Zakopane
A mountain town at the foot of the Polish Tatras, known for summer hiking, winter skiing and carved wooden villas in Zakopane style.
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Zakopane is a mountain town in southern Poland, in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship, at the foot of the Tatra Mountains near the Slovak border. It is the seat of Tatra County, and part of Tatra National Park lies within the town boundary. Zakopane is about 120 km from Kraków and is reached by rail or road from there, with the rail line ending at Zakopane station. Many Tatra trails start at Kuźnice, the lower station of the Kasprowy Wierch cable car, and at Palenica Białczańska, the road-end for the Morskie Oko route.
Visitors come for two seasons. In summer, people hike, climb, ride bikes or horses in the Tatras, and take boat trips on the Dunajec river. Trails are often crowded, and hikers must keep to marked paths under national park rules. Winter brings skiing, snowboarding, ski jumping, sleigh rides and snowshoeing, with the biggest crowds around Christmas and in February. Zakopane is known as Poland's winter capital and a centre of Goral culture, with its own speech, music, architecture, food and costume. Carved timber villas in Zakopane style line the streets, and Krupówki, the pedestrian shopping street, is busiest in winter and summer.
Zakopane in five
- Buy a Tatra National Park ticket firstEvery visitor needs a park ticket, bought online, at an entry point or by the QR code at the gate. Save it offline, because signal is patchy. Prices are in the rules below.
- Plan the Morskie Oko transferThe trailhead at Palenica Białczańska is over 20 km from town. Park-run parking, regular buses and e-buses are the options, and arriving before 8 a.m. avoids the jams.Morskie Oko from Zakopane
- Check the Kasprowy Wierch cable carThe ride takes about 20 minutes with one change. It stops in strong wind and for maintenance in May and November, with a fixed autumn closure; buy tickets on pkl.pl.
- Ride the Gubałówka funicularThe ridge sits at 1,123 m above town. Fares change with the season, with a cheaper low-season band from October to mid-December; the current band is in the rules below.
- Save the mountain rescue numbersMountain rescue answers on 985 and +48 601 100 300, and 112 works across Poland. Save them before you set out, and check that your insurance covers hiking.
Things to do in Zakopane
See all attractions in Zakopane
Need to know
- Getting there
- Road and rail from Kraków; no airport in town
- Getting around
- Walk the center; buses and taxis to Kuźnice and the trailheads
- Best base
- Center for a first visit; Kuźnice for early hikes
- Park entry
- 11 zł a day, 55 zł for seven days; dogs not allowed
- Time needed
- 3 days; 4 with Morskie Oko and Gubałówka
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuarySnow14 rainy days7 snowy daysHigh0°Low-6°Snow, ski seasonJanuarySnow
Poor
- High
- 0°
- Low
- -6°
- Precipitation
- 85 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 7
- Days with storms
- 0
Snow, ski season
- FebruarySnow16 rainy days6 snowy daysHigh2°Low-4°Ski, sleigh ridesFebruarySnow
Poor
- High
- 2°
- Low
- -4°
- Precipitation
- 91 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 6
- Days with storms
- 0
Ski, sleigh rides
- MarchRain14 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh5°Low-2°Late snowMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 5°
- Low
- -2°
- Precipitation
- 69 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Late snow
- AprilRain15 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh10°Low2°Thaw, mudAprilRain
Good
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 110 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Thaw, mud
- MayRain20 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh14°Low6°Trails thawMayRain
Good
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 152 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Trails thaw
- JuneRain19 rainy daysHigh20°Low10°Green, long daysJuneRain
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 162 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Green, long days
- JulyRain20 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°Peak hikingJulyRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 177 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Peak hiking
- AugustRain16 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°Peak, busyAugustRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 156 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Peak, busy
- SeptemberRain14 rainy daysHigh17°Low8°Clear, quieterSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 148 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Clear, quieter
- OctoberRain13 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh11°Low4°Autumn colorOctoberRain
Good
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 107 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- NovemberRain12 rainy days4 snowy daysHigh6°Low0°Lift maintenanceNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 6°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 78 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 4
- Days with storms
- 0
Lift maintenance
- DecemberSnow14 rainy days6 snowy daysHigh1°Low-4°Snow, ChristmasDecemberSnow
Poor
- High
- 1°
- Low
- -4°
- Precipitation
- 81 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 6
- Days with storms
- 0
Snow, Christmas
Average daily high and low in Zakopane, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Zakopane
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
1
- Feels like
- -2°
- Humidity
- 98%
- Wind
- 8 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 4%
Zakopane
09:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today4°1°4%Monday: Cloudy. High 4°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Tue2°1°51%Tuesday: Snow. High 2°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 51%.
- Wed2°0°2%Wednesday: Snow. High 2°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Thu7°-2°0%Thursday: Fog. High 7°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri6°-1°0%Friday: Fog. High 6°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat6°-1°0%Saturday: Fog. High 6°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun5°-1°10%Sunday: Cloudy. High 5°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 10%.
Updated 05:21 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 3.951 PLN
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Every year
- Jun–JulJewish Culture Festival in KrakówKraków, a day trip
Day trips by train
Day trips from Zakopane, the full guide- Morskie Okoover 20 km to the trailhead, then about 8 km on footThe park advises at least seven hours in total for the paved road to the lake.Read the guide
- Dunajec Gorge raftApril to October; by car or tourA Pieniny day on the Slovak border; fares, season and the Bieszczady alternative are in the Carpathian Mountains guide.Read the guide
- Krakówonward by bus, train or roadA UNESCO-listed old town and the base for Auschwitz-Birkenau.Read the guide
Before you go to Zakopane
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Rules for Zakopane, checked
- Tatra National Park: entry ticket 11 zł a day (5.50 zł reduced), 55 zł for seven days; children up to 7 free; no dogs or drones.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source
- Kasprowy Wierch cable car: closed 19 October to 6 November 2026 for maintenance; low-season adult return 129 zł online.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source
- Gubałówka funicular, 1 October to 18 December 2026: adult return 37 zł online, 42 zł at the counter.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source
- All Tatra trails are closed from dusk to dawn from 1 March to 30 November (Polish tourist notice; the park's English page says 1 April).Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source
Zakopane FAQ
Is Zakopane worth visiting in summer or winter?
Both work. Summer suits hiking and Morskie Oko, winter suits skiing and sleigh rides, and September is a good compromise with open trails and the cable car running. See Zakopane in winter or summer.
How do you get to Morskie Oko from Zakopane?
Reach the Palenica Białczańska trailhead, over 20 km away, by car with an official parking ticket or by regular bus, then walk the paved road of about 8 km. The park's e-buses stop short, at Polana Włosienica.
Do you need a ticket to hike in the Tatras?
Yes, every visitor does, and it is separate from parking and lifts. Children up to 7 enter free, and dogs and drones are not allowed. Prices are in the rules below.
Is the Kasprowy Wierch cable car worth it?
It lifts you in about 20 minutes to just below the 1,987 m summit, so it suits a short day and non-hikers. Check wind and the autumn closure dates in the rules below first.
How many days do you need in Zakopane?
Three days cover Krupówki and the museums, Gubałówka and one big mountain day. Add a fourth for Morskie Oko if you do not want to combine it with the cable car or a second valley.