Zakopane holidays

At the foot of Gubalówka hill you'll find the Targ Pod Gubalówka market. Open during the summer, this bazaar sells lots of traditional highlander products from traditional clothing, shoes and purses to dishes, handicrafts and paintings by Podhale artists themselves. You'll also find a selection of fresh oscypek – the local sheep's cheese.

On Krupówki, Zakopane's bustling shopping street, you can find familiar high-street fashion and sports brands – ideal for picking up gear for walking in the Tatra Mountains or to start stocking up on winter warmers.

If you're looking for something special, have a nosey down Krupówki's Fashion Street. Zakopane's version of Oxford Street, this attractive shopping alley is housed inside pretty highlander-style buildings and has over 40 fashion and sports boutiques, selling quality leather jackets, fur hats and hiking equipment. Even if you're keeping your hands in your pockets, a little stroll and a window shop here can be just as appealing.

If you're more into sitting back and relaxing, head over to the stylish Winoteka Pod Berlami, found in a quiet part of town. Serving over 100 varieties of wine from all over the world, you can reminisce about your day over a glass (or two) before heading back to your hotel to rest up for another day’s adventures.

As a popular mountain destination in both summer and winter, Zakopane is teeming with nightlife. Most of the bars, pubs and clubs are located on or near Krupówki, meaning you'll never be far from a night out on the town. Café Piano is known for being the coolest bar in town – complete with playground swings for bar stools.

Despite being a rural town, Zakopane is home to around 150 restaurants, many of which are located on or near the main shopping street, Krupówki. It's a full mix of flavours here, from traditional Polish dishes to late-night kebabs and Mediterranean classics. A regional specialty in Zakopane though is ocsypek. Made from the milk of local mountain sheep since the 14th century, this popular cheese is characterised by a smoky smell and slightly salty taste (try it cooked halloumi-style on toast with cranberry sauce). Other dishes to try while in town are Haluski, noodles made from grated potatoes, salt and flour – and Moskole, a traditional potato pancake.

This Highlander-style restaurants found along Krupowki serve up traditional Old Polish recipes from the Podhale region. The interiors are cosy and authentic, complete with old-style stoves. Dishes include the popular oscypek with bacon and cranberries, baked duck served with pear and beetroot and baked trout. And at some spots like Karczma Zapiecek, live Polish folk music is played to add to the authentic atmosphere.

Also found on Krupówki is the charming Góralska Tradycja. This spacious venue is decorated in a clean-cut Highland style, alongside wood-pannelled ceilings, white tablecloths and sparkling chandeliers. Just right for a special family lunch or dinner, the exquisite menu includes dishes like lamb chops in a pistachio and corn batter. Downstairs, you'll also find a café selling a range of delicious pastries.

Famous for having the best pizza in town, you'll find Ristorante Cristina in Independence Square. The owners opened this restaurant in a passionate attempt to recreate authentic Italian cuisine, using a range of high-quality Italian and Polish products. Step inside and be transported to a traditional Italian trattoria – complete with lemon trees and curving arches – and sit down to scrumptious plates like scallops on saffron risotto, veal ravioli and thin, crispy pizzas.

With the town being so compact, there isn't much of a public transport system within Zakopane. However, next to the train station you'll find the PKS coach station and the Mini Bus station. From the former you can catch a connection to various destinations including Kraków, in just 2 hours and 30 minutes. The latter houses privately owned buses that operate within the town and to nearby sights like Lake Morskie Oko.

There are two lifts you can take in Zakopane during the summer. The Gubalówka Funicular Railway is accessed from the town centre at the end of Krupówki. The funicular takes four minutes to reach the top of the hill (1,120m) and offers fabulous views over the town. Alternatively, the Kasprowy Wierch Cable Car is located just outside of the town in Kuznice and heads up Mount Kasprowy to an elevation of 1,987m. This lift takes approximately 10 minutes to get to the top and operates in two stages, with a station at Myślenickie Turnie (1,325m). The Kuznice station can be accessed by both public bus and taxi.

Zakopane's train station is located just outside the centre of town – an approximate 15-minute walk from Krupówki. From here, you can take a slow train to one of Kraków's more suburban stations, Plaszów, in around four hours, or for a jaunt up the road to Nowy Targ – the historical capital of the Podhale region – in just 20 minutes. Trains also depart to several other destinations across the country including Gdansk, Warsaw and Szczecin, but these are pretty extensive journeys.

At the foot of the mountains, the town of Zakopane itself is predominantly flat. This means that most of it is easily walkable, and you'll be able to get about from one side to the other in under 30 minutes. However, if you're heading up into the mountains to explore, there are many paths that are rocky and uneven (and may even be slippery) – so we'd recommend taking sturdy, comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots.

Zakopane is a real walker’s paradise, with trails to suit every mood and ability. Pick from gentle valley strolls to high mountain adventures, with the town a perfect base for exploring this jaw-dropping region. Well-marked routes lead straight from the centre into forests, meadows and scenic ridgelines, with cosy mountain huts and panoramic viewpoints never far away. Whether you’re after a relaxed half-day wander or a full-day trek with serious altitude, Zakopane has something in store.

If you’re after big views without a big climb, this ridge walk is a must-do. Starting right in the centre of Zakopane, take the funicular or stroll up to Gubałówka Hill, where breathtaking panoramas of the Tatras open up straight away. From here, follow the easy red-marked trail along the ridge toward Butorowy Wierch, stopping at cosy cafés and viewing terraces along the way. You can ride the chairlift or walk down via Polana Szymoszkowa, then wander back through town past charming wooden villas and the Villa Koliba museum. Around 5km long and taking 2-2.5 hours, it’s a relaxed mix of forest paths and open viewpoints.

This is one of Zakopane’s most rewarding short hikes – a perfect mix of peaceful woodland, mountain scenery and wow-factor views. Start near the Wielka Krokiew ski jump and wander through the beautiful Strążyska Valley, following the stream to the pretty Siklawica waterfall. From there, climb up through the forest to reach Sarnia Skała, a rocky lookout with sweeping views over Zakopane and the high Tatras. Loop back via Dolina Białego and return to town. The 7km route takes about 3 hours and combines easy valley walking with a short, steeper ascent. Don’t miss the mountain hut in Strążyska for a well-earned snack or coffee.