Zakopane: the sights that are really worth it

There are plenty of things to do in Zakopane – but not all of them are worth it. So here is our honest list: what we saw ourselves, how much time you should allow and what you can safely skip.

Zakopane has a bad reputation as a tourist trap, and half of it is deserved. The town itself is loud, busy and heavily geared towards souvenirs. The landscape around it, on the other hand, is one of the most beautiful in Central Europe. The best strategy: see the few highlights early in the day, avoid the midday crowds and spend your breaks in the thermal spas.

The sights at a glance

Prices are rough guide values (approx., as of 2026, converted into euros) and change with the season. Check them on each provider’s official website before you go. Distances are from the centre of Zakopane.

What is really worth it

Morskie Oko: the classic, but early

This mountain lake is on the Polish side of the High Tatras. From the Palenica Białczańska car park, a paved road leads up for about 9 km each way. It’s very doable with kids, but long. If you don’t want to walk, you can take a horse-drawn cart for an extra charge – roughly €10–20 per person each way, depending on the season. Whether that’s fair is up to you: the horses work very hard in summer.

In summer, set off before breakfast. At midday and at weekends the road is a procession, and the car park can be full. Buy your national park ticket online in advance so you don’t have to queue at the ticket booth. Dogs aren’t allowed in the Tatra National Park, so if you have one with you, plan to split up or choose a different route.

Kościeliska Valley: the quieter alternative

The valley is easy to reach, flat enough for kids and varied: rock faces, meadows, streams and caves along the edges. Allow a few hours. National park rules apply here too, so check the official park website beforehand for dogs and trails. If you only have one hiking day and hate crowds, choose this valley over Morskie Oko.

Kasprowy Wierch: only after a weather check

The cable car takes you quickly up to a summit on the Polish–Slovak border. In clear weather it’s magnificent. In cloud you pay about €25–35 for fog. Check the webcam and the forecast in the morning, and in high season buy tickets online in advance if possible. Waiting times at the valley station can be long.

Thermal spas: the best rainy-day plan

The water is a real draw in this region. After a hike especially, a warm pool with mountain views is hard to beat.

With kids, Terma Bania is the obvious choice because of the slides. If you want views and quiet, go to Termy Bukowina. The Aqua Park in town works if you only have an hour or the weather suddenly turns. All three are busier at weekends and in the holidays, so go during the week or early in the day.

Wooden architecture and small museums

The Zakopane style, with its carved wooden houses, is the real speciality of the town. The small chapel at Jaszczurówka is a good short stop and free. If you want to learn more about the region and its architecture, a visit to the Tatra Museum for about €3–6 is worth it (as of 2026 – check prices and times in advance). Plan no more than a morning for it.

What is overrated

Krupówki during the day

Krupówki is the tourist strip: souvenir stalls, photo booths, snack stands, loud music. A short evening stroll is fine, if only for the atmosphere. But don’t stay here to eat. Our rule of thumb: two streets further, everything costs half as much and the quality is better.

The Gubałówka funicular

The funicular runs up a viewing hill above the town. At the top you’ll find stalls, crowds and a panorama you can also get, with a little luck, from higher-up accommodation or trails. If you have time and kids with you, it’s a nice outing. If time is short, skip it and go to a spa or the Kościeliska Valley instead.

“Made in Zakopane” souvenirs

Many souvenirs don’t come from the region. If you want something genuine, buy cheese, honey or crafts directly from the producers rather than on the main street.

Food: how to spot good oscypek

Oscypek is the region’s smoked sheep’s cheese. It’s eaten grilled, usually with cranberries. You’ll find it on every corner in Zakopane, but not all of it is good. Our rules for spotting it:

• It must be soft and squeak when you bite it. Then it’s fresh and good.
• From a charcoal grill, the old-school way. From an electric grill it turns rubbery.
• Don’t buy it on Krupówki if you don’t want to be annoyed – go to a side street.

Pierogi and żurek, the Polish sourdough soup, go well with it. Dinner for two with beer costs about €20–30 (as of 2026).

Our experience: glamping above Zakopane

In September 2026 we wanted a weekend that felt like a holiday without flying. We found it above Zakopane: a glamping dome – a domed tent with a glass front, a real bed and heating. In front of it was a hot tub on the meadow, looking out at the High Tatras. At night we saw stars through the dome, in the morning clouds drifted over the peaks, and two goats were waiting at the fence for breakfast. The details are in our story Zakopane: a glamping dome with a hot tub and Tatra views – our wellness weekend in Poland.

A dome for two with a hot tub, barbecue area, hanging chairs and a view costs around €180–230 a night, more at weekends (as of 2026). You can book it via Booking or directly. We had the dome right at the top of the slope. Sitting in the hot tub with a coffee in the morning is the only reason we need to come back. Our verdict: the best-value wellness weekend we’ve found in Central Europe so far.

Day trip to Oravice (Slovakia)

From Zakopane it’s roughly 45–50 km and about an hour’s drive to the thermal baths in Oravice on the Slovak side. It’s mainly worth it if you want a second spa day, or when it rains and the mountains are closed. Admission varies by season and is roughly €15–25 (as of 2026 – please check in advance). Bring ID for everyone to cross the border, including children. For current entry and safety advice, check your government’s official travel advice. We didn’t do this trip ourselves, so please check opening times and prices with the operator.

Getting there and practical tips

By car from Vienna

We drove from Vienna via Bratislava and Slovakia, about 4.5 hours. Buy the Slovak vignette online in advance. Country roads in Poland are toll-free, so you don’t pay any extra tolls there. The last kilometres to some accommodation are steep, so in winter, winter tyres are a must, not just a recommendation.

Paying

Card payment works everywhere; the currency is the złoty. We pay with Wise, which converts at the real exchange rate. If the terminal asks whether you want to “pay in euros”, never tap it – the conversion is much worse. Always choose złoty.

With a child and a dog

• Dogs aren’t allowed in the Tatra National Park. Check the current rules on the park’s official website.
• Spas and aqua parks are off-limits for dogs, so plan care or take turns.
• For kids, the route to Morskie Oko (paved, but long) and the Kościeliska Valley work well.

Typical mistakes

• Morskie Oko in the late morning. Then you’re stuck in traffic and all you see is crowds.
• Kasprowy Wierch without a weather check. In cloud you see nothing.
• Eating on Krupówki. Two streets further it’s better and cheaper.
• Paying “in euros” at the terminal. It costs you money for nothing.
• Cramming too much into one day. Mountains, spa and the drive home all at once is no fun.
• Forgetting winter tyres if your accommodation is on a slope.

How we would plan 3 days

1. Day 1: arrive, dinner in a side street, a short stroll along Krupówki.
2. Day 2: early to Morskie Oko, Termy Bukowina in the afternoon to warm up.
3. Day 3: Kościeliska Valley or Kasprowy Wierch (depending on the weather), then drive home.

Frequently asked questions

Last updated: 20 Oct 2026. Prices and rules change – please check with the official sources before you travel.

Things to do in Zakopane: our verdict

Our verdict on things to do in Zakopane: plan less and take your time for the places you really like. It also pays to visit the most famous spots early in the morning or in the evening, because it is quieter then. You’ll find more places we have been to ourselves in our travel stories; general background on the town’s history is on Wikipedia.