By air
Kraków (KRK), ~2 h by road
Europe · Poland
Zakopane, Poland
The Tatras' mountain town
Getting there
Best time to visit
June to September; December to March for skiing
Don't miss
Morskie Oko
Kasprowy Wierch
Gubałówka
Krupówki street
Things to do
Hiking in the Tatras
The Gubałówka hill
Wooden architecture
Where to eat
What to pack
Hiking or ski gear
A quieter corner
The Chochołowska valley's crocuses in spring
Questions travellers ask
Is Zakopane a summer or a winter destination?
Both: June to September, or December to March for skiing. Bring hiking or ski gear to match.
What's the best way to reach Zakopane?
Fly into Kraków (KRK); Zakopane is about 2 h away by road.
What is there to see and do in Zakopane?
Morskie Oko, Kasprowy Wierch, Gubałówka and Krupówki street, plus the wooden architecture. Go hiking in the Tatras.
What should I try in Zakopane?
Oscypek smoked cheese. In spring, look for the crocuses in the Chochołowska valley.
About Zakopane
- Mountains
Where it is
Zakopane is a mountain town in the Lesser Poland region of southern Poland, in the Podhale area at the foot of the Tatra Mountains, near the border with Slovakia.
History
By 1889 Zakopane had grown from a small highland village into a mountain health resort, and artists and writers came to spend their summers here. Stanisław Witkiewicz pioneered the Zakopane Style of architecture, based on the wooden houses of the Górale highlanders, and the town became known as the winter capital of Poland.
People
Zakopane is a centre of Górale culture: the highlanders keep their own dialect, music, dances, costume and food. Sheep grazing on the high pastures produces oscypek, a smoked cheese with a protected designation of origin.
Known for
- Hiking in the Tatra National Park
- Morskie Oko lake
- Oscypek smoked sheep's cheese
- Wooden houses in the Zakopane Style
- Skiing on Kasprowy Wierch
Did you know?
Morskie Oko, the largest lake in the Tatras, lies at about 1,400 m beneath the peaks of Rysy, the highest mountain in Poland.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.