The Ultimate Guide to Skiing in Poland (Updated 2023)

Thinking of going skiing in Poland? Read on for everything you need to know. This guide has information on the best resorts, the top hotels, and what to expect from the experience…

In the last decade or so, Poland has risen from obscurity to become one of the top alternative skiing destinations for anyone looking to escape the Alps.

It’s championed for its range of small-scale resorts and accessibility, but most of all for the price – a day’s lift pass for skiing in Poland will cost you just a fraction of what they do in France or Austria (we’re talking £25/$20 to get on the slopes!)

What’s also great is that the bulk of the best winter sports are in the south, making a snow holiday in and around the amazing city of Krakow a real possibility.

(This page might include affiliate links to hotels and other services related to skiing in Poland. If you book through them, we’ll earn a little something to keep this site going – cheers!)

What will I find in this guide to Polish skiing?

In this ultimate guide to skiing in Poland, we’ll consider the ups and downs of the country’s winter offering with honesty. There’s a heavy focus on the skiing in Krakow region, because – as you’ll see – that’s widely considered to be the best the country has. But we’ll also look at smaller ski destinations in Poland, cute mountain villages, and the very best hotels (say hello to some lovely Polish spas!).

What’s in this guide to skiing in Poland?

• When to ski in Poland (a guide to the Polish ski season)
• A guide to Poland’s best ski resorts (find out where you should ski)
• A guide to Poland’s skiing regions (discover the main areas of Poland that are good for skiing)
• Where to stay for skiing in Poland (info on locations, hotels, and resorts)
• Skiing in Slovakia (consider heading across the border to squeeze even more from your Poland skiing holidays) .

An [honest!] introduction to the skiing in Poland

The skiing in Poland has been on the up for some years now. The country has successfully positioned itself as one of the top destinations to catch some winter snow in Central-Eastern Europe. The crowds are bigger, the pistes are also getting considerably better.

But before we get carried away with all that, a caveat. While the offering of resorts and runs in Polska has certainly improved in the last decade, it’s still important to manage expectations about what you’re getting when you trade in Chamonix for the Tatras. Let’s take a look at the pros and the cons. Bad news first, obviously…

The bad

This is not the Alps. Repeat: This not the Alps. Do not come skiing in Poland expecting kilometre counts in the 100s and the niftiest chairlifts man can muster. Don’t come looking for huge vertical drops and above-treeline bowls.

Polish resort skiing also edges towards the easy end of the spectrum, so black runs will be more like tricky reds in the Alps. In addition, snow coverage can get patchy when the winter isn’t the coldest (though that hasn’t been a problem recently). Oh, and you’ll probably find yourself skiing the same runs several times each day.

The other thing to note about Polish ski resorts that they aren’t really resorts in the Alpine or North American sense of the word. There’s no such thing as a linked ski area in Poland…

Instead of getting chairlifts leading in all directions over the mountains, it’s more likely you’ll get a slope with just one or two chairlifts in total. They are often owned by a totally different company to the slope right next door. That means there’s no such thing as big terrain like the Three Valleys.

There are some exceptions to the rule – like Kasprowy Wierch and Kotelnica (more on those later). However, it remains the bane of real winter sportsters who come skiing in Poland that there’s been no concerted effort to connect and join all the disparate ski fields. (There are always whisperings that something will happen to turn Zakopane into a ski town a la Chamonix but there’s no solid evidence on the ground. Just watch this space, I guess.)

TL;DR – this isn’t Whistler, folks.

The good

That’s not to say that there aren’t moments when the skiing in Poland is simply awesome. There are, especially if you hit the Tatras and manage to catch the bigger resorts when they aren’t too busy. And there is loads here for the casual skier or beginner looking to find their snow feet.

In fact, if you’re in for a casual snow holiday, it’s likely you’ll love what skiing in Krakow and skiing in Poland generally can bring to the table. The resorts are uber-family-friendly. Ski tuition is cheap and almost universally multilingual. The pistes are well-groomed and there’s excellent snow-making outside of the national parks. You’ll also get a chance to try your hand at skiing under floodlights after sunset (most resorts don’t close until 10pm in the height of the season).

But most of all: There’s awesome skiing in Poland for beginners. In fact, I’ve been saying for years that Poland is the single best place in Europe to learn to ski.

In short, there’s loads to love about Polish skiing and the skiing in Krakow in particular, but it’s also important to keep your expectations in line with a place that’s still really developing as a winter sports hub.

When to ski in Poland

The best time to ski in Poland is between December and April, with the peak months coming in December and January.

The Polish ski season runs from early December to April most years. However, we’d say that the best time to come is late January to the end of February. Conditions can be more unreliable here than in the Alps or North America on the peripheries of the season. Another tip: Try to skip the school holidays, the main cause of overcrowding in Polish ski resorts. Dates for those change every year but you can check them online.

The Polish ski season isn’t quite as long as the seasons in the Alps. That’s mainly because the mountains aren’t as high, which means you have to wait a little longer into the year for the snow pack to develop. On top of that, there’s not great snowmaking in Poland. It’s not even allowed in the premier resort of Kasprowy due to national park restrictions. Other resorts are largely relying on outdated equipment, save for one or two, like Bialka.

The top 5 ski resorts in Poland in 2023

Let’s cut to the chase. Where exactly should you be looking at when planning a ski trip to Poland? Here’s a brief look at the top five resorts in the country. For more information, just click on through for a full complete guide to each…

Kasprowy Wierch

Kasprowy just about tops our list with its high-altitude credentials. It’s by far the most lofty resort in the country. Sat on the peak that gives it the name at nearly 2,000 metres up, it gazes down on the winter capital of Zakopane. Riders enjoy four lifts and 15km of downhill runs across proper alpine terrain. Downsides include a lack of snow making and busy queues in the middle of the season.

Read our full ultimate guide to skiing in Kasprowy Wierch

Bialka Tatrzanska

Officially named Kotelnica Bialczanska, though regularly referred to by the name of the small village (soon to be a town thanks to the skiing!) where it makes its home, Bialka Tatrzanska is the largest single interconnected ski resort in Poland. Upgrades and expansions in the last couple of years have ensured it’s kept that coveted title. You get 21 groomed runs and 18 separate chairlifts. There’s nothing that will challenge the pros. But it is probably the very best skiing in Poland for beginners.

Read our full ultimate guide to Bialka Tatrzanska

Szczyrk Mountain Resort

Out in the beautiful Beskid Śląski mountains to the south-west of Krakow, Szczyrk has been building in recent years in the hope of rivalling the bigger fields of Bialka and the Tatras. It’s done well. There are now 27 lifts and over 700 metres of vertical descent. Perhaps the best selling point is that this one tends to be way less busy than other Polish resorts on this list, particularly during the middle of the season, when thousands flock to Zakopane.

Read our full ultimate guide to skiing in Szczyrk Mountain Resort (coming soon)

Karpacz Ski Resort

The resort of Śnieżka–Karpacz is the best of the Karkonosze, a mountain range that runs along the Czech border. Find it around four hours from Krakow and two hours from Wroclaw. The ski field counts six lifts and six kilometres of groomed runs. Elevations go up to nearly 1,350 metres. Pluses include good snow making and a nice spread between blue, black and red runs. Oh, and this is also a spa town, which means you’ll find some seriously gorgeous places to stay with pools and saunas and whatnot.

Read our full ultimate guide to skiing in Karpacz Ski Resort

Szymoszkowa

The Szymoszkowa Ski Resort is one of the closest of all to the town of Zakopane. In fact, you can walk from the centre to the base of the runs. It’s not big. There are just two or three designated pistes (depending on what you count), served by just two chairlifts and one magic carpet. Terrain isn’t the reason it’s worth a mention. That’s down to its convenient location, stunning views over the High Tatras, and excellent ski schools – it’s another top spot for skiing in Poland for beginners.

Read our full ultimate guide to Szymoszkowa Ski Resort

A guide to Polish skiing regions

Much of the geography of Poland doesn’t actually lend itself towards skiing. For the most part, the country is flat, rolling countryside. Up north, it’s got the Baltic coast, along with the lake lands of Mazury.

The only regions with real mountains are to be found in the south. That means the skiing in Krakow and vicinity (including Zakopane) is some of the best Poland has to offer. The Beskidy (to the east) and the Karkonosze (to the south-west) are also good options.

Those feeling even more adventurous could even add some cross-border action to a ski holiday. It’s just a case of moseying across the Slovak border. There are some excellent resorts there, all within a doable drive from Krakow, although you’ll need to check that your car rental company allows you to drive into another country if that’s the plan.

The Tatra Mountains

This is the main winter sports region in Poland. No questions about it. Zakopane is located here, right on the cusp of the national park. It’s where you find resorts like Kasprowy and Polana Szymoszkowa. The highest mountain in the country – Rysy – also peaks here. It’s the number-one choice for skiing in Polanad.

The Beskid Mountains

To the east of Krakow, the Beskids are a more rustic mountain range that run all the way to the border with Ukraine. They are known to have rather chilly weather, so skiing here is a good choice if you’re chasing the snow. The Beskids aren’t as well developed as the area around Zakopane, but that means smaller crowds. It takes around three hours in the car to reach resorts like Kiczera Ski in the heart of the Beskids.

The Karkonosze

The Karkonosze Mountains (Giant Mountains in English) beckon with some mid-sized Polish ski resorts to the east of Krakow. They have similar seasons (December-April) and altitudes as Czech ski resorts, which are super close. The most famous here is Karpacz. The downside with the Karkonosze is that they tend to be a little tricky to get to, at least if you’re flying into Krakow. A better option is to fly into Wroclaw and drive from there.

Where to stay for skiing in Poland

So, you’re settled on a ski trip to Poland? Great choice.

One of the first things you’re going to want to consider is exactly where to base yourself. We’ll have more info on the various ski fields there are to pick in different places later. For now, let’s consider the towns you can opt for. AKA where the hotels are…

Where you choose will largely depend on whether you’re after a holiday laden with some of the best skiing in Poland, or if you’re after a city break with some skiing on the side. We actually recommend the latter in Poland. As per our intro, this isn’t a mega ski spot a la the Alps, but where Poland stands out from the crowd is by offering cosy taverns, UNESCO history, and great city nightlife on top of the slopes.

Here’s a look at the top options for towns/resorts to base yourself in…

Zakopane

Zakopane is considered the epicentre of not only skiing in Krakow but also skiing in Poland as a whole. It owns the epithet of The Winter Capital of Poland. It also has the bulk of the most famous ski resorts close to Krakow. And there’s even been a (withdrawn) Winter Olympics bid in its name!

We could write loads about the charm and character of Zakopane all on its own. It’s a beautiful place, set in crack in the middle of the Carpathians. In addition, streets are awash with timber-built lodges and handsome little cottages, smoke twisting and turning from their chimney stacks. The main street is Krupowki. You’ll want to be close to that for the apres – taverns, vodka bars, and jazz shows all meet there.

It’s for all those reasons and more, that we’d recommend staying in Zakopane if winter sports are your priority. Its resorts range from high-up mountain bowls to single-slope options for beginners. Moreover, there are some seriously enticing hotels in this attractive and downright fun town. (Many of them are hearty highland chalets with unique timber design and spa facilities to boot).

You won’t have to rent a car if you ski in Zakopane, but it can help. There are buses to Kasprowy Wierch and Szymoszkowa. Reaching Bialka is a touch harder, and probably warrants your own set of wheels. The good news is that car rentals in Krakow aren’t all that expensive.

Hotels to stay:

• Aries Hotel and Spa ($$$) – The best in town, with outdoor Jacuzzis, saunas, and a breakfast that you’ll LOVE. We’d go here every year if we could!
• Grand Stamary ($$$) – Super-close to the train station for links to Krakow and up to the Kasprowy ski field. It’s also one of the best in town, largely thanks to a fantastic spa!
• Willa Orla ($$) – A lovely hotel that’s run by a welcoming family, close to Szymoszkowa.

Where to ski: Kasprowy Wierch, Polana Szymoszkowa, Harenda

You can also check our ultimate guide to Zakopane hotels

The area between Krakow and Zakopane (mainly Bialka Tatrzanska)

The journey south from Krakow to Zakopane takes around two hours in the car. Expect much more if there’s traffic, and there usually is!

As soon as you leave Krakow behind, you’ll start to see the landscape change. The lowlands start to crumple into hills and wooded valleys. You’ll go up and down on the roads over ridges, going higher but rarely going lower.

Eventually, you’ll drop into a wide valley that runs between the town of Gaj and the soaring peaks of the Tatras. They loom like a wall of rock and ice against the Slovakian border. (There are some great views of Babia Gora mountain and the peaks to be had if you can find somewhere to stop the car)

Not only is that section of the drive beautiful but it also wiggles past some of the most accomplished Polish ski resorts, sat sprawled on the Carpathian foothills just 20-30 minutes away from Zakopane itself.

Accessible and with lots of options, it might just be the region to consider when you’re planning a holiday skiing in Krakow and vicinity. We would say that a car hire is a MUST if this is the area you want to go to. Not only that but a car can offer loads of freedom, to explore fun places like charming Chocholow village and the various thermal baths that pepper the area.

You can check the prices of rental cars from Krakow here via RentalCars.

Where to stay:

• Hotel Toporow ($$) – A lovely hotel with pool, walking distance to the base of the lifts at Bialka.
• Bania Hotel & Spa ($$$) – The all-new Bania Hotel and Spa is joined to the thermal baths at the bottom of the lifts. It’s luxury and the closest you’ll get to the slopes.
• Novobilski ($$) – Stylish and new, this lovely hotel is a great option right at the base of the main slopes in Bialka. It’s maybe 5 minutes’ walking to the village center too.

Where to ski: Bialka Tatrzanska, Jurgow, Myslenice.

We’ve actually got a complete guide to skiing in Białka Tatrzanska

Skiing in Slovakia

The skiing in Poland is usually enough to fill a whole trip with snow-covered runs and lessons. However, some riders might crave what’s across the border. Why? Slovakia’s resorts are designed much more in the ilk of the Alps. To sum up, they have more to entertain veterans of France and Austria. They’re larger. They tout brand-new gondola lifts and the like. It’s just all-round more of a ski experience.

They sit mainly in the Low Tatras, but do spread across to the High Tatras on the border with Poland. Of the lot, there are really two resorts that stand out from the crowd. They are worth a special mention here because they can now be reached on direct buses from Krakow. You can also drive down to most in less than a morning. In fact, Krakow Airport is one of the main arrival points for skiing in Slovakia. Let’s check out what’s on offer…

Tatranska Lomnica

There’s an argument for putting Tatranska Lomnica at the very top of Slovakia’s skiing menu. If it weren’t for the slightly more extensive runs and modern cable ways of Chopok just across the valley, we’d have no reservations in doing just that! Long runs that dwarf anything in Poland meet good altitude in the boundaries of the High Tatras.

Read our full guide to Tatranska Lomnica skiing

Jasna Chopok

Draped over the third-tallest mountain the Low Tatras (the peak of Chopok), Jasna has soared in popularity in recent years. It’s championed by big ski companies as the next best thing to the Alps. Moreover, its seen lots invested in nifty new gondolas and ski lifts. We actually love the skiing here. The slopes are long and challenging at times. We’d say it’s best for intermediates overall, though lower levels do have beginner options. The major downsides? They are the wind at the top station (it always seems to be crazy) and the fact that the resort is set deep in a national park, so there aren’t many hotels nearby.

We hope this guide to skiing in Krakow helps you put together the best winter sports holiday possible. If you need extra tips to do with anything skiing in Poland, don’t hesitate to get in touch!

(In this page, we’ve included affiliate links to hotels and other services in various Polish ski resorts. They all stem from genuine recommendations for accommodations that are near the top slopes or have something unique about them. Using these links to book helps us keep these great guides coming!)