Things to do in Zakopane
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Karczma Zbójecka
An attractive basement eatery, this place offers regional dishes and meats grilled on a huge wood-burning rotisserie. There’s always a buzzy atmosphere and decent local folk music on some evenings.
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Morskie Oko
The emerald-green lake called Morskie Oko , about 12km southeast of Zakopane, is a popular day trip. Buses and minibuses regularly depart from ul Kościuszki for Polana Palenica (30 minutes), from where a 9km-long road continues uphill to the lake. Cars, bikes and buses are not allowed up this road, so you'll have to walk (allow about two hours each way).
Alternatively, take a horse-drawn carriage to within 2km of the lake. The last minibus to Zakopane returns between 17:00 and 18:00. Most travel agencies organise day trips here.
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Mt Kasprowy Wierch
Mt Kasprowy Wierch (1985m) offers some of the most challenging ski slopes in the area, as well as the best conditions, with the spring skiing season sometimes extending as late as early May. You can get to the top in 20 minutes by Cable Car, then stay up the mountains and use the two chairlifts, in the Goryczkowa and Gąsienicowa valleys, on both sides of Mt Kasprowy. The view from the top is spectacular (clouds permitting) and you can stand with one foot in Poland and the other in Slovakia.
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Parish Church of the Holy Family
At the northern end of ul Krupówki is the neo-Romanesque Parish Church of the Holy Family , which looks as though it has been imported from suburban Boston in the USA. It was built at the end of the 19th century when the wooden Old Church, 200m to the west and dating from 1851, could no longer cope with the numbers of worshippers. The Old Church has charming carved wooden decorations and pews, and Stations of the Cross painted on glass.
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Karczma Czarny Staw
Though under the same management as Zbójecka, the ‘Black Pond’ is more upmarket. It offers a tasty range of Polish dishes, including fish, much of it cooked before your very eyes on the central grill. There’s a good salad bar, with home-preserved vegetables and mushrooms.
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Funicular
Mt Gubałówka is another popular skiing area and it too offers some pistes and good conditions. It's easily accessible from central Zakopane by Funicular , covering the 1298m-long route in 3½ minutes and climbing 300m from the lower station just north of ul Krupówki.
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Mt Gubałówka
Mt Gubałówka is another popular skiing area and it too offers some pistes and good conditions. It's easily accessible from central Zakopane by Funicular, covering the 1298m-long route in 3½ minutes and climbing 300m from the lower station just north of ul Krupówki.
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Targ Pod Gubałówką
This large market at the northern end of ul Krupówki and in front of the funicular’s lower station is the place to come for woollen goods and knits, handicrafts such as carved wood kitchen utensils, cheap clothing and food.
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Paparazzi
This branch of the popular chain with a media theme keeps both the après-ski crowd and tourists well lubricated into the wee hours. Great cocktails – try anything mixed with miódpitny (mead).
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Aqua Park
An excellent place to cool off on a warm summer’s day is Aqua Park, with indoor and outdoor pools, slides, various saunas and – incongruously – bowling.
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Pstrąg Górski
This self-service fish restaurant, done up in traditional style and overlooking a narrow stream, serves some of the freshest trout, salmon and sea fish in town. It’s excellent value.
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Sukces Ski Rental
Ski-equipment hire is available from outlets throughout Zakopane, including Sukces Ski Rental. Complete kits for skiing/snowboarding average 35/40zł a day.
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Café Antrakt
A mellow venue for an alcoholic or caffeine-laden drink, hidden away above a mineral shop with an ambient old-meets-new décor. It occasionally hosts live jazz.
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Horse-Drawn Carriage
A half-hour whirl around Zakopane in a Horse-Drawn Carriage (or, in winter, a sleigh) seating four people. They gather near Tatry Sport on ul Piłsudskiego.
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Tatra Museum
The big wooden pile above the pedestrian mall, has sections on regional and natural history, ethnography and geology, and is a good introduction to the region.
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Museum of Zakopane Style
The Museum of Zakopane Style examines that school of design through architectural drawings and models as well as interior furnishings.
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Bar Smakosz
Serving Polish fast food at its most basic and cheapest, the ironically named ‘Gourmet’ is for early birds at both ends of the day.
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Staro Izba
Serves lots of excellent lamb dishes, including kiełbasa (Polish sausage) and kwaśnica, a kind of sauerkraut soup.
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Pierożek Bar Mleczny
Set in a little wood cabin with folk décor just off the main pedestrian street, this place serves the best pierogi in Zakopane.
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Altius Travel Agency
The Altius Travel Agency offers horse riding, as well as riding holidays and excursions into the surrounding countryside.
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Tatra National Park Museum
The Tatra National Park Museum displays local flora and fauna and the natural history of the park.
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Old Church
The Old Church has charming carved wooden decorations and pews, and Stations of the Cross painted on glass.
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Trek
Bicycles are available for hire from a number of companies in Zakopane, including Trek.
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Karol Szymanowski Museum
The Karol Szymanowski Museum is the home of Karol Szymanowski from 1930 to 1935. .
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