8 Best Things to do in Zakopane
Visit the shimmering turquoise water of Morskie Oko, hike Poland’s highest mountain, sample the local cheese, relax at one of the many spas, ski in the premier mountain town and admire the gorgeous Tatra Mountains. Continue reading for our full guide on the best things to do in Zakopane.
Nestled at the foothills of the Tatra Mountains lies Poland’s premier mountain town, Zakopane. The Tatra Mountains form a natural border between Poland and Slovakia and are conveniently located only 100 kilometres from Krakow.
Shimmering turquoise alpine lakes, endless mountain peaks, relaxing spas, local food and winter sports all await you at this year-round outdoor adventure playground.
There are so many wonderful things to do in Zakopane whether you’re here on a day trip from Krakow or you’re visiting for a few days, you’ll soon find your days are filled with endless fun.
In this guide, we’ll start off with the best things to do in Zakopane followed by everything else you need to know including how to get here, the best time to visit, how long we’d recommend and more.
Top 8 Things to do in Zakopane
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Visit Morskie Oko
At the top of our list of things to do in Zakopane has to be the most popular attraction; Morskie Oko, the largest lake in the Tatra National Park!
At 1395 metres above sea level, this mesmerising crystal-clear lake is nestled beneath majestic jagged peaks and makes a great base for spending a few hours relaxing and taking in the wonderful mountain scenery surrounding you.
Our Top Tip: this lake gets extremely busy, especially during the summer months. If you want to make the most of your experience, arrive first thing in the morning and head to the other side of the lake.
Please note that it is prohibited to swim or paddle in the lake. This is to protect the lakes’ delicate ecosystem and you could be hit with a hefty fine.
There’s also a mountain hostel with a large outdoor seating area on the shores of Morskie Oko, ideal for a chilled afternoon Polish beer!
How to get to Morskie Oko
If you have your own vehicle, the easiest way to get to Morksie Oko from Zakopane is to drive the forty minutes to Palenica Bialczanska Car Park. The car park costs 25 PLN a day.
Alternatively, there are regular shuttles from Zakopane starting at about 7am. The timetable changes regularly but they’re very frequent so if you head to the station you shouldn’t have to wait long. Buses are marked ‘Morskie Oko’ and cost 10 PLN.
Once you reach Palenica Bialczanska Car Park, the lake is a 2-hour leisurely stroll; an hour and a half if you walk quickly. The trail is easy but not the most exciting; a flat paved road full of people.
There are also horse-drawn carriages taking visitors to the lake; please do not use these!! For years, people have been trying to ban these as horses are constantly dying on the road due to the terrible conditions.
If you’re limited on time and can only visit Zakopane as a day trip from Krakow, book a tour.
There’s a 5 PLN entrance fee to the Tatra National Park.
Climb to Czarny Staw
To escape the crowds that congregate on Morskie Oko’s shores, follow the hiking trail up to Czarny Staw sitting at 1583 metres above sea level.
On your way up to Czarny Staw, turn around the admire the incredible view over Morskie Oko, the High Tatra peaks and the whole valley!
Enveloped by the dramatic mountain peaks of the Tatras, Czarny Staw, “Black Pond” in English, is the fourth largest lake in the Tatra Mountains at around two-thirds of the size of Morskie Oko.
Hiking between Morskie Oko and Czarny Staw will take between 45 minutes and an hour up a well-paved path. Although this lake can also get busy, it’s fractions compared to Morskie Oko.
Hike Rysy Mountain
For the ultimate adventure and one of the most rewarding things to do in Zakopane, take on Poland’s highest Peak; Rysy Mountain!
Standing at 2499 metres, Rysy Mountain straddles the border between Poland and Slovakia. It’s one of the most beautiful hikes in the High Tatras, rewarding you with incredible mountain views, shimmering alpine lakes and a great day challenge!
You’ll leave the pathed path at Czarny Staw and you’ll soon be clambering over loose stone rubble and using chains to pull yourself up so make sure you’re wearing proper hiking shoes.
The view at the top of Rysy across the High Tatras is incredible! Nestled below the dramatic sharp peaks are the deep-blue waters of Morskie Oko and Czarny Staw.
The full hike is 25.1 kilometres and took us a total of 9 hours. It is possible to hike Rysy in a day from Krakow, but you’ll have to leave very early. We’d recommend at least a night in Zakopane.
For our full guide on hiking Rysy Mountain, read our guide below.
Stroll Up Krupowki Street
In the heart of Zakopane is Krupowki Street. You won’t need to go out of your way to wind up here, you’ll naturally do so at various points throughout your stay.
This pedestrianised street is where you’ll find the majority of Zakopane’s restaurants, pubs, shops and nightlife. It can get very busy, especially in the evenings so, if you’re in a rush, you’re best to avoid it.
Lining Krupowki Street, in addition to the standard international clothing brands, are local shops and stalls selling products from the mountainous Podhale region; clothes, jewellery, souvenirs, oscypek cheese (see below) and many more.
Our Top Tip: there are a lot of restaurants along Krupowki Street that are overpriced and touristy. if you’re looking for something more authentic, make sure to do your research. We’ll put some recommendations at the end.
Eat Local Cheese
We can’t visit somewhere new and not try the local cuisine, so, one of the best things to do in Zakopane is to eat Oscypek, the local cheese and speciality of the Tatra Highlands.
Oscypek is a smoked cheese made from salted sheep’s milk exclusively in the Podhale region of Poland. The cheese is shaped by hand and placed into wood carved moulds called Oscypiorka.
It’s then smoked using pine wood which gives the cheese a white creamy interior and outer golden colour.
To be honest, we weren’t fans, it was a bit too smoky, but it’s definitely a must-try while you’re here!
View Zakopane from Gubalowka
One of the top things to do in Zakopane is head up Gubalowka Hill for a fantastic panoramic view of the Tatra Mountains bordering Poland and Slovakia.
It feels like its own little town up here where you can easily spend a few hours.
Explore some of the walking trails, dine in one of the restaurants or cafes, have a drink in the bar, stroll around the locally made souvenir stalls or relax on the man-made beach soaking up the views.
If you’re feeling energetic, you can walk up Gubalowka Hill from Zakopane which should take around an hour. Alternatively, take the funicular which is an experience in itself.
Relax at the Spa
After a day exploring the Tatra Mountains, there’s nothing that beats a few hours at a spa relaxing the muscles.
There are numerous spas to choose from depending on how you want to treat yourself. Luxury hotels with spa packages offering massages, facials and feet treatments, thermal pools overlooking the mountains, saunas, steam baths, waterslides, the list goes on!
Plenty of hotels in Zakopane offer spa packages even if you’re not staying there, so check out the list of the best Spa Hotels to take your pick.
Alternatively, you can book a tour of Zakopane with hot pools and hotel pick up if you’d like the hassle out of arranging it yourself.
Go Skiing
As Poland’s premier mountain town, we couldn’t miss skiing when talking about the best things to do in Zakopane.
There are a few small skiing areas; Nosal and Gubalowka Hill which are perfect for beginners and families, and Kasprowy Wierch, which is more suited for advanced skiers.
Although Zakopane is known for having some of the best skiing in Poland, it’s got a long way to go before coming close to the conditions you’ll find in the Alps.
Our Top Tip: try to visit Zakopane for skiing outside of Polish school holidays to avoid the crowds.
Everything Else You Need to Know
How do I get to Zakopane?
The best way to get to Zakopane from Krakow is with your own car. It’s the quickest and also gives you the flexibility of travelling around on your own time when you get there without having to rely on public transport.
There are regular buses from Krakow to Zakopane that cost around $6 one way and take 2 hours. They go approximately every 15 minutes from the main bus station. To save time when you get there, we’d recommend booking online.
Alternatively, you can book a private transfer from Krakow to Zakopane.
If you’re short on time and just staying in Krakow, there are plenty of day tours to Zakopane which will take you to some of the best spots and take the hassle out of spending time organising transport.
Getting to Zakopane from Krakow couldn’t be easier.
What Currency do I need?
The currency used is the Polish Złoty. At the time of writing $1 is roughly 4.46 złoty. We didn’t take any cash with us but used our Monzo and Revolut cards to get cash at an ATM when we arrived.
Where’s the best place to stay in Zakopane?
If you don’t have your own car, we’d recommend staying in the centre of Zakopane so you can get everywhere on foot. If you’re taking shuttles to the main spots, you ideally don’t want to also be relying on hotel shuttles/taxis to get you to town on time.
Alternatively, if you have your own car or don’t mind a half an hour’s walk to Krupowki Street, there are some beautiful accommodation options nestled in the mountains.
Take a look at the map below for where you can find places to stay.
How long do you recommend in Zakopane?
To do justice and tick off a number of the top things to do in Zakopane, we’d recommend 3 nights. You’ll spend a full day in the Morskie Oko area alone and that gives you another full day to spend in the mountains around the town.
What restaurants do you recommend?
One of the best things to do in Zakopane is try the local food, which is delicious! However, as the area becomes increasingly popular, it can be tricky to find somewhere good to eat with authentic, local cuisine without the tourist price tag.
The best thing to do is get off Krupowki Street and onto the little side roads that are quieter.
Bakowo Zohylina Wyznio is a family-run, relaxed, rustic restaurant built from wood in traditional Highlander style serving local classic dishes.
Javorina has a love for tradition and its ancestors and offers a timeless atmosphere where they make feel guests feel special. Their restaurant serves traditional flavours of regional, Polish and European cuisine.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our post on the top things to do in Zakopane. If you have any questions or recommendations, feel free to leave a comment.