Zakopane Day Trip from Krakow: Cable Car & Thermal Baths

Taste smoked oscypek cheese in a mountain hut, then ride the cable car over the Tatras.

This 11-hour day trip from Krakow takes you to Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains with a local English-speaking guide, transport from the city center, and stops at a traditional highlander hut for cheese and vodka tasting, the Gubałówka cable car viewpoint, and Krupówki Street for lunch and shopping. The thermal baths are optional and paid on-site. The cable car is also optional.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Mount Gubalówka2h
2. Krupowki Street1h 30m
3. Tatra Mountainspass by
4. Zakopane2h

Zakopane day trip from Krakow

• Depart from Krakow Central Bus Station
• Visit traditional shepherd’s hut and taste oscypek cheese
• Ride Gubałówka Cable Car for panoramic views
• Explore Krupówki Street and have lunch
• Relax at Chochołów Thermal Baths
• Drive back to Krakow
• Drop off at Krakow meeting point

The experience

You leave Krakow Central Bus Station early (arrival time between 7:30 and 9:00 depending on traffic and weather), and travel roughly two hours through the Chochołów village toward Zakopane. The drive itself is part of the day: your guide talks through the history and traditions of the Podhale region as the landscape shifts from farmland to foothills. A stop at a traditional bacówka (shepherd's hut) comes before you reach the town. There you taste smoked oscypek cheese, a regional specialty, paired with a shot of Polish vodka while the owner or guide explains the centuries-old customs of highland herding. It's a working introduction to local life, not a museum.

Once in Zakopane, you have free time to move at your own pace. Most people walk Krupówki Street, the main pedestrian strip lined with restaurants, cheese vendors, and highlander-style shops. A warm oscypek with cranberry sauce from a street stand is the local lunch. If you want the panoramic views, you can ride the Gubałówka cable car up the mountainside. The ticket is optional and paid on-site, but on clear days the vistas over Zakopane and the Tatra peaks are the postcard shots people come for. The top has souvenir stalls and a gravity toboggan ride if you want more. Waiting times for the cable car can be long during peak season, especially weekends and holidays.

The thermal baths are also optional and paid separately on arrival. Chochołów Thermal Baths sits in the region and offers warm geothermal pools, jacuzzis, saunas, and hydro-massage zones surrounded by mountain landscape. After hours of walking and exploring, it's a way to end the day in warm water before the drive back to Krakow. Bring a swimsuit, towel and flip-flops if you plan to use them. Locker hire is available. The return journey takes another 1.5 to 2 hours, though traffic can extend it significantly on weekends and holidays. You're dropped back at the meeting point by evening.

What’s included

• Transport from Krakow Central Bus Station to Zakopane and back.
• English-speaking local guide throughout the day.
• cheese and vodka tasting in a traditional shepherd's hut.
• free time to explore Zakopane and Krupówki Street at your own pace.
• scenic drive through Chochołów village.

Options for this experience

2 options

Tour departing from the meeting pointGuide in English · 08:00, 08:30 and 09:00

Tour with pick-up from your hotelGuide in English · 08:00, 08:30 and 09:00Includes pickup

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 to12h before

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Senior (66 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 39

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by DISCOVER CRACOW

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a guide-led introduction to Tatra culture and traditions with built-in free time to explore Zakopane independently, rather than a structured itinerary that fills every hour.

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Top questions

Can children come?

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

What is oscypek cheese and where do I taste it on this tour?

Oscypek is a smoked cheese made by shepherds in the Podhale region of the Polish highlands. You taste it at a traditional bacówka (shepherd's hut) early in the day, paired with a shot of Polish vodka, as part of the tour's cultural introduction to local customs and mountain life.

Can I skip the cable car and thermal baths if I don't want them?

Yes. Both the Gubałówka cable car and the Chochołów Thermal Baths are optional and paid on-site on the day of the tour. You can spend your free time in Zakopane exploring Krupówki Street, shopping, eating, or simply relaxing without adding either cost.

How long is the drive from Krakow to Zakopane?

The drive typically takes 1.5 to 2 hours each way, but can extend significantly during weekends, holidays, and high season due to traffic. The full tour is 11 hours from start to finish, including all stops and free time in Zakopane.

What should I bring for the thermal baths?

Bring a swimsuit, towel, and flip-flops if you plan to visit the thermal baths. Locker hire is available on-site. Bring cash in Polish złoty for any optional purchases. Some vendors accept cards, but cash is recommended.

What time does the tour start?

The tour departs between 7:30 and 9:00 depending on traffic conditions and weather. You'll be informed of the exact start time the day before the tour. Arrive 15 minutes early at Krakow Central Bus Station, where restrooms, snacks, and seating are available.

Is the tour affected by weather or crowds?

Mountain views depend on weather and cannot be guaranteed. Zakopane is one of Poland's most popular destinations, so expect large crowds in the city center and at major attractions during peak seasons, weekends, and holidays. Waiting times for the cable car can be long, especially in high season.