Zakopane
is fresh mountain air
Welcome to Zakopane
Nestled in the foothills of the Tatras, Zakopane is Poland’s best-known mountain resort, famed for hiking in summer and skiing in winter, though at the height of the summer and winter seasons it can get positively overrun.
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Zakopane activities
Zakopane and Tatras Mountains Day Tour from Krakow
ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productPass By: Cracow Tours, Krakow, Lesser Poland Province, Southern PolandSituated by the Vistula river, Krakow is the cradle of Polish culture anda characteristic urban phenomenon. It is the former capital of Poland, the place of coronation and later the burial ground of almost all Polish monarchs. For a long time it has been attracting scholars with the oldest university in the country, artists with the cultural climate and pilgrims with the sanctuaries and holy relics. Since the beginning, Kraków has also been enticing tourists with its atmosphere, monuments, and recently also the memory of Pope John Paul II.The legendary founder of the city was Prince Krak, the vanquisher of the Wawel Dragon (the effigy of the beast stands at the foot of Wawel Hill). Remnants of the oldest history of the city have been preserved in two mounds dating from the 7th century called the Wanda and Krak mounds. The first historical information about Krakow is contained in a 10th-century note of Ibrahim ibn Jakub. In the book of Muhammad al-Idrisi (dating from the 12th century) Krakow is described as a “beautiful and large city with many houses, residents, markets, vineyards and gardens.” At the beginning of the 12th century Gallus Anonymous depictedKrakow as a thriving metropolis and wrote in his Chronicles: “Krakow, the capital city, excels all Polish cities.” Krakow was founded according to the Magdeburg law (by Bolesław V the Chaste) on the 5 June 1257. district) was inscribed on the UNESCO list of World Cultural and Natural HeritageSites in 1978 as the first of its kind.It is important for the residents of Krakow to cultivate their traditions such as the annual nativity crib contest or the Lajkonik wandering in the octave of theCorpus Christi (June) from Zwierzyniec to the Main Market Square.Among the many eminent people connected to Krakow are the Pope John Paul II; the Nobel Prize poets Czesław Miłosz and Wislawa Szymborska; the founder of the avant-garde theatre Cricot-2, Tadeusz Kantor; the playwright Stanisław Mrozek; Stanislaw Lem – the legend of Polish fantasy writing; Stanislaw Wyspianski – a painter, poet, playwright, designer and the author of works such as the stained glass decorating the Franciscan Church; and Dr. Feliks “Manggha” Jasinski– the benefactor of the Japanese collection displayed currently in the Manggha Centre of Japanese Art and Technology funded by Andrzej Wajda. Stop At: Tatras Mountains (Tatry), Southern PolandVisiting Zakopane is a perfect opportunity to learn aboutthe wooden architecture of Podhale highlanders, and to seethe beautiful villas in Zakopane style, which was inspired bythe folklore of this region. It is worth visiting the Koliba villa, housing the Museum of Zakopane Style. Other uniqueexamples of the Zakopane style include the Pod Jedlamivilla and the charming chapel in Jaszczurówka designedby Stanisław Witkiewicz, the creator of the Zakopane style.In the vicinity of Krupowki, a famous Zakopane promenade, there is the grand building of the Tatra Museum devoted to the mountains, the Podhale folklore and the history of the exploration of the Tatra Mountains. You can also find many churches and monasteries in Zakopane. However, most pilgrims go to the sanctuary of our Lady of Fatima in Krzeptowki, which is run by the Pallotines and strongly linked with John Paul II.Before you travel from Zakopane to the Tatra Mountains, it is worth taking a funicular railway to the top of Gubałowka (1120 m asl). This picturesque mountain ridge emerges from thenorth of Zakopane, just on the opposite side of the Giewont peak. Another way to admire the mountain panorama is toA view on Giewont, photo by J. Gorlach Cable car to Kasprowy Wierch, photo by J. Gorlach 22 23 take a ride on a cable car from Kuznice to Kasprowy Wierch (1985 m asl). The most beautiful lake in the Tatra Mountains is Morskie Oko, lyingat the foot of the highest peak in Poland, Rysy (2499 m asl). The lake can be reached by a 10 km asphalt road, also frequented by horse buses.The best place to stop by and take a rest after an exhausting hike is a newly built water park at the foot of Antalowka, which offers thermal water baths.Duration: 9 hoursStop At: Tatra Mountains Museum, Zakopane, Lesser Poland Province, Southern PolandThe Dr Tytus Chalubinski Tatra Mountains Museum is housed in a purpose-built building designed by Stanislaw Witkiewicz and Franciszek Maczynski in the Zakopane style and constructed in 1913-22.One of the oldest regional museums in Poland, it was first created in 1888 as a museum of nature to commemorate Dr Tytus Chalubinski (1820-89), the physician, botanist and great public figure who was enamoured with the Tatra Mountains, uncovered the beauty and originality of the highlanders' culture, and promoted Zakopane. The key champion of the initiative to open such a museum in Zakopane was Adolf Scholtze, the Warsaw industrialist, chemist and devoted naturalist.The Museum preserves its holdings in several departments. The Nature Department is devoted to the nature and wildlife of the Tatra Mountains, their geology and caves. Among its prized possessions is Tytus Chalubinski's collection of more than 2,700 specimens of moss, nine albums containing 900 species of vascular plants, a unique collection of nearly 140 species of lichen, and numerous herbaria. The zoological holdings, spanning the areas of the Tatras, the Rocky Podhale, the Orawsko-Nowotarska Dale and the Pieniny Mountains, number some 581 exhibits and are particularly noted for the collections of birds, of the Tatra and Podtatrze butterflies, and of the Tatra dragon-flies. The geological holdings include 2,081 specimens of rocks, minerals and fossils from the areas of the Tatras and Podtatrze. Of special interest is a beautiful collection of 96 marine fossils, with ammonites, sea-urchins, molluscs and snails.The Ethnographic Department preserves objects of material culture, crafts and folk art from the areas of Podhale, Spisz and Orawa. Visitors will see the local sheep-herding and household equipment; costumes, including the precious female attire from the area of Czorsztyn; paintings on glass; decorated metal and leather objects; and embroideries. There is also a valuable collection of folk instruments and metal pins. The Art Department is home to a precious collection of paintings, graphics and drawings, all having the Tatras as their subject, a new occurrence in the Polish art in the first half of the nineteenth century. There is also a large collection of portraits executed in various techniques and presenting the top-most Zakopane artists, politicians, sportsmen, as well as mountain folk. The Museum's patron, Tytus Chalubinski, has a number of portraits by various artists, Stanislaw Witkiewicz among them. There are also several pastels drawn by Witkiewicz's son, Stanislaw Ignacy (nicknamed Witkacy) in his famous "Portraiture Company". Of special note is also a collection of fifty cartoons of the author's contemporaries by Kazimierz Sichulski, one of Poland's most renowned cartoonists, as well as a collection of sculpture by Zakopane artists.Contemporary art is represented by artists' individual collections, such as that of works by Wladyslaw Hasior. A separate place is dedicated to exhibits related to the history of climbing and skiing in the Tatras and to the Tatra Mountains Rescue Service. On display is historical sports gear, club badges, medals and mementoes of leading sportsmen.Permanent exhibitions: History: The Exploration of the Tatras; Nature: Nature and Wildlife, Geology and Caves of the Tatras; Ethnographical: Interior of the Highlander's Cottage in the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries; Folk Culture in its Many Aspects.Duration: 1 hour
Full-Day Trip to Zakopane from Krakow
After approximately a 2-hour bus drive (with a short break after 1 hour), we will stop in the village of Chochołów, where you will have time to admire the wooden houses from the 19th century made without using a single nail. If we are lucky, we can also visit the workshop of a local artist. From Chochołów, we will head next to Zakopane. Leaving the bus in the city center, we will walk for a few minutes along one of main streets of the city to Villa Koliba, the Museum of Architecture Style of Zakopane. After a 1-hour visit at the museum, we will go to see the oldest wooden church in Zakopane and the ancient cemetery. Assisted by our guide, we will then take a funicular ride up Gubałówka Hill. If the weather is good, you can admire a wonderful view of the Tatry Mountains. Next, we will go on a 20-minute walk through Butorowy Rib to take a chairlift to return down to Zakopane. After a 1.5-hour break for lunch and shopping on Krupówki, a commercial street in Zakopane, we will get back on the bus and go see the ski jump, one of the most popular places for winter sports in Poland. We will then end the tour with seeing the wooden Jaszczurówka Chapel.
Zakopane, Tatras & Thermal Pools: Complete Private Tour
ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productPass By: Krakow's Rynek Glowny Central Square, Krakow, Lesser Poland Province, Southern PolandWe pick up our travellers from a chosen location in Krakow (hotels, apartments, AirbBnB etc).Stop At: Chocholow Uprising Museum, Chocholow, Lesser Poland Province, Southern PolandVisiting the Old Gorale HouseDuration: 30 minutesStop At: Gubalowka, Zakopane, Lesser Poland Province, Southern PolandFunicular ride to the top of the Gubalowska MountaingDuration: 1 hourStop At: Termy Bukovina, Bukowina Tatrzanska, Lesser Poland Province, Southern Poland2,5h relaxing bath in Thermal PoolsDuration: 3 hours
Krakow to Zakopane: Tatra Mountains Thermal Pools Private Tour
ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productFirst you will be picked-up form your accommodation. The journey from Krakow to Zakopane takes about 2 hours. While traveling we stop for approximately 20 minutes at Chochołow - wooden village.In Zakopane it is all about stunning views and sightseeing which includes Krzeptówki, Pęksowy Brzyzek Old Cemetery. Enjoy your free time at Krupówki street - the centre of Zakopane. Later you will go up to Gubałówka Hill to admire the view.Don’t forget to taste the local delicay – Oscypki.Pass By: Krupowki Street, Zakopane, Lesser Poland Province, Southern PolandAt the end of the trip you will have 3 hours to have fun at thermal pools in Chocholow! Thermal water, except for medicinal mineral composition, also has therapeutic properties. Thermal baths relaxant effect and improve blood supply to tissues and organs. You will be back in Krakow around 8 pm.Duration: 3 hoursLocation: Chocholowskie Termy, Chocholow, Lesser Poland Province, Southern Poland.Pass By: Poland Active - Day Tours, Krakow, Lesser Poland Province, Southern Poland
Cable Car to Kasprowy Wierch - Tour from Krakow
ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productStop At: Tatras Mountains (Tatry), Southern PolandThe clients will see breathtaking views. Duration: 40 minutesStop At: Kasprowy Wierch Cable Car, Zakopane, Lesser Poland Province, Southern PolandYou will spend 40 minutes at the top of Kasprowy Hill. After that you will get down by cable car. Duration: 40 minutesPass By: Poland Active - Day Tours, Krakow, Lesser Poland Province, Southern Poland-
Zakopane private tour from Krakow
ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productStop At: Gubalowka, Zakopane, Lesser Poland Province, Southern PolandAs in all funiculars, on the Gubałówka, a continuous steel cable is attached to a pair of tram-like carriages set at a steep angle on narrow gauge rails. These two carriages travel up and down the steep mountain slope, the ascending and descending vehicles counterbalancing each other in turn. The line is single, apart from one automatically controlled passing place situated roughly halfway up. The cable runs between the rails, guided by numerous roller wheels. Street style lighting is provided along the whole length of the line.An overbridge carries a ski-run over the line, otherwise the route is uninterrupted, a single station being present at either end.Duration: 2 hours