Holiday in Zakopane

What makes Zakopane special as a destination?

Zakopane is the winter capital of Poland and the heart of the High Tatras — a charming mountain resort at the foot of the highest mountains between the Alps and the Caucasus, captivating skiers, hikers, and food lovers alike. The town, situated at an altitude of 800-1,000 meters, is the gateway to the Tatra National Park and offers spectacular mountain panoramas, traditional wooden architecture in the Zakopane style, and the vibrant culture of the Gorals, the mountain people of the Polish Carpathians. Krupowki, Zakopane's legendary pedestrian zone, is a one-and-a-half-kilometer-long boulevard filled with restaurants, cheese shops, souvenir stores, and street musicians: Here you can try Oscypek (smoked sheep cheese), drink hot Grzaniec (mulled wine), and buy hand-carved wooden figures from Goral tradition. In winter, the street transforms into a snowy winter wonderland. Morskie Oko (Sea Eye), an emerald green glacial lake at an altitude of 1,395 meters, is the most beautiful lake in the Tatras and one of Poland's most popular excursion destinations: The path leads 9 kilometers through dense spruce forests, past waterfalls, and at the end, a breathtaking panorama of steep rock walls reflecting in the crystal-clear water unfolds. The cable car to Kasprowy Wierch (1,987 m) offers the most spectacular mountain panorama in the region: At the top, you stand on the Polish-Slovak border with views into both countries, and in winter, challenging ski slopes start here. Gubalowka Hill (1,126 m) is accessible by funicular and offers a 180-degree panorama over the entire High Tatras. In summer, Zakopane is the starting point for hikes to the highest peaks of the Tatras: Rysy (2,499 m, the highest mountain in Poland), Swinica, and Giewont with its distinctive summit cross. In winter, Kasprowy Wierch, Nosal, and Bialka Tatrzanska offer skiing fun for all skill levels.