Top Hiking Trails in Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains ⛰️ [2024]

Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains are perfect for a weekend in nature in Poland. Zakopane is always full of tourists, no matter the time of year! I’ve prepared a guide with the best hiking trails in Zakopane, tailored to your preferred difficulty level.

Hiking in the Tatra Mountains – General Information

In the Polish part of the Tatra Mountains, there are numerous hiking trails. You can do all the routes mentioned in this guide in both summer and winter. In winter, you’ll need good trekking shoes due to the snow in the Tatra Mountains. In warmer months, sports shoes will be sufficient for most of these trails.

How to Get Around in Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains?

If you don’t have a car in Poland, don’t worry. Zakopane has good bus and train connections. From Kraków, buses run every half hour, and you can check schedules on this site.Nevertheless, if you don’t have a car, you should consider booking accommodation close to the city center or bus station. The last time we visited Zakopane, we stayed at this hotel, and we highly recommend it. It’s right next to Krupówki, the main street of Zakopane.

When you arrive in Zakopane, you can also take buses to the starting points of trails in the Tatra Mountains. Not all routes are available online, so while Google Maps shows some schedules, it doesn’t cover everything. We usually head to the bus station, where there’s always one heading to our destination.

If you’re driving, I recommend reserving parking at Palenica Białczańska in advance, especially during peak season, as spaces fill up quickly. You can book them on this site.

The Weather in Zakopane

The weather in Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains depends on the season. In summer, it will be warm, although there may still be snow at higher altitudes. In winter, expect to find snow on the trails, even if there isn’t any in downtown Zakopane. That’s why it’s essential to have good trekking shoes.

Always remember to check the weather forecast before starting out, as there can be an avalanche risk at certain times of the year. On this site, you can view the weather and live cameras on some of the most popular trails.

Easy Hiking Trails Near Zakopane

Kościeliska Valley and Hala Ornak – one of the easiest hiking trails in Zakopane

Kościeliska Valley, or Dolina Kościeliska in Polish, is a fairly easy hiking trail in Zakopane. Depending on your pace and how many stops you make for photos, the round trip shouldn’t take more than 4-5 hours. It’s also impossible to get lost—just go straight until you reach Hala Ornak. There, you’ll find a shelter with a restaurant that serves typical Polish food. You can grab a bite at the shelter and then head back to the parking area, or, if you’re not too tired, you can continue on to Smreczynski Pond, which I’ll describe in more detail in the next section.

Starting point: 📍Dolina Koscieliska

Right next to the entrance, there is a parking lot if you’re driving, and also a bus stop.

Difficulty level: 2/10

Staw Smreczynski

Lake Smreczynski is our new discovery in the Tatra Mountains. This is also one of the easy hiking trails in Zakopane. You follow the path of Dolina Koscieliska that we described in the previous point, and just before reaching Hala Ornak, you will see some signs.

One of them says “Staw Smreczynski 30’” – take this path and in 30 minutes you will reach this beautiful lake. The trail is a bit steep but short, and you pass through a very beautiful forest. Honestly, it’s one of our favorite hiking routes in Zakopane.

Difficulty level: 3/10 (In winter might be 5/10)

Morskie Oko Lake

The route to Morskie Oko is one of the most famous hiking trails in Zakopane. You will see a lot of people along the way. You can also take horse-drawn carriages, but from where the horses stop, you still need to walk for about 20-30 minutes. The cost is around 20 euros per person one way and can only be paid in cash. The path is paved, so it’s quite easy, and you don’t need professional hiking shoes. Nevertheless, the most challenging part is that the route feels long because the views are monotonous. However, in the end, you will see an incredible lake with the Tatra Mountains in the background. Keep in mind that in winter, the lake is frozen and covered in snow. Therefore, we recommend this route more in the warmer months, from April/May to October/November.

Starting point:📍Palenica Białczańska

Difficulty Level: 4/10

Rusinowa Polana

The route to Rusinowa Polana starts at the same place as the one to Morskie Oko. But be careful at the beginning and don’t just follow everyone, as they are likely choosing the route to Morskie Oko. Right after buying the tickets, go to the right, taking the blue route instead of the left like everyone else. The path to Rusinowa Polana is quite easy; you will definitely see many people walking with children. You should reach Rusinowa Polana in about 1 hour. Unfortunately, I don’t have photos of this place because it was very cloudy when I went. Normally, you should see stunning views of the Tatra Mountains. The route to Rusinowa Polana is one of the easiest hiking trails in the Tatra Mountains. If you want more, read the next point to reach Gęsia Szyja from Rusinowa Polana.

Starting point:📍Palenica Białczańska

Difficulty Level: 3/10

Gesia Szyja

Gęsia Szyja is a mountain in the Tatra Mountains that reaches an elevation of 1,489 meters. To get to Gęsia Szyja from Rusinowa Polana, head towards the stairs located at the top of the meadow. I read somewhere that there are over 1,000 steps to reach the summit of Gęsia Szyja, but I didn’t count them 😅. You should reach the top in about 1 hour. The views from the summit are beautiful, especially if you’re lucky enough to have a sunny day.

Starting point:📍Palenica Białczańska

Difficulty Level: 3/10

Hiking routes in Zakopane that are a bit more advanced.

Czarny Staw pod Rysami

The Black Lake below Rysy is located beneath the highest mountain in Poland, Rysy. It sits at an altitude of 1,583 meters, and from there you can see the lake mentioned in one of the previous points, Morskie Oko. To reach the Black Lake, you first need to take the same route that goes to Morskie Oko, and then from the shelter, head to the opposite side of the lake. Once there, you will find an ascent toward Czarny Staw. The route should take you about 45 minutes to 1 hour from the Morskie Oko shelter. The climb is a bit steep; personally, I had to take several breaks along the way. However, it’s worth getting tired for these views.

Starting point:📍Palenica Białczańska

Difficulty Level: 6/10

The Valley of the Five Polish Lakes, the most beautiful hiking route in Zakopane

The route to the Valley of the Five Polish Lakes is one of the most impressive hiking trails in Zakopane, but also the most challenging I’ve done. It will definitely take you all day. In winter, it can be quite difficult, so you’ll need good trekking gear, but in summer, sportswear and shoes will be sufficient.

The hike starts at the same place as the route to Morskie Oko. You need to reach the Mickiewicz Waterfalls and then turn right towards Dolina Pięciu Stawów. From the point where the paths split to the shelter in the Valley of the Five Lakes, you should arrive in about 2.5 hours, although the time always depends on your physical condition and how much you enjoy taking photos.

And believe me, the views are incredible. After reaching the shelter, you can return the same way, or if you want to see the five lakes from above and take even more impressive photos, I recommend taking a different route back. You can take the blue trail and climb to Świstowa Kopa, then descend to the most famous lake in Zakopane, Morskie Oko, and from there return to the parking lot at Palenica Białczańska. However, this route is a bit more difficult, and I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re not in good physical condition.

Starting point:📍Palenica Białczańska

Difficulty Level: 7/10

The best hiking trails in Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains

I hope this article has been helpful and that you have been able to choose a hiking trail to enjoy in Zakopane. If you have any questions about hiking in Zakopane, feel free to leave us a comment. Remember to read our guide on things to do in the town of Zakopane, where you will also find the restaurants we recommend. I’m sure that after hiking, you’ll be very hungry!