Zakopane resort guide

How big is Zakopane?

Zakopane has 30 pistes served by 15 lifts — the most pistes of the 15 resorts we track in Poland. On lifts it ranks 3rd of the 15.

How high is Zakopane?

The lifts run from 838m at the base to 1987m at the top, a vertical of 1149m. Of the 15 resorts we track in Poland, that is the highest, with the biggest vertical.

The base is below 1,000m, so the lowest runs are the first to suffer in a mild spell; the upper mountain is the safer bet early and late in the season.

Is Zakopane good for beginners or experts?

The pistes at Zakopane split 30% beginner, 50% intermediate and 20% advanced, against an average of 35% beginner and 16% advanced across the resorts we track in Poland.

On those numbers it suits beginners and intermediates.

When is the ski season at Zakopane?

Over the last ten winters Zakopane has typically held skiable snow at mid-mountain from around 21 December to 4 April, about 106 days.

January is the best all-round month on the record, with an average base of 45cm, 68cm of new snow and 1.5 bluebird days.

What is the nearest airport to Zakopane?

The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Poprad-Tatry (TAT), Slovakia, 33km away in a straight line. Kraków John Paul II (KRK) is 87km, Sliač (SLD), Slovakia is 95km. Road distances are longer, often much longer in the mountains, and the nearest airport is not always the one with the most flights.

How much is a lift pass at Zakopane?

A 6-day adult Zakopane (Tatra Ski) costs PLN 595 for 2025/26, or PLN 99 a day. For value it ranks 1st of the 15 resorts we price in Poland.