November 26th, 2013 , 12:38 am
If you expand the physical map of Poland, you will see that its southern border is a rather uneven terrain. This is a mountain system called the Tatras (the highest part of the Carpathians) and it is almost equally divided between Poland and Slovakia.
The Tatras are slightly lacking in altitude for the formation of permanent glaciers and snowfields (they usually start at 3 km, and the highest point in the Tatras is 2655, Gerlachovský Štit, Slovakia). Due to this, in the warm season, the mountains are practically free of snow and are an ideal area for mountain tourism, hiking and day trips.
The Tatras, both on the part of Poland and on Slovak territory, are protected by the status of national parks. No logging, hunting activities or independent organization of overnight stays. Everything is regulated and orderly. You can move only along specially paved paths; stopovers can be arranged in equipped places or in skhronisko (mountain shelters).
Thanks to such strictness, the mountains and the forest covering them are kept perfectly clean, despite the sky-high popularity of mountain hikes and walks among Europeans (about 3 million people come to the Tatras every year).
My acquaintance with the Tatras took place during my second visit to Poland. The first Polish trip was more of an informational nature, just to see the country and decide for the future whether it makes sense to come here again. It turned out that Poland is one of the most interesting countries that I have been lucky enough to visit. And it was during my first trip that I learned a little about the southern part of the country, about the royal city of Krakow and the mountains that are visible from there.
So, a short diagram of how I got to the Tatras. The Polonaise train departed from the Belorussky railway station in Moscow at approximately 5 p.m. The next morning at around 9 am, arrival in Warsaw.
Immediately at the station we bought tickets to Krakow. Krakow is one of the largest cities in the country; it is located south of the Polish capital, at a distance of just over 300 km. Local buses and trains run between the cities.
So, in the middle of the day we arrived in Krakow. The central bus station is located next to the railway station, it is very convenient, within 10 minutes we had bus tickets to Zakopane. As a result, by five o'clock in the evening we arrived in Zakopane - a resort town located in front of the very slopes of the Tatra ridge.
I won’t tell you in detail about Zakopane. This town is called the winter capital of Poland and ski lovers have written many reviews about it. But even in summer and autumn the town is not empty. Lovers of hiking the surrounding peaks and passes come here from all over the country (and not only). What a pity that the tense situation in the North Caucasus does not allow Russians to fully enjoy their holidays in the mountains. The Poles have no problems with this; there are no militants hiding in the Tatras, only wild animals, sometimes brides with umbrellas..
One of the most popular sites visited by all guests of the town is the mountain lake Morskie Oko. This is a very picturesque glacial runoff pond surrounded by steep rocky slopes.
Its water is saturated with salts and minerals, which, depending on the direction of the incident light, can color the surface in different colors. As a result, while making a “circle of honor” around Morskie Oko, you can watch the shade of the water change from blue to emerald.
100 vertical meters above Morskie Oko, hidden among the gloomy rocky slopes, is another small body of water, Black Stav nad Rysy. The route to the highest peak in Poland - the northern peak of Rysy (2499m) - passes through it. Chorny Stav and Morskie Oko form a picturesque lake cascade connected by a waterfall.
The second destination is very popular among Zakopane residents and visiting tourists - the peak of Kasprowy Wierch (1970m) and its surroundings. There is plenty of room for the winds to blow freely, so the temperature in these places is often several degrees lower than in Zakopane.
You can climb to Kasprowy Wierch yourself or use the cable car, which starts from the suburb of Zakopane, the town of Kuznice.
From the top, where the cable cars arrive and where the meteorological observatory station is located, hiking trails run in different directions.
Days in Zakopane fly by quickly. From morning until dusk - healing (for the soul and health) mountain sensations, sometimes with a dose of extreme sports and physical activity, and in the evening - walks around the city, rich in souvenir stalls, various restaurants and shops. If possible, visit the town of Zakopane, hidden on the very edge of Poland. Surely, the harsh rocks, battlements and peaks of the Tatra ridge, coniferous forests covering the slopes and valleys, the blue-green ovals of mountain lakes, and of course the good-natured Poles who often greet you when they meet you on a mountain path ("trzeszcz" or " Jen good").
Happy travels to you!
* thanks to colleague and friend Ivan Vostrikov for sharing several of his photos for this report.
The ski resort of Zakopane is the highest ski resort in Poland.
The resort received this name from the city of the same name Zakopane, which is located in the valley of the Tatra Mountains at altitudes from 727 to 1150 meters and 110 km south of one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, Krakow.
On one side the city is surrounded by the Gubałówka mountain range, and on the other side are the Tatra Mountains.
And although the Zakopane region does not have the highest peaks of the Tatras, the heights from 1 km 200 m to 1 km 987 m are quite enough to organize a decent ski resort of European level here.
I would like to note that the category of skiers who like to travel to the Alps, in particular to visit the famous ones or Austria, can find a good alternative for themselves here, since the Tatra Mountains are in many ways similar to the Alps, except that the scale is smaller, but the prices here is an order of magnitude lower, and getting closer. But first things first.
It is also worth noting that Zakopane is a kind of cultural center of the southern region of Poland; cultural life has been constantly bubbling here for more than 100 years, which you can partly plunge into.
But let's still talk about Zakopane as a ski resort.
Number of routes, slopes, lifts in the ski region
The ski region is divided into 3 main areas - Kasprowy Wierch, Nosal, Gubalowka.
General characteristics of the ski region:
- Highest point – 1 km 987 m (mountain Kasprowy Wierch);
- The height difference is about 950 m;
- The total length of the routes (tracks) is about 30 km;
- There are twenty lifts;
- The length of cross-country skiing routes is about 50 km.
Ski area Kasprowy Wierch
The highest point is 1 km 957 m. Above, at an altitude of 1 km 987 m, there is a weather station. Very crowded, but also the best place for skiing in Poland.
The longest track in Poland is equipped here, the length of which is 4 km 295 meters. There are a total of 5 routes here.
There are two chairlifts and one passenger-carriage cableway leading to the top of the mountain.
The passenger-carriage cable car leads to the very top of the Kasprowy Wierch mountain (center in the diagram). It starts with Kuznice and is divided into two parts.
The first part will take you to a height of 1 km 354 m, the second part to 1 km 959 m.
It is very similar to the Miskhor – Ai-Petri cable car, which is located in Crimea, but a little more modern.
The difference between the lower and upper points is 930 meters.
Nosal ski area
The highest point is 1 km 206 meters. There are 9 routes here, which in terms of preparedness are considered one of the best not only in Zakopane, but also in Poland.
In terms of infrastructure development, everything is excellent here.
Hotels, parking lots, rental offices, cafes and restaurants, everything is nearby.
The number of lifts corresponds to the number of slopes, there are 9 of them, plus one cable car.
The trails here are not large, and the elevation difference is not significant - 245 m, but they are well prepared, some of the routes are illuminated.
There is a 650 m slalom route, which is the best in Poland.
There is a system of artificial snow formation.
Ski area Gubalowka
The highest point of this ski area is 1 km 120 m. There are several small ski slopes here. The longest route is 1 km 338 m.
- Blue trails – 1;
- Reds – 2;
- Black – 1;
- For cross-country skiing – 1 (nearby in the forest).
The ski area is equipped only with rope tows, with the exception of one funicular.
The popularity of the Gubalowka ski area is also due to the fact that you can get to the top of the mountain by cable car directly from the center of Zakopane.
The elevation difference is 300 meters.
There is a special observation deck at the top, which rises 300 m above the city and offers a beautiful view of the city and the surrounding mountains.
Many skiers try to compare the Zakopane ski resort with similar resorts in St. Petersburg or the Moscow region and express the opinion that they are somewhat similar. For comparison, many people take .
If we take the ski areas of Nosal and Gubalowka, then there is certainly some similarity, since the elevation changes are almost the same and the preparedness of the slopes is the same.
If we take the Kasprowy Wierch ski area, then there are real mountains here and it would be reckless to compare this ski area with the above-mentioned Russian resorts.
If you are looking for a quiet place for a winter holiday, then the Zakopane ski resort is not for you.
There are always a lot of people here, since not only Poles come here to relax, but also Russians, tourists from neighboring countries, in particular from Ukraine and Slovakia.
The resort regularly hosts winter sports competitions, there is a speed skating track, many jumping boards, and a swimming pool that is open 12 months a year and is filled with geothermal healing waters.
You can relax here all year round, but this topic is not for our article.
Where to stay
Zakopane is the tourist and cultural center of the southern region of Poland, so it would not be correct to say that there will be any problems with accommodation here.
The city can accommodate about 60 thousand tourists at one time due to the large number of hotels, cottage villages, boarding houses, and the private sector.
The most famous hotels:
- Three stars – Kasprowy, Orcel, Sabala;
- Four stars – Litvor, Villa Marilor, Belvedere;
- Boarding houses (3 star rooms) – Sosnitsa, Lipovy Dvor, Orel.
Hotel map
How to get there
It is convenient to get there by two routes, through Krakow and through the Slovak city of Poprad (airport).
From Krakow directly south 110 km, 2 hours 30 minutes on the way and you are there.
You can also travel from Krakow to Zakopane by train.
From Poprad the drive is closer, 68 km, the road passes through the mountains and very beautiful places of the Tatra National Park. There is no railway connection. In general, it’s up to you, but it’s better to go by personal car.
In conclusion, we can say that the Polish ski resort of Zakopane is not only a place with the opportunity to ski, it is a huge party area where you can truly have fun and relax, plunge into the world of art and local folklore.
It is better to come here with a large group or family with children.
It should be noted that this ski region is not distinguished by the presence of a large number of different trails. The ski areas are scattered and do not have a single lift system that would unite them.
There is also no single Ski pass that would cover the entire ski region.
Since this ski region is a very popular holiday destination not only in Poland, but also far beyond its borders, there are frequent queues at the ticket office and on the ski lifts that you just have to brave. Well, it depends on your luck here.
Despite the fact that the ski season at the resort is open from mid-December to the end of March, the weather in the region is very changeable, there are days when it rains, which can quickly give way to heavy snowfall. But thanks to snow cannons, most ski slopes are always covered with snow.
But all these shortcomings do not spoil the Polish ski resort of Zakopane at all, and it has been considered an excellent budget destination for an active winter holiday for a very long time.
Language barrier
Looking at the license plates of the cars that are parked in the parking lots, you will most likely think that you have come to relax either in Russia or Ukraine.
Here you will hear conversations in Polish, Slovak, Russian, Ukrainian, English and other languages. There is especially no language barrier with the service staff, who are very well prepared to meet tourists from all over the world.
Welcome to the ski resort of Zakopane.
Zakopane - Kasprowy Wierch.
TOURISTS' ANSWERS:
The winter capital of Poland, this is what the famous resort city of Zakopane is called. Located in the very south of Poland, at the foot of the mountains, which are the only ones in the country that belong to the winter style, with suitable snow cover. It is also the highest Polish resort, located at a distance of about 1000 meters above sea level. The city is located in a rather narrow basin between the Gubalowka mountain range and the Tatras, which emphasizes its beauty and uniqueness in both summer and winter.
In addition, the city borders on Slovakia and is located just one hundred and ten kilometers from Krakow, which allows tourists to come here for more than a few days in order to diversify their vacation and enjoy not only the sights, but also get closer to nature. The resort attracts skiers of all levels, from professionals to the greenest beginners. The place is quite popular among families, because children love snow very much, and parents can combine skiing with children's joys. There are also ski schools on the territory of the resort, which allow children to learn skiing from a very young age.
Cable cars will take you to the mountain peaks, and the Tatras are home to the Tatra National Park, which contains the largest ski area with a mountain called Kasprowy Wierch. The first ski lift in Poland leads to Kasprowy Wierch, and the route is divided into two parts. The first leads from Kuznice to the Myslenicke tour, and the second goes further, right up to the Kaspra Wierch mountains. But Gubalowka itself is considered the second largest district and is located in the northern part, not far from the city.
Kasprowy Wierch is considered the best skiing point, because it is located at an altitude of 1985 meters, it is the most famous and popular in all of Poland. But the slopes of Nosal are also considered the best Polish ski area, which has nine lifts, a cable car, as well as hotels and parking lots .
For skiers, there are all kinds of shops here that make it possible to rent equipment so that you don’t have to carry it with you and travel light. Moreover, the cost is very small - only about 10 euros per day, well, of course, depending on the choice of equipment. Almost all rental offices are located at lower stations, and some of them operate directly in hotels.
The resort has not only excellent skiing areas, but also excellent hiking trails, and some tourists are attracted by the folklore called Gural. This is the most picturesque wooden architecture, perfectly combined with the mountainous terrain and natural gifts. This is simply an amazing place where you can combine an active holiday with a simple, secluded one, against the backdrop of snowy mountain peaks. There is somewhere to go to have fun, and there is a place to just relax quietly, being away from noisy companies.
As for accommodation, many boarding houses, private villas, and hotels, both expensive and cheaper, have been built throughout the resort. The city’s infrastructure is also very developed, because there are also a large number of restaurants, bars, small cafes, as well as sports complexes, skating rinks, various swimming pools, tennis courts, etc.
To make yourself more comfortable, you need to choose a ski route in advance. After all, there are no ski buses on the territory of Zakopane, as, for example, in the Swiss ski areas. Therefore, it is better to choose a ski route in advance, and then, in accordance with its location, choose a hotel. It will be much more convenient this way. If you want to try several trails, or all of them, then it is better to be located in the city center. It is also worth considering that the skiing season lasts from December to April, and winter in the Tatras is quite sunny and not characterized by severe frosts, which favors good skiing almost throughout the entire season.
Surprisingly, for more than a hundred years, the resort city of Zakopane is famous not only for its amazing skiing opportunities, but it is also a center of cultural life. There are many interesting museums in the city, such as the Tatra Museum, the Stanisław Witkiewicz Museum of Zakopane Style. The Cornelius Makuszynski Museum, the most interesting Museum of Nature of the Tatra National Park, and the Jan Kaspirovich Museum are considered interesting for tourists. An excellent place is the Alpinarium - this is a kind of mountain botanical garden, as well as the ancient cemetery of the city.
There is a water park and many souvenir shops where you can buy quite unusual things and handicrafts.
Zakopane is a great place for traveling with children, because there are also many interesting places for them, it is not only a water park where you can go with your parents, it is also a trip to Rabkoland. Rabkoland is a family holiday park located in the town of Rabka-Zdrój.
And what about Chochołów alone - a cozy village, most interesting from a tourist point of view, in which there is a complex of wooden houses, as well as a beautiful panoramic view of the mountains.
Therefore, you should not think at all that Zakopane is just a place for skiing, since the city is very interesting in the summer. Hiking routes, which are interestingly arranged among intertwined mountain ranges, allow you to move from simpler to more complex, thereby increasing the load gradually and distributing it evenly. The routes are very well equipped and are all marked with special signs that accompany tourists along the entire route. In the summer, you can also arrange a shawl hike in the mountains, which will allow you not only to enjoy the surrounding beauty, but also to spend the night in the mountains, in a hotel of a thousand stars, admiring the shining sky.
Zakopane is intended for absolutely everyone, because the resort is equipped with almost everything necessary for a complete, comfortable holiday. Tourists love this place very much and come here year after year, so I’m just sure that when you come here you definitely won’t regret it and won’t remain indifferent to the beauty and hospitality of this wonderful city.
Is the answer helpful?
Zakopane(Zakopane) is a small town in southern Poland, located in the valley of the Tatra Mountains. The border with Slovakia is very close, but there is no direct road from Zakopane to Slovakia; to get there, you need to make a small “detour” through Koscielisko and Chocholow. The population of Zakopane is just under 30,000 inhabitants. Although during the season, due to visiting tourists, this number increases to more than 100,000.
Just 110 kilometers north of Zakopane is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe - Krakow. It's definitely worth a visit.
I read on Wikipedia that the journey by car from Zakopane to Krakow takes 1 hour 30 minutes. This is not entirely correct information. The fact is that driving on Polish roads (not autobahns) is very difficult. There are a lot of settlements, restrictions, solid lanes, traffic lights, there is a bridge with one lane (passage across it is also regulated by a traffic light). Driving to Krakow turns into continuous hard labor: 70 km/h - 50 km/h - 60 km/h - and so on all the way. High-speed sections where you can reach speeds of up to 90 km/h can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Although sometimes it begins to seem that you are the only one who follows the traffic rules. In short, in practice this journey takes almost 2 hours.
Zakopane is truly a very beautiful resort. It began to develop in the middle of the 19th century, and local authorities made a lot of efforts for this. And gradually the city became a major ski resort center. It's not in vain Zakopane is called the winter capital of Poland. There are even many stands in the city that talk about exactly this.
Many times, Zakopane hosted alpine skiing competitions (including international ones). And in February 1939, the 9th World Alpine Skiing Championship was successfully organized and held here. More recently, Zakopane was a candidate to become the host city of the 2006 Winter Olympics. But it didn’t work out. Then Italian Turin was chosen to host the Olympics. Therefore, the Olympic Games have not yet been held here. However, the city is striving for this and will continue to submit applications to host the Winter Olympics. And in parallel with this, trails are being modernized, ski jumps are being built, and the infrastructure as a whole is being developed. By the way, it is in Zakopane that the largest ski jump in Poland is located, called Wielka Krokiew!
Zakopane is surrounded on all sides by mountains and pine forests. Therefore, the air here is very clean. At the same time mountain and forest. And this is definitely good for health. It is simply impossible to express in words how easy it is to breathe here.
Excellent comfortable climatic conditions, beautiful unique nature, fresh invigorating air. This is simply an ideal place for people who want to relax and relieve stress. It is believed (and this is true) that the air in this area has healing properties for various respiratory diseases, as well as allergies, tuberculosis and leukemia.
The Poles themselves love this area very much and strive to spend not only their holidays here, but also just weekends. In hotels in Zakopane you can meet Hungarians, Slovaks, and Germans. What can I say - this is a very popular resort in Europe.
Zakopane is the highest of all cities in Poland(after all, it is located at an altitude of 830 meters above sea level). And here the climate is very mild, there are practically no winds - the mountains and forests do their job. Winters in Zakopane are sunny and warm, there are almost no cloudy days, but there is quite a lot of snow. Although I have heard that there is quite often fog on the slopes, which makes skiing difficult. I don’t know how it is in winter, but I confirm the presence of fog almost every day in the fall (October-November).
As for the temperature regime in the winter season, I will note the following. In December, January and February, the daytime air temperature in Zakopane ranges from −5 °C to −10 °C. Agree, more than comfortable for skiing. In general, the ski season begins in December and lasts until March. And sometimes until mid-April.
All mountain skiing lovers will find here a slope to their taste (in the sense of skill). There are simple and gentle ones for beginner skiers, and there are steep and quite difficult ones. All trails are equipped with a large number of lifts, rope tows and cable cars. The most popular among tourists are three ski resorts. These are “Antalówka”, “Gubałówka” and “Kozinets”. All of them are located in close proximity to the center of Zakopane. However, in the vicinity of the city there are also many other ski resorts - Koscielisko, Kasprowy Wierch, Budzowski Wierch, Kalatowki, Butorowy Wierch, Nosal.
However, there is no point in listing and describing all the ski resorts in Zakopane. There are many of them and most of them are equipped at the highest level (let me remind you that the city was preparing to host the Olympic Games). Just come and see for yourself.
The hotel base in Zakopane is not particularly diverse. The vast majority are small hotels with 10-20 rooms. As a rule, they are wooden log houses on several floors, built in the style traditional for this region. The style is not particularly diverse, but very original.
This is not a house, but a private hotel! Most often, hotel owners live in these same houses. This makes it easier to look after it and receive tourists.
I repeat that First of all, Zakopane is a ski resort. However, during the summer months the region also attracts many mountain hikers. There are several very popular routes here. In particular, in the Zakopane region there is Tatra National Park(Park Tatrzanski). It has both the simplest walking routes that even children can go on, and quite complex ones exclusively for experienced tourists.
I myself prefer to holiday in Zakopane not in the winter season, but in autumn or spring. There are not many people at this time. There is silence and complete idyll all around. It's great.
And not the last advantage of the resort is the new aquapark, built in Zakopane in 2006. It may not be very large - there are only three large slides.
But there are several pools and small slides, a jacuzzi and a pool with a current (like a river). And most importantly, the Zakopane water park is open all year round and is open from 9:00 to 22:00. So, if you love this activity, then bring swimsuits with you at any time of the year, just in case.
My personal advice is this: You should definitely visit Zakopane at least once. Just take a break from everyday work and enjoy the peace and tranquility. Along the way you can go to Krakow, Wadowice, Auschwitz, Katowice. I think you'll like it.
Our road to Zakopane lay through a small town Nowy Targ.
Nowy Targ(Nowy Targ)
Nowy Targ- a town in Poland at the foot of the Tatras. The population is about 33,000 people. Today, Nowy Targ, as befits a county town, is a major regional center of trade, culture and sports. There are numerous warehouses, shoe factories, fur factories, building materials factories, etc.
As they write on the city’s official website: tourists are invited to dine in numerous restaurants, cafes and small pubs. The city has excellent conditions for sports: air, ski slopes and skating rink, tennis courts. Nowy Targ It is also an excellent starting point for hiking and cycling in a region of beautiful landscapes and ethnographic traditions of the highlanders. The icy waters of the Dunajec River and its tributaries are a paradise for anglers.
On weekends on the streets Nowy Targ A big market is breaking up. It was for this reason that we were brought here before our arrival in Zakopane. The Novotargsky market occupies an area of more than 1.5 hectares. Here you can buy almost everything: from apples and local cheese, to sheepskin coats and other sheepskin souvenirs. Not only tourists shop at the market, so there are also more everyday items.
Not far from the streets filled with stalls of merchants and shoppers scurrying between them is Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Kościół Najświętszego Serca Pana Jezusa). Construction of the temple began in the 30s of the 20th century and lasted almost 30 years. The church bell tower (65 m) is the tallest building in the city.
The small wooden church of St. is considered the most valuable ancient monument. Anna XVI century (according to tradition, created by robbers), but we did not get to it.
There are many sheep grazing on the slopes.
Zakopane: famous ski resort in autumn
Small town Zakopane many call it the winter capital of Poland. At this time of year, numerous ski enthusiasts come here. The skiing season usually lasts from December to April. But the rest of the time, life in Zakopane does not stop. Beautiful natural scenery and mountain air attract hikers to Świnice, Giewont and Kasprowy Wierch.
Inspection Zakopane we started from Mount Gubałówka ( Gubałowka, 1123 m above sea level). You can get to the top along a narrow-gauge railway in yellow-blue carriages. Photo in front of the railway station.
From the windows of the trailer there is a beautiful view of the neighboring mountains and the city itself:
Restaurant at the top Gubałówki:
View of Zakopane:
Photo as a souvenir with a lamb and a stuffed bear.
Nice rural landscape.
I don’t know if there are wild boars in these parts, but they serve beer with boar sausages here.
We walked around Gubałówka and went downstairs. At the foot there is a colorful local bazaar, where we bought a pillow in the shape of a lamb.
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Delicious sheep cheese.
Along the old central street of Krupówki there is a fashionable pedestrian zone with shops, cafes, bars and restaurants.
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Zakopane. When and for how long to go?
How long does it take to get to Zakopane?
For ordinary (unprepared) tourists, the hiking season in the Tatras is limited to the warm season, when most trails can be walked without special equipment.
Warm days arrive in Zakopane at the end of April, so you can already go for the first walks during the May holidays.
However, it is worth keeping in mind that Poland also has its own May holidays, which most Poles prefer to spend outside the home. This is May 1 - Labor Day, a legacy from the times of socialism, and May 3 - Constitution Day, the main Polish national holiday.
During the week of May 1st and 3rd, Poles usually travel. After all, just like with us, you can take 3 days off, and take a walk, including weekends, for 9 whole days.
Therefore, at this time (at least from May 1 to May 3), almost all hotels in Zakopane are occupied. This, however, does not mean that it is impossible to book a hotel for the May holidays; this only means that you need to book a hotel in advance.
In general, you can take your first walks in the Tatras as early as April. But a lot depends on nature: if it’s early spring, most mountain trails will be free of snow by the end of April; if it’s late spring, most mountain trails will be inaccessible.
The only thing we can say with certainty is that those who come to Zakopane in early May can definitely go for walks in the valleys, including the road to Sea Eye Lake.
By the end of May, most tourist routes are guaranteed to be free of snow. It may lie only in fragments on some slopes and on the highest peaks.
By this time, the valleys are blooming, the ice on the lakes is melting.
After the May holidays, almost until the end of June, there is some lull in the tourist life of Zakopane. The fact is that the plans of most Polish tourists coming to Zakopane are in one way or another tied to the holidays. The academic year in Polish schools lasts until the end of June, so at this time children and their parents come here only on weekends. Students are also busy preparing for exams and have no time for the Tatra Mountains.
June is one of the best periods for mountain passes in Zakopane: the weather is already summer, and there are still few tourists.
This month has more rainy days than May, but the maximum duration of daylight allows you to plan long hikes in the mountains.
Peak summer tourism in Zakopane occurs in July and August. Even cable cars increase their working hours at this time.
However, according to statistics, July is the rainiest month. Although there are also quite long periods without rain at all. One thing is for sure: July is an exceptionally warm month.
By August, the last snow in the mountains finally melts. All trails are open. The days are still quite long, and the weather (especially in the second half of the month) is sunny and stable.
September is the month when mainly students come to Zakopane (the Polish academic year in higher education institutions begins on October 1), and those mountain lovers who are not tied to the summer holidays.
And if the mornings and evenings at the beginning of the month are usually already cold, then the end of September often pleases with warm days of golden autumn.
In October, hiking in the Tatras gradually fades away. Sometimes at this time it even snows here and there. Some recovery occurs only on weekends.
Although November pleases us with stable weather, the air temperature is already quite low, and in the mountains more and more trails are closed due to snow. All that remains is walking through the valleys.
How long does it take to arrive in Zakopane?
Poles, and even more so residents of the southern part of Poland, usually come to Zakopane for 3-4 days, using weekends and adding a day or two off.
However, they have the opportunity to come here several times a year (which, by the way, they do). And considering that it is much more difficult for us to get to Poland, our vacation time in Zakopane can be extended to a week. At the same time, every day you will be guaranteed a trip to new interesting places.
It also makes sense to combine a trip to Zakopane with a trip to Krakow. (http://www.krakow.ru)
I cannot give universal advice regarding the duration of rest. In my opinion, 3 days (full days, not counting the days of arrival and departure) is the minimum period required to experience the Tatras and Zakopane.
You can plan a pretty intense program for five days.
Finally, in a week, you can already feel a little like a mountaineer (and at the same time, the routes you visit will not be repeated).
Better yet, return to Zakopane again to take the already familiar route again and conquer peaks that you didn’t have the strength to climb in the past.
