Zakopane

Zakopane is a very popular winter resort and summer getaway town in the Tatra mountains on the southern tip of Poland. It became a climatic health resort and as well as cultural spot in the 1880s. Many Polish writers and artists visited Zakopane at the turn of the 20th century. Stanisław Witkiewicz developed the so-called Zakopane Style architecture still popular in the Polish mountains.

• Tatra Mountains.
• Morskie Oko lake
• The Gubałówka Hill Funicular.
• Kasprowy Wierch Cableway.
• Cemetery of the Distinguished at Pęksowy Brzyzek, ul. Kościeliska, by the old church. The oldest cemetery dating from the 1920s. 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. Free.

• The Tatra Museum, +48 18 201 52 05. Closed on M. Has several buildings throughout the town. 7 zł, reduced 5,50 zł.
• The Main Building ul. Krupówki 10
• Gallery of 20th Century Art at Oksza villa, ul. Zamoyskiego 25, +48 692 029 817. W-Sa: 10:00—18:00, Su: 11:00-16:00, M-Tu closed. 7 zł, concessions 5,50 zł.
• Museum of the Zakopane Style - Inspirations, Droga do Rojów 6, +48 18 201 22 94. 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. 6 zł, concessions 4,50 zł.
• The Museum of the Zakopane Style at 'Koliba' villa ul. Kościeliska 18
• The Władysław Hasior Gallery ul. Jagiellońska 18b
• The Gallery of Art in Koziniec ul. Koziniec 8
• The Kornel Makuszyński Museum ul. Tetmajera 15
• Museum of the 1846 Chochołów Uprising Chochołów 75
• Karol Szymanowski Museum, ul. Kasprusie 19.
• Jan Kasprowicz Museum, Harenda 12a.

The Tatra Museum, +48 18 201 52 05. Closed on M. Has several buildings throughout the town. 7 zł, reduced 5,50 zł.

The Main Building ul. Krupówki 10

Gallery of 20th Century Art at Oksza villa, ul. Zamoyskiego 25, +48 692 029 817. W-Sa: 10:00—18:00, Su: 11:00-16:00, M-Tu closed. 7 zł, concessions 5,50 zł.

Museum of the Zakopane Style - Inspirations, Droga do Rojów 6, +48 18 201 22 94. 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. 6 zł, concessions 4,50 zł.

The Museum of the Zakopane Style at 'Koliba' villa ul. Kościeliska 18

The Władysław Hasior Gallery ul. Jagiellońska 18b

The Gallery of Art in Koziniec ul. Koziniec 8

The Kornel Makuszyński Museum ul. Tetmajera 15

Museum of the 1846 Chochołów Uprising Chochołów 75

Karol Szymanowski Museum, ul. Kasprusie 19.

Jan Kasprowicz Museum, Harenda 12a.

Tatra Mountains.

Morskie Oko lake

The Gubałówka Hill Funicular.

Kasprowy Wierch Cableway.

Cemetery of the Distinguished at Pęksowy Brzyzek, ul. Kościeliska, by the old church. The oldest cemetery dating from the 1920s. 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. Free.

• Teatr im. St. I. Witkiewicza, ul. Chramcówki 15, +48 18 20 00 660.
• Ski
  • Kasprowy Wierch
  • Gubałówka
  • Nosal
  • Białka Tatrzańska
  • Bukowina Tatrzańska
  • Butorowy Wierch
  • Polana Szymoszkowa
• Hike
• Climb.
• Paraglide. A 15-minute flight as a passenger costs 250 PLN. There are couple day courses in paragliding as well.

Many of these activities are outside of Zakopane. However, minibuses, leaving when full, depart from different points in Zakopane all day. Most minibuses leave from the front of the train station. The same system works to return hikers/skiers to Zakopane. Expect to pay about 3.50 zł each for the minibus (around 1 euro).

Additional things to explore:

• Murowaniec hostel in Gąsienicowa valley
• Morskie Oko valley
• Kasprowy Wierch (mountain), 1985 metres. Tatra view point. Restaurant. Skiing area. Cable railway runs from

It's worth buying a map of the area if you're going hiking. Most likely you will be hiking in Tatra National Park. Be aware that as it is a National Park special rules apply—don't be loud, leave any garbage or disturb animals. Maps are sold by the tourist office (17 Kosciuszki St., telephone: 01820 12211), down the hill, on your left, just before getting to the bus stop and cross roads (Krupowki St. and Kosciuszki St.) in the centre of town. They'll also give suggested routes, based on the latest weather forecasts and your fitness and equipment. Note: you will have to pay a small entrance fee of 4 PLN (2 PLN for students and school kids).

The maps are very tourist-friendly, with the "difficulty levels" for different paths marked: possibly slightly patronising for seasoned hikers. The pram symbol for the 'easy' paths is taken too literally - people have been seen trying to get prams up steep paths from Zakopane into the mountains. All the paths marked on the map are well maintained by the government.

Whichever route you plan to take, it is advised you dress warmly and bring spare waterproof clothes and water. Put the clothes in a plastic bag in your backpack to keep them dry in case of rain. Even midsummer it can hail for a whole day in the mountains! Remember you are already at 1000m, although it doesn't feel like it.

See also: Hiking from Zakopane to Giewont

Mount Rysy 2499 metres 4 hour hike from Morskie Oko valley

Teatr im. St. I. Witkiewicza, ul. Chramcówki 15, +48 18 20 00 660.

Ski

• Kasprowy Wierch
• Gubałówka
• Nosal
• Białka Tatrzańska
• Bukowina Tatrzańska
• Butorowy Wierch
• Polana Szymoszkowa

Hike

Climb.

Paraglide. A 15-minute flight as a passenger costs 250 PLN. There are couple day courses in paragliding as well.

Murowaniec hostel in Gąsienicowa valley

Morskie Oko valley

Kasprowy Wierch (mountain), 1985 metres. Tatra view point. Restaurant. Skiing area. Cable railway runs from

• Many shops at Krupówki promenade.

Many shops at Krupówki promenade.

• Oscypek, local specialty, smoked sheep's milk cheese.
• There are many good eateries within Zakopane. Look for authentic-looking wood huts. Avoid ones with colorful lights and multi-colored lamps. Good "Bacowkas" include "Bąkowo Zohylina Wyźnio and Nizino" right off of Krupowki. Chata Zbójnicka on Jagiellońska is also good for authentic food (and experience.) You can also try the fried fish eateries anywhere in town for a quick, cheap meal. Trout is the specialty in this town.
• Gofry. Waffles with cream, ice cream, berries, fruit or whatever you want. Tasty dessert. ~7 PLN.
• There is a cheese market every day. It's probably best to come early in the morning while the produce is still fresh, but it's fine to eat whenever it's purchased.
• Regional Restaurant Nosalowy Dwór, Balzera 21d. The choice of meals from both regional and international cuisine.
• Restauracja 'U Wnuka', ul. Kościeliska 8, +48 18 2064167. First restaurant in Zakopane, opened around year 1850. Obviously they have THE traditional highlander cuisine.

Oscypek, local specialty, smoked sheep's milk cheese.

Gofry. Waffles with cream, ice cream, berries, fruit or whatever you want. Tasty dessert. ~7 PLN.

Regional Restaurant Nosalowy Dwór, Balzera 21d. The choice of meals from both regional and international cuisine.

Restauracja 'U Wnuka', ul. Kościeliska 8, +48 18 2064167. First restaurant in Zakopane, opened around year 1850. Obviously they have THE traditional highlander cuisine.

• Cafe Piano, ul. Krupówki 63, +48 18 201 21 08. Daily 15:00—00:00. Full of surprises, strange sculptures, lamps made of (fake) amber. And the best thing is that there are swings in place of bar stools!

Cafe Piano, ul. Krupówki 63, +48 18 201 21 08. Daily 15:00—00:00. Full of surprises, strange sculptures, lamps made of (fake) amber. And the best thing is that there are swings in place of bar stools!

• Kuźnice. (get in on foot, or by local bus).
• Chochołów
• Nowy Targ

[[Kuźnice]]. (get in on foot, or by local bus).