Zakopane – Experience the Culture and the Tatras

Zakopane brings together culture, regional traditions and experiences connected with the Tatras. To plan your trip, you can choose from museums and themed walks, activities for children and outdoor destinations. The views from Gubałówka and the trails starting in Kuźnice also offer different ideas for things to do in Zakopane.

Culture and History of Zakopane

Willa Koliba was the first house built in the Zakopane Style, based on a design by Stanisław Witkiewicz. For anyone interested in the town’s architectural history, it offers a tangible starting point. The themed walks offered by FREE CITY TOUR Zakopane provide a different perspective on the town, introducing notable figures connected with it. The walks are free, but advance registration is required.

The Tatra Museum displays works of art, natural history and ethnographic objects, as well as archival and library collections. The permanent natural history exhibition in the main building presents the geological structure and wildlife of the Tatras. This lets you tailor your museum visit to your interests, from art and ethnographic objects to natural history and the archival and library collections.

Nature, Activities for Children and Cheese-Making

The Tatra National Park Nature Education Centre in Zakopane houses the largest model of the Tatras in Poland. The centre also includes Sala Odkryć, an interactive educational space for children with games and learning activities. Families who want to explore the Tatras during their visit can take these two features into account when choosing: the large-scale model and the space for discovery and learning.

Another way to learn about regional cheese-making is at the Oscypek Museum at ul. Jagiellońska 28. The museum demonstrates how oscypek is made, and visitors can make their own cheese in short workshops. Alongside exhibitions and nature-related topics, you can also choose this hands-on introduction to cheese-making.

Getting Your Bearings and Outdoor Destinations

Kuźnice is an area of Zakopane in the northern part of the Bystra Valley in the Western Tatras. Trails from there lead to Kalatówki, Kondratowa, Giewont, Kasprowy Wierch and Hala Gąsienicowa. These destinations give you a clear idea of the options if you’re interested in trails starting from Kuźnice. In town, Krupówki Street connects Plac pod Gubałówką with the southern part of Zakopane.

For views of Zakopane and the Tatras, a funicular runs year-round from Zakopane to Gubałówka. It reaches an elevation of 1,122 m in 3.5 minutes, and the upper station offers panoramic views of Zakopane and the Tatras. At Wielka Krokiew, a chairlift takes visitors to the top of the ski jumping hill. If you’d like to include a cycling route in your trip, Droga pod Reglami begins at the Wielka Krokiew ski jumping hill and ends at Siwa Polana in the Chochołowska Valley.

Discover More Destinations

For your next search, you can also explore Suche, Kościelisko, Bukowina Tatrzańska, Nowe Bystre, Poronin, Rzepiska, Czarna Góra and Jurgów.

For the broader travel overview: Tatras.