Chochołów

Culture & History

Start your day with a pickup from Krakow and an escorted ride to Zakopane. On the way, visit the idyllic village of Chochołów, famous for its wooden houses which look almost identical. Learn about the traditions that keep these antique buildings looking new. Next, visit a Bacowka ─ a traditional shepherd’s hut ─ to try the regional cheese Oscypek and see how it is prepared. Eventually, reach Zakopane where you can explore the local old-school bazaar and famous Krupowki Street, filled with restaurants, local stores, and regional goods, as well as gift shops. Ride a cable car from Zakopane to the top of Gubałówka and glimpse the Tatra Mountains. After exploring Zakopane your driver will transport you to the thermal pools in Białka Tatrzańska. Relax and enjoy the healing properties of warm thermal water before being driven back to Krakow.

Start your day trip in the morning where you will be picked up at the reception of your hotel. Enjoy a 2-hour drive to the lovely village of Zakopane while your English-speaking driver provides commentary along the way.   After arriving in Zakopane, you'll have 5 hours of free time to explore the village on your own. You can try delicious Polish cuisine, or visit the local market to admire the creations of Polish craftsmen and try the popular smoked cheese. Enter a wooden villa built in a traditional architectural style, or walk through the picturesque streets — the choice is yours.  Select the option including tickets for the funicular railway and travel to the top of Gubałówka mountain. Enjoy the view of the village and admire the peaks of the Polish Tatra Mountains around you. During your visit, the driver will wait for you, and after 5 hours you travel back to Krakow together. Alternatively, choose the option which includes tickets for 2.5 hours in Chochołów Thermal Pools or the other option which includes guided visits to Gubałówka Mountain, Wielka Krokiew Ski Jump, and a Wooden Mansion built in a traditional architectural style.

Escape the city and spend a day exploring the Polish countryside in the comfort of a private vehicle. See traditional wooden houses, view the Tatras mountain range from the top of Gubałówka Hill, and taste traditional smoked sheep-milk cheese. Begin your tour with a pickup from a location of your choosing in Krakow. Hop onboard an air-conditioned vehicle and head towards one of the most picturesque locations in Poland, Zakopane and the Tatras Mountains. Once in Zakopane, head straight to Krupówki Street located in the center of town. Explore the many boutiques, restaurants, and curio shops that line this pedestrian-only street. At the end of Krupówki Street, you'll find your next stop on the tour, the station for the Gubałówka Hill funicular. Hop onto one of the cable cars and enjoy fantastic views of Zakopane and the surrounding mountains as you make your way up Gubałówka Hill. Once at the top, marvel at the breathtaking views of the Polish Tatras Mountains. Make the most of this fantastic location and enjoy a glass of mulled wine or a refreshing drink while taking in the views. Visit the Jaszczurówka Chapel, a wooden building located on the outskirts of Zakopane, and see Wielka Krokiew, the biggest and most famous ski jumping hill in Poland. The final stop on your tour is the village of Chochołów. Admire the unusual architectural style of the famous wooden houses and see the Bacówkach, the traditional houses where Oscypek or smoked cheese is produced. Learn how this local specialty is made and sample various types to discover the different flavors created by the level of smoking.

Explore Zakopane, the skiing capital of Poland and the most popular holiday resort. See the Chocholow village, featuring traditional wooden houses built by the local highlanders years ago. Spot the beautiful and historically famed wooden chapels.  Krupowki is the main street of Zakopane. Mee locals and see what village life has to offer as you shop for souvenirs. Take a trip up the mountain Gubalowka on a funicular and experience the natural surroundings. From the top of the mountain is a beautiful view of the Tatra Mountain range. See the ski jump hill, used for the Grant Prix Ski Jump Competition. Take a break from the crowded city and go on a rafting trip down the beautiful Dunajec River. The traditional wooden rafts pass through Pieniny Gorge with towering cliffs and limestone formations amidst forests and mountains. View the spectacular high summits of Trzy Korony at 982 meters and Mt. Sokolica at 747 meters in the Pieniny Range, nestled in the protected national parks of rare flora and fauna. See the wonderful wooden church of St. Michael Archangel's from the 15th century in Dębno Church, which is listed by UNESCO. 

Zakopane carries the proud name of the "skiing capital of Poland". It is Poland's most popular holiday resort. During this tour you will be able to see the Chocholow village, which features traditional wooden houses that have been built by the local highlanders years ago. Along your way spot out the beautiful and historically famed wooden chapels. Visit Krupowki, the main street of Zakopane. Meet some locals, see what village life has to offer and shop for some souvenirs. Take a trip up the mountain Gubalowka, ride in a funicular and experience the natural surrounds. From the top of the mountain you will have a beautiful view of the Tatra Mountain range. On this trip you will be able to view the ski jump hill, which is used for the Grant Prix Ski Jump Competition.  This mountainous journey will take 2 hours to drive depending on traffic. The driver may be up to 15 minutes late depending on agreed meeting location and time. Please wear warm clothing. 

Want a taste of some real Polish folklore? Join a day tour from Krakow to Zakopane, the winter capital of Poland located in the heart of the Tatra Mountains. Explore the culture of Tatra's highlanders, take a ride to the top of Mount Gubalowka, and taste regional products. In the 19th century, Zakopane was a sleepy village inhabited by the highlanders who, living for years in isolation, had created their own unique culture. Today, artists and the social elite pronounced Zakopane their favorite place in Poland. Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains are perfect places to visit during all seasons. The city impresses visitors with its stunning nature, beautiful views, and original folklore. Transfer to Zakopane (~2h) After pickup from your hotel or chosen starting point in Krakow, head to Zakopane on an approximately 2-hour drive. During the journey, learn the history of Zakopane and listen to some folklore music specially prepared and selected by your guide. Chocholow (~1h) First on the itinerary is a typical highlander shepherd's shelter producing oscypek, cheese made exclusively in the Tatra Mountains. Learn about the cheesemaking process and taste it for yourself. Then, in Chocholow, visit a local wood-carving artist. Sightseeing in Zakopane (~3h) Next, go sightseeing in Zakopane. Start your tour by admiring houses built in Zakopane style. Visit the church on Peksowe Brzysko with its magical cemetery. Ride a funicular to the top of Gubalowka Mountain to admire the breathtaking view of the granite and limestone peaks of the Tatra Mountains. Then, at the local market, you can shop for some regional products made by highlanders. Continue to walk with your guide along the famous Krupowki, Zakopane's main street with restaurants and shops selling local delicacies. After the tour, enjoy about 2 hours for a lunch break at a local restaurant and free time. Return to Krakow (~2h) Later, take another 2-hour drive back to Krakow for drop-off.

Immerse yourself in the culture and way of life of Southern Poland on this all-encompassing day trip. After getting picked up from your hotel in Krakow, head to Gubalowka Hill where you will take the cable car to reach the summit and admire panoramic views of the Tatra Mountains. Next, continue to Chochołow, a picturesque wooden village. Enjoy a stroll around these UNESCO-registered wooden houses and even get the chance to enter one of them before continuing to your next stop.  Next, visit a Bacowka, which is a traditional shepherd’s hut, where you will have the chance to try the famous regional cheese Oscypek, and see how it is prepared. Eventually, reach Zakopane where you can explore the local old-school bazaar and Krupowki Street, filled with restaurants, local stores, and regional goods, as well as gift shops.  After breaking for lunch, head to Podhale to enjoy 3 hours soaking in the regenerating thermal baths. Explore the complex and its 30 different pools located both inside and outside with picturesque views of the Tatra Mountains. Find a pool or jacuzzi to relax in and experience the healing powers of the mineral-rich waters before heading back to Krakow.

Zakopane is the winter capital of Poland, thanks to its splendid natural scenery, its pistes and hiking trails, and a rich folk culture. You will begin your exploration of the area by taking the funicular railway to the top of Mount Gubałówka for views over the granite and limestone peaks of the Tatra Mountains. Having returned to the oldest part of Zakopane, we will visit the charming wooden old parish church and the most unique cemetery in Poland. To complete your experience, you have a chance to visit the enormous regional market and enjoy lunch in a regional restaurant serving local specialities. If you wish to find out more about this unusual region you can visit the Tatra Museum or the village of Chochołów (famous for its 150-year-old wooden log cabins and a serene atmosphere).

Zakopane is the capital of winter Poland. Here there is superb scenery, perfect for winter sports lovers and fans of trekking trails. This area also has a characteristic dialect, splendid food and unique architecture. First, you will see the work place of a traditional Polish sculptor who makes outstanding wooden objects. Then here will be time in Zakopane traditional marketplace to buy handmade equipment for your house, or traditional cheeses "oscypek", and many other kinds of food. Afterwards, you will have possibility to take a funicular railway to the top of Mount Gubałówka for views over the granite and limestone peaks of the Tatra Mountains. Having returned to the oldest part of Zakopane, you will visit the charming wooden old parish church and cemetery. At the end of the trip, you will stop near the highest ski jump in Poland, Wielka Krokiew, where many international cups in ski jumping have been won.  Schedule: • Drive to the mountain side – 2 hours • Visit the Sculptor House in Chocholow – 30 to 40 minutes • Dive to Zakopane – 20 minutes • Gubalowka Mountain (with way up and down by Funicular rail) – 1 hour • Market under Gubalowka – 30 to 40 minutes  • Lunch time with walk through Krupowki – 1.5 hours • Visit Pekskowe Brzysko wooden church and cemetery – 30 to 40 minutes • Wielka Krokiew, the greatest ski jump in Poland – 1 hour • Drive back to Krakow - 2 hours Please note that times could change due to your needs or the weather conditions.

Following pickup from your hotel in Krakow, journey into the Tatra Mountains to experience the pristine nature of the highest mountain range in Poland. Make your way to the village of Chochołów near Zakopane, where the locals still live in traditional wooden houses. Hear about everyday life and the folk culture of the local Góral people, before visiting the workshop of a talented sculptor. Return to Zakopane via Witów to look at an old wooden church and visit the shepherd's mountain shelter of Bacowka, where traditional cheese is still produced. Get breathtaking views of the Tatra Mountains on the way to Krupowki Street, Zakopane's commercial heart with lots of shops and restaurants serving local cuisine. Ride the cable car to take in breathtaking views before returning to Krakow at the end of the day.