Discover Zakopane: The Tatras, Wooden Houses, and Oscypek
Travel guide · editorialAt the foot of the High Tatras lies Zakopane, Poland's "winter capital," where wooden houses with steep roofs, horse-drawn sleighs, and the scent of smoked sheep's cheese define the scene. A vacation in Zakopane means skiing in winter and hiking in summer in one of the most impressive high mountain ranges in Central Europe. The town is also a center of Gorals culture, the culture of the mountain people.
From Mountain Village to Health Resort
In the 19th century, Zakopane was a small mountain village, until doctors discovered its healthy air and artists, writers, and musicians began to arrive. The painter and architect Stanisław Witkiewicz developed the "Zakopane Style" from the building traditions of the Gorals, with carved wooden houses that still shape the look of the town today. The composer Karol Szymanowski lived in Villa Atma, which is now a museum. Today, Zakopane is one of Poland's most popular vacation spots.
Sights in Zakopane
Krupówki, the main street, is a pedestrian zone with restaurants, shops, and street vendors. The wooden church and the old Pęksowy Brzyzek Cemetery, where many famous figures rest beneath elaborate tombs, are located on Kościeliska Street. Villa Koliba was the first house built in the Zakopane Style and now houses a museum. The Tatra Museum tells the story of the region's nature and culture. A funicular takes you up Gubałówka, a viewpoint mountain with views of the Tatras. The cable car up Kasprowy Wierch takes visitors to almost 2,000 meters, right at the Slovak border.
Hiking and Skiing
Tatra National Park begins right at the edge of town. Popular destinations include the mountain lake Morskie Oko, about 20 kilometers to the east, Giewont, whose silhouette resembles a sleeping knight, and the Valley of the Five Polish Lakes. Rysy, Poland's highest peak at just under 2,500 meters, is only for experienced mountain hikers. In winter, there are ski slopes at Kasprowy Wierch, at Gubałówka, and in the surrounding ski areas, such as Białka Tatrzańska. World Cup ski jumping events take place at Wielka Krokiew, the ski jump.
Food and Gorals Culture
A local specialty is oscypek, a smoked sheep's cheese shaped like a spindle, sold at stands grilled and served with cranberries. In the karczmas, rustic inns, you'll find kwaśnica, a sauerkraut soup, grilled meat, and placki (potato pancakes). A Gorals band with fiddles often plays along.
Getting There and Best Time to Visit
The nearest airport is Kraków, and buses and minibuses take about two hours to reach Zakopane from there. The best time to visit for hikers is June to September, and for skiers December to March. On weekends and during Polish school holidays, the town gets very crowded, and traffic jams build up on the access road. Excursions lead to Slovakia, to the Chochołów thermal baths, and to the region's wooden churches, which are UNESCO World Heritage sites, such as the one in Dębno. If you want to see the Tatras from above, head to the Kasprowy Wierch cable car early in the morning and buy tickets online, because the lines are long in high season. The route to Morskie Oko is about nine kilometers along a paved road that you can walk or take by horse-drawn carriage. Chamois, marmots, and bears live in the wilderness of the national park, and strict rules apply.