Zakopane can be a fairly interesting option for a short weekend trip. And winter, if anything, brings out what is good about the town. Before you go, keep a few things in mind, and I will get to them in a moment. That way the trip will work out even better, and with more smiles from you :)
Winter mostly makes us think of a warm house and long evenings. For some it is the perfect time to leave for a holiday in a warm country, for others the ideal chance to go skiing.
You can go sightseeing in winter too. Zakopane is a perfect example of that. The mountains have their own winter mood, one you cannot get anywhere else, and it looks superb in photos while in real life it is better still. After a long walk, when the cold slowly starts to set in, there is nothing better than a view that pays back all the effort.
Morskie Oko
The most beautiful and at the same time the largest lake in the Tatras. The number of tourists, especially in the summer, can be frightening. A few thousand people a day can turn up, all of them, like you, having decided to get out of the house. Which is why a winter trip can turn out to be a fairly good choice. The crowds are still big, especially in the mountain huts, but other parts of the trip make up for it.
The route is quite easy, you walk mostly along a road. The walk itself is pleasant. Horses with big sleighs pass you, tourists sitting on them. That sight can actually come across as sad. The horses look tired, and in many places the road is black, which makes the sleighs harder to pull. Well, did I mention this is a typically touristy place? Take in the views along the way. Worth it.
Morskie Oko does not call for special winter mountain skills, but there is one very important thing to remember. Better to set off in the morning and come back around noon, while it is still light. In winter it gets dark quickly, and that is not a good time to be heading back from a trip like this.
Gubałówka
A mountain peak, or really a hill, which you can get up by the mountain railway for around 20-25 PLN on a standard ticket. A place with plenty of food stalls, where you can also ski down. A great view of the Tatras. I would go, especially when the sun is out. You should arm yourself with the patience of a saint, of course, because the number of tourists can be overwhelming.
The center
The old town first of all, where it pays to track down something good to eat. Then a walk around the ski jump. I would especially take the side streets, somewhere closer to the forest. It was on a walk like that that I got this photo:
Crowds, crowds everywhere. That is how I will remember the center of Zakopane, and the drive there. Use a GPS and do not be afraid to take the long way round, through Slovakia for example. You can save a lot of time. Zakopane really is a pretty place, so the crowds are no surprise.
A short summary – Zakopane in winter is a great choice. A weekend maybe less so, because the queues can give you a headache. Given the number of tourists, it makes sense to think about coming midweek.
