Zakopane & Thermal Baths: Cable Car, Oscypek & Vodka

The cable car climbs Mount Gubalówka while you taste smoked cheese in Poland's ski town

You're picked up from Krakow and driven to Zakopane in the Tatra Mountains, where you ride the cable car up Mount Gubalówka, walk through a traditional highland village, browse Krupowki Street's bazaar while tasting Oscypek cheese and local vodka, then spend three hours in the thermal baths before returning to the city. The round transfer and all entry fees are included, so you only show up ready to go.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Chocholow30m
2. Zakopane3h
3. Mount Gubalówka45m · entry included
4. Krupowki Street2h

Explore Zakopane and Chocholow village

• Visit traditional wooden houses in Chocholow
• Take cable car up and down Gubalowka hill
• Enjoy free time on Gubalowka hill
• Explore Zakopane with host guidance
• Free time on Krupowki Street bazaar
• Relax in thermal baths pools

The experience

You start the morning with a pickup from Krakow and drive south toward the Tatra Mountains. The road climbs gradually, and after about two hours you're in Zakopane, the winter capital of Poland, surrounded by peaks and old wooden chalets. Your first stop is Chocholow village, where the houses still look the way they did centuries ago: thick timber frames, steep roofs, the kind of architecture that doesn't photograph well but makes sense the moment you see it built for mountain snow. A local will walk you through, and you'll understand why this place matters to the region's identity.

Then you head into Zakopane proper. The cable car up Mount Gubalówka takes about ten minutes, and the view from the top opens up the whole valley if the weather cooperates. You get free time up there to walk around or just stand and look. Coming back down, you have the afternoon to spend on Krupowki Street, the main bazaar where every stall sells the same things: Oscypek (the smoked cheese that tastes like nothing else you've had), flavored vodka in small bottles, carved wooden souvenirs, and clothes made from thick wool. You'll taste both the cheese and the vodka with someone who knows what they're talking about, so you're not just buying blind. The street itself is crowded and a bit chaotic, which is exactly what makes it feel real.

After that comes the thermal baths in Chocholow, you get three hours to soak in pools fed by water pulled from 3,600 metres underground. The water is warm, and the whole complex is built into the landscape so it doesn't feel like a resort. It feels like you've found something. You can float in the regular pools or the warmer ones, depending on what your body needs. By the time you're done and heading back to Krakow, you've moved through four different versions of what this region is: the old village, the mountain view, the market energy, and the quiet of warm water.

What’s included

Your day includes round-trip transfer from Krakow, entry to Chocholow village, the Gubalówka cable car ride up and down, free time on Krupowki Street, a tasting of Oscypek cheese and flavored vodka, three hours at the thermal baths, and all entry tickets. Depending on which option you book, you may travel in a shared or private vehicle.

Options for this experience

3 options

Regular option from a meeting pointGuide in English · 08:00, 08:30 and 09:00Meeting point and shared trip: a full-day group experience with a morning departure from a meeting point and drop-off at a central point near Old Town Krakow. Duration: 12 hours. Regular option: Zakopane, Chocholow Village, Gubalowka Funicular, cheese tasting, free time in Krupowki, and a 3-hour Thermal Baths evening ticket. Starting points: Kiss&Ride Tourist Pickup Point, Wielopole 2, 31-072 Kraków, Poland; plac Jana Matejki 2, 31-157 Kraków, Poland. Pickup is included.

Regular option with hotel pickupGuide in English · 08:00, 08:30 and 09:00Shared ride and tour: travel and enjoy the experience alongside a group of fellow travellers. Convenient hotel pickup across a wide area is available. Duration: 11 hours. Regular option: Zakopane, Chocholow Village, Gubalowka Funicular, cheese tasting, free time in Krupowki, and a 3-hour Thermal Baths evening ticket. Central dropoff: end your trip at a dropoff point near Old Town Krakow. Pickup is included.

Premium Private OptionGuide in English · 08:00, 08:30 and 09:00Morning private tour: a day in Zakopane with a visit to the Thermal Baths, travelling by private car. Duration: 12 hours, with approximate durations that include travel times. Regular route: Zakopane, Chocholow Village, Gubalowka Funicular, cheese tasting, and a 3-hour evening Thermal Baths ticket. Private car pickup and dropoff: a dedicated private vehicle and driver are provided, and you start and finish at your chosen location in Krakow. Pickup is included.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00, 08:30 and 09:00

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupUp to 30 · max 8 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Legendary Krakow

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see the Tatra Mountains, taste local food, and soak in thermal pools without arranging transport or buying tickets separately: the fixed itinerary and included transfers mean you show up and the day unfolds on schedule.

Traveler reviews

4.86★★★★★★★★★★

172 verified traveler reviews

5 ★159

4 ★5

3 ★6

2 ★1

1 ★1

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4).

How long is the drive from Krakow to Zakopane?

About two hours each way.

What's included in the thermal baths time?

Three hours of access to the pools. You can use both regular and warm water pools.

Is the cable car ride included?

Yes, the Gubalówka funicular ride up and down is included.

What if the weather is bad on the mountain?

The cable car operates as long as conditions allow. You'll still have free time at the top if it runs.

Do I need to be fit for this tour?

No, it's suitable for all fitness levels. Most of the day involves walking at your own pace or sitting in thermal pools.

Is lunch included?

No, but you have free time on Krupowki Street where you can buy local food, and the cheese and vodka tasting is included.

Can I do this in winter?

Yes. In winter, some options include access to Snowlandia snow maze and ice sculpture igloo as add-ons.