Zakopane Tour from Krakow: Cable Car, Cheese & Vodka Tasting

Ride the cable car up Mount Gubalówka, taste cottage cheese in a wooden village, and drink flavoured vodka on the slopes.

This guided tour from Krakow takes you to Zakopane, Poland's skiing capital at the foot of the Tatra Mountains, with hotel pickup included. You'll ride the cable car up Mount Gubalówka for views and free time on the summit, walk Krupowki Street (Zakopane's main bazaar and restaurant strip), and visit Chochołów, a traditional village of wooden houses where you taste cottage cheese and sample flavoured vodka. The tour runs 7 to 12 hours depending on the option. Your guide speaks English and the vehicle is air-conditioned.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Zakopane and surroundings

• Visit traditional Polish village Chochołów
• Ride cable car up and down Gubalowka Hill
• Enjoy free time on Gubalowka Hill
• Walk and explore Krupowki Street
• Spend free time at Krupowki Street
• Pass by Zakopane ski championship site

The experience

The tour starts with pickup from your Krakow hotel and a drive south to Zakopane, arriving at the base of the Tatra Mountains. Your first stop is Chochołów, a traditional Polish village where wooden houses line the streets much as they have for centuries. Here you taste cottage cheese, a staple of the region, and sample flavoured vodka, both made locally. The tasting happens at a cottage, giving you a sense of how people live in these mountain villages.

From Chochołów you head into Zakopane itself and ride the cable car up Mount Gubalówka. The ascent takes you above the town, and you have free time at the summit to walk around and take in the view of the surrounding peaks. The cable car brings you back down, and then you spend time on Krupowki Street, Zakopane's most famous thoroughfare. It's lined with traditional bazaars, restaurants and cafes, and you're free to explore, eat, or shop as you choose. The town also hosts Poland's Ski Championships, so if you're visiting in winter or early spring, you may see the slopes in action.

Your guide is a professional English speaker who leads the group throughout the day. The vehicle is air-conditioned, and the pace is set so that you're not rushed between stops. Zakopane sits higher and cooler than Krakow, so bring layers or a jacket even if the weather in the city looks warm. If you're traveling with young children under 150 cm tall or need a wheelchair (folded only), let the operator know when you book so they can prepare the right setup.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup from your Krakow accommodation (on the option that includes it).
• cable car tickets up and down Mount Gubalówka.
• cottage cheese tasting in Chochołów.
• flavoured vodka tasting.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• professional English-speaking guide and driver throughout the day.

Options for this experience

2 options

Meeting point for the group tourGuide in English or Polish · 08:00, 08:25 and 09:00

Group tour with pick-up from your hotelGuide in English or Polish · 08:00, 08:25 and 09:00Duration: 7 hours. Travel with others, with pickup from your accommodation in Krakow. Drop-off happens at the same location or in the city centre. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

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, 08:25 and 09:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Child (4 to 17 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish and Polish

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.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Legendary Krakow

Is this one for you?Choose the option with hotel pickup if you want to start and end at your accommodation without navigating to a meeting point. Pick the meeting-point option if you're staying outside the main hotel zone or prefer to join the group at a central Zakopane location. Both options cover the same route and tastings. The choice is purely about where your day begins and ends.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Polish.

Can children come?

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

How long does the Zakopane tour from Krakow take?

The tour runs between 7 and 12 hours depending on which option you choose. Both include hotel pickup and the same stops. The difference is in how much free time you have at each site and whether you meet at your hotel or at a fixed meeting point in the city.

What is Mount Gubalówka and what do you do there?

Mount Gubalówka is a peak at the edge of Zakopane where you board the cable car for the ascent. Once at the summit, you have free time to walk around, take photographs, and enjoy views of the Tatra Mountains and the town below before the cable car brings you back down.

What kind of food and drink tastings are included?

You taste traditional cottage cheese and flavoured vodka, both made locally, at a cottage in Chochołów village. These are regional specialties, and the tasting gives you a chance to try authentic Polish mountain food and drink.

Is hotel pickup included, or do I need to meet the tour somewhere?

One option includes hotel pickup from your Krakow accommodation. The other option requires you to meet the tour at a fixed meeting point in the city. Choose whichever suits your schedule and location.

What is Krupowki Street and how much time do you spend there?

Krupowki Street is the main bazaar and restaurant strip in Zakopane, lined with shops, cafes and traditional eateries. You have free time to explore it on your own, so you can eat lunch, browse the stalls, or simply walk and soak in the atmosphere of the town.

What should I wear for the Zakopane tour?

Zakopane sits in the mountains and is typically cooler than Krakow, sometimes significantly so depending on the season. Dress in layers and bring a jacket, even if the weather in the city looks warm when you leave.