You can fly in Zakopane. You just have to go to Antałówka when the foehn is blowing strongly. Stand on top, brace your legs and lean forward. If the wind is strong enough, it will hold your weight, defying gravity for a few seconds.
But they don't mention it in the guides. They also do not mention herds of deer and roe deer, which have their natural pasture in the nearby grove. It is also difficult to find book descriptions of the trails that Mateusz - the current coach of the Olympic team in high-mountain skiing will take you on. After all, as a native of Zakopane, he knows places unknown to outsiders. I will also tell you where to eat real oscypek and how to prepare children for hiking in the Tatra Mountains. Because it's worth knowing that the nearest trails start 800 meters from our 4-person cottage, probably located in the quietest district of Zakopane.
And although we know that the winter capital of Poland has a bad reputation among some people, for us Zakopane is above all the extraordinary Tatra Mountains. And nothing will change it.
If you love the Tatra Mountains, but a visit to Krupówki gives you chills, let me tell you about Jaszczurówka. This part of the city is located off the beaten track, almost 4 km from the city center, but less than a quarter of an hour from the border of the Tatra National Park. Instead of looking out the window at the thousandth house with balconies, we have a view of the stream and trees. A working eye will see Żółta Turnie and the vicinity of Hala Gąsienicowa between the branches. Groves grow nearby, opening onto undeveloped meadows, and our garden is regularly visited by forest dwellers.
On the ground floor you will find:
- a fully equipped kitchenette with a dining area, equipped with a table and chairs,
- a living room with a 2-person fold-out sofa, armchair, TV,
- bathroom with shower and toilet,
- a large 28-meter terrace with garden furniture and sun loungers.
And when you go upstairs, you will see:
- a large bedroom with two full-size double beds (180 cm and 140 cm wide).
Since our horse is good materials, all bedding in the house is made of linen or cotton muslin. In summer, such bedding will cool down pleasantly, while in winter it will even out the temperature and warm up after a snow hike.
Do you think about workation? We invite you, we provide fast Internet, and soon also a corner with a table top for work.
The cottage has a fully equipped kitchen at your disposal. There is an induction hob (with 4 zones, so you can go crazy), an oven, a microwave, a fridge with a freezer, a dishwasher, a hood and of course a set of pots, pans and plates. From our experience, we suggest that food tastes best on the terrace. On colder days, when even a blanket and hot tea do not help, you can change to the table in the dining room.
Are you planning to spend whole days away from home and give up cooking? You can say many things about Zakopane, but certainly not that there is nowhere to eat well. The Kolibecka Inn makes up for its small interior with taste (note, in high season, sometimes you have to do a little sweat in front of the door before a table becomes available). The Resto Bar invites you to the former forester's lodge in the heart of Kuźnice, and the old Polonia printing house today houses the elegant Cristina restaurant. All the places we visit and recommend can be found below.
P.S You can get real oscypek, among others at the Oscypek Museum and Andrzej Staszel's shepherd's hut in Kuźnice.
The entrance to the nearest trail in the Olczyska Valley is 800 meters from us. It is just over 2 km to Kuźnice. We recommend visiting places such as the Valley of Five Polish Ponds, Hala Gąsienicowa (Czarny Staw Gąsienicowy), Dolina Mała Łąki and Smreczyński Pond in the Kościeliska Valley.
In winter, we invite you to join Mateusz during a joint trip to the mountains. Mateusz is an instructor of alpine skiing and prepares the players of the Olympic Team on a daily basis. He will conduct skitouring and avalanche training for willing guests, showing the beauty of the Tatra Mountains.
Staying on the topic of snow, a few hundred meters from us is the Nosal slope complex - great for beginners. Intermediate will like Szymoszkowa, and those who already want serious challenges can try their hand at Kasprowy Wierch.
For many years Zakopane has been a Mecca and a muse for artists, traces of which can be found in the National Tatra Museum. You will learn there the role of Tatra Couriers during World War II, the history of highlander families or the beginnings of skiing in Poland. The place is also worth visiting - with a modest exhibition, but a picturesque location and committed guides - it is the Jan Kasprowicz Museum. The gallery of Władysław Hasior, the Museum of the Zakopane Style for them are also impressive. S. Witkiewicz, or the 20th century art gallery at the Oksza villa. You will learn the whole truth about '' Łoscypki '' from Krupówki at the fantastic Oscypek Museum, and if you like good theater, check the repertoire of the Witkacy Theater.
A magnificent panorama of the Tatra Mountains stretches over the Bachledzki Wierch (30-minute walk). It is a mystery how this place has been unaddressed by tourists for so many years. Once in that area, you can go to Antałówka - on warm evenings, however, it is quite often crowded.
What’s there for children?
From our own parental experience, we can say that Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains offer children an infinite number of attractions throughout the year. Even shorter mountain trips, such as to Morskie Oko, Hala Gąsienicowa, Kościeliska Valley or riding a bike to the shelter in the Chochołowska Valley, will remain in the memory of children for life. Who knows, maybe this will awaken your child's love for the mountains?
Our children love the mountain stream flowing through the plot and the surrounding forest. They can look for insects, birds or squirrels. In winter, deer and deer approach the house. It's also the right time of year to pack your sled, as there are plenty of hills nearby for exciting downhill rides.
On a day of rest from mountain activities, you can take your kids to thermal pools with lots of water attractions, rope parks or the funicular to Kasprowy Wierch or Gubałówka. At the upper station there is a gravitational slide with a beautiful panorama of the Tatra Mountains. As they say - traveling educates, so it is also worth going to the Nature Education Center of the Tatra National Park.
