Day Trip to Zakopane — Exploring in the Rain

We woke up to a rainy morning at Hotel Górski the next day.

The forecast promised the rain would only last until noon, so it didn’t put us off our plan to head out for a day trip. Our destination: the famous town of Zakopane.

From our hotel in Białka Tatrzańska, Zakopane is about 25 kilometres away — roughly half an hour by car — which makes it an absolutely perfect day-trip destination.

A Bit of History and Highland Culture

Zakopane started out as a small shepherd’s settlement, but in the 19th century it transformed into a fashionable health resort. The local highlanders (Górale) still maintain their unique culture and architecture to this day. The famous Polish artist Stanisław Witkiewicz even created the so-called “Zakopane style” here — buildings made of heavy timber with intricate wood carvings that you won’t find anywhere else in the world.

The Wielka Krokiew Ski Jump

Our first stop was the legendary Wielka Krokiew ski jump, which has been in operation since 1925 and regularly hosts World Cup competitions. Since we visited shortly after Easter in mid-April, the weather was quite cold and there was still snow on the ground in Zakopane.

Even in the cold and unpredictable spring weather, there were plenty of stalls open along the path to the jump. Some of our group couldn’t resist and bought their first souvenirs right then and there. From the ski jump, we walked over to the nearby entertainment area, where a giant carved mammoth statue and a huge Ferris wheel stand.

From the Wielka Krokiew ski jump to the entertainment area

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The Famous Krupówki Shopping Street

We then moved on to the very heart of the town — Poland’s most famous pedestrian shopping zone, Krupówki Street. Neither of us had been there before, so this was a first for us.

Krupówki is a fully pedestrianised zone, about 1.2 km long, and even in April it was packed with tourists. The street buzzes with incredible energy, lined with interesting shops, restaurants in traditional wooden style, and stalls selling all sorts of things.

There’s something for everyone — you can find everything from luxury chocolates and traditional Polish sweets to clothing and the renowned smoked mountain cheeses that fill the air at every turn. At the lower end of the street, an underpass leads you to the market and the Gubałówka cable car station.

Strolling along the famous Krupówki Street

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The Church of the Holy Family

During our walk through the town, we also came across a beautiful stone Church of the Holy Family (Kościół Świętej Rodziny), which dates back to the late 19th century and has stunning architecture.

On the way to the church in Zakopane

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Rain Didn’t Ruin the Trip

Zakopane simply won us over with its atmosphere. It showed us that even when it’s raining and cold, you can still have a perfect morning full of discovery, shopping, and great food.

I’m sharing the photos from our walk above — tell me, have you ever shopped on Krupówki?