Zakopane sits at about 800–1,000 m at the foot of the Tatras and has been Poland’s favourite mountain resort since the late 19th century, when artists and writers discovered the culture of the Górale highlanders. The architect Stanisław Witkiewicz created the “Zakopane style” of carved timber villas, and the town remains full of them.
Today it is a busy, cheerful place: the pedestrian street Krupówki is lined with restaurants and stalls selling oscypek — smoked sheep’s cheese — the funicular climbs Gubałówka hill for the panorama of the Tatras, and the Tatra National Park begins right at the edge of town. In winter it is Poland’s leading ski resort.
Top things to do: Zakopane
Krupówki and the Zakopane style
Stroll Krupówki, then seek out the quieter streets: Villa Koliba (the first Zakopane-style house, now a museum), the Tatra Museum and the old wooden church and cemetery on Kościeliska street, where many famous Poles are buried.
Ride up Gubałówka
The funicular climbs about 300 m from near Krupówki to the ridge of Gubałówka, with the whole Tatra chain laid out in front of you. Walk along the ridge or come down on foot.
Kasprowy Wierch cable car
From Kuźnice, on the edge of town, the cable car rises to 1,987 m on the Polish–Slovak border. Book tickets online in advance in season — see our Tatra National Park guide.
Thermal baths
Hot springs are a big part of the Podhale experience: Chochołów, Szaflary, Białka Tatrzańska and Zakopane’s own aqua park are all within a short drive. Most day trips from Kraków end with a soak.
How to get to Zakopane
- From Kraków by bus: frequent private minibuses and coaches run from the bus station next to Kraków Główny; the trip takes about 2–2.5 hours depending on traffic.
- By train: direct trains from Kraków take a little longer than the bus but are more comfortable; there are also through trains from Warsaw and other cities.
- By car: the Zakopianka road (S7/DK47) is notorious for weekend queues; leave early.
- On a tour: the bestselling Zakopane day trips include pickup in Kraków.
Insider tips
- Winter weekends and the holiday period are extremely busy — book accommodation well ahead.
- Real oscypek is made from sheep’s milk in season (roughly May to September) and has EU protected status; many cheaper cheeses are imitations.
- Traffic in town is heavy — use buses and minibuses to reach Kuźnice and the trailheads.
- Góral restaurants (karczma) serve hearty food with live highland music in the evenings.
Best tours & tickets: Zakopane
These top-rated experiences are the easiest way to see Zakopane:
Day trip from €22 Kraków to Zakopane: Cable Car, Chochołów Thermal Baths, Cheese & Vodka
The most-booked Carpathian experience of all, with more than ten thousand reviews. A comfortable, well-paced day: the drive south to Zakopane, the funicular up Gubałówka, a tasting of smoked sheep’s cheese, time to wander the town and an evening in the thermal pools before the ride back.
- Funicular up Gubałówka hill for views of the Tatras
- Oscypek smoked-cheese tasting with a highlander family
- Free time on Krupówki, then a soak at Chochołów thermal baths
Day trip from €29 Kraków–Zakopane Tour: Cable Car, Hot Springs, Cheese & Vodka Tasting
A close cousin of the bestseller with an even higher rating: the same classic formula of Zakopane, the Gubałówka funicular, local tastings and a thermal-bath finish, with hotel pickup and small-group touches that reviewers single out.
- Hotel pickup in Kraków
- Gubałówka funicular and Krupówki street
- Highlander cheese and vodka tasting, then thermal pools
Day trip from €18 From Kraków: Zakopane & Tatra Mountains Tour with Cable Car
The lean, good-value version of the Zakopane day: transport, a guide, a mountain lift and generous free time to eat, shop or walk — without the thermal-bath add-on, so you are back in Kraków earlier.
- Scenic drive through the Podhale highlands
- Cable car or funicular ride with Tatra views
- Plenty of free time in Zakopane
Cable car ticket from €89 Zakopane: Kasprowy Wierch Cable Car Ticket & Transfer
The Kasprowy Wierch cable car is one of the great rides in the Carpathians — and in summer and on winter weekends the ticket queues at Kuźnice can be brutal. This package bundles the ticket with a transfer so you get straight up to the ridge.
- Cable car from Kuźnice to 1,987 m
- Transfer from your Zakopane accommodation
- Stand on the Polish–Slovak border ridge
