Highly rated as one of the finest of Poland’s small-scale resorts, Jurgów Ski presents a neat little alternative day on the slopes to the pistes of Zakopane and nearby Białka Tatrzańska. What’s more, the prices are cheap, the views across the High Tatras and the Slovak border are nothing short of breathtaking, and there’s easy access to Krakow and Katowice to boot. It’s a good all-rounder with enough to entertain for a few days in the snow.
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This guide is a splinter of our full guide to skiing in Poland.
The skiing in Jurgów Ski
Despite its size and relatively low elevation (1,046 meters), Jurgow Ski has a great deal to offer a whole range of different abilities. The bulk of the runs are marketed as red pistes, but the intermediates at Jurgow are more like an Austrian blue. Meanwhile, the single black run is intermediate through and through.
For beginners, there are some short, easy runs served by separate drag lifts on the edge of the resort. That all makes Jurgów Ski a great place to come for a quiet lesson away from the crowds of Kotelnica Białczańska, which is just up the road. All in, this one clocks up just under 5 kilometres of runs, with the longest coming in at 1,150 metres total.
In terms of lifts, Jurgow boasts two individual chairlifts with a combined capacity of 4,800 people per hour. They transport skiers to the top station, from where it’s possible to ride a blue (part of the way), red or black down to the bottom station. The resort is made beginner-friendly thanks to four separate drag lifts. They also each allow for access to stand-alone practice areas and nursery zones.
Jurgów Ski resort has its own partner ski school, Ski Plus. Choose them for lessons starting at 50 PLN. There are no cross-country tracks on offer. Most pistes have snow-making, allowing for a relatively long season that typically runs from late December to March.
Where to stay in Jurgow
Jurgow itself is just a small hamlet a couple of clicks from the Slovakian border. That means there’s a really limited number of accommodation options at the immediate base of the resort.
They do include the cheap and cheerful little B&B of Pod Limba – choose that if you’re keen to save. Or, you can splash a little extra and enjoy the sumptuous highland suites of the Tatrzański biegun. It’s one of the best additions to the Jurgow noclegi (Polish hotels) lineup in recent years!
Many skiers will opt to base themselves in either Białka Tatrzańska, just a short drive up the road, or Zakopane, Poland’s largest mountain city some 30 minutes by car through the hills.
The best places to eat near Jurgow
Jurgow has its own traditional Polish restaurant, Karczma Hawran, which sits at the base of the slopes and offers up a range of traditional highland food alongside classic western dishes. The inside is warm and comfortable, even if self-service is the name of the game.
For something a little more eclectic, consider heading out to Białka Tatrzańska. That’s where you’ll find the fantastic Litworowy Staw. It’s got a menu of hearty, smoky Polish mountain foods in a traditional timber building.
The après in Jurgow Ski
To put it simply: No skier is attracted to Jurgow for the apres. A smattering of small huts on the mountain is just about all this one has in the way of drinkeries. If you’re determined to get the vodkas in, consider basing yourself in Zakopane. There, the (in)famous Krupowki Street is known to rage on until the early hours on weekends.
Alternatively, Krakow isn’t too far if you’re renting a car. Just two hours up the road, it’s got bars and beer halls and clubs coming out of its ears!
Getting to Jurgow Ski
Given its position just five kilometres from the Slovakian border, Jurgow is just as accessible from towns in northern Slovakia like Liptovský Mikuláš and Poprad (both of which can be reached by bus from Bratislava).
However, the easiest way into town is by bus from Krakow. Look for the connections to Białka Tatrzańska (they run regularly from the city’s Dworzec Główny terminal) right throughout the day. From Białka Tatrzańska, there are onward local buses available to Jurgow. Private taxis are also an option but might cost a packet.
The drive from Krakow to Jurgow takes approximately 2 hours and free parking is available on-site.
