A Perfect Day Trip to Zakopane
A day trip to Zakopane from Krakow is one of those experiences that tends to exceed expectations. Two hours south of the city, the Tatra Mountains come into view and the pace of life shifts entirely. Here’s what a well-spent day actually looks like.
Ride the Funicular Up Gubałówka
Start with the funicular. The ride up Gubałówka takes just a few minutes, but what greets you at the top earns its reputation — a long ridge with uninterrupted views across Zakopane and the full sweep of the Tatras beyond. On a clear day you can see deep into Slovakia. It’s the kind of view that makes you glad you made the journey, and a strong way to open the day.
Walk Krupówki
Back in town, Krupówki is the natural next stop. Zakopane’s main pedestrian street is lined with wooden buildings, market stalls, and more oscypek vendors than you can count. It’s busy, lively, and genuinely fun to wander — part mountain town, part open-air market, entirely its own thing. Take your time here.
Cheese and Vodka in a Shepherd’s Hut
This is the highlight for most visitors, and it’s easy to see why. Sitting down in a traditional shepherd’s hut to try locally smoked oscypek — the region’s famous sheep’s milk cheese — alongside a shot of highland vodka is one of those experiences that feels completely of the place. It’s not a tourist gimmick; this is how people have eaten and drunk in the Tatras for generations. The cheese is dense, smoky, and unlike anything you’ll find in a supermarket. The vodka helps with the cold.
Soak at Chochołów Thermal Baths
The perfect way to end a day in the mountains is at Chochołów — a thermal baths complex set in the Tatra foothills, about 20 minutes from Zakopane. The outdoor pools are fed by natural thermal springs and sit with the mountains as a backdrop. After a day of walking and fresh air, sliding into warm water with that view in front of you is a very good feeling. Most visitors don’t want to leave.
The Journey Back
The drive back to Krakow through the foothills as the light fades tends to be quiet. People are tired in the best way — full of good food, warm from the baths, with a day’s worth of mountain air behind them. One day in Zakopane is never quite enough. But it’s a very good start.