You don’t have to travel to the other side of the world for adventurous hikes. In the south of Poland, on the border with Slovakia, you will find the Tatra Mountains, Central Europe’s highest mountain range after the Alps. A place with emerald green mountain lakes, high peaks and rugged valleys. The area is part of the Tatra National Park in Poland and includes over 250 kilometers of hiking trails. The town of Zakopane forms the base for exploring the Polish Tatras, whether you’re planning a scenic day hike or a multi-day trek. Curious? In this article you will find my tips for a visit to the Tatra Mountains in Poland, including a two-day hiking itinerary, with an overnight stay in a mountain hut.
The Tatra Mountains stretch across the southern border of Poland and Slovakia, forming the highest section of the Carpathian range at about 57 kilometers in length. Roughly 22% of the Tatras lies within Poland, known as the High Tatras (Vysoké Tatry), while the rest continues into Slovakia, where the Low Tatras (Nízké Tatry) can also be found. The region is home to over 25 peaks rising above 2500 meters. Rysy, at 2503 meters, is the highest summit on the Polish side, while the tallest overall is Gerlachovský štít in Slovakia, reaching 2655 meters.
The Tatra Mountains in Poland are a protected national park that attracts visitors year-round. In winter, the area transforms into a lively ski destination, while summer becomes a paradise for hikers and climbers. The area offers more than 250 kilometers of hiking trails, with the town of Zakopane as the starting point. You can choose day hikes or multi-day routes, where you spend the night in comfortable mountain huts along the way. Popular hiking destinations in the Tatra Mountains include Morskie Oko, Rysy and the Valley of the Five Lakes, but countless itineraries and combinations are possible.
The itinerary through the Tatra Mountains in Poland that you choose depends on the number of days you want to hike and the time of year. I visited the Polish Tatra in May and there was still snow in many places. An itinerary through the lower parts was therefore obvious. The snow definitely givess an extra dimension to the hike but also requires extra preparation. Read more about my two-day hike and itnerary through the Tatra Mountains in Poland here.
Our starting point is the mountain town of Zakopane, where we spend the night in Hotel Aquarion. The weather forecast isn’t in our favor, and as we pull back the curtains, our doubts grow stronger. It’s grey, foggy, raining and cold. Not exactly the conditions you hope for when heading into the mountains.
But since we’re spending the night in a mountain hut, there’s no way around it, we’ll have to hike anyway. We weigh our options: a full 8-hour hike we were excited about, a 5-hour trail, or the shortest 1-hour route straight to the hut. After some back and forth, we choose the middle way, a 5-hour hike that still lets us experience the beauty of the Polish Tatras. After all, we didn’t come all this way to skip the adventure. The trail is a mix of marked itineraries in different colors, each leading us deeper into the Tatra National Park.
We get dropped off by an Uber at the Jaszczurówka entrance of the Tatra National Park – saving all our energy for the trail ahead. And just a few steps onto the path, we already know we’ve made the right decision. The landscape is stunning: a gentle river flows beside us, while the snow-dusted peaks of the Polish Tatras rise in the distance. It’s cold and drizzly, but here and there the clouds begin to lift, giving us hope for clearer skies.
At the entrance, we take a moment to read the park rules: no leaving the trails, no fires, no litter. Straightforward, but important. What stands out most are the many warnings about bears. We’re told to stay alert, but secretly we’re hoping for a glimpse from afar.
Soon we’re reminded that we didn’t look too closely at the altitude details, this route climbs more quickly than expected. But of course, to reach the mountains, you have to earn the views. Within thirty minutes we find our pace, and it feels like we’ve been walking these trails for years.
After walking through a beautiful valley, we reach a fork where we can make a short detour up the mountain. Since it’s part of the Tatra Mountains itinerary we chose for today, we decide to go for it, and it turns out to be a climb. But the moment we reach the top, we’re reminded why we came. The views are breathtaking. Snow-covered peaks stretch out before us, and down in the valley, we spot Zakopane. It’s windy, patches of snow lie along the trail, and we walk along the ridge snapping photos before beginning our descent.
We’re surprised by how many other hikers we meet on the trail. Most of them are local Polish and that makes sense, since it’s the weekend. We take breaks to picnic along the way, enjoying the packed lunches from our hotel: sandwiches, salads, fruit, yogurt and something sweet.
The last part of the Tatra Mountains itinerary for today starts in the small village of Kuźnice but it doesn’t exactly go as hoped. The rain sets in, and not just a drizzle – just pouring rain. We throw on our rain gear, wrap up our backpacks, and begin the long climb over a rocky path. We try to hide now and then, but eventually we give up and just walk.
When we spot Kalatówki Mountainshelter in the distance, we can’t help but smile, this means we’ve made it. And once we get a closer look, we’re struck by the hotel’s incredible location. It’s hard to imagine that a place like this even exists while you’re out hiking. After a warm meal in the cozy restaurant, we drift off to sleep in no time.
The Kalatówki Mountainshelter, is located at an altitude of 1198 meters in the middle of the Tatra National Park in Poland. There are several rooms spread over several floors and there is a large restaurant, which serves Polish dishes. The rooms are simple but have everything you need after a day of hiking in the Tatra Mountains in Poland. Some rooms offer a view of the mountains, and that is something you want. On sunny days, the terrace is the perfect spot to sit down, while in colder months the fireplace inside is your best option. The Kalatówki Berghotel is a perfect place for skiing in the winter. And in the summer you can walk straight onto the hiking trails. Do you also want to stay at the Kalatówki hotel in the Polish Tatras? You will find the latest prices and availability here.
The next morning, we can hardly believe our eyes when we look outside. It has snowed, quite heavily too. But that’s not all; it’s cold, foggy, and wet – a mix of snow and rain. We have another hike planned, so what does this mean for our itinerary? We decide to put it on hold for now and enjoy a hearty breakfast first. The breakfast is simple but satisfying, with fresh rolls and toppings, fried eggs, and yogurt. We also pick up our packed lunch, less luxurious than yesterday’s but still enough to feed several people.
Then comes the big question: what do we do? We can either go for our planned itinerary through the Polish Tatras or turn back and be in Zakopane within an hour. The second option doesn’t sit well with me, so we decide to take the black trail and see how it goes for half an hour. We can always head back if the weather gets too rough.
Unfortunately, we miss the sign for the black trail and only realize it when we’re almost back down the mountain. Brave as we are, we start climbing again on the boring path that wore us out yesterday because of the rain.
The black trail climbs once more, surrounded by pine trees. The higher we get, the more we notice just how much snow has fallen for this time of year. While snowflakes continue to flutter around us, we look out over a white landscape and see Zakopane, our destination, in the distance. Feeling confident, we decide to continue. Our rain jackets come on and off as the temperatures swing wildly.
Today offers two small detours, and as we near the first one, Sarnia Skala, the trail gets busier. Hikers come toward us from the opposite direction.
Sarnia Skala can be reached by a steep climb up the mountain. The last part is quite a bit of climbing, but within 10 minutes we are at the top, from where the view stretches 360 degrees. Well, if the clouds allow.
Due to the wind we can’t stay for long and we descend again. Something that is strangely enough often harder than going up, because you have to watch where you step carefully. We continue our way down the black path. Something that turns out to be quite a challenge because in some places it is very slippery.
The small café where we want to have a drink at the end of the path unfortunately turns out to be closed. This shows how important it is to always have enough food and drink with you. The café is also the starting point of detour number 2: A small path leading to the idyllically situated Siklawica waterfall.
And here it becomes clear that civilization is near. From the waterfall, it’s just a half-hour walk down a wide path to Zakopane. The spot is popular for short day hikes, so groups and families fill the trail. We feel a bit sad that our itinerary through the Polish Tatras has come to an end, but are grateful for the experience. Despite rain, wind, fog, and snow, we still managed to soak in the stunning beauty of the Tatra Mountains, something we had been eager to do. Tired but happy, we make our way to Hotel Belvedere, just a short 10-minute stroll from the Dolina Białego entrance to Tatra National Park.
Hotel Belvedere in Zakopane is a stylish hotel, located near the entrance to the Tatra National Park and a 10-minute walk from the main street Krupówki. There are 173 rooms with all amenities and decorated in an elegant Polish style, including regional influences. From the roof terrace you have the best view and look out over the mighty Tatra Mountains in Poland. There is also a spa and you can dine on the panoramic terrace. Do you want to stay at Hotel Belvedere in Zakopane? Here you will find the latest prices and availability.
The Tatra National Park in Poland has several official entrances from Zakopane, where you must show your entrance ticket. Tickets for the National Park can be purchased online via the official website of the park or on site at the entrance of popular trails such as the Morskie Oko car park or the Dolina Kościeliska Valley.
There are numerous hiking trails in the Polish Tatra Mountains and they are all well marked with color codes (red, blue, yellow, green), which you can find on signs and maps. It is important to do some research into the trail and itinerary you want to walk in advance. You can find trails via the official Tatra National Park website, or apps such as Maps.me and AllTrails. You can also buy maps in Zakopane. I walked this itinerary on day 1 and this one on the second day, during my Tatra Mountains in Poland visit.
Do you want to spend the night in the Tatra National Park in Poland? Then it is important to book your accommodation in advance. Mountainshelters are quickly fully booked, especially in high season. During my two-day itinerary in the Tatra Mountains in Poland, I stayed in the Kalatówki Mountainshelter.
Zakopane is a small town at the foot of the Polish Tatras and the main base for a trip through the mountains. It is also called the winter capital of Poland, with winter and summer showing a completely different side of the city. The town is also known for its wooden architecture style, which creates a nice atmosphere. In addition, you will find hot springs, nice restaurants with traditional dishes and numerous outdoor shops. From Zakopane you can walk straight into the Tatra National Park.
Don’t feel like taking long walks or do you want to spend extra time in Zakopane? Then you can also enjoy yourself in the town and surroundings. These are my tips for what to do and see in Zakopane Poland.
In Zakopane you will find hotels in different price ranges.
Looking for more hotels in Zakopane? This is an overview.
Zakopane is about a 2.5 hour drive from Krakow in Poland. The easiest way is to rent a car and drive there yourself. Don’t want to do that? There are also regular buses and shuttles from Krakow to Zakopane. Of course you can also opt for a private transfer. You can easily plan your trip via Bookaway.
Do you have little time in Poland? Then you can also opt for a day tour from Krakow to the Tatra Mountains in Poland. Numerous tours are offered, including a visit to the hot springs, a ride on the cable car and some tours also include time for a hike. Have a look the different tours to Tatra National Park in Poland at Viator.
The best time for a two-day hike and itinerary through the Polish Tatras, with an overnight stay in a mountain hut is from late June to early October. In summer (June–September) the temperatures are pleasant and the trails are easy to walk, although it is busier in July and August because of the holiday season. Autumn (September–October) offers beautiful autumn colours, but the weather can be changeable. In winter (December–March) the area is popular for winter sports, especially around Zakopane.
The Tatra Mountains are part of Malopolska, or Lesser Poland, one of the most diverse regions of the country. You will find the perfect combination of history, culture and nature. Curious? In the next travel guide you will find my tips for what to do in Malopolska Poland with the most beautiful places, and things to do.
These were my tips for a visit to the Tatra Mountains in Poland. Want to discover the impressive Polish Tatras? Then this is the time to plan your trip. Want to read more about beautiful Poland? Then read on here.
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