Tatra Mountains and Zakopane

The Highest Range In The Carpathians And Poland'S Only Alpine Mountains, Topped By Rysy At 2,499 M On The Slovak Border. Much Of The Polish Side Is Tatra National Park (1954), A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, With Zakopane As The Winter Capital Of Poland And The Gateway For Morskie Oko And Kasprowy Wierch · Zakopane, Lesser Poland

The Tatras are the highest range in the Carpathians and Poland's only alpine mountains, a short wall of granite peaks along the Slovak border, with Rysy at 2,499 m the highest point you can climb from the Polish side. Zakopane, the town at the foot of them, is the base for almost everything: Krupowki street is a long pedestrian parade of wooden chalets, grilled oscypek cheese, folk shops and a good deal of tourist noise, and the Gubalowka hill above it gives an easy view of the whole range. The big days out are Morskie Oko, a lake reached by a long road walk that is busy in every season, the Kasprowy Wierch cable car, and the harder summit routes to Giewont and Rysy. Most of the Polish side is Tatra National Park and needs a ticket. Winter brings skiing and a serious avalanche risk above the tree line. Weather turns fast and every year some walkers underestimate it. Expect crowds at the lake, queues at the cable car and high prices in peak weeks, and plan the big days for weekdays.

Zakopane town and the Polish side of the High Tatras, on the Slovak border about 100 km south of Krakow, Zakopane, Lesser Poland, Poland

The town and Krupowki street are open all day and well into the evening, year round. Tatra National Park trails are open at all hours in principle, but the ticket booths at the main trailheads work in daylight, and some high routes are closed to walkers in winter and during the spring thaw; the winter closure of certain passes and the annual closed period for some trails are set by the park, so confirm before you plan a route. The Kasprowy Wierch cable car runs most days but closes for maintenance in a spring and an autumn period and in high wind; check the operator for the current dates. Many museums in town close on Mondays. Walking on the trails is not free: the park ticket is required, though wandering the town and the Gubalowka path costs nothing. Everything is busiest in July, August and the Christmas to February ski weeks.

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