Plan Your Zakopane Ski Trip – A COMPLETE Guide [2025]

Zakopane is the most popular ski destination in Poland. It’s not a resort in the Alpine sense, but rather a town surrounded by several small ski fields that are generally great for beginners and intermediates.

With the Tatra Mountains on one side and the Tatra foothills on the other, Zakopane has established itself as Poland’s best-known ski destination.

It blends charming wooden chalets with affordable lift passes, scenic alpine slopes, and a buzzing après-ski scene on Krupówki Street.

While it doesn’t rival the sheer scale of the Alps, Zakopane offers a great-value winter escape for beginners and intermediates, plus easy access from Kraków.

From family-friendly runs in Harenda to more advanced trails on Kasprowy Wierch, the highest-altitude ski field in the country, there’s something for every level.

This guide covers everything you need to plan your ski trip to Zakopane, including resort info, lift passes, accommodation tips, and how to get there.

This article may contain affiliate links to hotels, services, and other extras that will earn us something if you click through and book. It’s what helps us keep offering great info on Krakow, so thanks for that!

When to ski in Zakopane?

The ski season in Zakopane starts in the middle of December and usually lasts until the first week of April but specific opening and closing dates depend on snowfall.

Obviously, skiing needs snow. Despite Poland’s reputation as being somewhere in the depths of Siberia, the white stuff isn’t as guaranteed as you might think.

That said, as of 2025, the winters in southern Poland and the Tatras have generally been pretty good, bringing plenty of powder with them. It’s usually normal to have decent coverage by the start of December.

That means that most Zakopane ski resorts will switch on their lifts by Christmas at the latest, although we’ve skied as early as December 2nd in the past. Things don’t wind down again until around April, depending on how big the snowpack has gotten.

If you’re thinking of coming at the start or at the end of the season, we’d recommend considering a ski field that’s got its own snowmaking. That effectively eliminates high-up Kasprowy Wierch, which is perhaps the best option for advanced riders.

We’d also HIGHLY suggest planning your trip for a time that doesn’t clash with Polish winter holidays. We can’t stress how important that is!

Queues can be out of control and traffic in and out of town is ridiculous, plus the hotel rates are sure to soar. But this is where things can get a little tricky…

The vacations for Krakow are different from the vacations for Warsaw are different from the vacations for Gdansk – so on and so forth. There are big influxes to the ski lifts during them all, but it’s probably best to avoid the times when Krakow and the capital are off, at least.

Dates for school holidays are published each year online, at least five months prior to the peak of the ski season.

How to get to Zakopane?

Envato/Shaiith

Getting to Zakopane is really easy! Krakow is 1.5-2 hours away by bus, and there’s a new highway (still not quite complete as of 2025) that’s made driving down way easier than it used to be. Even the trains are good now.

We’ll assume you’re arriving into Krakow by plane for this guide. 99% of people do that and it’s the right option. There’s an ever-growing array of flights there and they tend to be pretty well-priced, even throughout the winter ski season (that’s because Krakow itself is a city break destination, and it’s peak season is summer).

One tip: Don’t be tempted to fly to the Poprad-Tatry Airport if you plan on relying on public transport. It’s technically closer than Krakow’s airport but bus links through the mountains to Zakopane are a nightmare.

• Bus – The most common and the cheapest is by bus. Coach connections with several different companies leave from Krakow’s main station (Dworec Glowny) all day long. Departures start early in the morning and don’t stop until late at night. Takes 1.5-2 hours. Costs roughly 25 PLN ($5 ish). You can book ahead using OMIO.
• Train – A more comfortable option involves hopping on the train from Krakow to Zakopane. This will cost a little more (around 40 PLN, or £8) and will take extra time – the connection is about three hours in total. A warning: Trains are regularly delayed, and heavy snowfall can get them cancelled altogether.
• Car – Car is the most reliable way to get to Zakopane if you’re in a group and want to bring all your own gear. It’s also an adventurous way, offering the chance to really explore the Tatras and visit multiple ski fields, most notably Bialka, the largest in the country, which is 20-25 mins from Zakopane. Book using DiscoverCars – I think they’re among the cheapest in Europe right now.

What is the skiing in Zakopane like? (An honest review)

Zakopane ski resorts

Because this isn’t a traditional ski resort like you get in the Alps, but rather a town in the middle of a range of mountains where there are countless slopes in the vicinity, it’s a good idea to plan where exactly you’re going to go when you hit snow in Poland.

There are a few options and it’s likely your decision will depend on how far you want to travel, what your level of skiing is, and where you’re staying in Zakopane itself. You’ll notice that each of the ski fields listed below has its pros and cons, and caters to a different type of winter sportster.

Of course, you can pick just one of these and ski there every day of your trip. That’s fine, but the limitations on piste length and variety that’s long plagued southern Poland might mean it gets tiresome after a while.

We think a whole week’s skiing can be shared between two or three places. That’s just about perfect. Altenrnatively, drop down from Krakow for a weekend and ski just one place.

Pros: The views/Small queues/Challenging runs. Cons: Wind/Expensive passes/Zero Snowmaking

Without a doubt the highest of all Poland’s winter sports stations, Kasprowy clocks up a top station altitude of 1,987 meters. That’s pretty impressive for Central Europe, and it means this one gets some of the very best natural snow cover this side of the Alps.

You take a vintage gondola (it was built before the war, and then recently refurbished – don’t worry!) from the base in the village of Kuznice, some 15 minutes’ from central Zakopane, to the summit. From the top, you can ski down two sides of the mountain, one with zipping black and red runs, which are actually quite challenging, and another with some wider blues and reds that join in the forests beneath.

Unfortunately, there’s no snowmaking (we’re inside the Tatra National Park here and it’s not allowed) and the pistes are exposed to the elements.

In addition, Kasprowy Wierch is easily the priciest ski resort in the country – a day pass as of 2025 is 185 PLN. That’s like £39/$53. For that price you may as well be in Austria! Buy your tickets online from the official portal before you come – it’s WAY better than queuing on the day.

Pros: Accessible/Cheap passes/Good snowmaking Cons: Short runs/Lacks variation/Pistes suffer later in the day

You can find Polana Szymoszkowa on the hills to the north of Zakopane. A prime example of the small-scale ski resorts that are in abundance here, it’s draped over the low foothills that face the Tatras proper.

That means snowmaking is in full effect here, which ensures openings before Christmas most years. Riding wise, you get two chairlifts that serve one small beginner section and one higher, longer intermediate slope. Don’t expect more than a couple of km of piste. Do expect well-marked, wide sections.

Crowds can be an issue – there’s only two runs so people do cram on. By afternoon the upper section is bascially a mogul run so try to get your skiing in early.

It’s 150 PLN for a day pass here – that’s £30/$41

Where to stay? This gorgeous boutique hotel. You get ski-in access and panoramic views of the High Tatras on the opposite side of the valley. Interiors are gorgeous, with a touch of chic modernism and a twist of authentic Zakopane style.

Pros: Really easy to drive to/Good beginner area Cons: Very low altitude/Not great natural snow cover/Really just a single run

Harenda is another small-scale ski station that sits on the lower hills to the north-east of the town proper. It’s actually just off the highway as you drive into Zakopane.

You’ll find a chairlift and a number of drag lifts serving a steep red run and a whole field of easy greens. That makes it a beginner favorite but, all-round, not that great to be honest.

In my experience, Harenda is one of the first ski runs to lose snow coverage as the spring approaches.

Pros: The largest resort in Poland/Modern lifts Cons: You need to drive at least 35 minute from Zakopane/Mega queues at midday and during holidays

Last but not least is the undisputed favourite of the region. What’s strange about that is that the resort of Bialka Tatrzanska isn’t even located in Zakopane. Instead, it’s in its own small village around 30 minutes’ drive to the north-east.

That means you’ll need to a car to get here each morning, or rely on buses that can get crammed. My two cents: Have a car.

Also, be sure to leave early for the slopes – traffic can get unbearable, especially during school holidays.

The bonus of adding some journey time is clear. Bialka Tatrzanska is the largest of all on this list. It’s got at least 16 lifts, serving several hills covered in everything from small nursery slopes to mogul reds.

Things never get too challenging here and the tuition is excellent, so it really does lean towards families and beginners. I’d even rank it among the best places to do your first ski lessons in the whole of Europe.

Where to stay? Hotel Bania Thermal & Ski is one of the best ski-in hotels in Poland. It’s right at the bottom of the slopes here, with a spa and lovely rooms. Just remember that staying there means you WILL NOT be based in Zakopane itself but rather 20 mins’ drive away.

How much does skiing in Zakopane cost?

The short version: I’d estimate that a week-long ski holiday in Zakopane will cost around the £600/$820 mark, though you could also spend lots more or lots less.

Prepare to be pleasantly surprised. There’s plenty to be said for how cheap Zakopane ski resorts are. In fact, you can often get a few hours’ pass for just 60-80 PLN (that’s as little as £12/$14). Bigger resorts like Kasprowy will be more – expect day passes around the 185 PLN mark (£39/$53)

Of course, that’s not the only cost you’ll need to handle.

Join that ski pass to the cost of a bus transfer from Krakow (20 PLN/£4), the price of a flight into Krakow airport (from the UK, that averages perhaps around £80/$90 return), ski rentals (35 PLN/day, so perhaps £60 for a whole week), and the price of a hotel in Zakopane (luxury at £130/night; midrange at £50/night, or $150 to $60), and we reckon you could do a whole ski vacay with everything included in the Polish winter cap for under £500, including five days on the slope.

Of course, that’s a total estimation and prices will vary depending on times of year, hotel choices, where you ski – the list goes on…  

The best ski hotels in Zakopane

Zakopane has some of the best ski hotels in the country. In the last decade, I’ve watched as some very nice places open up, so there’s now a nice mix of fancy spa hotels next to budget hostels.

We actually have a seperate guide that runs through all the nicest hotels in Zakopane for the current season (we update that every year, so you’ll always get the newest recs).

Spa hotels are everywhere if you’re after a touch of luxury. There are also cosy apartments that channel a little of the classic gorale (Polish mountain culture) character.

• Aries Hotel & Spa -Probably the most luxurious hotel in Zakopane, Aries Hotel & Spa is the one if money’s no object. The outdoor Jacuzzi is unbeatable – seriously, post-ski lazing in there is lush!You also get salt rooms, steam rooms, saunas, and more in the spa. The breakfasts are sooo good, with endless croissants, smoked cheeses, eggs, salads – you name it!
• Grand Hotel Stamary – We like basing ourselves in the Grand Hotel Stamary for ski trips because it’s only a few steps from the main bus station where you can grab connections to Bialka and Kasprowy (our two top ski fields in the area). It’s also a downright lovely hotel with a stunning spa that you’ll get for a lower price than aforementioned Aries.
• Apartamenty Folk & Art Krupówki 25 – One of the top self-catering options in the town, it’s super central for dining and nightlife and very bougie in design.
• Villa 9A – Our top choice for families is this deluxe holiday home under the slopes of Kasprowy. You’ll be a short walk down the valley from the main cable car to what’s the highest resort in the whole country.

One consideration: Walking access to the pistes isn’t really doable here. There are some hotels that give the option to ski in and out but Zakopane is a town, not a ski resort, so it’s usually a transfer job to the slopes. The glaring exception to that rule is Bialka Tatrzanska, where you can stay at the wonderful Hotel Bania and ski right in, but that’s not in Zakopane town itself.