11 Best Things to Do in Zakopane in Winter, Poland

Nestled at the foot of the Tatra Mountains in southern Poland’s Podhale region, the mountain town of Zakopane is the perfect snowy getaway: winter hiking, skiing, thermal baths, and traditional Highlander culture are all right on your doorstep.

And you don’t even have to be a skier to enjoy it. You can hike through the snowy Tatras to a frozen mountain lake and warm up in a thermal bath afterwards, ride the Gubałówka funicular for panoramic mountain views, try some local Polish delicacies, or just stroll through Zakopane and admire its distinctive wooden architecture.

There are more than enough things to do in Zakopane in winter to keep you busy for a few days. We spent two full days here, and I’m sharing the winter activities I loved, the ones that didn’t live up to the hype, and why.

2. Relax at Chochołowskie Thermal Baths

After a day out in the cold skiing or hiking up to Morskie Oko, relaxing in a steaming outdoor thermal pool with snow-capped mountains right in front of you is just what you need. It feels sooo rejuvenating!

Chochołowskie Termy is the largest thermal bath complex in Poland, with 52 indoor and outdoor pools, hot tubs, saunas, a salt cave, and wellness facilities.

We came here on Saturday afternoon (I know, terrible timing!), and it was busy with families. If you want a more chilled-out experience, go on a weekday and stay until later in the evening. I’d also add the Saunarium to your ticket; it was a lot quieter over there!

One thing I should probably warn you about: the Saunarium is a non-textile area. I’m German (sauna culture pretty much comes with the territory), so being naked in a sauna doesn’t really faze me. But if you’re not used to it, the idea of sweating away in a sauna with 20 naked strangers can definitely feel a little awkward! 😅

3. Ride the Gubałówka Funicular

Taking the Gubałówka funicular is one of the most popular family attractions in Zakopane and the easiest way to get panoramic Tatra Mountain views, without having to be outdoorsy.

But it’s a proper tourist trap. A return ticket for the 3.5-minute-long ride costs 42 złoty (~$11 USD), and once you reach the top at 1,123 m above sea level, there’s one souvenir stall after another, mascots walking around, and restaurants serving overpriced, average food.

It was lunchtime, and I was curious to try the pizza topped with oscypek cheese and cranberry jam, but let’s just say it looked a lot better in the photo with the snowy mountain backdrop than it tasted. 😂

The views over the mountains are lovely though, and we definitely enjoyed sitting outside with a beer.

4. Go Hiking in the Tatra Mountains

One of the best things to do in Zakopane in winter is to get out into the breathtaking Tatra Mountains.

Morskie Oko, or “The Eye of the Sea”, is the largest lake in the Polish Tatra Mountains. It’s incredibly beautiful in every season and accessible in winter too, which also means you’ll be sharing the trail with a lot of other hikers.

You can easily get there from Zakopane by bus, and the round trip from the car park is around 18 km, with 420 metres of elevation gain. The entrance fee to Tatra National Park is just 11 złoty (under $3 USD).

The whole hike took us 4 hours and 50 minutes, and walking in thick winter boots was a lot more challenging than the trainers I usually hike in.

The route starts off pretty easy on a wide asphalt road, but gradually gets more challenging as you climb higher, once you hit the snow and ice. We saw a lot of people falling on their bums that day!

When we got to the frozen lake, there was glorious sunshine and blue skies. We spent some time taking photos, walking around on the ice, and warming up with a hot, hearty bowl of żurek in the mountain hut.

5. Go Skiing or Snowboarding

If you’re visiting Zakopane in winter, you might as well make the most of all that snow and hit the slopes!

Skiing in Zakopane is a lot more affordable than many of the big ski destinations in the Alps, especially when it comes to accommodation, food and lift passes.

Rather than being one huge ski resort, Zakopane and the surrounding Podhale region are dotted with smaller ski areas. Some of the main ones in and around Zakopane are Polana Szymoszkowa, Harenda, Nosal and Gubałówka, while Kasprowy Wierch is a bit different, with high-altitude skiing up in the Tatra Mountains.

If you want to go all in, you can buy the Tatry Super Ski Pass, which gives you access to 19 ski resorts across Poland and Slovakia, with 118 ski trails and 100 lifts.

Unfortunately, we didn’t hit the slopes this time, but I’ll definitely be back one day for a proper ski trip!

6. Go on a Snowmobile Adventure

You can’t really talk about Zakopane winter activities without mentioning kulig, the traditional horse-drawn sleigh rides. I mean, they do look pretty romantic when the torchlit carriages are trotting through a snowy winter wonderland.

But personally, I don’t feel comfortable promoting animal-based tourism unless it’s about observing animals in their natural habitat, so I haven’t included sleigh rides here.

Instead, I’ll give you an adrenaline-filled alternative: explore Zakopane’s snowy landscapes on a guided snowmobile adventure!

7. Explore Zakopane’s Traditional Wooden Architecture

What makes Zakopane so distinctive is its traditional wooden architecture. I bet the houses look even better when they’re covered in snow, but sadly, most of it had already melted by the time we visited in early March.

A lot of what you’ll see is inspired by the Zakopane Style, which developed in the late 19th century and was shaped by architect and artist Stanisław Witkiewicz. He took traditional Highlander building techniques and local Podhale details and turned them into a distinctive architectural style.

One of the best places to see it is the traditional wooden Highlander villa Willa Koliba, the first house built in the Zakopane Style in 1892–93. It’s now home to the Museum of the Zakopane Style.

You’ll also spot beautifully carved wooden houses all over Zakopane, particularly along Kościeliska Street, one of the oldest streets in town.

We walked past the stunning wooden Church of Our Lady of Częstochowa and Saint Clemens every day on our way from our cabin into town.

8. Wander Along Krupówki Street

Krupówki Street is Zakopane’s main pedestrian street and one of those places you’ll probably end up wandering down whether you planned to or not.

It’s about 1 km long and packed with restaurants, bars, souvenir shops, and street stalls selling all sorts of regional food, including the famous oscypek.

Yes, it’s veeery touristy, but I actually really liked strolling along lively Krupówki in the evening after a day in the mountains. I can imagine it being extra magical around Christmas, when the street is lit up with festive lights.

You’ll also find loads of traditional karczmas along Krupówki, often with a live Highlander band playing. They’re definitely an atmospheric dinner option (more on that later!).

9. Learn About Highlander Culture at the Tatra Museum

If you want to understand a bit more about Góral (Highlander) culture and the Podhale region, go visit the Tatra Museum on Krupówki. Entry is 24 złoty (around $6 USD).

It’s also a nice way to escape the cold for a bit and get some context for all the traditional architecture, clothing, and crafts you’ll come across during your time in Zakopane.

The exhibitions cover local ethnography and the natural history of the Tatra Mountains, with everything from traditional clothing and folk crafts to instruments and local wildlife.

Since we had more plans lined up that day, we spent around an hour here, but I could’ve easily stayed longer. One surprising thing I learned while I was there was that the Highlanders have their own version of the bagpipes, the koza.

I also really enjoyed browsing the old photographs showing the early days of tourism and mountain exploration in the region.

10. Try Smoked Oscypek Cheese

You cannot visit Zakopane without trying oscypek, the famous smoked sheep’s milk cheese from the Podhale region in southern Poland.

You’ll see these spindle-shaped cheeses with decorative patterns everywhere, and they’re often served warm with cranberry jam. The firm, chewy texture actually reminded me a bit of halloumi when grilled.

Authentic Oscypek is seasonal, and its production runs only from late April to October, when sheep are grazing in the mountains. So if you’re visiting Zakopane in winter, that spindle-shaped cheese you’re being offered isn’t necessarily the real deal.

Tip: Look out for the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) label. It means the cheese has to meet specific requirements, including at least 60% sheep’s milk and being made in the designated region.