Location: Zakopane
Top Things to do in Zakopane
Top 10 Mountains in Zakopane, Southern Poland
Just a few miles from the Slovak border in south central Poland, Zakopane is a resort town in the Tatra Mountains, popular with skiers in winter and with hikers and climbers year-round. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Zakopane grew into Poland’s most visible art colony, a hotbed of culture ended by Soviet influence after World War II. Today it harkens back to an earlier time, complete with gorgeous wooden houses. Learn about these buildings and more at the Museum of Zakopane Style.
Restaurants in Zakopane
1. Wolowiec
2. Przelecz Miedzy Kopami
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
One of the lowest passes just over Zakopane district of Kuznice. A gateway to highest parts of Tatra mountains.
3. Szczyt Krzesanica
4. Koscielec
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
One of most significant peaks in Tatry mountains, of 2155 m above sea level, accessible by a marked trail.
Reviewed By endrju_74 - Ipswich, United Kingdom
Kościelec, with its 2155 m above sea level, is one of most important mountains for hikers in Polish part of Tatra mountains. It forms a branch ridge, from a branch ridge which meets the main Tatra ridge at Świnica. As Kościelec is a very short ridge, it divides south part of large Dolina Gąsienicowa valley into two part. Kościelec is supposedly the only place, from where all ponds in Dolina Gąsienicowa can be seen.Very challenging trail leading to the top of Kościelec - for many it all starts in Schronisko Murowaniec, from where blue trail leads to Czarny Staw Gąsienicowy, passing a small monument to Mieczyslaw Karłowicz, Polish composer and conductor, who died there in 1909 under avalanche from Kościelec. From Czarny Staw there's a black trail, which looks quite short and innocent on maps, but it climbs something like 533 meters from the level of Czarny Staw to the top of Kościelec in only 1,7 km of length. Definitely one of toughest trails in Tatra, especially in second part, from Karb pass - Karb is the place, where another blue trail joins the black one - that blue one id often used as a way back to Schronisko Murowaniec. From Karb things start to get serious on black trail, the angle of the slope os about 30 degrees, and there's no chains or other such facilities, only warning signs about rocks being slippery when wet. About three points on the way, that are very tough, in shape of rocky chimneys. But if you can pass those obstructions - the view is absolutely beautiful from the top. Worth every sweat lost on the way. Unfortunately way back is much trickier, as the steep slopes under your feet now can be clearly seen -not so much on the way up, as everyone pays more attention on whats ahead, and not below.
5. Giewont Mountain
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 335 reviews
Reviewed By luki1231231 - Krakow, Poland
Very nice hike to the top would recommend visiting. The only downside is the waiting line to get to the top. But once you there really worth the hike. Recommend walking all the way up there from kuznice for the full experience. Bring enough water and DON'T go up there if there's bad weather coming.
6. Kondracka Kopa
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
The easternmost peak of significant four peaks, which are known under collective name of Czerwone Wierchy (Red Peaks), major marked trails junction in Tatry Zachodnie (Western Tatry).
7. Wielki Kopieniec
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 10 reviews
Outstanding but rather low peak in northern part of Tatra mountains. Provides magnificent views over the whole of Polish Tatra. Below lies a glade of the same name, with a traditional sheep farming.
8. Kasprowy Wierch
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 38 reviews
Reviewed By MichaelGu
The line at the cable car station was long. We were offered VIP tickets for a faster ascent but declined. Waited about half an hour and went up. The day was warm, but up there it was definitely cool. Take a sweater. The view is fantastic and there are several paths to take on the summit. Watch your feet, the paths are a bit rocky and occasionally very narrow. A worthwhile experience.
9. Nosal
10. Hala Gasienicowa
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
One of largest high mountain meadows, which for many centuries was used as a pasture, now serves as one of busiest tourist spots in Polish part of Tatra mountains.
Reviewed By endrju_74 - Ipswich, United Kingdom
The name of Hala Gąsienicowa comes from sheep breeding and from a family name. Word "hala", which is quite common in all Polish mountains, is a meadow or clearing in mountains, usually hig above any villages, used as a pasture for sheep or cattle, while word "Gąsienicowa" comes from family name "Gąsienica", very common around Zakopane. Hala Gąsienicowa is in northern part of Dolina Gąsienicowa valley, and since the establishement of Tatra National Park sheep and cattle have been removed from here, but instead it become a very popular place on tourist map, being a base for exploring the High Tatra ridges, including the most challenging trails, such as Kościelec or Orla Perć (Eagle's Path). Hala Gąsienicowa is probably the most built up area in Tatra, as on this aea we have all sorts of buildings, from the biggest of Schronisko Murowaniec mountain lodge, to forest lodges used by National Park administration, the Polish mountaineering association (PZA) lodge, there's also a weather station. Many colour coded trails cross Hala Gąsienicowa, with two of them being the quickest approaches from Zakopane towards high mountains - yello and blue - those meet just above Hala, on Przełęcz Między Kopami, while to the south trails split up, leading to most outstanding peaks surrounding Dolina Gąsienicowa. Beautiful place, hugely overcrowded in summer.
