Zakopane

Poland's "winter capital" at the northern foot of the Tatras, with timber-style architecture, the alpine lake Morskie Oko and the Kasprowy Wierch cable car; great for both skiing and hiking.

Zakopane lies in Tatra County in Lesser Poland, Poland's southernmost region, in a valley about 800–1,000 m above sea level at the northern foot of the Tatra Mountains. It is Poland's best-known mountain resort town, often called the "winter capital of Poland". The town is compact and centres on the pedestrian street Krupówki; to the north is Gubałówka, whose summit you can reach by funicular, while to the south the town borders Tatra National Park. The Kasprowy Wierch cable car at Kuźnice and the Kościeliska, Chochołowska and Strążyska valleys are all within half an hour's drive, and Morskie Oko and the Valley of the Five Polish Ponds are about 20 km southeast near Palenica Białczańska. The town's wooden architecture is a style of its own: the Zakopane Style, created in the late 19th century by Stanisław Witkiewicz and inspired by highland houses, can be seen at Villa Koliba and the Jaszczurówka Chapel, while the music, costumes and smoked sheep's cheese (oscypek) of the Górale highlanders are also highlights. December to March is ski season, with Kasprowy Wierch and Kotelnica in Białka Tatrzańska the main ski areas, followed by a soak at the Chochołowskie or Bania thermal baths; in April crocuses bloom in the Chochołowska Valley; June to October is best for hiking, though July, August and long weekends are extremely crowded, and parking for Morskie Oko and tickets for the Kasprowy Wierch cable car must be booked online. Mountain weather changes fast, summer afternoons often bring thunderstorms, so set off early for high routes. Getting there: buses or trains from Kraków take about 2–2.5 hours, and frequent private minibuses run around town and to the valley trailheads. Plan on 2–4 days: one day for Morskie Oko, one for Kasprowy Wierch and Gubałówka, one for a valley hike or the thermal baths, plus a day trip for Dunajec rafting, Niedzica Castle and the wooden church in Dębno. Entry to Tatra National Park requires a ticket; bears roam some trails, so never feed wildlife.

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