We came to Zakopane expecting a tourist trap with good views. What we found instead was a genuine mountain town with serious hiking, a highland culture unlike anywhere else in Poland, and the kind of cool, fresh air that feels like a reward after weeks in sweltering Southern Europe. Zakopane in summer is one of Central Europe’s most compelling coolcation options — and it’s barely on the Nordic traveller’s radar yet.

We’ve hiked a fair bit in our travels across 21 countries, from the fell trails of Finnish Lapland to the cliffs of the Faroe Islands. The Tatras hit differently. They’re compact but sharp-edged, and in June through August they offer some of the best day hiking in Europe without the crowds of the Alps or the price tag of Switzerland.

Why Zakopane in summer is worth the trip

The mountains are the real draw

Zakopane sits in the far south of Poland, just kilometres from the Slovak border, at the base of the High Tatras. In summer, the mountains shed their snow above 2000 m, trails open fully, and the cable car to Kasprowy Wierch (1987 m) runs from dawn until early evening. Temperatures in the valley hover between 15 and 22 °C — far cooler than Warsaw or Kraków in a heat wave, and a genuine relief if you’ve been touring Southern Europe.

• Altitude advantage: at 850 m, even the town itself is noticeably cooler than the Polish lowlands. Nights can drop to 10 °C even in July.
• Trail density: the Tatra National Park has over 270 km of marked trails, accessible entirely on foot from the town centre.
• Scenery per hour of effort: few mountain areas in Central Europe pack this much dramatic landscape into such a short drive from a major city (Kraków is 100 km north).

Zakopane’s Goral highland culture

The town is the heartland of Poland’s Goral (highland) people — a distinct cultural group with their own dialect, woodcarving traditions, folk music, and cuisine. Ul. Krupówki, the pedestrian high street, is genuinely lively in summer evenings, with music pouring out of restaurants and the smell of oscypek (smoked sheep’s cheese) drifting from every corner stall. It’s touristy, yes, but it’s also authentic in a way that larger resort towns often aren’t.

How to get to Zakopane from Kraków

Getting there — three options

Kraków is the natural gateway. We flew into Kraków John Paul II Airport and took the direct PKS bus to Zakopane the same afternoon. Here’s what the three main options look like in practice:

Where to base yourself

The town centre (near Krupówki) is convenient but loud on summer evenings. We preferred staying in the quieter Kuźnice area, which puts you right at the cable car base and saves 20 minutes of walking each morning. Pension prices in summer run from €25–50 per person per night. Self-catering apartments (often cheaper, widely available on Booking.com) are good value for longer stays.

Quick-reference: 8 Tatra hikes ranked by difficulty

• Morskie Oko (easy, 4–5 hrs return): Poland’s most famous alpine lake at 1395 m. A wide gravel road for most of the way — crowded but beautiful. Take the Paleo bus from Zakopane to the Palkoncia parking area to cut 3 km.
• Kasprowy Wierch via cable car (easy — moderate, 1–3 hrs depending on route): take the gondola up (buy tickets online weeks ahead in summer), then walk the ridge to Czerwone Wierchy or down to Hala Gåsienicowa. Best sunrise views in the entire Tatras.
• Czarny Staw pod Rysami (moderate, 5–6 hrs return from Morskie Oko parking): the “black lake” above Morskie Oko. Steep final ascent but the reward is a dark, still water surrounded by walls of rock. Worth the extra effort.
• Hala Gåsienicowa loop (moderate, 5 hrs): beautiful highland meadow with the Murowaniec mountain hut. Connects multiple ridges. Good acclimatisation day before bigger climbs.
• Giewont (moderate, 5–6 hrs return): the iconic peak with the iron cross at 1894 m. Chains and ladders on the summit section — exposed but not technical. Start early; crowds and afternoon thunderstorms are both real risks.
• Orla Perć ridge traverse (very difficult, 8–10 hrs): the famous “Eagle’s Path” — one of the most demanding via ferrata-style routes in Central Europe. Do not attempt without hiking experience, good weather, and an early start.
• Rysy (difficult, 8–10 hrs return): Poland’s highest peak at 2499 m. Full-day commitment, chains near the summit, and an extremely early start (5 am from Morskie Oko) is essential in summer. One of the most satisfying hikes we’ve ever done.
• Dolina Kościeliska valley walk (easy, 2–4 hrs): a peaceful limestone gorge west of Zakopane. No serious elevation. Good for a rest day or with less experienced hiking companions. Horse carriages also available.