Top places to visit in Zakopane

• Morskie Oko Alpine Lake

  alpine lake · 4.9 rating · about 5 h · entry zł11 (≈ ₹270)

  Poland's most famous and most visited mountain lake — Morskie Oko (Eye of the Sea) sits at 1,395 m in a glacial cirque surrounded by sheer limestone walls and the Black Lake (Czarny Staw) above. The emerald-coloured lake covers 34.5…

• Kasprowy Wierch Cable Car

  mountain cable car · 4.7 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  The legendary cable car (kolejka linowa) carries visitors 1,985 m to the summit of Kasprowy Wierch in two stages from Kuznice station (15 min walk from Zakopane centre). The summit straddles the Slovak border and offers breathtaking views…

• Krupowki Promenade Zakopane

  mountain promenade · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Zakopane's pedestrian main street is a 1 km mountain market, restaurant strip, folk art gallery and social hub all in one. The wooden Zakopane-style architecture (steeply pitched roofs, carved balconies, decorative gingerbread woodwork)…

• Zakopane Tatra National Park

  national-park · 4.9 rating · about 8 h · entry zł11 (≈ ₹270)

  The Tatra National Park — the spectacular Polish high mountains with the dramatic Tatra range, the famous Eagle's Path (Orla Perć - the most difficult hiking trail in Poland), and the iconic alpine landscape.

• Zakopane Gubałówka Ridge

  ridge-funicular · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  The Gubałówka Ridge — the spectacular ridge accessible by funicular from central Zakopane, with the panoramic views over the Tatra Mountains, the famous Highland market, and the iconic Polish mountain experience.

• Zakopane Chochołowska Valley

  tatra-valley · 4.8 rating · about 8 h · entry zł11 (≈ ₹270)

  The Chochołowska Valley — the spectacular longest valley in the Tatras (10km), with the dramatic alpine meadows, the famous crocus blooms in spring, and the iconic Polish mountain wilderness.

• Zakopane Aqua Park

  aqua-park · 4.5 rating · about 4 h · check the fee at the gate

  The Aqua Park Zakopane — the spectacular thermal water park (since 2007), with the iconic geothermal pools, the slides, the saunas, and the family-friendly Tatra winter activity.

• Zakopane Tatra Christmas

  christmas-mountain · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  The Zakopane Christmas atmosphere — the magical Polish Highland Christmas with the spectacular church traditions, the historic Kolędy carols, the festive Krupówki market, and the iconic Tatra winter setting.

• Zakopane Witkacy Museum

  ethnographic-museum · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  The Witkacy Museum (Tatra Museum) — the spectacular ethnographic museum in Zakopane's historic Stanisław Witkiewicz villa, with the rich Polish Highland (Górale) culture, the historic costumes, and the iconic regional heritage.

• Zakopane Dolina Białego Walk

  valley-walk · 4.7 rating · about 3 h · entry zł11 (≈ ₹270)

  The Dolina Białego (White Valley) walk — the spectacular forest valley walk just minutes from Zakopane centre, with the historic huts, the crystal-clear stream, and the family-friendly Tatra hiking experience.

• Zakopane Highland Wooden Architecture

  wooden-architecture · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  The Zakopane Style Architecture tour — exploring the spectacular Stanisław Witkiewicz-designed wooden houses in the Górale Highland style, with the famous Villa Koliba, Pod Jedlami, and the iconic Polish national style.

• Zakopane Cemetery Pęksowy

  historic-cemetery · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  The Old Cemetery on Pęksowy Brzyzek — the spectacular 1851 mountain cemetery in Zakopane's old town, with the historic wooden tombs of famous Poles (Helena Modrzejewska, Kornel Makuszyński), and the iconic Górale heritage.

Things to do

• Zakopane Tatras Hiking Guided Tour Hiking · 8 h · from PLN 120 per person
• Zakopane Highlander Culture Experience Cultural · 3 h · from PLN 130 per person

Day trips and tours

• Gniezno Cradle of Poland & Biskupin Iron Age Village 9 h · from PLN 120

Where to stay in Zakopane

• Historic Centre about PLN 2,000 per night

  Olomouc's compact historic core is entirely walkable. Staying here puts you metres from all 6 Baroque fountains and the Holy Trinity Column. Excellent value vs Prague.

Hotels

• Belvedere Resort & Spa Zakopane 5-star · INR 7,350 to INR 21,000 per night
• Hotel Logos Zakopane 3-star · INR 1,890 to INR 4,200 per night

Where to eat

• Karczma u Wnuka Zakopane Polish, Highland, Podhale · about INR 1,050 per person

Getting to Zakopane

Airport: Poprad (TAT)

Getting around

• Bus
• Car Rental Self
• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Counterfeit Gingerbread Souvenirs

  Airport souvenir shops, non-certified bakeries

  Mass-produced gingerbread sold under Toruń branding is not made in Toruń and does not contain the authentic 12-spice recipe. Some vendors falsely claim their product is "traditional Toruń pierniki".

  How to avoid it: Authentic Toruń gingerbread (pierniki toruńskie) sold by certified bakers carries the EU Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) label. Buy from the Copernicus Piernik shop (ul. Żeglarska) or the Gingerbread Museum shop.

More in Poland

• Kraków
• Warsaw
• Gdańsk
• Wrocław
• Poznań
• Toruń

Frequently asked questions about Zakopane

What are the top-rated places to visit in Zakopane?

The highest-rated places in our Zakopane guide are Morskie Oko Alpine Lake, Zakopane Tatra National Park, Zakopane Chochołowska Valley, Kasprowy Wierch Cable Car, Zakopane Gubałówka Ridge.

Where should I stay in Zakopane?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Zakopane: Historic Centre.

How do I get around Zakopane?

Ways to get around Zakopane covered in our guide: City bus, Self-drive car, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Zakopane?

Scams reported to us for Zakopane include Counterfeit Gingerbread Souvenirs. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

Which airport is nearest to Zakopane?

The nearest airport to Zakopane has the code TAT.