Zakopane & Tatra Mountains Day Trip from Krakow with Cable Car & Thermal Baths

Zakopane and Krupówki Street

Zakopane is known as the winter capital of Poland. The town sits at the foot of the Tatras, the highest range of the Carpathians, about 100 kilometres south of Krakow, and has drawn painters, writers and skiers since the late 19th century. Its skyline is dominated by Giewont, a mountain whose outline is said to look like a sleeping knight.

In the centre, pedestrianised Krupówki Street is lined with wooden shops, cafés and stalls selling carved souvenirs and woollen goods. During your free time you can walk its length, try local dishes or look at the Zakopane-style timber architecture created by Stanisław Witkiewicz. The best time to visit Zakopane depends on your plans: winter brings snow and skiing, while summer and early autumn are best for hiking and clear mountain views.

Gubałówka Hill and its funicular

Gubałówka is a long ridge rising above Zakopane to about 1,120 metres. The funicular, opened in 1938, climbs roughly 300 metres in only a few minutes, and your return ticket is already included. Our guide helps you through the queue so you spend your time at the top rather than in line.

From the ridge the whole Tatra range opens up in front of you, from Giewont to the rocky summits on the Slovak border. The path along the top is lined with viewpoints, stalls and small attractions, and in winter it is covered in snow. If you are wondering whether the Gubałówka funicular is worth it, the panorama on a clear day is the answer: it is one of the most famous views in Poland.

Chochołów, the wooden highlander village

On the way to Zakopane we stop in Chochołów, a village near the Slovak border famous for its rows of log houses built from thick spruce timber. Many are more than a century old and still inhabited, with carved gables and neatly scrubbed walls. The village is also remembered for the Chochołów Uprising of 1846, a brief revolt against Austrian rule.

Here you have time for photos and a tasting of oscypek, the smoked sheep's cheese made by the Górale highlanders, pressed in decorated wooden moulds and protected under European Union rules. Your guide tells the story of highlander culture, dress and music, which remain very much alive across the Podhale region.

Chochołów Thermal Baths

The day ends at the Chochołów Thermal Baths, one of the largest geothermal spa complexes in Poland. Warm mineral water rises from deep underground and fills indoor and outdoor pools, whirlpools and relaxation areas, while the outdoor pools face the snowy Tatra peaks. Children enjoy the slides and play zones, and adults usually head for the hottest outdoor basins.

Your ticket gives three hours of access to the pool zones; the sauna area is not part of this visit. Soaking in thermal water under the mountains is especially memorable in winter, when steam rises into the cold air. Bring your swimwear, a towel and flip-flops, then relax on the drive back to Krakow.