Top Tips
Here are a few things to remember during your time in Zakopane:
Strange people standing on the side of the road holding cardboard signs written "noclegi" or "pokoje" are not looking for a lift - they're offering cheap accommodation!
Avoid changing your money at Bureaux de Change in Zakopane town centre unless you want to hand a complete stranger an early Christmas present - the rates can be awful.
Don't hail your taxis from the rank - ask someone to phone for one - it's 30 percent cheaper. Better still, walk - nothing is that far away.
Coin-operated phone boxes are almost non-existent. You'll need to buy a telephone card (karta telefoniczna) from a Post Office or kiosk.
Tipping is not expected. No self-respecting waiter will turn away a few extra zloty, but you won't get the customary grimace if you don't. You're not guaranteed a smile if you do either.
Try the local smoked sheeps' cheeses - oscypki - sold at stands on the street and in the main market in Zakopane.
Unlike in the UK, pubs don't close at 11. Most just about get going then. Zakopane has embraced the apres-ski culture with a passion - even when there's no snow around.
Bring warm clothes and a hat. Even at the height of the summer, it can be pretty chilly in the mountains, and rain can arrive without warning.
Poles are passionate about their food. Throw away your preconceptions about miserable eastern bloc stews, and be prepared for a great surprise.
Poland has adopted its own uniquely confusing symbols for differentiating public toilets for men and women (see adjacent) - Remember, too, that in Zakopane you will almost certainly have to pay. Oh, and by the way, the circle is for women, the triangle for men! Or is it the other way around?
Comments
I am going in october to Warschau and Krakau. I want to see Zakopane . Where can i best start, in Warschau or Krakau? Can we visit the park in october? .
ReplyWe are a fAmily with 5 children (5,8,11,13,15) and we are going to zakopane in the end of february. Where is it best to rent skies? Is it best to go by car or bus to slopes ? We live in center
Replyski rentals are at major slopes and in the city centre, but I don't think you'll get much snow (it's all gone already, but who knows). buses are more efficient. If I were U, I'd get to the slope by bus, rent the equipment on the spot and then travel light back to the hotel. But that's me
ReplyHere is a link with prices list for Kasprowy Wierch cable car and the 2 chair lifts: lhttp://www.pkl.pl/index.php?id=24.
ReplyHi Elaine - snow is great, winter is strong. Should be find through mid March - in fact I recommend as March conditions are still good but there are much less skiers!
ReplyIf You need some information about Zakopane or assistance of a mountain guide or ski-instructor - contact me: sts73@o2.pl
ReplyZakopane is most popular town in Poland and is very good for holiday...i think that Poland is beter than England....food is exellent and people are very nice...i have many polish friends and i been in poland many times with my family...becouse my dad is polish...hehe ilove poland ...is the best....
Replymy wife has been to zakopane a few times. my grandfather and hes father was gorales beautiful music and dancing and the tatry everyone will love and its the place to enjoy skiing snowboarding. its the most beautiful place in the world.
ReplyWe were in Zakopane 2/3/4th May. We took a ride with horse and cart, up to the cable car (we had already walked most of the way up Kuprowski street), and the driver tried to charge us 150 zloty, which we didn't pay, but we still got ripped off. I was really angry. Even if there is a language problem, get the driver to write down how much it will cost before then, or just don't use them. Otherwise, Zakopane is really nice, and beautiful, and the food is excellent.
ReplyI am going to Cracow for a few days with my family would it be possiable to do a day trip by bus to zakopane an mybe ski for a few hours and then get a bus back to Cracow in the evening
ReplyPKS - taking the bus to Palenica Bia?cza?ska - Morskie Oko lake - walk around the lake - Czarny Staw nad Morskim Okiem - back the same way horse cart: 45 z? up, 30 z? down - we advise u to walk up and then go down on the cart - in winter time horse sleighs 50 z? up and 30 z? down)
ReplyJust returned from 6 days in Krakow and decided to go to Zakopane for the day, wow what a wonderful place and so beautiful in the mountains we may even give Kracow the elbow next year and head straight for Zakopane.
ReplyJust returned from a great week in Zakopane. Am seeking advice - WHERE can we purchase tickets for the Kasprowy Weirch Cable car? Queueing took in excess of 5 hours. Can these tickets be purchased online or via a Travel Agency? We were advised that we could purchase the tickets from the Orbis Travel agecny on the main street in Zakopane but when we tried this we were told that they had no available tickets for 2 weeks - not helpful to us as we are now home! Advice welcome as we wnat to go again next year but only if we can purchase cable car tickets in advance
ReplyGreat website - thanks for all the info! OK, here's my tip - try the cheese (you mentioned above) but ONLY when it is grilled. It's quite tasty then, otherwise it's a bit like chewing rubber! Another tip - if you want to go on the cable car, you MUST buy a ticket in advance, otherwise you will face a horrible long queue!
ReplyJust returned from a craking first holiday in Poland - a few days in Cracow, then to Zakopane for 8 night sthen back to Cracow for a further two night before returning home. Thanks for all the help and info you gave me before I went - it was all very helpful and accurate. I promised to write a couple of reviews for you and I'll try to do that over the next few days whilst it is all in my memory.
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