Chopok Jasna Ski Resort – How To Visit From Krakow and More

A complete guide to the Jasna ski resort written by those who’ve actually skied there. Plan ski trips to Jasna from Krakow or Zakopane.

Nestled in the Low Tatras of Slovakia, the Chopok Jasna ski resport is one of the mainstay ski resorts of Central Europe.

It’s probably more famous than Zakopane and is certainly larger than anything Poland has up its sleeve. Plus, it’s a mere 20 miles from the Poland-Slovak border at the closest point, so a potential ski destination for anyone visiting the Polish mountains or even Krakow (which is about three hours away by car).

With modern facilities, vast slopes, and breathtaking views, it’s a destination worth exploring for both beginners and experienced skiers alike.

This guide will give you all the essential information to plan your trip, including pass prices, season details, transportation options from nearby cities in Poland, like Krakow and Zakopane, and more.

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This is just one part of our complete guide to things to do in Krakow and our complete guide to skiing in Poland

What’s in this guide to Jasna ski resort?

Where is Jasna Ski Resort?

Chopok is a mountain and a ski resort in the Low Tatra mountain range, which is a part of the same greater Tatra range that covers southern Poland and northern Slovakia.

It’s sort of right in the middle of the Low Tatras National Park in Slovakia, where it dominates a long ridge of peaks that run west to east.

Access to the skiing in Chopok is via the town of Liptovský Mikulás, which sits on the E50 highway that runs across this part of Slovakia. That can connect you with the 66 highway that has a border with Poland at Jurgow, or to the much-windier and adventurous 59 highway that crosses into Poland at Chyżne.

How to Get to Chopok Jasna?

Getting to Jasna from Krakow

Getting to Chopok from Krakow is relatively easy, with several transport options available.

• By car – The drive from Krakow to Chopok takes about 3.5 hours (it’s 220 km). The route is straightforward, with highways for most of the way. You’ll drive through the scenic highlands around Zakopane and then into the heart of the Tatras. We think the best route is via the charming village of Chocholow and the Suchá Hora crossing. It’s quieter than the main crossing in Jurgow and it’s very pretty, so do it during daylight hours
• By bus –There are direct bus services from Krakow to Liptovský Mikuláš, the nearest town to Chopok, with a travel time of around 4 hours. From Liptovský Mikuláš, you can take a local bus or taxi to the resort, which is about 20 minutes away and inside the Low Tatras National Park.
• By train – Another option is to take the train from Krakow to Liptovský Mikuláš via the town of Žilina. The journey takes around 5-6 hours, with trains running several times a day. It’s not the best option in the height of winter, as heavy snowfall can impact the trains.

The best way, though? That’s got to be this complete private transfer from Krakow airport to Jasna ski resort. It’s over $350, true, but you can split that with a whole group of eight people and the driver will take you straight to your ski lodge in the resort in just three hours.

Getting to Jasna from Zakopane

Zakopane, located just across the Polish border, is closer to Chopok and offers a shorter journey.

• By car — The drive from Zakopane to Chopok takes about two hours (110 km). The route crosses the Polish-Slovak border at Suchá Hora and continues through scenic mountain roads.
• By bus – Regular buses run from Zakopane to Liptovský Mikuláš. The bus ride takes around 2-3 hours, depending on the service. You can then take a local transfer from Liptovský Mikuláš to the resort itself.

If you want to come here before going to Krakow or Zakopane, be sure to check out direct flights into the Poprad–Tatry Airport. There are now options from Luton and Stansted with low-cost fliers and they’ll put you within 50 minutes’ transfer of the skiing.

What’s the skiing like at Chopok Jasna?

Chopok, located in the Low Tatras mountain range, is the second-highest peak in Slovakia at 2,024 meters. It is part of the larger Jasná Ski Resort, Slovakia’s premier ski destination.

Chopok is known for its stunning alpine scenery, challenging ski slopes above the treeline and more forgiving beginner slopes below.

The resort is divided into two main areas: Chopok North and Chopok South, both accessible by modern lifts and offering different skiing experiences.

• Chopok North – This area is suitable for all levels, with gentle slopes for beginners and intermediate skiers, as well as more challenging black slopes up high. It’s the busier of the two options and suffers from pretty bad winds at the top station but has some seriously wonderful tree-lined runs that you simply do not get in Zakopane.
• Chopok South – The smaller of the two ski zones is quieter and favored by advanced skiers, with steeper terrain and excellent freeride areas.

There’s quite a bit for all levels here. You just have to know where to go…

Advanced – There are also steep, challenging black runs, like the Pretekárska slope for more advanced skiers, but to be honest, the whole of Chopok South and the upper slopes of Chopok North are very good for more advanced skiiers.

Beginner – The Záhradky area on Chopok North is ideal for beginners, offering wide, gentle slopes and excellent ski schools. It’s usually the busiest part of the ski field but it’s great for tasting what skiing is like and practicing basic techniques.

Intermediate – Chopok South provides long, winding red runs that go on for a few kms. We usually hit these if we want something a bit more chilled, doing big turns or practicing some pointers.

Freeriding in the Jasna ski resort

Jasna Chopok is actually famous for its backcountry terrain, offering large off-piste areas for adventurous skiers and snowboarders.

In fact, there’s a whopping 12 designated freeride zones. All of them are accessible by the main lifts, though there are one or two that require a short walk through the snow or even skinned skis to get to properly.

There is also stacks of tree skiing to be done here. Do that at your own risk! We’ll just say that if you’re the type that likes moguls and dodging big pine trees then there’s lots of space towards the bottom of both north and south here that you will love getting through.

Best hotels in Jasna ski resort – our top picks

It’s important to base yourself close to the ski runs in Jasna.

We say that because the nearest main town is 20 minutes’ drive away and if you opt to be there then you’ll need to join everyone else who drives in each morning for the first lift – expect jams!

The good news is that there are a few hotels within the park limits and near enough to the gondolas to help you pip the crowds to the proverbial post.

These are the ones we’ve really liked in the past…

• Hotel Björnson Jasná & Björnson – Under 100m from the base of the slopes, this ski-in, ski-out property is probably our overall fav in Jasna right now. It’s simply gorgeous, like something plucked out of Lapland, only with a hint of the Wes Anderson about it. There are standard rooms but also amazing treehouse style suites that have big windows overlooking the snowy forests. There’s also an al fresco wellness area with outdoor hottubs. If you can afford this, book it!
• Apartmany Demänovka – Really stylish and spacious apartments in a vey cool new-build lodge that sits plum under one of the Jasna chairlifts. Lovely breakfast offering to boot!
• Lucky Chalet Jasna – A two-bedroom, self-catering apartment that overlooks one of the main beginner slopes of the resort. It’s beautifully done up, has very nice views, a hot tub of its own, and space for a whole family.

Ski pass prices at Jasna ski resort

The prices for ski passes vary depending on the season (low vs. high season) and whether you book in advance online or at the resort.

Here’s a general guide to the sorts of prices you can expect:

• 1-day adult pass: €49-55 (online booking is cheaper)
• Children (under 12): €35-40
• Multi-day passes: Prices drop significantly for longer stays (e.g., 3-day passes start around €120 for adults)

Passes include access to all lifts on both Chopok North and Chopok South. Special rates are also available for seniors and students.

For exact pricing, it’s best to check the official Jasná website or book via their online portal because we’ve noticed that this does change year on year (usually there’s a small increase).

The ski season at Chopok Jasna

The ski season at Chopok typically runs from early December to late April.

December and January are peak months. March and early April can also be fantastic times to visit, as the snow remains good, and the days get longer with more sunshine.

December to February is the best time for fresh snow, with frequent powder days.

March to April means some warmer days and fewer crowds, but still good snow conditions at higher elevations.

Après ski in Jasna ski resort

The thing to know about Jasna Chopok is that it’s not a resort in the classic sense of it. It’s not centred around a town like the ski hubs of the Alps. It all meets at a base station that’s in the middle of the national park, and that means development around the slopes is highly limited.

That has its pros and cons. For après lovers, it’s a con.

That said, there are still plenty of cozy mountain huts and restaurants where you can relax after a day on the slopes.

We will usually have a post-ski beer, skiing lunch, or a cheeky hot choc at…

• Happy End Restaurant & Bar – Located at the foot of the slopes, this is the place for drinks, live music, and a great atmosphere in the evening.
• Kosodrevina Chalet – Although it’s a bit ugly, this Soviet-era hotel sits on the south side of Chopok and serves hearty Slovak food and panoramic views of the Tatras.
• Záhradky Buffet – Perfect for a quick snack or hot drink between runs.

Don’t miss out on trying traditional Slovak dishes like bryndzové halušky (potato dumplings with sheep cheese) or kapustnica (cabbage soup) to warm you up after a day in the snow. That’s part of the fun for us. Slovak food is similar but also noticeably different to Polish cuisine, so it makes a nice change.