Zakopane Day Trips from Krakow

Zakopane lies about 100 km south of Krakow, and the road takes roughly 2 hours each way; weekend and holiday traffic on the Zakopianka road can make it longer. The most common length is about 11 hours. We list 22 day trips to Zakopane from Krakow. Travellers have left more than 1,933 reviews on the tours we list here, with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5.

Guided day with hotel pickup, Gubałówka and thermal springs

One of the tours we describe collects you at your hotel and brings you back there, travelling by bus or minibus with a guide and a driver. It adds Gubałówka and the thermal springs to the time in Zakopane, and it runs about 10 hours. Its listing offers free cancellation up to 72 hours before.

Flexible day with free time on Krupówki

Another tour runs about 11 hours and leaves free time in Zakopane. "Enjoy free time in Zakopane and explore lively Krupówki Street", one listing notes. The funicular and the spa are options here: you can choose Gubałówka and the thermal baths as included, or add them on the day. A digital guidebook in more than 20 languages comes with it, and guiding is listed in German, English, Spanish and Italian.

Zakopane paired with the Chochołów baths

Pairing Zakopane with the Chochołów thermal baths gives a third format: an 11-hour day by bus, with an English-speaking guide. The ticket for the Gubałówka funicular is part of what it includes, so the hill and the pools fit into one day.

Evening at the thermal baths

A shorter outing of about 7 hours centres on the Chochołów thermal baths in the evening. It lists a 3-hour entrance ticket, access to the relaxation area and textile saunas, and an English-speaking driver or host. "Enjoy a terrace cooling pool and watch the sunset", one listing notes.

Snowmobile night ride with a bonfire

At about 5.5 hours, this is shorter than the day formats above. Transport leaves from a meeting point in Krakow in an air-conditioned vehicle, and the listing describes a coffee break in Zakopane, a lesson in operating a snowmobile, a ride through the Tatra Mountains and time by the campfire. Bottled water is included; "Mulled wine (only in winter)", the listing notes.

Baths tickets with a transfer

At about 3 hours, a trip to the Chochołów baths from Krakow is the shortest format among the tours we describe. Its listing names a 3-hour entrance ticket, the relaxation area and textile saunas, and an English-speaking driver or host.

Table data is indicative and comes from the GuruWalk catalogue. Each activity's current details, including availability, are the ones shown on its listing when you book.

The Chochołów baths outing with a transfer is the shortest of the tours we describe at about 3 hours, and the snowmobile night ride follows at about 5.5; the baths pairing and the flexible day both run about 11 hours. Of the trips shown here, the one with the most reviews is "Zakopane Day Trip + Gubałówka & Thermal Springs", with more than 939 reviews and a rating of 4.4 out of 5.

What to pack for the Tatras and the pools

Mountain weather in the Tatras changes quickly, so carry a waterproof layer and walking shoes. Swimwear and a towel are needed on days that include the thermal pools; some cash in złoty is useful for the cheese stalls and small market vendors.

A serious hike does not fit in one day

Morskie Oko is a walk of 4 to 5 hours on its own, so it does not fit a day trip. With about 2 hours of road each way, most of the day goes on the Zakopane stops that the tours we describe plan for you.