Zakopane-Krakow-Poland

bohochic

Okay guys me again. so i found out off my friend that we are spending 3 days in Krakow and 4 days in Zakopane so if you have any info on Zakopane that would be great

thank you for all the info for Krakow we have a monstrous three days planned there.

basically would love to here info on cheap accommodation, sites to see and things to do. What clothes and things I should bring along. We are going to be going skiing so Id appreciate any info on that.

Thanks lads you're brilliant.

cocoshovel

I went in July for about 10 days this year. There are plenty of skii slopes around the city, which is small enough. (you could walk from one side to the other in about an hour and a half)

Ive included a little sketch map to try give you an idea of where I noticed a lot of the ski slopes when there.

One of them was Gubalowka, which you can get a small little train/tram thing up to the top in about 3 minutes. Really nice views up there and the slopes didn't seem too steep (but don't take my word for it, I have never skii'd)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guba%C5%82%C3%B3wka

The other one was a little bit to the west of Gubalowka (yellow arrow), not too far, walkable distance and there is a chair lift from the bottom to the top. Infact Im pretty sure you can just walk there from the top of area where the train brings you. But from the ground, the chair lift is pretty much right beside this big hotel/resort with a large pink sign on top. You cant miss it.

In the south of the city (little circle I marked in blue) there is a winter sports complex with those big huge ski jumps you see at events like the winter Olympics. Not for beginners Id say but still interesting to see and its only around the corner from the road to Kasprowy Wierch.

Kasprowy wierch is a bit south of the city towards the larger mountains. You have to get a cable car up to the top which is about 40zl for a return ticket if I remember correctly, however the return ticket only stays valid for an hour and a half. So you will have to buy another ticket to get back down if you want to stay longer.
The queues for the cable car can be huge. I went up there twice.
The first time we arrived at about 3:30pm and only queued for 20 mins. Then the second time I arrived at 11:30am, and I stood queuing for about 2 hours:( . Not sure how it will be in the winter.
The cable car is about a 20 minute journey with a change in cars half way up. If you don't like heights then you wont like this lol, it can be quite scary especially the way the car rocks etc.
When you get to the top you're about 7500ft up I think. Amazing views up there, I loved it. Great walks all around for miles in each direction (probably unable to do in winter snow). There is a ski slope literally as you get out of the cable car. The slope is served by a chair lift so you don't have to trek back up to the top. During summer it was 8degrees up there compared to the 30 in the city below. I shiver at the thought of winter temperatures :P. (I marked the road to this with pink on the map)

The main street through the town (marked in green) is nice and mostly pedestrianized. Along here you will find a good selection of restaurants, pubs, sports shops, tourist stalls etc.

Now, as I have said already I'm not sure how things work in the winter or what you're interested in doing but there is a lake about a 1 hour drive outside the city. You can get the bus there if you know which one and where to get it. The lake is called Morkie Oko. However you have to walk to it which took us about 2 hours in the summer. Its a long walk through a forest up steep hills etc, it will tire you a good bit but I loved it. The lake is a lovely large large over looked by a gigantic mountain peak, you can walk around the lake which takes about 30 mins - an hour depending on your pace. There was avalanche alert signs around when I was there, so I imagine walking around it could be dangerous in the winter. Just read what the danger level is on that particular day. oh and I forgot to mention, we also had the choice of taking a horse and cart up to the lake which is 10 times faster . Look into the opening status of this during winter before you go.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morskie_Oko

Other than that there really isn't much more I can tell you. The mountain views are breath taking and you will be physically worked hard over the few days but its a great little part of Poland and I would recommend it. The only thing bad thing I would say about it is, getting there and the crowds. (long train journey and very busy).
If you would like to know anything else, ask and Ill try and answer them.

Heres the little improvised map I made up.




Over looking the city from on top of Gublowka (kasprowy wierch is somewhere in the distance I think)




A few km from the cable car stop on top of Kasprowy wierch (the little building in the distance)

bohochic

Oh my that is amazing info. thank you so much! those views look incredible. I'm going to have a think tonight and if i think of anything i'll pm you, i appreciate this so much.