Zakopane, Poland, is a beautiful mountain town at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. The first thing you notice are the mountains rising behind the town, but there is plenty more to enjoy: wooden houses, little cafés, local shops and a lively town centre. If you’re planning a trip to Zakopane, these are the places and experiences worth knowing about.
There’s a lovely mix of things to do in Zakopane. You can wander along Krupówki, ride the funicular up Gubałówka for the mountain views, find traditional wooden houses around town or head into the Tatra Mountains for a day outdoors. Even a simple coffee stop can come with a great view here.
Imagine waking up in Zakopane, pulling back the curtains and finding the magnificent Tatra Mountains filling the view outside your window.
You get dressed, head out into the cool mountain air and walk towards town, passing wooden houses with little details – you want to stop and look at.
Soon you smell something warm cooking and find yourself choosing breakfast from one of the local stalls or cafés. Down on Krupówki, the town is already awake — people chatting, shops opening and the sound of footsteps along the street.
And then, just a little further on, the noise begins to fade and you are back among the mountains again. That is the Zakopane feeling.
Zakopane is best known as Poland’s mountain town, sitting at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. It is a popular base for skiing and snow activities in winter, while summer brings visitors for mountain walks and the spectacular scenery.
Two of the best-known viewpoints are Kasprowy Wierch, reached by cable car, and Gubałówka, reached by funicular. Zakopane is also famous for its distinctive wooden houses and chalets, built in the local Zakopane style, as well as its lively main street, Krupówki.
Yes, Zakopane is fairly easy to reach and that is one of the nice surprises for first-time visitors.
Most international travelers arrive via Kraków, then continue to Zakopane by bus, car or organized transfer.
Once you arrive in Zakopane, the town itself is easy to explore, with local buses connecting different parts of the area.
You can’t really visit Zakopane without trying oscypek. You’ll see this smoked sheep’s cheese at market stalls and food stands around town, often served warm and sometimes grilled until it’s beautifully golden on the outside.
Add a warm drink, a little local food and a cosy café stop, and suddenly you’re not just sightseeing — you’re enjoying being in the mountains.
One thing we’d recommend is not trying to pack too much into your time here.
Take a slow walk through town, stop for coffee, browse the little shops and find somewhere you can sit and look at the mountains for a while. Zakopane is one of those places where some of the nicest moments happen when you’re not actually doing anything at all. Just enjoying the moment. (That’s if you’re not coming for the winter ski adrenaline…)
Because when the snow arrives, Zakopane takes on a very different personality. The Tatra Mountains become a winter playground, with ski slopes, cable cars, snowy streets and plenty of places to warm up afterwards. It’s one of Poland’s best-known winter destinations, and for many visitors, skiing is a big part of the reason to come.
If you want to see the side of Zakopane that feels properly wild and mountainous, Hala Gąsienicowa is worth knowing about. The trail takes you away from the town and into a dramatic landscape of peaks, open mountain meadows and traditional scenery. It is one of those places where the whole reason for being there is simply to stop, look around and take it all in.
No matter the season, the mountains are what bring people to Zakopane.
The best time to visit really depends on the kind of Zakopane experience you’re looking for.
For a first visit, I’d suggest:
If you’re mainly visiting for the Zakopane atmosphere rather than skiing or hiking, 3 nights works well in either season.
Where you stay matters. The easiest choice is to stay close to Krupówki, the town’s famous pedestrian street, but there is another option that I think is worth considering: staying a little farther out where you can enjoy more space, quieter surroundings and views towards the mountains.
If this is your first visit and you like being able to walk out of your accommodation and immediately find restaurants, cafés, shops and plenty of activity, stay near Krupówki. The pedestrian promenade is about 1 km long and is the centre of much of Zakopane’s visitor activity.
It is particularly convenient in the evening. You can have dinner, browse the shops, stop for a coffee or try some local food without having to arrange transport back to your accommodation.
There is a trade-off: Krupówki gets very busy during the high season, so accommodation directly on the main street is not the best choice if peace and quiet are important to you.
A good compromise is to stay a few streets away from Krupówki. You remain within easy walking distance of the restaurants and shops but can escape some of the noise and crowds.
For a more relaxed Zakopane experience, look beyond the busiest part of town. Areas on the outskirts, around Gubałówka or towards Kościelisko, can give you more space and a much stronger sense of being in the mountains. Accommodation outside the centre also commonly comes with balconies, gardens or open views towards the Tatras.
This is the option I would consider if the view from your window matters as much as being close to the shops. Imagine waking up, making coffee and looking across at the mountains before heading into town for the day.
The trade-off is simple: you may need a car, taxi or local transport for some outings, and an evening walk to Krupówki is no longer as convenient.
Grand Hotel Stamary — for a more traditional central stay
For a central option, this family-friendly hotel is close enough to enjoy Zakopane on foot while offering a different atmosphere from the large modern resorts. Only a 5 minute walk from the train station.
It also has spa and wellness facilities and a swimming pool.
For a cozy stay you might opt for: Zakątek Zakopane – A beautiful guest house on Chyców Potok, about a 9-minute walk from Zakopane railway station and roughly a 15-minute walk from the main street. It has balconies, free parking, a shared kitchen and garden.
Choose near Krupówki if you want restaurants, shops, evening atmosphere and the convenience of walking almost everywhere.
Choose farther out if you want a quieter stay, more space and a better chance of waking up to mountain views.
For a two- or three-night visit, I would look for a quiet property within reasonable walking distance of the centre, or choose a place farther out specifically because it has a beautiful Tatra view. In Zakopane, that view can be part of the holiday rather than simply something you see while sightseeing.
TRAVEL TIP: Take some Polish złoty with you
Cards are widely accepted in Zakopane, but having some Polish złoty (PLN) is useful for smaller stalls, markets and quick food stops.
TRAVEL TIP: Check the mountain weather before you head out
The weather can be quite different in the mountains from what you experience in town. A sunny morning in Zakopane does not always mean the same conditions higher up, so check the forecast before setting off.
…during your vacation, we’d choose:
1. Gubałówka – for those wonderful views across Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains.
2. Krupówki Street – to experience the lively heart of town, browse the shops and stop for something to eat.
3. Kasprowy Wierch – for the big mountain experience and some of the most spectacular scenery around Zakopane.
TRAVEL TIP: Book mountain attractions ahead
If you want to take the cable car to Kasprowy Wierch, check availability and book ahead, especially during summer, weekends and school holidays. Popular mountain attractions can get busy.
Visit Zakopane for the mountains, but stay for the feeling of the place. There is something lovely about waking up to the Tatras, wandering past wooden houses, stopping for something warm to eat and ending the day with a mountain view. Add the lively streets, cosy cafés and the completely different atmosphere that winter brings, and you have a mountain escape that feels easy to enjoy and hard to forget.