Poland · Culture

Zakopane and Tatras Mountains Day Tour from Krakow

11 Hours Round trip from Kraków Moderate pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Scenic day trip from Krakow to Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains
  • 02 Taste traditional oscypek cheese in a local Bacówka
  • 03 Enjoy free time on lively Krupówki Street
  • 04 Ride the cable car to the top of Gubałówka
  • 05 Take in panoramic views of Zakopane and the Tatra peaks
  • 06 Travel with hotel pickup and drop-off included

Escape Krakow for a full-day journey to Zakopane, Poland’s famous mountain resort at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. Travel through changing landscapes, discover local highlander traditions, and enjoy time to explore the town’s lively atmosphere at your own pace.

Along the way, visit a traditional mountain hut to taste regional oscypek cheese, stroll along bustling Krupówki Street, and ride up Gubałówka for sweeping views over Zakopane and the surrounding peaks. This day tour combines scenery, culture, and local flavour in one memorable mountain experience.

Along the way, visit a traditional mountain hut to taste regional oscypek cheese, stroll along bustling Krupówki Street, and ride up Gubałówka for sweeping views over Zakopane and the surrounding peaks.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 11 Hours
Tour type Shared
Activity level Moderate
Accommodation Included
Transport Included
Wheelchair access No
Cities Cracow, Zakopane
Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Pick up (Krakow)

The driver will pick you up from the place in Krakow that you chose when making your reservation. Wait for him in front of the hotel / apartment main entrance at the agreed time (or better a few minutes earlier).

Transfer to Zakopane

Depending on road and weather conditions, the journey takes approximately 2 hours. Sit back and admire the typical Polish landscapes, which will gradually change from the plains to the more mountainous ones until the picturesque Tatra Mountains appear on the horizon.

Stop at "Bacówka"

On your way to Zakopane, you will visit the place where one of the most unique cheeses in the world is made.

Highlanders - local settlers, famous for their manual production of "oscypek". It is a type of smoked cheese made from sheep's milk. The wooden houses where this cheese is produced are called "Bacówki". In such a small wooden hut you will be able to try different types of this cheese with different degrees of smoking, as well as learn how it is made.

Krupówki - the heart of Zakopane

If it is believed that Zakopane is the heart of the Tatra Mountains, then Kropówki is the heart of Zakopane.

You will visit this most popular walking street, which is at the same time a specific city square and its focal point. At any time of the year, Krupówki Street is crowded with tourists who visit shops and go to regional restaurants located along the street. In this street, you can find many traditional highlander items to buy, such as clothes and souvenirs.

You will have free time to get to know Zakopane on your own. Start from Krupówki and take your time to find other points of interest in the city.

Cable car ride to Gubałówka

Being in Zakopane, it is absolutely necessary to take the cable car to the top of Gubałówka (1123 m asl). A modern car with a glass roof allows the railway to climb upwards, wonderfully admiring the evident multi-storey arrangement of the Tatra vegetation with the peaks of high mountains in Poland.

There are many attractions at the top, most of all, a wonderful panorama of the Tatra Mountains, an uninterrupted view of the mountain Zakopane located at the foot of the

mountain and the possibility of relaxing in the sunshine.

Transfer to Kraków

Relax on the ride back to Krakow in the afternoon, where the tour concludes with drop-off back at your original departure point.

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Kraków 2 cities · 11 Hours

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • Hotel pickup & drop off
  • Transfers (Krakow-Zakopane-Krakow)
  • English - speaking driver
  • Spare time on Krupówki (historical center of Zakopane)
  • Ticket to cable car to Gubalowka
  • Visiting the oldest traditional mountain hut & highlander cheese tasting
  • Water on board

What's Not Included

Gratuities, food and drinks, unless specified.

Know before you go

Not wheelchair accessible.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Kraków, PL
Tour start
Kraków, PL
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 11 hours finish where they began, in Kraków.

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