steep slopes. It’s better to wander around the park with a map in your pocket, and you can purchase it at any of the entrances. All roads are marked on it, colored in “difficulty color”, and distances are indicated in minutes.

If you walk at a normal pace, then the real time corresponds to what the map promises. In addition to the fact that it reflects all the attractions of Zakopane, all the “chronicles” for tourists are also displayed. This is such a special vacation spot that could only be born in the mountains. The root of the name is clear to every Russian - “buried”, and the purpose is essentially the same. In such a place you can take shelter from the rain and extreme cold, save yourself from hunger with delicious food and, if you want, even spend the night. Will a bed in the room cost from? 3 to? 6 per day, and if there are no places, then for? 1 bed directly on the floor. But this happens rarely - on New Year’s Eve and other major holidays.

Where the park's roads are located in the valleys at the entrances, there are bicycle rentals. Will such entertainment cost? 0.5 per day, time is unlimited, and no deposit is required - you can only leave the park without a bicycle. You can rent your two-wheeled friend at one rental, and return it at a completely different one.

Valley of the Caves

The path to it is laid along a convenient dirt road. Its main attraction is Frost Cave. It was discovered in 1934 and opened to the public more than fifty years ago. This is the only cave in the Tatras equipped with electric lighting, so entry into it is paid. Is it worth it? 0.25, and for children it’s even cheaper. The summer temperature here is only + 6 degrees. You can only take photographs without a flash, so as not to create conditions for mold growth. In the most interesting chambers, the lighting is organized in such a way as to effectively present the features of the landscape. You have to squeeze through some passages sideways - they are so narrow. The journey through the cave takes half an hour and is accessible even to small children, and ends with a long descent down a narrow staircase.

The second interesting cave in the Koszczelin Valley is Dragon Pit, you can reach it in an hour of leisurely walking, if you count from one of the entrances along a route of the third degree of difficulty - between high rocks, along a narrow gorge. The name of the cave was given by the rock standing at the entrance - its shape has the shape of the desired dragon, opening its mouth in a terrible roar. And no one believes that its creator is nature, and not a modern avant-garde sculptor. Moving around the cave is difficult; on some climbs you need to hold on to rings and a rope specially screwed into the rock at the same time. Otherwise, you can fall and break yourself; mountains are not an alley in a park. But nothing bad will happen to those who follow basic safety measures.

There is a lot to see in Zakopane, and in addition to what is described above - you can visit three peaks - two thousand meters in one day, or take a day trip to Slovakia, or go to an artificial ice skating rink in the evening, and at the same time the largest in Europe. There will be enough entertainment for two twenty-day vacations, all that’s left is to hit the road. By the way, it’s not far to go.

What did I know about Poland? A country rich in history and culture, wonderful cities with historical quarters, modern shopping centers and excellent cuisine. But Poland also became the center of my winter holiday, and its heart was in Zakopane - a city loved not only by Poles, but also by residents of different countries: Russia, Ukraine, Slovakia, Germany and many others. I recommend this city not only to fans of winter sports, but also to those who just want to walk, enjoy clean air and beautiful views. Everyone will find something to their liking, and the unusual architecture and delightful nature will not leave anyone indifferent.

Arriving in Zakopane for the first time, I immediately realized that this was a special place for me. It was here that all the joy of traveling was revealed to me: harmony with nature, the charm of city streets and a feeling of boundless enjoyment of the time spent.

This city immediately struck me with its fresh air and the majesty of the mountains, and being also very cozy inside, it forever left me wanting to come back here again and again. I first visited Zakopane in the spring, the slopes were still open and it was possible to master skiing, it was mostly warm outside for walking, but since the weather in Zakopane is unpredictable, interesting entertainment was also very useful to hide from the rain that had replaced the clear weather.

You can relax here all year round: many mountain routes, swimming pools and a water park will not let you get bored at any time. Still, Zakopane is a center of winter tourism, so I would advise coming here in winter.

By the way, if you don’t know English or Polish, it will be good news that in Zakopane you can be understood in Russian, just like in the rest of Poland. You can read more about this country.

How to get there

To get to Zakopane, you can use the type of transport that suits you. If you are leaving from Moscow or St. Petersburg, then ground transport will be no less convenient for you than an airplane, but for residents of other cities, I would recommend first coming to the capital of Poland, and from there traveling to Zakopane.

Although, of course, this recommendation is not relevant for residents of the Kaliningrad region, whose geographical location almost obliges them to travel to Poland whenever possible. From the administrative center to the Polish border is less than an hour by car, which can be rented in Kaliningrad; in addition, there are organized bus tours from here to Zakopane.

We traveled around Poland by car - this particular type of transport was convenient for us, since we could stop in the place we liked and get acquainted with interesting and beautiful Polish cities. On the way from Kaliningrad to Zakopane, we managed to visit Gdansk, Torun, Lodz and Krakow.

In general, my recommendations are as follows: if you want to be mobile and look for interesting places along the road, and if your distance from the final point of the route allows, then choose a car. And if the city you are leaving from is more than a thousand kilometers from the main place of your trip, then I would prefer a car only if there are several drivers in it, in order to avoid fatigue and overwork on the road. I wouldn’t travel more than 1.5–2 thousand kilometers by car; in this case, the road could become impractical and exhausting.

If possible, I recommend planning your route through the beautiful city, which is located just over a hundred kilometers from Zakopane. This is one of the most beautiful cities in Poland, and a visit to it is worth including in your travel program.

By plane

There is no airport in Zakopane, so you can’t get here directly by plane. The nearest airport is in the city of Poprad in Slovakia, but since bus connections to Zakopane from Poprad are not as frequent as from Polish cities, it will be more convenient to travel within the same country.

The nearest Polish airport is in Krakow, but you can also get there from Warsaw airport.

Via Warsaw

You can get from Moscow to Warsaw by direct flight of Aeroflot airline and Polish LOT. The travel time will be just over 2 hours, the cost of such a flight will be about 160 EUR.

From St. Petersburg, only LOT airline has direct flights to Warsaw; the rest fly with transfers, mainly through Moscow. The price of a ticket for a direct flight will be about 250 EUR; for a flight with a transfer the price will be much lower: about 110 EUR.

Via Krakow

It is not possible to get to Krakow directly from Moscow and St. Petersburg; flights with at least one transfer are operated by Aeroflot, LOT, Finnair, Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa, S7. Travel time depends on the duration of the transfer, it can be 6 hours, or maybe all 20. Connections are made through different cities: depending on the airline, it can be, or. Since you have already issued a Schengen visa, a long layover is an excellent opportunity to get to know the transit city better. The price of a ticket from Moscow to will be about 190 EUR, from St. Petersburg a little more expensive - about 230 EUR.

You can see current ticket prices.

By train

Once a day, a train departs from Belorussky Station from Moscow to Warsaw, the fare is 110–200 EUR. You can buy a ticket on the Russian Railways website.

On the map above I have shown the route of your journey, in which you will have to cross two state borders. This, of course, will take a lot of time, so you will spend about 18 hours on the road.

You can also travel from Warsaw to Zakopane by train. It departs twice a day in the morning and evening from the Warszawa Centralna train station. Tickets cost from 16 to 46 EUR (73–204 Zl). You can check the schedule and buy a ticket on the Polish Railways website.

How to get from the bus station to the city center

The intercity bus stop in Zakopane is located at the station square, and I wrote above about how to get from there to the city center.

By car

If you like to travel by car, then you can get to Zakopane from Russia this way, although it all depends on which city you are going to leave from. The most convenient way will be, of course, from Kaliningrad.

To pass border control, in addition to an international passport and medical insurance, you need a driver's license, a vehicle registration certificate, and a Green card (car insurance valid for foreign trips). Sometimes they may ask for a diagnostic technical inspection card. Car insurance is purchased for a minimum of 15 days, it costs on average 2,320 rubles for a passenger car and is valid throughout the Schengen area.

From Moscow and St. Petersburg

From Moscow or St. Petersburg you will have to travel about 1,600 kilometers one way. The navigator calculates about 20 hours of travel without taking into account the passage of state borders, so you may not be able to get by with just one day - you will have to choose a place to rest and spend money on lodging for the night if there is only one driver in the car. If several drivers travel in one car, then you can change on the road and drive without an overnight stay, this will reduce your costs and waste of time. Of course, the cost of such a journey varies greatly depending on the class of car in which you are going to cover it, since the main part of the cost is gasoline. I’m not sure that it will be comfortable and expedient to travel from Moscow or St. Petersburg by car. This option is worth choosing for those who value mobility and the ability to plan a trip after the fact more than peace and simplicity.

I didn’t travel from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Zakopane by car, but considering that we need to travel twice as far as we did, the costs will be at least twice as high as ours. Based on the calculations below, you will spend about 500 EUR on such a trip.

From Kaliningrad

Since I traveled to Zakopane from Kaliningrad, a car was the most convenient way to get there for me. The entire journey is about 800 km one way. You need to cross the border checkpoint (for example, Mamonowo 2 - Grzechotki), then get on the motorway from Gdansk to the city, and then go on, from which Zakopane is only about 110 km away.

You can rent a car in Kaliningrad. you can view available offers and compare prices.

If you have time, it’s worth exploring the Polish cities along the way - for example, you can stop in Torun and try the famous gingerbread. On the A1 highway from Gdansk to there is a toll section of the road, travel along which cost us about 4.5 EUR (20 Zl).

A car trip from Kaliningrad to Zakopane consisted of several expense items:

Petrol. Since we were driving a car with low gasoline consumption (about 7-8 liters per 100 km), the total cost of gasoline was about 150 EUR (9000 RUB). In Poland, gasoline is almost twice as expensive as in the Russian Federation, so I advise you to fill up before crossing the border.
Hotel. We are traveling with a child, and it is very difficult for him to sit in the car all day. So we had to stop for the night - we rented a room in the city. Since we only needed an overnight stay, we chose the cheapest option on the outskirts of the city. It cost us about 35 EUR (2200 RUB).
Nutrition. We traveled for two days and didn’t manage to save much on food. We ate at roadside cafes - fortunately, in Poland, for the most part, they are clean and tasty. Lunch cost about 10–13 EUR (50 Zl or 700 RUB). You can save money by eating fast food or buying food to take with you on the road from local supermarkets.

In general, traveling by car in Poland is convenient, as you will be greeted by good roads and frequent places for a snack or rest. You can independently make adjustments to the route and stop at the place you like, so you can get much more impressions from the trip.

Clue:

Zakopane - the time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow 1

Kazan 1

Samara 2

Ekaterinburg 3

Novosibirsk 5

Vladivostok 8

When is the season? When is the best time to go

Zakopane is suitable for relaxation at almost any time, but since it is the winter capital of Poland, there are more tourists in winter. Although there is plenty of summer entertainment in Zakopane: Poles love to come here just for the weekend to get some fresh air and a break from the hustle and bustle. I love winter sports, so I prefer to come to Zakopane during the ski season, which lasts from December to April.

Prices do not change much depending on the season. I saw a noticeable difference only in the price of the funicular to Kasprowy Wierch and to Gubalowka: it increases during the ski season.

It’s worth visiting Zakopane almost at any time of the year: I’m sure that the city and its surroundings will not disappoint you. Try to get here during the New Year holidays, as festive Zakopane is especially beautiful.

Zakopane in summer

I like Zakopane in summer. Cleanest air, many hiking trails and impressive scenery. By summer, the trails are mostly free of snow; if it remains, it is only in places on some slopes on the highest peaks.

Summer is a good time to travel to Zakopane, with many wonderful places available for walking. One of the most popular is Lake Morskie Oko, this is a unique place that captivates with its beauty.

During the summer months, Zakopane is mostly cloudy or overcast with a fair amount of rainfall. The greatest number of sunny days is in August, and the hottest month is July. The average daytime temperature fluctuates around 15–20°C.

I would choose June for a summer visit because of the smaller number of tourists: this is due to the period of study for Polish schoolchildren and students, who will still be in class until the end of the month.

Zakopane in autumn

For me, autumn is the least preferred time to travel. Although in September it is still warm enough to relax and enjoy exploring the city and surrounding area, by the end of the month the mornings and evenings become noticeably cooler. There is usually less precipitation in autumn than in summer, but due to the coolness it is no longer as comfortable to be outside. In October, snow often falls in the mountains, and by November the hiking trails begin to close, and the ski season begins only in winter.

But I wouldn’t come in the second half of autumn, because there is still no snow for skiing, but the weather is no longer conducive to long walks.

Zakopane in spring

The ski season in Zakopane lasts until approximately March 20–25, depending on the weather, which is very unpredictable. Arriving at the beginning of spring, we still had time to conquer the Tatras. The weather in March is similar to winter, although it is already warmer: it is usually a little minus outside. There are fewer tourists than in winter: perhaps skiers begin to ignore this place in the spring, and I understand them. There is almost no snow in the city, as well as on the low slopes. On such routes the snow is sprayed with cannons.

At the end of April - beginning of May, the weather already becomes stably spring-like, although there are not many sunny days. By the end of May the air warms up and the weather becomes more comfortable and warm.

In my opinion, of the spring months, April is the least preferable for a trip, because it is still cool outside and not all hiking routes are open, but you won’t be able to ride either. It turns out that many of the entertainments in Zakopane will not be available.

Zakopane in winter

I am sure that it is definitely worth going to Zakopane in winter: the view of snow-capped mountains and trees justifies the status of the winter capital of Poland. During this period there are a lot of tourists - not only skiers, but also lovers of walks, mountain scenery and fresh air.

The weather is quite comfortable for winter: there is almost no wind in the city, but more than half of the days are cloudy. Temperature changes are great: at first it can be +7°C, and after a few days it will be -20°C. Before your trip, you should pay attention to the weather forecast.

The most important winter entertainment is, of course, alpine skiing and snowboarding. There are many trails available of varying difficulty, but it is worth keeping an eye on the weather as not all of them may be open due to wind or fog.

If the weather still permits, then the best place to ski is to go to Kasprowy Wierch: there is good snow and impressive views. But I don’t recommend starting there for beginners, as the trails there are not easy. I will tell you more about ski holidays later. If you don’t ski, it’s still worth going up to Kasprowy Wierch; the funicular ride takes about 20 minutes.

Zakopane - weather by month

Clue:

Zakopane - weather by month

Districts. Where is the best place to live?

Zakopane is a small city, so you can choose a place to live in any area. I don’t know any places where tourists are not recommended to stay. If you prefer a relaxing pastime, then you can choose hotels remote from the center with mountain views, a private fireplace and the opportunity to attend spa treatments. Those who like to make new friends and have unbridled fun will find hotels near the Krupówki pedestrian street (marked with an orange dotted line on the map below).

There are many accommodation options available in Zakopane, from budget to luxury.

Rented rooms

One of the most inexpensive accommodation options is rooms rented out by local residents. Citizens often rent out rooms in their own homes, so while saving money, you can also chat with the locals. You can find such rooms by the inscriptions “noclegi” or “pokoje” on the facade of the houses. Some vacationers themselves walk the streets in search of the best prices. Also on the station square you will see people with the same inscriptions on signs, and they will offer you their accommodation options. But if you want to find a room in advance, there are many options. In general, a double room can be rented from 4.5 to 11.5 EUR (20–50 Zl) per night.

It is also worth considering that there are ski lifts along the perimeter of the city, but you will have to get to any of them from almost all hotels by transport (5-10 minutes). Therefore, when choosing housing, you don’t have to rely on the location of the lifts.

Hostels

You can also stay in a hostel, of which there are many in Zakopane.

A bed in a ten-bed room will cost 4.5–7 EUR (20–30 Zl). Accordingly, the fewer neighbors you have, the higher the price will be.

Hotels

You can choose a hotel to suit every taste and budget. There are a lot of options in any part of the city - you can choose a hotel with a swimming pool, at the foot of the mountains or in the bustling center.

A 2-3 star hotel will cost about 59 EUR (250 Zl), for 4 stars you will pay more than 70 EUR (300 Zl), and for a five-star room you will have to spend at least 115 EUR (500 Zl). The bulk of hotels, as well as hostels, are concentrated near the pedestrian street Krupówki. you can compare prices.

Apartments

An apartment near Krupówki with free parking, storage space for equipment and a small kitchen cost me 60 EUR (260 Zl) for 4 days. Another plus was the availability of dishes in the kitchen; we saved significantly on breakfast. For my travels in Zakopane, I chose apartments using the service, you can also look at accommodation options.

What are the prices for holidays?

Prices, of course, vary, it all depends on the wallet. I will try to describe the necessary expenses for a trip on average.

You can rent an apartment for three days for about 50 EUR. Choose closer to Krupówka, then all possible infrastructure of the city will be close to you.
Lunch in a cafe will cost at least 6 EUR. Choose apartments with a kitchen so you can cook - the savings on food in this case will be noticeable. That’s what we did: I cooked breakfast myself, and it was convenient and cheap.
Taxi fares cost 1 EUR per kilometer. For long trips, choose buses; They are, of course, not as comfortable, but you can get there.
A ticket to the museum costs 1.5 EUR
It’s worth going to the water park for at least 2 hours, such a ticket costs 11 EUR.

Here I have given the minimum prices, but you can try to save money in any situation. For example, if you are a student and love fast food, then reduce two expense items at once.

Main attractions. What to see

Many of the attractions of this place are concentrated not in Zakopane itself, but in its surroundings. The most beautiful views await you in the mountains, you can get acquainted with the history of the city in museums, and taste its current atmosphere using modern entertainment centers.

I prefer natural beauty to any architectural structures and gastronomic delights, which is why Zakopane is probably one of my favorite cities. But when the weather is not conducive to exploring natural landscapes, then city entertainment is also very pleasing. Zakopane is a completely unique place, where modernity is intertwined with tradition very harmoniously.

Top 5

In my top, I tried to combine both natural and city attractions, and in the end I got the following list:

Kasprowy Wierch- one of the most famous peaks in the Tatras.
I am sure that it is worth going up here regardless of the season in which you come. At the top you will find an impressive panorama, as well as a cafe, a souvenir shop and a kiosk with tourist equipment. If you travel by car, pay attention to the signs. The lower funicular station is located in the Tatra National Park and entry is prohibited. Unfortunately, we learned about the fine of 50 Zl or almost 12 EUR from our own experience: without understanding the signs in time where we had to leave the car, we drove into a protected area. In fact, everything is simple: where there are minibuses and a lot of cars, stop there. These same minibuses will take you to the lower station for about 1 EUR (4–5 Zl). The cable car consists of two sections, a trailer for about 40 people, so take a seat at the window to enjoy the opening views along the way; you will climb for about 20 minutes.
If you go up in the summer, take warm clothes with you; it is usually colder in the mountains than in the valley, and it is also windy. The price of a ticket during the peak ski season 12/17/2016–02/28/2017 is almost 16 EUR (69 Zl) in both directions. When you buy such a ticket, the time spent at Kasprowy Wierch is 1 hour 40 minutes, but we were there longer and did not overpay. You can buy a ticket on the eve of arrival, but not earlier than 30 days, in the online store on this website. You just need to understand the Polish language. Children under 10 years of age, schoolchildren, students and people over 65 are entitled to a discount; travel is free for people under 5 years of age. Students of the Russian Federation can receive a discount based on the international student ISIC. I’m not sure about the standard Russian one, but you can try it too. But with schoolchildren it is more difficult, since in Poland there is a single schoolchildren’s certificate, but in the Russian Federation there is none, so the student may not be given a discount.
Pedestrian street Krupówki- the central street of the city with a huge number of interesting shops, souvenir shops and delicious food.
The whole life of Zakopane is concentrated around this street; it is interesting here at any time. Clowns, mimes, musicians, portrait painters will all try to brighten up your holiday and cheer you up, and, of course, earn a few zlotys. You can ride along the street in a horse-drawn cart, although the length of the street is only about a kilometer, so it is quite possible to cover it on foot. At night, Krupówka lights up and becomes a center of nightlife, with noisy and cheerful clubs welcoming guests.
Morskie Oko Nature Reserve- a mountain lake in the Tatras, about 20 kilometers from Zakopane. One of the main attractions of the surrounding area, stunning with its stunning landscapes, Morskie Oko is exactly the place that is worth visiting at any time.
When going there, take care of comfortable shoes; part of the route to the lake will have to be covered on foot, although you can also get there by horse-drawn carriage, but such a pleasure will cost about 10 EUR. The closest parking lot to the lake is about eight kilometers away and can be reached by bus from Zakopane Station Square; a ticket will cost about 2 EUR. The route looks something like this: from Zakopane from the Palenica Bialczanska parking lot you can get there by transport, and then only on foot or by cart. Morskie Oko is a beautiful place, and it is definitely worth the difficult trek, but during the peak tourist season the lake can look like this.
The amazing landscape of untouched nature is impressive and inspiring; you will want to come back here again. By the way, there is a cafe on the lake with traditional Polish dishes, where you can relax and have a snack after the road in comfort.
Aquapark After an active holiday - a great place to relax. By the way, you can relax here without ceasing to enjoy the nature of Zakopane, since one wall is completely glass.
There are water attractions for all ages, a warm pool for children with lots of toys, as well as a bowling alley, cafe and restaurant.
It is very easy to find the water park; it is located very close to the bus station. If you come by car, you can leave your car in a paid parking lot, the price is 0.25 EUR (1 Zl) upon presentation of a ticket to the water park. The water park features a swimming pool, geothermal outdoor pool, slides, Jacuzzi and saunas. The ticket can be taken for several hours or for the whole day. The discount is provided to children under 16 years of age, people over 60 years of age, disabled people and their guardians, as well as students and schoolchildren upon presentation of a student card or school student ID. You can check current prices on the water park website.
Mount Gubałówka- one of the most visited attractions, since you can climb to this peak without leaving Zakopane. There you will find an excellent view of the city, the Tatra Mountains, as well as cafes, restaurants, souvenirs and ski slopes.
The lower station of the funicular is located near the beginning of the pedestrian street Krupówka. On the way, you will see a market with products of local craftsmen, and you can also try traditional treats. Be sure to try oscypek - it is a cheese made from sheep's milk, it will be offered grilled with cranberry or lingonberry jam, it costs about 0.5 EUR (2-3Zl).
The funicular covers a distance of 1298 meters in about 4 minutes, a round trip ticket will cost 2.3 EUR (23 Zl), the capacity of the trailer is about one hundred people. You can check the current prices on the website.
A discount on a ticket is provided for the same population groups that I described earlier; children under four years of age travel for free.

Churches and temples. Which ones are worth visiting?

The most famous temple in Zakopane is Church of the Holy Family, built in 1896, one of the main attractions of the city. From the wide staircase leading to the temple you can take a great photo of the cross with the crown of thorns against the backdrop of the majestic church.
Located on the main street at Krupówki 1a. Entrance to the temple is free. The church looks impressive from the outside, but the most interesting thing is inside: it perfectly combines the traditional style of Zakopane and neo-baroque. The painting of the walls, chapel and ceiling is very unusual, which immediately attracts attention.
Next I would recommend watching Church of Our Lady of Czestochowa or, as it is usually called, the Old Church. This is the oldest church in Zakopane, built in 1847 and was considered the main church in the city until the construction of the Church of the Holy Family.
It is located a few minutes from Krupówki at the intersection of Koscieliska and Koscielna streets, and can be quickly reached on foot from the previous location.
Next to the church there is a cemetery with an interesting name. Zasłużonych na Pęksowym Brzyzku(Honored at Peksov Brzyska). This name is explained by the following: the cemetery was created around 1850 partly with donations from John Pex, and the rocks in the local dialect are called brzyzkami. The cemetery itself is impressive, and some of the headstones are real works of art.
On the alley leading from the church to the cemetery there is the chapel of the holy martyrs Andrew and Benedict (świętych męczenników Andrzeja i Benedykta), the oldest religious building in the city.
Next, I would recommend visiting the chapel Hearts of Jesus in Jaszczurówka(Kaplica Najświętszego Serca Pana Jezusa w Jaszczurówce). It is a classic work of the Zakopane style and is included in the list of historical heritage of Poland.
This place is far from the city center and surrounded by trees, so it looks very bright and colorful. The chapel is built of wood, which adds to its charm. I found the altar especially interesting: it surprises with its modesty and lack of pomp, typical of religious buildings.
Another place I recommend visiting is Church of St. Anthony of Padua. The interior of the church is decorated in a mountain style, most parts are made of wood.
It is located in a picturesque location at the foot of the Nosal peak, a little more than two kilometers from the Chapel of the Heart of Jesus. The main altar is decorated with a sculpture of St. Anthony, one of the most revered Catholic saints. People turn to him with a request to find something lost, to find a soul mate, he is considered the patron saint of travelers and students.
By the way, this place can offer rooms for accommodation. I am sure that for those looking for peace, solitude and a place for meditation, this will be an excellent option for an overnight stay.

Museums. Which ones are worth visiting?

Compared to other attractions, I visited museums to a lesser extent, although there are many of them in Zakopane.

Parks

I was in Zakopane only in two parks. This is a park named after Lech Kaczyńskiego And Marshal Pilsudski Park (Park Miejski Imienia Marszałka Józefa Piłsudskiego). The first is located opposite the bus station, the second two minutes from Krupówki.

The only interesting place in these two parks was Willa Jutrzenka in the Marshal Piłsudski Park, built in Zakopane style in 1900. Now there is a youth culture and sports center there.

And so just benches, well-groomed lawns and nothing special, except, of course, that you are in the Tatra National Park, many of whose beauties are not so far from the city. I wouldn't go here just for a walk.

What to see in 1 day

9:00 - climb Gubalowka. I didn’t see any lines for tickets, so you can see everything in about an hour. On the way back, take a walk through the market, be sure to try oscypek and buy local souvenirs with you.
10:30 - go to the Church of the Holy Family. If you don't go too deep, you can watch it in half an hour. Then follow to the old church, they are two minutes from each other on foot. It will take at least an hour to explore this place.
12:00 - take a walk around Krupowka. This street, being in the very heart of the city, deserves attention. Here you can have lunch in one of the cafes or restaurants, of which there are many.
14:00 - weather permitting, head to Kasprowy Wierch. You can get to the lower funicular station from the city center in 20–25 minutes. If possible, buy a ticket in advance on the website; there may be queues for the lift. The journey to the top will also take about 20–25 minutes. It will take you about an hour at the top.
17:00 - go to the Tatra Museum. Spend about two hours exploring the entire exhibition.
19:00 - go to dinner at Bakowo Zohylina Niznio and enjoy not only excellent Polish dishes, but also the traditional atmosphere of Zakopane.

If you didn’t come to Zakopane by car, then choose a taxi to get around: it’s easy to find near tourist spots, and the fare isn’t too expensive.

What to see in the area

Terma Bania (20 km)

By the way, this water park was recommended to us by traffic police officers, who issued us a fine for driving into a protected area, and it turned out to be excellent advice, even for 11 EUR (50 Zl). This thermal center is a wonderful place and well worth the travel time from Zakopane. You will be able to plunge into hot water rich in calcium, magnesium and other mineral components.

There are three zones here: one for a noisy holiday with children, another for quiet relaxation and a third, VIP zone, usually for celebrations and banquets. These parts do not overlap, so everyone can relax at their desired rhythm. Each area has indoor and outdoor pools. Believe me, enjoying the mountain views from an outdoor hot pool is a great pleasure.

Dolina Kościeliska (8 km)

Next place - Dolina Kościeliska. This is one of the most visited valleys in the area - there are quite a lot of tourists here both in winter and in summer. About 8 kilometers from the city center. The caves, rivers and other natural attractions are very beautiful! In winter you can ride on a sleigh, and in summer you can ride bicycles if you don’t want to cover the path on foot, which is about 6 kilometers.

Chocholow (17 km)

Take a ride to the village of Chocholow, 17 km from Zakopane. Most of the houses in this village are original Gural huts, dating back to the 19th century.

There is also a pottery workshop here, the products of which you can purchase.

Dunajec Castle (47 km)

I recommend visiting Dunajec Castle is a medieval fortress located in the village of Niedzica. The castle is very beautiful, especially against the background of magnificent views of nature.

There is a museum, restaurant and hotel here. You can also go up to the observation deck or, conversely, go down to the basement, which once served as a prison.

Food. What to try

You can read about traditional Polish cuisine.

Most cafes and restaurants for different tastes and budgets are concentrated around the pedestrian street Krupówke. Traditional establishments called Karczma are common. The interior decoration of such restaurants is made of wood in a traditional style, and the food is usually cooked on a fire in the center of the room. And the most amazing thing for me is the live traditional music, which will delight and impress no less than the delicious food.

I would suggest this place for dinner to relax after a busy day. And musicians usually perform only in the evenings.

The most affordable lunch with dessert will cost around 6–9 EUR (30–40 Zl) per person. An interesting option is a cafe with a buffet - 100 grams of any food will cost just over 0.5 EUR (3 Zl).

There are chain Polish supermarkets in Zakopane, for example, Biedronka. The prices here are quite reasonable: a package of cheese, bread, milk and eggs for breakfast can be bought for about 4–5 EUR (20 Zl), or maybe less, since there are always some promotions here. In a small shop called Zabka, which is also very common in Poland, you can have a hot dog and tea for a little more than 1 EUR (5 Zl).

If you don’t want to waste time waiting for food, then you can choose Bar Mleczny: there you will be treated to simple and tasty dishes and save money, since the prices in such places are cheaper than average. The only drawback is the lack of menus in other languages, but, in general, this issue can be easily resolved with the help of an electronic translator. By the way, many Zakopane restaurants have Russian-speaking waiters.

Of all the places I visited, traditional Zakopane restaurants and one pastry bar stand out for me:

Budget

Bar Mleczny, ul. Krupowki 1.
PaPaj Pizza, st. Jagiellonska 2.
Wytwornia Lodow Naturalnych, ul. Krupowki 32.
Jazz & Burger, ul. Krupowki 24.
Roma, Strazyska 39.

Mid-level

Bakowo Zohylina Niznio, Jozefa Pilsudskiego 6.
Karczma Czarci Jar, ul. Male Zywczanskie 11a.
Dobra Kasza Nasza, ul. Krupowki 48.
Karczma Po Zboju, Krupowki 22.
Casa Mia Restaurant, st. Krupowki 69.

Expensive

Restauracja Halka Zakopane, ul. Mariusza Zaruskiego 5.
Goralska Tradycja, ul. Krupowki 29.

Safety. What to watch out for

Like many other Polish cities, it is quite safe for walking and entertainment. But due to the large influx of tourists, your vacation is not immune to encounters with scammers and pickpockets, so vigilance and caution will not hurt.

As for safety on the ski slopes, I will talk about them in more detail in the corresponding section. The main advice is not to lose your head and adequately assess your abilities. Speaking of summer holidays in the mountains, the greatest danger is posed by unprepared hiking in the mountains: it is better to go on such a journey with an experienced guide.

Things to do

Zakopane is a ski resort, and accordingly, one of the main entertainments in the city is snowboarding and alpine skiing. There are quite a lot of trails here for both beginners and advanced fans of these sports.
You can go hiking in the mountains, especially in summer, there are many routes available for different levels of training. If you don’t like active recreation at all, take the cable car up the mountains.
Depending on the season, in Zakopane you can explore the surrounding area by bike, swim in the pool, go to the skating rink, dog sledding or hang gliding. Excursion routes on sleighs or carts are available; such a walk can last several hours, and you are driven by a highlander in national clothes.
I would advise you to rent a car in Zakopane and drive around the surrounding area and attractions far from the city center, and visit neighboring villages.

Shopping and shops

If you are looking for large shopping centers, then Zakopane will disappoint you, there is nothing like this in this city. But it’s worth making purchases filled with local flavor. For example, these are products made from wool and sheep skins - sheepskin slippers or a handmade carpet. They sell a lot of wooden products, toys, spoons, bowls, coasters and much more. Also pay attention to the cheese, you won’t find such cheese anywhere except this place. It's worth bargaining at the market: local sellers can reduce the price.

There are modern clothing and shoe stores in Krupówka. It is especially worth highlighting sports ones, since they take not only quantity, but also quality. At the end of the season, discounts begin, so you can buy not only clothes, but also equipment cheaper.

Bars. Where to go

There are many bars in Zakopane, most of them are located around or on Krupówki Street.

Extreme Sports

There are a lot of skiers and snowboarders in Zakopane, and it’s not for nothing that this is the main Polish ski resort. There is everything here to master skiing and fall in love with it. I will talk about this in more detail in the appropriate section.

Apart from snowboarding, I didn’t do anything extreme in Zakopane, but I saw that there was an opportunity to travel around the mountains on a snowmobile. Rental costs about 35 EUR (150 Zl) per hour. It seems there are even two-day routes with an overnight stay in a hunting lodge. In the summer you can rent ATVs, there are trails for riding of varying difficulty levels, and training with an instructor is possible. Places where you can rent an ATV:

Wypożyczalnia quadów, open from 11:00 to 17:00. Riding price – 50 EUR (220 zł) per hour, 45 EUR (200 zł) when renting for 2-3 hours, 40 EUR (180 zł) when renting for 4 or more.
Biuro Aktywnego Wypoczynku „Altius”, ul. Piłsudskiego 22. Here the price depends on the power of the ATV and varies from 30 to 100 EUR.

At the top of Gubałówka there is a rope park (Park Linowy Złota Grań Zakopane Gubałówka). The cost of visiting is about 5 EUR.

This is not the only operating rope park, there is also GuGu Park. The price for visiting is the same: about 5 EUR.

There is an opportunity to play paintball, you can do it here:

Face2Face, ul.Reymonta 5.
Biuro Aktywnego Wypoczynku „Altius”, Bulwari Słowackiego 7.
COT Zakopane, ul. Droga na Gubałówkę 2A.

Playing in a team costs 27 EUR (120 Zl) per person.

Another extreme entertainment option is paragliding in tandem with an instructor. I'm sure the views from above will be breathtaking. There are also paragliding courses available.

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

There are a lot of souvenirs on every corner, especially on the main street. Lots of wooden souvenirs: toys, magnets, spoons, etc. Of all the souvenirs that we brought from Zakopane, the only one left was this little sheep.

Depending on the size, such a toy costs from 3 to 13 EUR (15–60 Zl), this particular one costs about 6 EUR (25 Zl).

I would advise you to bring cheese and wooden souvenirs as gifts for your family, and for children you can even bring a sheep, especially since it folds out into a small pillow.

How to get around the city

The most convenient way to get around the central part of Zakopane is on foot, because many attractions are concentrated around the pedestrian street. If you want to visit the immediate surroundings, then choose a taxi, and if possible, get to neighboring villages, towns and attractions remote from Zakopane by bus. You can view the bus schedule from Zakopane at the bus station.

Sightseeing tourist tours are conducted in Zakopane; the price of such a tour varies from 55 to 100 EUR (250–450 Zl) depending on the length of the route and, accordingly, the time of the excursion.

Taxi. What features exist

We always came to Zakopane by car, so we didn’t travel much by taxi, but the trips that we did didn’t cause any negativity. Clean cars, adequate drivers, some even speak Russian. In general, the taxi drivers left a very pleasant impression: they will always help you load your equipment and call Kasprowy Wierch from their phones to find out the weather.

To be honest, I never had to call a taxi in Zakopane by phone, because around tourist spots and on the main street it would be easy to find a car without calling, and since calling a Polish number, even taking into account services and discounts on roaming, was not cheap , then I took a taxi on the street.

But you can ask to call a taxi at the hotel reception or use the 24-hour car calling services yourself:

Radio Taxi "TATRY" +48 18 206 66 66.
TAXI-RADIO EURO +48 602 822 666.
Radio Taxi 919 s.c. +48 18 200 09 19.

We always paid in cash, but I think that if you call a taxi, they will also accept the card, because in Zakopane cards are accepted everywhere. Basically, you pay by meter: during the day, about 1 EUR per kilometer, plus 2 EUR for the initial payment. As a result, the trip is unlikely to cost less than 5 EUR, although in the city it may be possible to meet this amount. You can check the prices on Radio Taxi "TATRY", it describes not only prices within the city, but also intercity routes.

Buses

Traveling by bus in a small town is not very convenient, but in the surrounding area or on intercity lines, a bus is a convenient and inexpensive form of transport. Buses in Zakopane, as well as minibuses in these directions, depart from the bus station. Buses follow a strict schedule, minibus drivers wait for them to fill up. Depending on the distance, the price will be different: in the city and the immediate surroundings about 0.5 EUR, outside the city - already more than 1 EUR.

Transport rental

If you don't come by car, renting a car would be a great solution. For three days, you can rent a small car like Toyota Aygo or Chevrolet Spark for about 55 EUR (240 Zl). A child seat, GPS and other services are paid additionally. The deposit is 110 EUR, a big plus is that there are no restrictions on kilometers.

The driver must be at least 20 years old with at least 1 year of experience. You also need a passport, license and credit card. You can compare prices for rental vehicles. Compared to Russia, gasoline in Europe is twice as expensive.

Traveling around Poland by car is quite convenient: there are many information signs with the names of cities and the distance to them. If the road passes through villages, then be prepared for a low speed, as in populated areas the speed limit is 50 km/h.

Polish drivers observe the speed limit only when approaching villages or cities - probably because cameras are usually installed in these areas. In Poland it is prohibited to use a radar detector; you cannot even transport it in an active state - it must be packed and put away. DVR is not prohibited, although it is not recommended in many European countries.

Zakopane: holidays with children

Zakopane, like the rest of the city, is great for relaxing with a child: you can breathe in fresh air and have fun! The Poles, along with the whole of Europe, are very calm towards children and react to whims or a child’s crying only with sympathy, and can begin to entertain the child. It’s rare that a cafe won’t offer you a highchair or a coloring book. My daughter and I enjoyed walking around Zakopane, ice skating and swimming in the water park. She was delighted with the carriage ride and funicular ride to Gubałówka.

Marshal Pilsudski Park has an excellent children's playground. There are places on the ski slopes for learning to ski and snowboard, you can hire an instructor, but we have not used these services yet. The difficulty with a child our age (3 years old) was visiting museums: she was bored and wanted to take everything in her hands. Difficult mountain routes are also not suitable, and on a long journey you should take a light stroller, as the child will get tired of walking faster than you.

Take care of the right shoes: the weather is unpredictable, the temperature can change to above zero, and you will dry yourself in a cafe instead of sledding like we did.

Ski holiday

The ski area in Zakopane consists of several peaks distant from each other. Each has one or more trails of approximately equal difficulty. You can only get from one peak to another by transport; we only managed to ride in one place during the day. There are a large number of trails in the villages neighboring Zakopane, but I will only talk about the ski areas closest to the city.

The main trails in Zakopane are interesting for beginners. At least my friends with an advanced level of skiing were only interested in Kasprowy Wierch. Although this all depends on your own preferences, since skiers and snowboarders of different levels are found everywhere.

As at any other ski resort, you need to adhere to general rules of behavior on the slope. Firstly, you need to adequately assess the level of your own training and choose the appropriate route. In Poland there is a standard distribution of the difficulty of trails by color:

green - very easy gentle slopes for beginners and children;
blue - the next most difficult routes, the inclination angle does not exceed 25%;
red - pistes of medium difficulty for advanced skiers, inclination angle 40%;
black - difficult trails for the most experienced and technical. Black color also indicates routes with a high level of avalanche danger.

Secondly, you need to strictly follow the rules of behavior on the slope and pay attention to prohibitory and information signs. Thirdly, you need to be attentive to other tourists. Before you begin your descent, you need to make sure that it will be safe for both you and others. Remember that the person higher up the slope is to blame for the collision.

Ski passes

There are a lot of trails in Zakopane and the surrounding area, and the closest to the city are Kasprowy Wierch, Gubalowka and Szymaszkowa Polyana. You need to buy a ski pass for each peak separately. Depending on the validity period of the ski pass, the price at different peaks will be as follows:

Kasprowy Wierch - 25–62 EUR;
Gubałówka - 7 to 36 EUR;
Shimashkova Polyana - from 10 to 22 EUR.

Traditionally, cheaper tickets can be purchased for children from 5 to 15 years old and people over 65.

Trails

There are many places to ski in the vicinity of Zakopane, but mostly these are slopes with a small difference in height and length, which are excellent for learning. I will tell you about those routes that are easy to get to from Zakopane and which, in my opinion, are worth visiting:

Anything to add?

Zakopane is a ski resort in southern Poland, 110 km from Krakow, near the border with Slovakia. The center of Zakopane stands at an altitude of 840 m above sea level. The town is beautiful, the nature there is wonderful, the air is fresh and clean, it smells of fir trees and herbs - what else do you need for people tired of offices and computers? That's right, Zakopane. The air here is considered super-healthy for those who suffer from respiratory diseases and allergies.

The skiing season starts in November and ends in early May.

So, here's what you can see in Zakopane.

Observation deck

Karol Szymanowski Museum at Villa Atma (Muzeum Karola Szymanowskiego w willi "Atma")

Pedestrian street Krupowki

Tatra Museum (Muzeum Tatrzanskie)

Address: Krupówki 10

Schedule:(from May 1 to September 30 also on Tuesdays from 9.00 to 17.00)

Tickets: 7.00 zł (1.7 euros), children 5.50 zł (1.3 euros)

Schedule: Wednesday - Saturday from 9.00 to 17.00, Sunday from 9.00 to 15.00

Tickets: 6.00 zł (1.4 euros), children 4.50 zł. (1 euro), if you buy a joint ticket along with a visit to the main building of the museum - 10 zł and 8 zł respectively.

Schedule: Wednesday - Saturday from 9.00 to 17.00, Sunday from 9.00 to 15.00

Tickets: 7.00 zł, children 5.50 zł.

Another department - Art Gallery named after. Kulchitsky, where some exhibitions from the Tatra Museum are held.

Address: Droga na Koziniec 8

Schedule: Wednesday - Saturday from 9.00 to 16.00, Sunday from 9.00 to 15.00

Tickets: 7.00 zł, children 5.50 zł.

Address: Chocholow 75

Schedule: Wednesday - Sunday from 10.00 to 14.00

Tickets: 6.00 zł, children and pensioners 4.50 zł.

Don't forget that the ticket office usually closes half an hour before the closing of the main building and the branch of the Tatra Museum.

Gallery of Vladislav Hasior

Address: ul. Jagiellońska 18b

Schedule: Wednesday - Saturday from 11.00 to 18.00, Sunday from 9.00 to 15.00

Tickets: 7.00 zł, children 5.50 zł.

In general, the city is cultural, as you can see, the locals are very proud of their history and traditions, and tourists find it all a joy!

The Subpolar Urals do not let go for long

Fishing reports on Lake Saltaim

Life in Poland. Active recreation, recreation and nightlife in Zakopane. Where to go for a cultural holiday What to visit in Zakopane in summer