Krakow to Zakopane: Thermal Baths, Gubałówka Cable Car & Cheese

Summary

Zakopane day trip with cheese tasting and mountain views

You’ll ride from Krakow into Zakopane’s mountain world with hotel pickup included, taste fresh oscypek cheese in Chochołów village, take in Tatra views from Gubałówka’s cable car summit, wander lively Krupówki Street, then unwind in steamy thermal baths surrounded by peaks. This day leaves you both tired and oddly peaceful—something about those mountain skies sticks with you.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t really know what to expect when our driver picked us up in Krakow—just that we’d end up somewhere in the Tatra Mountains by mid-morning. The drive out felt like leaving everything noisy behind. Our guide Marek kept pointing out little villages and explained why so many houses had those steep wooden roofs (snow, apparently). When we stopped in Chochołów, I tried running my hand along one of those perfectly scrubbed wooden walls—smooth but a bit rough near the corners. The smell was this odd mix of pine and something faintly smoky, probably from all the wood stoves. We watched a woman making oscypek cheese—she handed me a piece still warm from the press, salty and kind of squeaky between my teeth. I’m not sure I’ll ever get that exact taste again.

Zakopane itself was busier than I thought, especially around Krupówki Street. It’s loud with voices and music from open doors; you can smell grilled sausages everywhere. Marek laughed when I tried to say “oscypek” properly—I definitely butchered it. There were stalls selling wool socks and carved walking sticks, and everyone seemed to be carrying something home for dinner. We took the funicular up Gubałówka just as some clouds started rolling over the peaks. At the top, it was suddenly quiet except for wind and distant cowbells—hard to explain but you feel very small looking at all that space below.

Afterwards, we drove out past more fields (I dozed off for a bit) until we reached these steaming thermal pools tucked right into the valley. Honestly, slipping into hot water while looking at snowy mountains is a weirdly perfect combination—I could’ve stayed there forever if my fingers hadn’t started wrinkling up like prunes. People were laughing nearby in Polish; someone offered me a sip of their local vodka (I politely declined). The whole thing felt both relaxing and kind of surreal after such a packed day.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Zakopane sightseeing and thermal baths

• Travel to Zakopane
• Ride cable car to Gubałówka mountain
• Enjoy views from Gubałówka viewpoint
• Taste traditional smoked cheese and local alcohol
• Visit historic wooden village Chochołów
• Explore Krupówki street and free time
• Relax in thermal pools for 2.5 hours

Top questions

How long does the Zakopane day trip from Krakow take?

The full trip lasts about 11-12 hours including all stops.

Is hotel pickup included for this tour?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off in Krakow are included.

Do you visit the thermal baths on this tour?

Yes, entry to the thermal pools is included after sightseeing in Zakopane.

Can you try traditional oscypek cheese during the tour?

Yes, there is an oscypek cheese tasting included in Chochołów village.

Is there free time on Krupówki Street?

You’ll have some free time to explore Krupówki Street on your own.

Are tickets for the Gubałówka cable car included?

The ticket for the funicular railway up Gubałówka is included in your tour.

Is lunch provided on this Zakopane day trip?

No set lunch is provided but you can buy food at local restaurants or markets during your free time.

Are guides available throughout the tour?

A helpful English-speaking driver/guide is with you during the trip.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off from Krakow, transport by air-conditioned vehicle both ways, entry tickets for Gubałówka’s funicular railway plus access to the thermal baths complex (with indoor and outdoor pools), an oscypek cheese tasting stop in Chochołów village, and support from an English-speaking driver-guide throughout your journey.