Poland · City Tours

Zakopane: Tour from Krakow with Krupówki, Cable Car and Thermal Pools

12 Hours Round trip from Zakopane Moderate pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Full-day trip from Krakow to Zakopane and the Tatra region
  • 02 Taste traditional smoked oscypek cheese in a mountain hut
  • 03 Enjoy free time on lively Krupówki Street
  • 04 Ride the cable car to Gubałówka Hill
  • 05 Take in panoramic views of the Tatra Mountains
  • 06 Relax in thermal pools after exploring Zakopane
  • 07 Round-trip transport with an English-speaking driver
  • 08 Water on board included

Discover Zakopane on a full-day trip from Krakow that blends mountain scenery, local culture, and time to unwind. Travel through southern Poland to the heart of the Tatra region, stop at a traditional mountain hut to taste smoked oscypek cheese, and enjoy free time along lively Krupówki Street.

Ride the cable car to Gubałówka for sweeping views over Zakopane and the surrounding peaks, then round off the day with a relaxing visit to the thermal pools. With round-trip transport and key tickets included, this is an easy way to experience one of southern Poland’s most popular mountain destinations.

Being in Zakopane, it is absolutely necessary to take the cable car to the top of Gubałówka (1123 m asl).

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 12 Hours
Tour type Shared
Activity level Moderate
Accommodation Included
Transport Included
Wheelchair access No
Cities Cracow, Zakopane, Tatra National Park
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.

Thermal Pools

After exploring Zakopane and the surrounding area, the driver will transport you to the thermal pools, where you will be able to relax and feel the health properties of thermal water.

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 Zakopane 3 cities · 12 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
  • Ticket to thermal pool (~2,5 h)
  • Visiting the oldest traditional mountain hut & highlander cheese tasting
  • Water on board

What's Not Included

  • Food, drinks
  • Tips

Know before you go

  • The temperature in the mountains may differ than that in Krakow, take some warmer clothes just in case.
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Not stroller accessible

Logistics

Meeting & route

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

Your 12 hours finish where they began, in Zakopane.

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