Welcome to our blog post on 15 interesting places to visit in Zakopane, Poland in 2023! Zakopane is a picturesque mountain town located in the Tatra Mountains of southern Poland. It’s a popular destination for skiing and winter sports, but there is so much more to explore beyond the slopes. From stunning natural landscapes and outdoor adventures to cultural landmarks and local cuisine, Zakopane has something for everyone. In this post, we’ll introduce you to some of the top places to visit in Zakopane in 2023.
Whether you’re an avid hiker, a history buff, or just looking for a relaxing getaway, you’ll find plenty of exciting things to see and do in Zakopane. So pack your bags and get ready to discover all that this beautiful mountain town has to offer!
1. Kasprowy Wierch
Kasprowy Wierch is a mountain that you can access by cable car. After a short 20 minutes ride you can spend time walking and taking pictures of the picturesque mountains. When on the mountain, you are on the border between Poland and Slovakia and you can see both countries. There are a few trail blazings varying on the level of diffictulty. After taking one of them you can eat in the restaurant while waiting for the train ride back. Kasprowy Wierch is also a home for various beautiful plants that are not found anywhere else in Poland.
2. Gubałówka Mountain
Gubałówka is a beautiful mountain from which the whole Polish Tatra can be seen, and is accesible by train. If you feel like it, you can also decide to go to Butorowy Wierch by the chairlift. During the ride you can see the whole Tatra mountains and also Zakopane and Kościelisko. If you prefer to stay on the Gubałówka mountain and want to relax after taking a walk, you can do it on the highest beach in Poland, lying on a sunbed. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can take a gravitational slide – you’re sliding down fast like on the roller coaster… but at the same time you can take in the whole mountain view.
3. Krupówki Street
The Krupówki street is the most famous street in Zakopane. While taking a walk, you can see a beautiful view of the Giewont mountain. When hungry, you have a lot of restaurants to choose from, with traditional Polish cuisine but not only. From the street sellers you can also buy a traditional Polish cheese – oscypek. By the Krupówki street there are a lot of museums, for example the Tatra Museum. It is great for children – you can take a photo with the famous Tatra bear or take a ride in a hackney.
4. Giewont mountain
The Giewont mountain is a very important symbol for Polish people for its legendary value. From its shape, the mountain resembles the silhouette of the sleeping knight that will wake up when the Polish land will face great troubles. On the peak of the mountain there is a famous cross, often the target of the pilgrimages. Giewont is also a part of Tatra National Park, full of many rare plants and animals. It is also visible from almost every part of Zakopane and thus called the king of the town.
5. Zakopane style museum, Willa Koliba Stanislaw Witkiewicz Museum
Willa Koliba (Koliba Villa) is the first house build in the Zakopane style. It was designed by the famous Polish artist, Stanisław Witkiewicz. Zakopane Style Museum is located in the building as a branch of Tatra Museum. In the building there are a lot of etnographic collections. In the museum you can get to know the history of the polish national building style, which is quite short but very interesting. This is the place where time stopped.
6.Upside Down House
The Upside Down House is a new addition to the Zakopane tourist facility. It’s great fun for both parents and their kids. Because the house is built on its roof and also a little crooked, everyone has to try to keep their balance. All the appliances in the house are upside down so the feeling is truly unique. It is a great and cheap place for a quick break between other activities for the day. It is located near the Krupówki street which makes it easily accesible.
7. Tatra Museum
The Tatra Museum is the oldest of such kind, with the main building located in Krupówki street. It has a lot of branches in Zakopane and nearby places. It has various collection, starting from art through etnographic ones, literature, ending with flora and fauna. Everyone can find something that applies to their interests. Great place for people interested in history and nature.
8. Wladyslaw Hasior Art Gallery
The Hasior art gallery is another branch of the Tatra museum. It stores the art of Władysław Hasior, often compared to Salvador Dali. A must see for people interested in art and, what needs to be highlighted, bizzarre art.
9. Karol Szymanowski Museum
A branch of the National Museum in Kraków, it is the only place that stores the mementos of the great composer, Karol Szymanowski. In there you can see various medals and orders awarded to Szymanowski. You can also visit his office, filled with the ambience of the Polish 1920s. You can learn about Szymanowski’s biography, work and the history of the building in which it is located – Willa Atma. A must see for music lovers.
10. Willa Oksza Museum
Another branch of the Tatra museum, located in the building designed in the Zakopane style by Stanisław Witkiewicz. In there you can see the collection of art created in Zakopane from the times when it was the heart of the cultural and artistic life of Poland. A must see if you want to get to now the Zakopane art.
11. Willa Harenda – Jan Kasprowicz Museum
Willa Harenda was the house of a Polish poet, Jan Kasprowisz. Right now it is a museum of his life and work. The house looks exactly the way it looked during the poet’s life. A beautiful place for the fans of poetry but not only!
12. Dolina ku Dziurze gorge
It is a short valley with some caves, ending with the most famous one – Dziura valley. The trail goes along the stream. To take a look into the cave you need to have a torch and also some warmer clothes as inside the cave it can be pretty cold, even in the summer.
13. Morskie Oko lake
The biggest and most famous lake in Tatra, Morskie Oko is well know to everyone. You can walk there, and have picturesque views of the mountains. It was a great inspiration for many artists. It is definitely a must see in Zakopane. The Wall Street Journal named it one of the five most beautiful lakes in the world.
14. Dolina Kościeliska valley
The most famous valley, a must see for everyone. You can take a walk there or a hackney ride. It is a part of Tatra National Park and also a starting point of many tourist trails.
15. Krzeptówki Sanctuary
The church was built after the assasination attempt on Pope John Paul II as a votive offering for sparing his life. Near the church there is a figure of Our Lady of Fatima. Right now it is a place of never-ending prayer for Pope Francis.
More like this: