Things to see and do Zakopane

The offices of the tourist office, recently relocated to the corner of the railway/road station, are a mandatory stop for anyone who wants to visit the Tatra Park without getting into trouble. Although very touristy, the city is above all oriented towards the locals and nothing is indicated: neither the buses, nor the entrances of the different hikes, nor their duration, their difference in altitude, etc. In short, to get information about Zakopane, maps and advice, go here.

This magnificent wooden villa built by Stanisław Witkiewicz in 1894, in the Zakopane style, is today an art gallery. It traces a very interesting period in the history of Polish art through the work of artists who, between 1880 and 1939, lived in Zakopane. Linked to the artistic current of Młoda Polska, Zakopane became the "Athens of Poland", the place of free exchange of ideas and reflections around the country's independence.

Small, all made of pine wood, charming, its interior decoration is typical of the mountain churches of the Tatras. Some services are still held here. Just behind the church is an incredible cemetery (Cmentarz na Pęksowym Brzysku), filled with wooden sculptures, all masterpieces. In particular, it has a number of seated Christs, in the manner of Rodin's Thinker, a recurring motif in Polish folk art and the result of a legend, unique in the Christian world. Among the tombs, that of Stanisław Witkiewicz. Not to be missed!

At the bottom of Krupówki Street, after the crossroads with Kościeliska Street, you'll find Zakopane's big market. Honey, fruit juices and jams, wooden objects, woollen sweaters, mittens and hats, and above all the famous oscypek sheep's cheese. Another market worth visiting is in Nowy Targ, some 20 km north of Zakopane. Twice a week, on Thursdays and Saturdays, since 1487, merchants have gathered on Targowy Square, east of the Rynek, to sell the region's specialities at more than reasonable prices.

It is a very pleasant trip to make, either on foot or by cable car, from the center of Zakopane. Once on the top, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Zakopane and the Tatras, and of the Beskids and the Podhale region. In the vicinity of the cable car station, there is a park for tree climbing, a myriad of small restaurants and very kitschy souvenir stands, as well as beautiful farms typical of the region. To go back down to the city, the most courageous can take a kind of slide, near the cable car, of 700 m!

Already quite remote and difficult to reach without cars, if you have arrived at the park office, you know what you are doing! Of course, there is additional information about the Tatra Park as well as about hiking and accommodation possibilities. The staff is English speaking and there are brochures in English. A recommended stop but not a substitute for the more accessible tourist office in town.

This agency organizes hikes, horse-drawn carriage tours, sleigh rides, rafting and ski lessons. The owner, Barbara, speaks perfect English and is a mine of precious information! The agency has an excellent website in English with a lot of practical information about Zakopane and the different activities you can do in summer and in winter. They also have a very complete list of accommodation options in Zakopane. We advise you to contact them well in advance and then take advantage of their program.

This museum occupies the Villa Atma, where composer Karol Szymanowski lived in the 1920s. The museum is located on the first floor of the villa and presents basic information on the composer's life and work, shows his contacts with Zakopane and Podhale folklore, collects his personal effects and also includes a reconstruction of Karol Szymanowski's study. Free concerts are held here from time to time. Find out more!

Villa Kolyba, the first villa built by the creator of the Zakopane style Stanisław Witkiewicz, in 1892, is the must-visit in town. Superb Art Nouveau wooden realization inspired by motifs of Carpathian folklore, with a number of delightful sculptures and ornaments. The exhibition, which allows you to see the interior, presents the history of the style and the life of its creator. It also contains beautiful pastels by Stanisław's son, Witkacy.