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Things to Do in Zakopane on a Day Trip from Krakow
The best things to do in Zakopane on a day trip are Krupowki Street, the Gubalowka funicular, the Kasprowy Wierch cable car to 1,987 m, a thermal bath and, with an early start, Morskie Oko. The day tours from Krakow run 9 to 11 hours, so pick two or three stops and skip the rest.
Quick answer What fits into one day
With 9 to 11 hours on a day tour or 1 hour 57 minutes each way on the Pendolino, most visitors manage two or three stops: a walk on Krupowki Street, the Gubalowka funicular or the Kasprowy Wierch cable car, and a thermal bath. Morskie Oko needs at least 7 hours on its own, so it competes with the rest of the day.
Key takeaways
- Compare the train and the tour in the Krakow to Zakopane guide.
- See how the classic day fits together in the Tatra Mountains tour from Krakow guide.
- Soak after the sights with the Zakopane thermal baths day trips.
- Travelling in the cold months? Read what is open in the Zakopane in winter guide.
What Are the Best Things to Do in Zakopane in One Day?
Choose from Krupowki Street, the Gubalowka funicular, the Kasprowy Wierch cable car, a thermal bath and Morskie Oko, and expect to fit two or three.
The table sets each stop against the time it takes and what it costs on the spot, in Polish zloty.
Time and Cost of Each Stop
Cable car and funicular prices are the regular adult return online or at the ticket office in the October to December low season. Check the operator's page for the exact day, because wind and maintenance stop the lifts.
| Stop | Time it takes | Cost on the spot |
|---|---|---|
| Krupowki Street | A short walk, top to bottom | Pay only for food and shopping |
| Gubalowka funicular | Ticket valid all day, stay is unlimited | PLN 37 online or PLN 42 at the ticket office |
| Kasprowy Wierch cable car | About 20 minutes up, 1 hour 40 minutes at the top on a return ticket | PLN 129 return, includes Tatra National Park entry |
| Chocholowskie Termy | 3 hours, or no time limit | PLN 95 for 3 hours Monday to Thursday |
| Morskie Oko | At least 7 hours | Tatra National Park entry PLN 11, plus car park or e-bus |
| Mrozna Cave | 30-40 minutes, open 26 April to 31 October | PLN 11 |
Sources: Polskie Koleje Linowe, Gubalowka, Polskie Koleje Linowe, Kasprowy Wierch, Chocholowskie Termy, Tatra National Park, Tatra National Park.
The Wielka Krokiew ski jump is Zakopane's landmark and hosts World Cup competitions. Photo: Kapitel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Is Krupowki Street Worth Visiting?
Yes, it is the central street of Zakopane and the easiest place to eat and shop on a short day.
Every day trip passes through it, so use it as the lunch stop.
What You Find There
Krupowki runs from the top to the bottom of the town and is the main shopping street. It holds shops, restaurants and cafes serving pierogi or oscypek.
Oscypek is the local smoked sheep cheese. The oscypek guide explains how to tell the protected one from a copy before you buy.
Where Are Zakopane's Sights?
Most sights sit within walking distance of Krupowki Street. Gubalowka rises north of the centre, Wielka Krokiew and Kuznice lie to the south, and Chocholow is a drive west.
- 1 Krupowki Street, ZakopaneFree time on the day trips is spent here.
- 2 GubalowkaFunicular from the market by Krupowki.
- 3 Wielka KrokiewThe ski jump south of the centre.
- 4 Villa KolibaThe Museum of Zakopane Style on Koscieliska Street.
- 5 Tatra MuseumOn Krupowki Street.
- 6 Jaszczurowka chapelWooden chapel on the road east.
- 7 KuzniceKasprowy Wierch cable car station.
Numbers match the pins on the map.
Source: Tatra Museum, Polskie Koleje Linowe.
How Do You Visit Gubalowka?
Ride the funicular to the top, then walk back down or ride down again on the same ticket.
The funicular runs year-round, but it closes for a few days of maintenance in spring and autumn.
Funicular Tickets and Closures
The funicular runs non-stop on busy days, since 10 people are enough to depart, and otherwise every 15 minutes. A return or one-way ticket is valid all day, and the stay on top is unlimited.
In the low season from 1 October to 18 December an adult return costs PLN 37 online and PLN 42 at the ticket office or machines. In the high season from 4 June to 30 September it costs PLN 44 online and PLN 49 at the ticket office. Children up to 4 ride free on the guardian's ticket.
The Gubalowka resort is closed for technical maintenance from 16 to 27 November, with replacement coaches to the summit from 9:30 to 19:00. The Butorowy Wierch chairlift is closed from 16 to 28 November.
A popular plan is to ride up and hike back to town.
Sources: Polskie Koleje Linowe, Gubalowka, Polskie Koleje Linowe, Gubalowka.
Is the Kasprowy Wierch Cable Car Worth It?
The ride takes about 20 minutes and reaches the Kasprowy Wierch ridge, but wind and maintenance can stop it.
Kasprowy Wierch is 1,987 m above sea level, and the upper cable car station stands lower, at 1,959 m.
Tickets, Time Slots and Wind
The ride takes about 20 minutes with one stop at Myslenickie Turnie. A return ticket allows 1 hour 40 minutes at the top. The ticket includes the Tatra National Park entrance, and you need to be at the Kuznice lower station 15 minutes before the time printed on it. Book online for a time slot to skip the queue at the ticket office.
Prices for an adult return are PLN 129 in the low season, which includes 1 October to 18 December. In the high season from 4 June to 30 September and from 20 December to 12 April the return is PLN 165 at the ticket office. Dogs are not allowed, because the cable car runs inside the park.
The cable car is taken out of service for maintenance every May and November. It also does not run in wind above 20 m/s, in icing or below -28 °C. If the wind (halny) stops it, you can return a Tourpass and get 100% of the price back. Check pkl.pl on the morning of your trip.
Sources: Polskie Koleje Linowe, Kasprowy Wierch, Polskie Koleje Linowe, Kasprowy Wierch, Tatra National Park.
Can You Do Morskie Oko on a Day Trip from Krakow?
Yes, but the Tatra National Park recommends at least 7 hours for the trip, which fills the whole day.
Morskie Oko is a long walk from the trailhead, and from Zakopane the trailhead is more than 20 km away.
Hours, Fees and Closures
The path from the trailhead is an asphalt road of about 8 km. The park plans about 2.5 hours each way on foot and about 2 hours at the lake. The road is wide and mostly paved, so it suits all ages.
Entry to the park costs PLN 11 for a standard single-day ticket and PLN 5.50 reduced. A car park e-ticket at the official Morskie Oko car parks costs from PLN 36 to PLN 75, and the online price is PLN 10 higher on the day of travel.
From 14 November the park's e-bus rides to Morskie Oko are suspended because of snow on the road. Check the TPN e-bus page before you plan a winter trip.
From 1 March to 30 November all trails are closed to walkers from dusk to dawn, so plan to be off the trail before dark.
Sources: Tatra National Park, Tatra National Park, Tatra National Park, Tatra National Park.
The Chapel of the Sacred Heart in Jaszczurówka, an early example of the Zakopane style. Photo: Agnieszkaszwed, CC BY-SA 3.0 pl, via Wikimedia Commons
Tours That Fit
These day tours combine the lifts, the baths and the cheese into one booking.
from $32
The pick
Zakopane Day Trip from Krakow with Chocholow Thermal Baths
The most booked Zakopane day: funicular, tasting and 3 hours in the Chocholow pools are all in the price, with 2 hours on Krupowki.
Check Availability
from $53.92
Rated 5.0
Zakopane Cable Car, Oscypek and Thermal Baths Day Trip
The same day as the baths tours above, rated 5.0 on Viator, with both tickets and the tasting in the price.
Check Availability
from $25
Lowest price on GYG
Zakopane, Tatra Mountains and Gubalowka Day Trip
A classic Zakopane day without the pools: 2 hours on Krupowki and an hour up on Gubalowka.
Check Availability
from $25
Ski jump included
Zakopane and Tatra Mountains Tour with Wielka Krokiew Ski Jump
The classic day plus the Wielka Krokiew ski jump, with the funicular ticket and the tasting in the price.
Check AvailabilityWhich Thermal Baths Fit a Day Trip From Krakow?
Chocholowskie Termy, Termy Bukowina and Terma Bania all heat their pools to between 30 and 38 °C, and the choice comes down to price and distance.
Most day tours end with a soak, and you can book one on your own.
Baths Compared
The table compares water temperature and the adult pool ticket. The prices are in Polish zloty. The Termy Bukowina low-season list does not apply from 6 to 15 November, when the high-season list applies.
| Baths | Water | Adult ticket |
|---|---|---|
| Chocholowskie Termy | 32-38 °C | PLN 95 for 3 hours or PLN 125 with no time limit, Monday to Thursday |
| Termy Bukowina | 30-38 °C | PLN 89 for 3.5 hours Monday to Thursday or PLN 99 Friday to Sunday |
| Terma Bania | 34-38 °C | From PLN 83 online for 2.5 hours in the play and relax zone |
Hours, Evenings and Closures
Chocholowskie Termy pools are open until 22:00, or 23:00 on Friday and Saturday. An evening entry after 19:00 costs PLN 75 for an adult from Monday to Thursday. Termy Bukowina is open daily 9:00-22:00. The Chocholowskie Termy slide tower is closed on 16-18 November.
The Zakopane thermal baths guide compares the day trips that end here.
Sources: Chocholowskie Termy, Chocholowskie Termy, Termy Bukovina, Termy Bukovina, Terma Bania.
What Are the Things to Do in Zakopane in Winter?
Ski at Kasprowy Wierch, go snowshoeing with a guide, ride up the Wielka Krokiew chair lift or soak in a thermal bath.
Zakopane is known as the winter capital of Poland, and the trail rules change in the cold months.
Snow Activities and Trail Closures
Kasprowy Wierch has Alpine-style skiing at almost 2,000 m. Wielka Krokiew is the biggest and most famous ski jumping hill in Poland, and a chair lift goes up to the top with views over Zakopane. Snowshoeing is a way to explore if you do not ski, and a guided day tour finishes at a nearby hot spring.
From 1 December to 15 May the park closes these trails: Morskie Oko to Swistowka to the Five Polish Ponds Valley, the Czerwone Wierchy trail and the Giewont trail. Other trails stay open but are usually fully covered in snow, and the decision to go is yours.
See the Zakopane in winter guide and the Zakopane snowmobile tours for day trips in snow.
Source: Tatra National Park.
What Are Free and Unusual Things to Do in Zakopane?
Villa Koliba is free every Thursday and the Chocholow Uprising museum is free every Sunday.
Small Tatra Museum branches fit a short day better than a long hike.
Museums and a Cave
The Museum of Zakopane Style at Villa Koliba stands at Koscieliska 18. It was built in 1892-93 and is the first building designed by Stanislaw Witkiewicz in the Zakopane Style. Tickets cost PLN 20 normal and PLN 10 reduced, and entry is free every Thursday.
The Museum of the 1846 Chocholow Uprising, a Tatra Museum branch, charges PLN 6 normal and PLN 4.50 reduced, and entry is free every Sunday.
Mrozna Cave in the Koscieliska Valley takes 30-40 minutes, stays below 10 °C and is not lit, so bring a torch or headlamp. Last entry is at 16:30.
Sources: Tatra Museum, Tatra Museum, Tatra National Park.
Is a Day Tour Better Than the Train for Seeing Zakopane?
A tour removes the planning and the train gives more control, since the Pendolino takes 1 hour 57 minutes each way.
The choice depends on how many stops you want and who pays for them.
What the Price Covers
PKP Intercity runs a Pendolino from Krakow to Zakopane with a journey time of 1 hour 57 minutes, as part of 3 daily express pairs. Book ahead, because the seats sell out.
On a tour you give up control of the hours and gain a set route. The Zakopane Day Trip from Krakow with Chocholow Thermal Baths costs $32 per person, takes 11 hours and is rated 4.8 from 11531 reviews. The Zakopane and Tatra Mountains Day Trip, Baths Optional costs $25 per person. On the Baths Optional day, the Gubalowka funicular is 42 PLN per person and the Chocholow Thermal Baths 115 PLN per person, both paid on the day, optional, with the guide helping to buy them.
The zakopane day trip from krakow page shows every tour. The Krakow to Zakopane guide compares the options in full.
Source: PKP Intercity.
The old Pęksów Brzyzek cemetery holds the graves of many Zakopane figures. Photo: mik Krakow, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Zakopane Questions Answered
What are the things to do in Zakopane with kids?
Children up to 4 ride the Gubalowka funicular and the Kasprowy Wierch cable car free on the guardian's ticket, and the Morskie Oko road is wide and paved. See the thermal baths guide for family tickets.
What are the things to do in Zakopane at night?
The baths stay open late. Chocholowskie Termy pools close at 22:00, or at 23:00 on Friday and Saturday, and park trails are closed from dusk to dawn from 1 March to 30 November. Read the Krakow to Zakopane guide before planning a late return.
What are the free things to do in Zakopane?
Walk Krupowki Street, visit Villa Koliba on a Thursday or the Chocholow Uprising museum on a Sunday. Both are Tatra Museum branches. Plan the day with the Tatra Mountains tour guide.
What are the things to do in Zakopane in summer?
In the high season from 4 June to 30 September the Gubalowka funicular costs PLN 44 online, and the Kasprowy Wierch last entry is at 19:00 in July and August. Check the Zakopane weather guide for the months.
Is Kasprowy Wierch open in wind?
No, the cable car does not run in wind above 20 m/s, and a returned Tourpass gets 100% of the price back. Read the Zakopane in winter guide for winter conditions.
Can I do Zakopane in one day from Krakow?
Yes, a Zakopane day trip from Krakow takes 9 to 11 hours on a tour, or the Pendolino takes 1 hour 57 minutes each way. Compare tours on the Zakopane day trip from Krakow page.
More Guides
- Gubalowka Funicular: Tickets, Hours and What to Do on Top
Gubalowka funicular in 2027: return ticket PLN 42 at the office, closed 16 to 27 November. See what to do on top and check dates.
- Kasprowy Wierch Cable Car: Tickets, Times and the View from the Top
Kasprowy Wierch in 2027: a ride of approximately 20 minutes to 1,987 m, return from PLN 129 in low season. See the ticket types.
- Krakow to Zakopane: Train, Bus or a Day Tour?
Krakow to Zakopane in 2027: 1h 57m by train, about 2h 4m by bus, about 1h 26m by car. See which fits and compare tours.