Zakopane

Zakopane, called the winter capital of Poland, is a picturesque village located at the foot of the Tatra Mountains.

Highlanders, indigenous inhabitants of Zakopane, still proudly cultivate their traditions – culinary, artistic and handicrafts, and eagerly share knowledge with visitors. If you want to feel the smoke from a real highlander’s cottage, take a deep breath with a view of the monumental peaks and listen to the legends of mountain people, Zakopane will be a great destination for you.

Exploring the Area

The most lively, buzzing and popular place in Zakopane is Krupówki – a centrally located promenade, where you can buy traditional highlander’s products, taste local specialties and choose souvenirs. In recent years, the tradition of Krupówki is increasingly displacing the tourist business – that is why, to see the true face of Zakopane, it is worth to stray from the popular route or use the guide, with which you will discover authentic treasures of highlander culture. You can get to Krupówki near the Gubałówka railway station. By entering the cable car wagons at the top, you can admire the entire panorama of the Tatras – the endless views are breathtaking. Being in Zakopane, it’s worth visiting the area and going on a trip to the Kościeliska Valley or the Morskie Oko Lake – one of the most beautiful places in the Polish mountains.

Eating and Drinking

The highlander tradition orders to celebrate the meal with great attention – on festive occasions, a local band plays at dinner or supper and waiting for more dishes takes place in an atmosphere of highland singing and dancing. The most popular local products include grilled sheep cheese served with cranberries – oscypek, grilled sausage, sour cabbage soup – sourdough, knuckle, baked meat and potato pancakes with goulash. Instead of butter mountaineers serve lard  – animal fat with cracklings, and the feast ends with a glass of local plum brandy. Although highlander cuisine may seem heavy, the menu also includes fresh fish and vegetarian dishes. Being in Zakopane, it is worth taking a trusted guide or check the culinary review, which from many traditional restaurants will show you the one in which you will experience authentic local experience. When choosing a place, make sure whether the dinner is accompanied by a  local band and whether the hosts can tell about the dishes served – then the evening will remain in your memory for a long time.

What to See and Do

The charm of Zakopane is a combination of folklore with the harsh beauty of mountain nature, and the perfect sightseeing plan should balance these two elements. The Zakopane wooden architecture trail includes the most valuable monuments of this kind in Poland, such as the Dom pod Jedlami, the Jaszczurówka Chapel and the Old Church. The highlander architectural traditions have been cultivated to this day, so most of today’s Zakopane houses retain the traditional style of the region. It’s worth taking the time to discover local handicrafts – not only shopping, but also visiting Zakopane manufactories, where great quality leather and wool products reign. Due to the quality of workmanship and the type of raw material, a pair of warm socks, sheepskin coats or a vest will be a practical and at the same time a unique souvenir that will serve summer. For those interested in local products, we recommend a visit to the highlander hut – a place where sheep’s cheeses are made using traditional methods and where you can see the shepherd’s daily work. Knowledge about the traditions and history of the region can be completed in the Tatra Museum, whose branches are scattered all over Zakopane.

Zakopane is a perfect place for active recreation – in good weather you can explore mountain trails with different levels of difficulty, and in winter season – winter sports – skiing and snowboarding is very well developed in the whole Tatras.

Where to Stay

To fully feel the atmosphere of Zakopane, you can stay in one of the traditional wooden villa, rented to tourists. If you prefer modern style and facilities, there are  a lot of popular chain hotels in Zakopane. Because weekend nights can be loud at Krupówki, it’s better to choose accommodation in the center, but not directly at the pedestrian zone. Deciding on the proximity of nature and a panoramic view of the Tatras, we recommend checking the distance from the center and accessibility – often the recreational lens is located on a hill or hill, so in such a situation it is worth taking care of independent transport.

How to Get Around

Zakopane does not have an airport, and the nearest airport is located in Krakow’s Balice. Zakopane is a popular destination for one-day trips from Krakow – the distance between cities is 110 km and it is easy to beat it by car or bus. The easiest way to get around the city is on foot – the routes leading to the main monuments are exceptionally picturesque. When sightseeing involves visits to nearby attractions, it is most convenient to travel with your own or rented car – a great saving of time and convenience in moving between destinations. The ideal solution is a taxi or a car with a driver – thanks to this we are not forced to look for a parking space, which is a huge challenge in the season.

Highlights

Zakopane is the perfect place for you if:

• you like to get to know local traditions and culture,
• you value handicrafts and handicrafts,
• you are looking for new culinary experiences,
• you like mountain, wooden architecture,
• you love the beauty of the mountains,
• you care about active recreation, you like to climb or ski.

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