Ah, Bukowina Tatrzanska – Poland’s secret mountain escape. Our full guide has all you need to know about this idyllic highland village just 1.5 hours’ drive from Krakow.
Bukowina Tatrzanska is a charming village nestled in the foothills of the Tatra Mountains just northeast of Zakopane.
Not only is it a great base for skiing, hiking, and enjoying the area’s famous thermal baths, but it’s also noticeably off the beaten path compared to Zakopane itself (which we’ve noticed has been getting busier year after year!).
If you’re looking for a few days away from the big city of Krakow and want to experience what the Polish highlands have to offer, Bukowina is a fine option. It’s got remote chalets, charming mountain taverns, and a real rustic vibe, and hardly a smidgen of the crowds.
Let’s take a closer look…
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This is just one part of our complete guide to Zakopane and the greater Podhale region
What’s in this guide to Bukowina Tatrzanska
Where is Bukowina Tatrzanska?
Bukowina Tatrzańska is located in the Podhale region of southern Poland, near the Slovakian border.
It sits approximately 7.5 miles (12 kilometers) northeast of Zakopane as the crow flies, spread out on a ridge that slowly dips into the Bialka River valley.
At an altitude of around 1,000 meters, Bukowina is one of the highest villages in Poland, offering visitors breathtaking scenery and a peaceful mountain atmosphere.
The village is one of the best gateways to the eastern side of the Tatra National Park; the side that contains some of the reserve’s most iconic wonders, like Morksie Oko lake. The entrance to the reserve is under 2.5 miles to the south of here.
How to Get to Bukowina Tatrzanska?
We think a car is the way to go here. If you want to visit Bukowina Tatrzanska then buses can take you there BUT you will be limited to sporadic timings and the connections from Krakow are not that great – you will usually have to go via Zakopane, which is doable but hardly ideal.
More than that, a car offers way more freedom once you arrive. Bukowina Tatrzanska is all about having a base close to the mountains and ski fields. With your own wheels, you can drive 10 minutes up the valley to ski at Bialka Tatrzanska (the largest ski resort in Poland) or go south for 10 minutes to hike the trail to Morksie Oko.
We recommend RentalCars.com for hires here. You can pick up cars either aKrakow Airport and drive straight south on the 47 highway to Nowy Targ and then down the pretty 49 highway.
If you’re limited to buses then we’d say the twice-daily Flixbus option is the best bets. It leaves Krakow at 10.10am, 11.40am and 3pm and 5.45pm (at least at the time of writing) and takes two hours to get you all the way to Bukowina. You can pre-book in advance for around £5-10 using OMIO.
Hiking in Bukowina Tatrzanska
With its proximity to the Tatra National Park, Bukowina Tatrzanska is a fantastic base for hikers. It’s especially good for accessing the iconic eastern potion of the park, which is home to what we’d say is the most quintessential set of hiking routes here.
They include…
- Morskie Oko – This easy-rated route takes you from Lysa Polana (a 15-minute drive south of Bukowina Tatrzanska) to the stunning mountain lake of Morskie Oko. It’s arguably the most famous feature of the Polish Tatras. The walk takes 2.5-4 hours in total and it’s mainly on well-maintained paths. The reward is a vision of a sparkling mountain lake below the High Tatra peaks.
- Valley of the Five Lakes – If you want a more challenging day hike that can take up to eight hours and offers ample chances for extensions (even into multi-day hikes), go for the incredible Valley of Five Lakes. It starts at the same place as Morskie Oko then branches out to a gorgeous part of the Tatras where jagged mountains watch over a series of – you guessed it – five lakes. There’s a cracking hut up there for lunch too!
- Rysy – One of the hardest hikes in the Tatras goes up Poland’s highest mountain right on the border with Slovakia. You access it via a trail that goes past Morskie Oko lake. Upper parts of the hike includes scrambling sections that are exposed. Not for those with vertigo!
Skiing in Bukowina Tatrzanska
Although much of the attention when it comes to skiing goes to Zakopane, Bukowina Tatrzanska is actually a really good base for hitting the slopes in Poland.
That’s not because it has any massive resort of its own. It has a few slopes that we’ll describe later, though they’re mostly really small, learner things with just drag lifts.
The real plus is that Bialka Tatrzanska is the next village over. It’s a mere 10 minutes in the car (remember we said a car hire was a good idea here) and it’s the LARGEST RESORT IN POLAND.
Yep, it’s the biggest connected ski area in the whole country. Pretty decent, too, offering longish, wide blues and some moguly reds that can be good for all levels.
The downside of Bialka is that it gets busy but staying in Bukowina and having your own car means you will be able to get there for the first lift.
We have a complete guide to skiing in Bialka Tatrzanska that we’d recommend you read in depth if you’re planning a trip to this region for the winter sports. It outlines the pros and cons of Bialka’s resort and what you can expect. And we really would say that Bialka Tatrzanska is the best place to ski if you’re staying in Bukowina.
It’s not the only option, though. There’s a smattering of small-scale ski runs that dot the whole region that you can go to if you’re not huge on big terrain. They’re especially good for families and learners.
Check out…
- Olczań Ski – Tiny little Olczań Ski is the closest of all the ski runs to Bukowina village. It’s on the road running into the town from the west. Don’t expect much – just a 700-meter run and a single lift that serves what we’d rank as a pretty easy blue run.
- Rusiń-Ski – The local resort to Bukowina is just one slope with a single chairlift. It rarely gets too busy and has nice snow coverage. It sits on the hill to the north of the village. What’s strange is that thanks to the odd topography and the roads, it still takes 10 minutes to walk here from the village center, so you may as well go to Bialka.
- Jurgów Ski – A little bit more challenging, Jurgów Ski is right on the Slovak border to the south of Bukowina Tatrzanska. You drive out of the valley and then down the 49 highway almost to the border station. The ski field is essentially one long run with a good chairlift serving it.
TERMY Bukowina – The hot springs in Bukowina Tatrzanska
Aside from hiking in spring, summer, and autumn, and the skiing in the winter, Bukowina Tatrzanska is known for one other thing: TERMY Bukowina.
TERMY Bukowina is one of the most popular thermal bath complexes in the Podhale region. You can find it just off the main road located in Bukowina Tatrzanska village, in the area of Olszówka south of the centreof town.
It offers visitors a relaxing escape with its geothermal pools sourced from natural thermal springs over 2,400 meters underground. The waters are rich in minerals and known for their health benefits, so they say. We come mainly to soak in 38-degree waters while the snow falls all around.
Highlights of the baths include:
- Heated pools – Indoor and outdoor thermal pools with temperatures ranging from 30°C to 38°C.
- Saunas – Multiple saunas, including Finnish and herbal saunas.
- Extra massage options – Wellness and spa treatments, including massages and beauty services.
- The views – Panoramic views of the Tatra Mountains from the outdoor pools, some of which face southwards to look over the front range of the Carpathians beyond Zakopane. Yep, it’s a great view!
Pricing is around 99 PLN (about £20) for 3 hours entry.
These baths are so famous that you can now even do day trips from Krakow that take you straight to them and then back to the city. It’s a great option if you don’t have time to actually visit Bukowina for the night or two it probably deserves but still want to enjoy al fresco spa baths in the mountains.
We can recommend this combined transfer and admission package to the BUKOVINA Thermal Baths that includes a pickup at your hotel in Krakow and a direct lift to the baths, plus the cost of entry.
Other things to do in Bukowina Tatrzanska
Though smaller than Zakopane, Bukowina Tatrzańska offers plenty of outdoorsy, mountain activities to keep visitors entertained year-round.
It’s also famed as the home of one of the best spa complexes in the region, so you don’t HAVE to come here to hit the ski slopes or hike the trails.
Let’s take a look at all the top things there are to do in Bukowina…
Explore other nearby villages
Bukowina Tatrzanska is close to other charming villages in the Podhale region, such as Bialka Tatrzanska (known for its ski field) and Poronin.
We’d also recommend making a detour off the road that links Bukowina with Zakopane to see the beauty of the Małe Ciche valley. There’s a small village there and some small ski runs, plus good woodland hikes in the foothills of the tatras.
Experience traditional
Highland culture
Bukowina is known for its rich Goral culture, a highland tradition that thrives in this part of Poland. You can experience this heritage through local festivals, traditional wooden architecture, and the unique dialect spoken by the locals.
The annual Sabałowe Bajania folk festival, which takes place in August in the village, is prime time to come for this sort of stuff.
Oh yea, and DO NOT leave without sampling the traditional goral sheep’s cheese known as oscypek – it’s sold everywhere.
Where to stay in Bukowina Tatrzanska?
Like Zakopane, Bukowina Tatrzanska has seen a real uptick in the number spa hotels that are on offer and the selection of accommodation here now is pretty excellent.
There’s one hotel that really stands out for us, along with a few cozy self-catering spots that are good for those on a tighter budget.
- Hotel HARNAŚ – This adult’s only hotel has arguably the best views in the town. We’re talking front-on panoramas of the Tatras from some of the rooms. It’s also got style, like Bauhaus by way of Le Corbusier. Rooms are ultra-modern and very cool. Plus, you get transfers to and discounts at the thermal baths.
- Willa Montana – Uber-cozy apartments with real log fires and outdoor spaces for the summer. These are great if you like self-catering. Fantastic views again.
- Apartamenty Dwupoziomowe Stasikowe Izby – Some really cozy apartments close to the very heart of the town that are great value for money. They’re done in the traditional Podhale style, with lots of wood and carved decorations throughout. Perfect for couples and families alike.
