image: Morskie Oko.
Highlights
– Zakapane is the winter capital of Poland but is a great summer destination for outdoor activities especially in the High Tatras Mountains.
Time of Visit: July 2025
Duration of Visit: Four Nights
Description


The town of Zakopane in Southern Poland is billed as the country’s winter capital. Indeed, the area is blessed with mountains and hills with beautiful ski runs. It even has a ski jump training facility. But besides winter activities, Zakopane is a great summer destination, if you do not mind the crowds.
The town itself has plenty to offer. Shopping, eating, drinking and enjoying the town’s expansive green parks are all within walking distance from the Centrum. Krupowki Street, one of the town’s pedestrian-only streets, is lined with shops and restaurants. Another is Gubalowka where you can find all sorts of souvenirs to take home.


But perhaps the biggest draw of Zakopane in the summer is the High Tatras Mountains that are shared with Slovakia. High is a relative term here as the highest peak, Gerlachovský štít, is only at 2,655 meters (8,711 feet). Mt. Rysys at 2.503 meters (8,114 feet) is a popular hike in the High Tatras that can be reached from either Štrbské Pleso, Slovakia or Zakopane, Poland. It is a very demanding hike.
The majority of the High Tratras Mountains on the Polish side are in the national park called Tatzanskinski Park Narodowy. A minimal entry fee is required to enter the park, unlike in Slovakia which has no entry fee. There are plenty of mountain trails in Tatzanskinski Park Narodowy, ranging from easy to hard and anything in between. You can bag multiple peaks in one day, find a picture perfect spot around a lake with turquoise water, marvel at a waterfall or just chill and enjoy what lies in front of you. Regardless of which one you pick, more than likely you have to share it with others as Zakopane, though not well known internationally, is a favorite among Europeans.
Activities
Here is a YouTube video of some of the things to do and places to see in Zakopane. We were able to hike to Morskie Oko on our first full day, hike to Wodospad Siklawika, Giewont and Kopa Kondracka on our second full day and just chill at Gubałówka on our last full day. We briefly describe our experience so you can get an idea if it is something you want to do in Zakopane.
Morskie Oko


Morkie Oko is the largest lake in Tatzanskinski Park Narodowy. Its water is turquoise and is almost completely framed by mountain peaks. A five mile paved road on a gradual incline takes you to the chalet right at the lake. If you do not want to walk the entire five miles, there are horse drawn wagons that drop visitors off about a mile from the chalet. Hence, Morskie Oko is a very popular destination.




But do not let the crowd size deter you in enjoying this beautiful lake. The lake does get busy during the summer. However, it is a much calmer atmosphere if you go off season.
If summer is your only chance to go to Zakopane and Morskie Oko, there is still a way to avoid the mayhem. Most visitors just stay by the chalet. There is a trail around the lake that takes you to two waterfalls and nice vantage points especially when the water is still to provide a good reflection. It takes less than an hour to walk around the lake but will more likely be at least two because you would want to stop to enjoy the view.
At the far side of Morkie Oko is the trail to Czarny Staw pod Rysami which is another turquoise colored lake that is surrounded by mountain peaks. It involves a climb that takes roughly 20 to 30 minutes depending on your abilities. It is well worth the effort especially if you want lesser people around you.




If you are a peak bagger, continue on to Mt. Rysys, the highest peak in the park that has an established trail. But you have to have an early start and make sure you have the legs not only to reach the top but also to return to the parking lot. The walk between the parking lot and Morskie Oko takes about two hours. Then it is another 4.5 hours to the peak according to the trail signs. So it is 6.5 hours one way to the peak. You will certainly find out what you are made of with a hike to Rysys.
Wodospad Siklawica, Giewont and Kopa Kondracka
This hike can be done in a circular fashion starting at the park’s Dolina Strazyska entrance and finishing at the Kasparowy Wierch cable car in Kuznice. What is nice about this route is that it can be shortened or extended depending on your abilities.
Wodospad Siklawica


Wodospad Siklawica is a waterfall that is just over an hour hike from the park’s entrance. The trail is dirt and rocks and on a slight grade hence not too difficult. It is also another popular day hike because you can stand right at the base of the falls without getting wet.


There is a small hut about 15 minutes from the falls. The hut mainly sells drinks including beer. You will have to bring your own food. There are picnic tables.
Giewont


You can return back to the park entrance and call it a day or you can continue on if you are a peak bagger. From the small hut, there is a trail sign that shows it is about a three hour (2:50) hike to Giewont peak. The ascent is serious and unrelenting. But the views are well worth it plus you get to use your arms in using the chains to get to the peak.


The peak is marked by a large metal cross structure. This metal structure is visible from Zakopane which gives a good feeling as it reminds you what you have accomplished.
Some people say the metal structure is an antenna but I did not see any cables connected to it. Regardless, you will have a 360 view at Giewont with Zakopane in front of you and jagged peaks behind you. Also, the chain section to the top is one way. There is no turning back once you pass the one way sign and you will be committed to reaching the top.
Kopa Kondracka




Kopa Kondracka is just over an hour from Giewont. It is a peak at 2,005 meters high and the highest on the route. You will also be steps away from the Poland-Slovakia border which is marked by a concrete marker painted red and white with a P and S letter..


With two peaks in the bag, you can descend to Prezlecz pod Kopa Kondracka which is the saddle below the peak. From there you can continue to bag your third peak which is Kasparowy Wierch or descend to Hala Kondratowa. For me, continuing to Kasparowy Wierch meant I would be hiking in the dark due to my late start so headed down to Hala Kondratowa.


The hike down from Prezlecz pod Kopa Kondracka to Hala Kondratowa is about an hour according to the trail sign and another hour from there to Kuznice. All I can say about this descent is that I would not do it again. It is just hard on the knees because of the deep drops between stone steps. I just could not wait to get it over. Hence, I think it would have been better to continue on Kasparowy Wierch and take the cable car down to Kuznice. The cable car stops running around around 7PM.
Gubałówka


If your legs are screaming for a break from the back to back days of hiking described above, you would not go wrong in spending half a day to a day at Gubałówka. Gubałówka is a mountain just west of Zakapone. It provides a panoramic view of the Tatras (Tatry) Mountains.
A funicular takes people to the mountain top. The ride takes about 3.5 minutes. Being easily accessible, expect to see a lot of people in Gubałówka. There are many restaurants and souvenir stalls that line the mountain ridge. Some souvenir stalls have slightly lower prices than those in town.


We wanted to combine Gubałówka with a trip to Jaszczurowka Chapel on the same day. Both are on the route of Bus 11. Our mistake was that we went to Gubałówka first. We had such a great time up in the mountain that it was almost five in the afternoon before we headed down to go to the chapel. By that time, the Bus 11 schedule was no longer frequent. It did not even arrive on the scheduled arrival time while we were waiting. So we skipped the chapel trip.
How To Get There
Zakopane has a train station. Flixbus, Maxbus and Szwagropol have frequent bus schedules to Zakopane.
We went to Zakopane from Tatranská Lomnica in Slovakia by riding Bus A15. Flixbus also has scheduled service between Tatranská Lomnica and Zakopane.
Where To Stay
There are many accommodations to choose from in Zakopane. We chose to stay in Stefanova Aparthotels which is just a few minutes walk from the bus/train station and about a 15-20 minute walk to Krupowki Street. Our room was adequate in size and the hotel provided drinking water. It even has a spa with a sauna.
How To Get Around




Zakopane has Bolt rideshare, public buses and private minibuses. One or a combination of these can take you where you need to go to hit the trails.
Public buses are the cheapest and you can purchase a single journey, daily, three day and seven day pass on all lines. Schedules are frequent during the day but become spread out late in the afternoon and in the evening so plan your trip accordingly.




Private minibuses are also convenient but charge more compared to public buses. Some destinations are only served by private minibuses such as Morskie Oko. Their schedules are sometimes not available on Google Maps. So better ask the driver when the last trip back to Zakopane before venturing out on your hike.
If you do have a car, parking can be challenging especially at trailheads where there are limited paid parking spots. Better leave the car behind if hitting the trails unless you plan on returning really late when the public buses and minibuses stop running.
Expected Expenses
Costs are in PLN (Polish sloty) and per person unless noted otherwise.
Morskie Oko minibus – 15 per trip, cash only
Public buses – see pictures below. Credit card accepted. Tickets can be purchased on the bus.
Gubałówka funicular – see picture below. Tickets can be purchased at the funicular cashier or on-line. You save 10 PLN on-line.
National Park Entry – 11 (regular), Senior (>= 60 female, >=65 male) – 5.5
Summary
Zakopane is often called the winter capital of Poland. But it is also a great summer destination because of the Tatras Mountains. The mountains offer breathtaking alpine scenery, lush meadows, and clear mountain air perfect for hiking, cycling, and nature walks. Tatzanskinski Park Narodowy (the national park) has trails for all skill levels — from easy strolls to scenic Morskie Oko to challenging climbs for seasoned trekkers like Giewont peak . Summer also brings the opportunity to explore mountain lakes, waterfalls and wildflower-filled valleys.
Visitors can also take cable cars to panoramic viewpoints like Gubałówka or Kasprowy Wierch, where you have sweeping vistas of the Tatras. Beyond its natural beauty, Zakopane offers a lively cultural scene in summer. Krupówki Street buzzes with outdoor cafés, markets selling local crafts, and restaurants serving hearty Polish cuisine.
Combined with fresh air, rich culture, and endless outdoor activities, Zakopane is a summer destination that has the perfect blend of mountain adventure and Polish hospitality.