The definitive guide to the most incredible experiences in and around Zakopane, Poland.
From scenic hiking, sports and lodgings to nightlife, local culture and art. Here all the things to do in Zakopane in summer.
Zakopane is famous for its gorgeous surrounding nature and the gloriously imposing Tatra Mountains. Hikes are a big reason for the town’s recent popularity, so it’s only fitting to start this list with some of its notorious hiking spots.
Perhaps the most iconic hiking destination is the one to Morskie Oko (Eye of the Sea) and its neighbouring lake Czarny Staw (Black Lake). The two clear alpine lakes can be reached from Palenica Białczańska, accessible by bus from Zakopane. What makes this trail easy is that it’s simply a paved road. The hike is roughly 2 hours in each way and the view is well worth it – you’ll find it’s no surprise Morskie Oko is the most popular lake in the Tatra Mountains.
The lakes are also a starting point for trails to the highest peak in Poland, Mount Rysy.
The Gąsienicowa Valley is a must-see location, especially in spring and summer when the Hala Gąsienicowa meadows are in bloom. You’ll see the beautiful pink fireweed covering the earth, traditional wooden shepherds’ shelters and the HIgh Tatra peaks covering the horizon.
The easier option is take the blue trail from Kuznice. If you’re looking for a challenge, you can start from Kapsrowy Wierch by taking the cable car.
Kapsrowy Wierch → Gąsienicowa Valley → Hala Gąsienicowa → Kuźnice
The longest valley in the Polish Tatras, Chochołowska is on the easier side. Starting from Siwa Polana, a wide path leads through forests and meadows, ending about two hours later at Polana Chochołowska – a vast clearing with a traditional mountain hut, perfect for rest, a meal and soaking up the views.
From here, you can continue to nearby peaks like Grześ or Wołowiec if you want a rewarding challenge. It’s a stunning hike ideal for families, but also flexible to allow for a challenge.
If you’re short on time, Nosal is ideal. The trail starts in Kuźnice and takes less than an hour to reach the summit, making it one of the most accessible hikes in Zakopane. From the top, you’ll get sweeping views over Zakopane, Giewont, and the High Tatras – perfect for photos. The hike is short but very steep in some sections.
At 1,987 m above sea level, the top station of the Kasprowy Wierch cable car is a fantastic starting point for hikes across the Tatras. From here, several trails branch out, ranging from gentle descents to demanding ridge routes, making it a great spot for both casual walkers and experienced mountain lovers.
Any of these trails can be done from the bottom up for a significantly more challenging hike, but an equally satisfying cable car homeward.
A via ferrata (iron path) is a climbing-style route where sections of the trail are secured with fixed cables, metal steps, ladders or chains. Wearing a harness and clip you can move safely over exposed terrain for an extra adrenaline rush and variety in your hiking around Zakopane.
Via ferratas you can try are Swinica and Orla Perc. There are also small chains on Zawrat and Szpiglasowy. Across the nearby boarder, Slovakia’s Czerwona Lawka and Velka Fatra.
We recommend hiking with a guide, especially if you’ve never done via ferratas before. They’ll also help you with equipment and optimizing routes.
Experienced hiking guides know the mountains better than anyone. This means that guided groups get to enjoy the most scenic routes and rewarding trails, without the anxiety of looking for that perfect route (there are so many in the Tatras!)
Let the guide to the decision making so you can focus on the hike, views and conversation with your group. You’ll also see spots and details that other tourists simply glance over, or never come even close to finding.
You can get a custom adventure, personalized to your individual or group’s desired hike difficulty level.
As the heart and soul of the Southern Polish Highlands, Zakopane presents a blend of a highly preserved culture and a thriving contemporary social scene. Next up – the most interesting, novel and down-right COOL things to do in Zakopane in summer, spring and autumn.
The main strip of Zakopane and one of the most popular streets in Poland – Krupowki Street. It teems with life both in summer and winter. There, you will find pubs, restaurants, shops and street stalls where one can buy souvenirs and traditional Pohdale street food, snacks and cheeses – most of which accept both card and cash.
Being the notorious street that it is, it hides many secrets. It connects to incredible attractions that we’ll cover on this list and is a platform for various street musicians and performers. The 1100m long street will give you a good glimpse of the infamous Zakopane-style architecture, which humbly screams of charm and history.
Exactly what it sounds like – just better. Myszogrod is a 200 sq.m. set of miniature scenes, hand-crafted to house over 1,000 mice from all over the world. The adorable mice are of various species, all living and interacting in hands-down the cutest space in Zakopane.
Open daily 10:00 – 19:00, Krupówki 81 B
Zakopane’s Illusion Museum is a super fun place to spend an afternoon. 550 sq.m. worth of rooms full of optical illusions and 3D paintings, you will take plenty of memorable pictures and the memories that go with them. Make sure to make a reservation for your visit, just in case it books out!
Open daily 10:00 – 18:00, Tadeusza Kościuszki 3, 34-500
Every August, Zakopane hosts the International Festival of Highland Folklore, one of the region’s biggest cultural events. Dance troupes, musicians, and folk artists from around the world gather to celebrate highlander traditions and compete for the prestigious Golden Ciupaga trophy. Beyond the performances, you can enjoy craft fairs, concerts, great food, and the unique atmosphere of Podhale’s living folklore. A must-do if you’re visiting Zakopane in late August.
Polish graveyards are worth seeing. Locals make efforts to remember and honour the ones before them – often not only caring for their friends and family members’ gravestones, but also those of strangers. You will notice beautiful ornaments and flower arrangements. The graves themselves support wooden totemic figures or masterfully carved stone and metal graves. Not to mention, there are several known individuals buried in this exact location.
Address: Krupówki 1a, 34-505 Zakopane, Poland
Kasprowy Wierch (1985m) is one of the most popular peaks in the Polish Tatras. Not only is the view from there absolutely mesmerizing, but also because it’s easily accessible through a cable car. Once up, you will be able to literally have one foot in Poland and another in Slovakia. You can also enjoy coffee or lunch in a nice restaurant and even hike down via one of the trails we mentioned in the beginning of the article.
Avoid queues by purchasing a ticket in advance here: www.sklep.pkl.pl/en/
The cable car starts from Kuźnice Street 14
It takes a mere 3.5 minutes to get to Gubalowka using the funicular ride. Up there, you have a view of Zakopane and the majestic surrounding Tatras. If you’re looking for chill things to do in Zakopane in summer, a relaxing picnic here is always a good choice.
The train leaves from Gubałówkę st. 34-500, Zakopane
BeHappy, also known as “The Happiness Museum” is a selfie museum full of colourful sets and illusions. Photographers, influencers, children, couples and friends flock to this space as it inspires creativity and conversation. The beautiful pastel-coloured and photogenic world is conveniently located on Krupówki Street, in the centre of Zakopane.
Built in 1848, the Church of Our Lady of Częstochowa and Saint Clement and is the oldest church in Zakopane. This small wooden temple, founded by Klementyna Homolacsowa, features beautiful folk sculptures, paintings, and altars crafted by local highlander artists. Its intimate interior and rich décor make it a true treasure of Podhale’s wooden architecture and cultural heritage.
Kościeliska 4, 34-500 Zakopane, Poland
Perfect for families, the Tatra Mini Zoo lets you get up close with alpacas, goats, sheep, deer, fallow deer, muntjacs, kangaroos (including a rare white one), donkeys, peacocks, and other eccentric and interesting animals. Visitors can feed and cuddle the animals, explore the rabbit enclosure, and enjoy a playground, trampolines, and seasonal attractions like a tubing slide.
Open daily 10:00 – 20:00, Józefa Piłsudskiego Street, near 26
The Upside Down House is one of the city’s most unusual attractions. Inside, furniture and decor are entirely upside down, creating an eccentric feeling of disorientation. While it’s mainly a playful stop for photos, this isn’t the only upside-down house in Poland’s. The first one in Szymbark was designed as a symbolic statement about the uncertainty of life in post-Communist times.
Aleje 3-go Maja, 34-500 Zakopane, Poland
A charming and relaxing way to experience the Tatra National Park is by horse-drawn carriage. Skip the hike and soak up the views with the rhythmic thumps of horse hooves below you.
Our local English-speaking driver Kazimierz (Casimir) Stopka will take you through the picturesque Chochołowska Valley, especially beautiful when spring crocuses are in bloom. The ride ends at the mountain shelter where you can enjoy a snack before returning.
Take a break from the mountains and dive into a totally different world. Zakopane’s Underwater World is home to endemic and foreign species of sweet water wildlife. There are quirky little surprises too, like rare frogs and a formicarium full of busy ants. The largest aquarium is a whopping 14 m. The audio guide makes it fun and easy to explore, and it’s a great spot for families or just a chill rainy-day activity.
Open daily 10:00 – 19:00, Willa Jan, 34-500 Zakopane, Poland
Put your problem-solving skills to the test at Zakopane’s escape room. Comprised of 6 rooms, this is an ideal adventure for friend groups and families to bond or simply have tons of fun. Zakopane Escape Room is able to accommodate up to 33 players at once, but they can also help plan bigger events. Learn more on their website.
Discover Zakopane’s history, architecture, traditions and secrets with a guide, who’ll show you the most important things to see in town.
Even 30 minutes in Zakopane is enough to understand why the city carries its reputation of mysterious whimsy. And so a guide can be a helpful source of incredible insider information, most overlooked by tourists. The tours are flexible and can be curated according to what you find most interesting and fascinating, but there are standard options as well.
Zakopane is known for being a ski resort, but in summer, the town and its vicinity are ripe with adventures for sports enthusiasts. Here are our favourite things to do in Zakopane in summer that will scratch that adrenaline-seeking itch.
Glide down the Dunajec River on a traditional wooden raft – a centuries-old highlander tradition once for transporting goods, is now one of the most scenic adventures in southern Poland.
The river winds through the dramatic limestone cliffs of the Pieniny National Park, making seven wide loops along the way. One of the highlights is passing beneath the striking Trzy Korony (“Three Crowns”) peaks, towering nearly 1,000 meters above sea level. The trip takes about two hours and ends in the charming town of Szczawnica. Suitable for all ages.
Go quad biking – another refreshing and fun adventure our in nature. Your trip can be anywhere between one and three hours, with the possibility of 2 people riding the same quad. You can also hire a 4-person buggy.
A great way to explore some stunning Tatra trails with a group. The views are incredible, as you’re constantly surrounded by long-winding mountain ranges and fresh air.