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An update from Evaneos
Zakopane

Zakopane (Poland)

Practical information on Zakopane

  • Family
  • Viewpoint
  • Hiking / Trekking
  • Extreme Sports
  • Countryside
  • Mountain
  • Ski resort
  • Place or Historical Monument
  • Essential
5 / 5 - One review
How to get there
2 hours by (winding) road to the south of Krakow
When to go
In summer for hiking and in winter for skiing
Minimum stay
2 to 3 days

Reviews of Zakopane

Timothée D. Seasoned Traveller
285 written opinions

The first winter sports resort on the Polish side of the Tatras, Zakopane has managed to retain all of its old-world charm with its many wooden chalets.

My suggestion:
If you are looking to enjoy the Tatras with fewer holidaymakers around, I would recommend the Slovakian side, which is a little more "intimate".
My review

Zakopane is a lovely ski resort town positioned in the foothills of the majestic Tatra mountains, with wooden chalets dating back to the late 19th Century. In winter, hundreds of visitors descend upon the town to take advantage of its excellent skiing terrain and its quality infrastructures, which include an impressive ski jump. The crowds can seem a little overwhelming and disproportionate in relation to Zakopane's modest size.

I visited in the off-season, in September, and was able to fully enjoy Zakopane's mountain-village atmosphere, without the hordes of visitors. Summer, incidentally, is the ideal season for hiking in the neighbouring mountains, whose beautiful summits offer striking views over the Tatra mountain range. This is certainly a stop to include in your trip to Poland.

Mountainous panorama of Zakopane