The historic cities of Krakow and Gdansk usually function on the high of Polish bucket lists. They’ve obtained the UNESCO historical past. They’ve obtained the medieval castles. They’ve obtained the nightlife. However, for adventure-hungry households, there’s one place that actually stands out from the group: Zakopane.
Hidden below the jagged tops of the Carpathian mountains within the excessive south of the nation, the city is hailed because the Winter Capital of Poland for its abundance of ski fields (we’ll get to them later). However it’s additionally a mecca for hikers and bikers, customers, and explorers of all ages.
7 Prime Issues to Do in Zakopane
On this information, we’ll delve into the highest issues to do with the little ones in Zakopane. It’s an inventory riddled with cable vehicles and sizzling springs, with mountain lakes and fairy-tale city facilities, promising a Polish journey that’s just a bit out of the unusual. Right here goes…
1. Be enchanted by Krupowki Avenue
Krupowki Avenue is the colourful coronary heart of Zakopane, bustling with retailers, eating places, and road performers, all set towards the backdrop of the attractive Tatra Mountains, which loom like daggers coated in snow on the horizon.
Round a kilometer in size from tip to tail, it’s totally pedestrianized, so households can safely stroll (the whole road is stroller pleasant) and – most significantly – store!
Mhmm…Krupowki is the place to go a-searching for the distinctive arts, crafts and meals that make Zakopane so well-known. The children are certain to like the make-believe wood swords and shields which can be bought available in the market on the north finish of the road. Extra daring eaters may additionally need to pattern the long-lasting highlander cheese, which is closely smoked and served up with a dollop of cranberry sauce.
2. Defy gravity on the cable automobile to Kasprowy Wierch
No journey to Zakopane may very well be full with out hopping on the cable automobile to Kasprowy Wierch. It’s essentially the most well-known landmark within the metropolis, with a historical past that goes again to earlier than the First World Struggle – don’t fear, although, it’s been up to date since then.
You’ll have to first take the bus from the central station to the small village of Kuznice. It prices about $1 per individual and takes quarter-hour. There, you’ll see the massive, spanking new cable automobile station. Purchase tickets and hop aboard! (Be warned: There are ALWAYS queues within the peak seasons of summer season and midwinter).
What unfolds subsequent is a montage of panoramic views of the Tatra Mountains. On the high station you may take brief hikes appropriate for younger walkers or just benefit from the beautiful surroundings from the statement decks.
3. Splash round in Aquapark Zakopane
The world round Zakopane is legendary for its sizzling springs, that are fed by pure mineral water that originates in deep underground rivers beneath the Tatras. There are umpteen spas that make use of that, however most of them are very grownup oriented.
Aquapark Zakopane, nonetheless, is the right place for water-loving households. The park options numerous indoor and out of doors swimming pools, slides, and a lazy river, all of that are designed with security and enjoyable in thoughts.
In case you do need some R&R away from the little ones, pop into the on-site wellness space. That’s obtained saunas and sizzling tubs galore.
4. Go Mountain climbing
There are stacks of wonderful climbing trails in and round Zakopane. It’s the climbing epicenter of the entire of Poland, with many of the strolling happening within the Tatra Nationwide Park simply to the south of the city heart.
After all, long-distance romps by way of the Carpathians aren’t essentially one of the best factor for touring households. However there are one or two routes which can be suited to smaller toes and smaller consideration spans.
Listed here are those we’d suggest…
- Dolina Strążyska – This difficult-to-pronounce valley has a semi-paved path for half the way in which up after which a rocky path that’s not too steep or difficult. You’ll be able to stroll right here from the city heart and there’s a café on the park entrance. There’s additionally a mountain hut on the finish of the valley the place households ought to flip round, however not earlier than catching a glimpse of the waterfall that streams over the rocks beneath the mountains.
- Morskie Oko – Extra severe household hikers ought to take into account Morskie Oko. That is essentially the most well-known lake within the Tatra area and its reached on a paved street, although you’ll have to drive or bus there within the morning to begin your trek. The stroll takes 1.5-2 hours in all, every method.
5. Dine in a standard tavern
There’s tons to entertain the children as soon as the solar goes down in Zakopane. Most of all, the normal highlander taverns of the city heart supply an actual native expertise. They’re all in-built wooden and carved with little mountain designs, usually darkish and comfy and mysterious inside, with a roaring log fireplace someplace within the center.
Meals-wise, the mountain area and Zakopane is large on meats and cheeses, however most locations have first rate kids’s menus that may supply an intro into Polish delicacies for smaller individuals – suppose miniature plates of pierogi dumplings and native salads with salted gherkins.
The perfect half is that it’s regular for these highlander taverns to have reside bands within the evenings. They’ll play mountain music on double bass and violin when you dine collectively as a household.
6. Go snowboarding
Zakopane is a ski city at coronary heart. It’s the best-known ski resort in Poland, in actual fact. The season right here isn’t fairly so long as within the Alps, nevertheless it does final from early December to mid-March, and there’s first rate snow protection most years.
The factor to learn about Polish snowboarding is that it’s primarily for beginners and learners, which is nearly good for households with little ones who’re simply discovering their toes within the snow.
The ski runs of Polana Szymoskowa supply essentially the most handy possibility within the city heart of Zakopane. You would additionally catch a bus from Zakopane to Bialka, which is the biggest single interconnected ski subject within the nation. It’s round 20 minutes’ drive away and has very trendy, heated lifts, and a great deal of nursery runs.
7. Get misplaced in Snowlandia
After all, snowboarding isn’t the solely factor to do in Zakopane within the winter. There are loads extra household actions. Chief amongst them needs to be the Zakopane Snowlandia, a complete labyrinth and chateau advanced that’s carved from big snow blocks annually.
The opening date adjustments relying on how a lot snowfall there’s been – it’s normally simply earlier than Christmas, however there’s so much to construct, so that you want plenty of white stuff on the bottom. On high of a maze, there’s additionally a devoted snow-sled run and an ice palace full of distinctive ice sculptures.
Entry prices round $19 per individual for all of the sights however you may also get discounted tickets for sure areas and offers for a number of entries. There are a number of massive buffet eating places simply over the street from Snowlandia which can be nice for household lunches on a budget, too.
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