Destination guide
Zakopane
Poland
Zakopane is a large, year-round mountain resort in Małopolskie Province in southern Poland. It's set in the Polish Tatra National Park which is part of the Tatra mountains, the natural frontier between Poland and Slovakia.
AI insights
Local-ledAI-written from the Wikivoyage listings, transport section and mostly LOCAL creators' videos on this page
When using the privately owned mini-bus network, note the driver's contact number before departing; while these services run on fixed routes, they lack set schedules, and having a direct line can be a helpful way to coordinate your return trip from remote trailheads.
Prioritize visiting the Cemetery of the Distinguished at Pęksowy Brzyzek early in your trip to appreciate the intricate craftsmanship of the tombstones, which serve as a primary open-air gallery of regional artistic history.
Research your accommodation thoroughly rather than choosing based solely on price or location, as specific historic wooden properties like the Good Bye Lenin Hostel have been reported to attract noisy tour groups and suffer from security issues.
Seek out restaurants that emphasize on-site preparation of regional cuisine rather than those catering primarily to high-volume foot traffic, as the most authentic Goral flavors are found in establishments that maintain traditional cooking methods.
Incorporate visits to the various branches of the Tatra Museum, such as Villa Atma or the Museum of the Zakopane Style, to understand the specific architectural and cultural movements that define the town's unique visual identity.
How we vet these picks
Every pick is drawn from real sources — YouTube creators, Wikivoyage, and Wikipedia. We only surface sources that actually exist and that we've checked for authenticity — no filler, no dead-end searches.Watch first
Ranked by views and how well each landed with the people who watched it, judged against the other coverage of this place — plus a local creator where we found one.
Tatry i Zakopane 2023. Przewodnik dla każdego. Tatra Mountains and Zakopane. Video guide.
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Zakopane, Poland - Travel Guide
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Best time to go
Best window: September–October and June
January, February and December are the months to avoid — cold. The window below is when it is genuinely pleasant.
Rated from ten years of daily temperature and rainfall recorded at this destination, via Open-Meteo's ERA5 reanalysis. Hover a month for its real numbers.
Getting around
Mini bus
There are a lot of privately owned vans (called mini bus). Most have fixed routes and rates, no schedule. Often there is the possibility of negotiation (route, price, time). Note a driver's telephone number if you think you may need transport later.
Transport notes from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0.
What to see
Places are listed from Wikivoyage and our own sourced research. Worth it means a second, independent source names the place too; “3 sources agree” means three or more do — and each card names them, so you can check.
The Tatra Museum
3 sources agreeAlso recommended by DK Video and 2 others
The Main Building ul. Krupówki 10
Has several buildings throughout the town.
Vetted sources
Gubałówka funicular
Worth itAlso recommended by Lonely Planet
A five-minute narrow-gauge railway up the ridge above town for a full panorama of the Tatra peaks — Giewont, Kasprowy, Kresanica — laid out across the skyline.
Vetted sources
Museum of the Zakopane Style - Inspirations
Droga do Rojów 6
Displays the regional Highlander architecture which inspired Stanisław Witkiewicz to develop the Zakopane Style. An ethnographic collection of Maria and Bronisław Dembowski can also be seen in this branch of the Tatra Museum.
Vetted sources
Villa Atma
The Villa Atma (Polish Willa Atma) is a historic chalet housing the Karol Szymanowski Museum, department of the National Museum in Kraków.
Vetted sources
Cemetery of the Distinguished at Pęksowy Brzyzek
ul. Kościeliska, by the old church
The oldest cemetery, dating from the 1850s. A burial place of distinguished people connected to Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains. Most of the tombstones are real works of art made of wood, stone and metal.
Vetted sources
What to do
Morskie Oko
Worth itAlso recommended by Lonely Planet
A hike to a glacial lake ringed by granite peaks, one of the signature Tatra treks Lonely Planet singles out for the region.
Vetted sources
Termy Chochołowskie thermal pools
Worth itAlso recommended by Lonely Planet
Outdoor thermal pools with views of the western Tatras, a warm-up spot after a day on the trails.
Vetted sources
Paraglide
A 15-minute flight as a passenger costs 250 zł. There are a couple of day courses in paragliding as well.
Vetted sources
What to eat
Krupówki Street taverns
Worth itAlso recommended by Lonely Planet
Fire-warmed highlander taverns along the main street serving smoked oscypek mountain cheese and shots of local vodka late into the night.
Vetted sources
Cafe Piano
ul. Krupówki 63
Full of surprises, strange sculptures, lamps made of (fake) amber. And the best thing is that there are swings in place of bar stools!
Vetted sources
Restauracja 'U Wnuka'
ul. Kościeliska 8
First restaurant in Zakopane, opened around year 1850. Obviously they have the traditional highlander cuisine.
Vetted sources
Regional Restaurant Nosalowy Dwór
Balzera 21d
The choice of meals from both regional and international cuisine.
Vetted sources
Willa Widokowa Wojnar
6 Pardałówka Street
Home-style and regional cuisine, all meals prepared onsite.
Vetted sources
Where to stay
Nosalowy Dwor Resort and Spa
Balzera 21d
Two hotels of the Nosalowy Dwór Resort & Spa complex are situated at the foot of Mount Nosal in Zakopane. There is 3* regional style hotel Nosalowy Dwor and 4* Hotel Grand Nosalowy Dwor.
Vetted sources
Aries Hotel and Spa
Mariusza Zaruskiego 5
Rather new upscale hotel in the former building of Dom Turysty, the former main budget accommodation provider of Zakopane. Now it is a rather luxurious hotel with spa.
Vetted sources
Good Bye Lenin Hostel
ca 2 km from the centre
Wooden house, reputed to be 100 years old. Clean, but noisy and mostly occupied by foreign tour groups, Thefts and fights have been reported.
Vetted sources
Camping 'Pod Krokwią'
ul. Żeromskiego
Place for tents and campervans as well as small wooden houses and rooms.
Vetted sources
Villa Vita
ul. Krupówki 2
5-min walk from a cable-lift to Gubałówka. From the windows you can admire a beautiful view over Krupowki and Tatra Mountains.
Vetted sources
Travel essentials
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Travel content from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Encyclopedic context from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Videos via the YouTube Data API.