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Zakopane resort snow
Lat Long: 49.30° N 19.97° E
Ski Poland

Zakopane Resort Reviews

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Visitor reviews for Zakopane Ski Resort

Zakopane Ratings

Overall: 4.0. Based on 17 votes and 25 reviews.

Rate this resort

Snowsure: 4.0

  • Occasionally gets enough snow for skiing
  • Is often closed due to a lack of snow
  • Occasionally suffers from a lack of snow
  • Rarely suffers from a lack of snow
  • Zakopane is snowsure even in the poorest seasons

Variety of pistes: 3.1

  • The ski runs are featureless and unvaried
  • The ski runs are varied but not extensive enough for a week
  • Zakopane has diverse and interesting pistes including forests and high alpine terrain

Off-piste: 2.7

  • No off-piste worth mentioning
  • Off piste is out-of-bounds
  • Some varied offpiste that stays fresh for one or two days
  • A vast array of off-piste routes that can stay untracked for several days

Scenery: 4.1

  • An ugly resort in a bland setting
  • Average mountain views and resort
  • A spectacular setting and a beautiful / historic resort town

Access: 4.0

  • At least one overnight stop
  • Requires a whole day
  • Requires more than half a day – you may have time for a few turns
  • Arrive by lunchtime and ski all afternoon
  • There is a main airport within an hour of Zakopane

Public Transport: 4.2

  • There are no buses or taxis to Zakopane
  • There are slow or infrequent buses / trains available
  • Getting to the resort is easy with frequent bus / train connections

Accommodation: 5.0

  • No places to stay in/near Zakopane
  • A few places to stay in the resort
  • A wide variety of accommodation suitable to suit all budgets

Cheap Rooms: 4.7

  • No budget accommodation available
  • Just one or two hostels so book ahead
  • Several cheap hostels and pensions available

Luxury Hotels: 4.6

  • No luxury accommodation available
  • Just one or two luxury hotels so book ahead
  • Several up-market hotels in Zakopane

Ski in/Ski out: 3.7

  • The ski area is located far from any accommodation
  • A free ski bus takes you to the ski area in a short trip
  • Ski-in ski-out accommodation is available

Childcare: 3.7

  • There are no child care facilities at Zakopane
  • The resort has limited child-care facilities
  • the resort has excellent child-care facilities including at least one reasonably priced creche

Snowmaking: 4.0

  • Zakopane relies entirely on natural snow
  • There are just a few snow cannons
  • There are snowmaking facilities on all pistes

Snow Grooming: 4.1

  • There are no snow groomers at Zakopane
  • Occasionally some pistes are left ungroomed and in a poor state
  • All the runs at Zakopane are groomed daily

Shelter: 3.8

  • There is nowhere to ski when it is windy or visibility is bad and lifts often shut
  • There are some trees for poor visibility but main lifts sometimes close
  • Zakopane is mostly in forest where you can ski in flat-light and windy days, lifts rarely close

Nearby options: 4.0

  • If snow conditions are poor at Zakopane, it will be poor everywhere nearby
  • There are good alternatives within an hours drive
  • Other locations on the same lift pass provide a rich variety of snowsure ski conditions

Regional rating: 4.4

  • Zakopane usually has poor snow conditions compared to other resorts in region
  • Has average conditions for the region
  • Usually has the best snow conditions in the region

Lift Staff: 4.4

  • The staff at Zakopane are rude or unhelpful
  • Lift staff at Zakopane are pleasant, cheerful and eager to help

Crowds/Queues: 3.4

  • The resort is always busy and there are usually long lift queues
  • It is quiet apart from occasional weekends and school holidays
  • It is uncrowded and lift queues are very rare

Ski Schools: 4.5

  • No ski schools available
  • One or two ski schools but local language only
  • A few ski schools but book early for multi-lingual instructors
  • Plenty of ski schools and multi-lingual instructors available
  • Excellent ski schools with friendly multi-lingual ski instructors

Hire and Repairs: 4.6

  • Nothing can be sourced, not even ski-wax or ptex
  • There are some ski shops but rentals need to be booked in advance
  • Good quality ski equipment can be purchased or hired and overnight repairs are possible

Beginners: 4.4

  • Beginners can only watch others ski and snowboard
  • A few gentle slopes but beginners will get bored in less than a week
  • Vast areas of gentle terrain

Intermediates: 3.7

  • No intermediate terrain at Zakopane
  • Intermediate skiers will get bored after a few days
  • Vast areas of cruising runs

Advanced: 3.9

  • Nothing for advanced skiers and snowboarders
  • Enough steep terrain for a few days with some good offpiste
  • Enough steep terrain and offpiste areas to entertain advanced skiers for at least a week

Snow Park: 4.0

  • Not even a kicker at Zakopane
  • Average sized park quite well looked after
  • Huge park area and expertly crafted pipes, jumps and boardercross trails

Cross-country: 3.6

  • There is nowhere to go for cross-country skiing around Zakopane
  • There are some cross country trails available
  • The area features many spectacular and well maintained cross-country trails

Luge/Toboggan: 2.4

  • No designated luge or toboggan runs
  • There are toboggan runs that open quite often
  • Zakopane has long and well maintained luge / toboggan facilities suitable for all ages

Mountain Dining: 4.2

  • Nowhere to buy food by the pistes
  • Some places to eat up on the mountain but they are often busy and expensive
  • There is a variety of excellent mountain eateries right next to the slopes to suit all budgets

Eating: 4.4

  • Bring your own food, there isn't even a shop
  • There are a few places to eat in the resort but nothing special
  • A wide variety of places to eat and drink in the resort, from fast food to fancy restaurants

Apres-Ski: 2.4

  • Nothing to do, not even a bar
  • There are a few bars in the resort but nothing special
  • Clubs and bars stay open until very late and have a friendly atmosphere

Other Sports: 4.0

  • No sports facilities at all apart from ski lifts
  • Resort has just a small public swimming pool
  • Resort has all kinds of sports facilities, including a full-size swimming pool

Entertainment: 4.3

  • Besides the snow and walking there is nothing to do here
  • The non-skier will find things to do for few days but may become bored after a week
  • The resort area is a fascinating place to visit, regardless of winter sports

Winter Walks: 4.8

  • Very limited walking and no snowshoe trails
  • A couple of designated scenic walking/snowshoe trails
  • Extensive and diverse winter walking trails for all abilities

Ski Pass Value: 4.0

  • A 1 week ski pass is overpriced compared to the number of lifts available
  • The ski pass is averagely priced and covers a reasonable number of lifts
  • Ski passes are excellent value for money and cover a lot of lifts spanning a big area

Value (National): 4.1

  • Overall, Zakopane is one of the most expensive ski resorts in the country and not worth the money
  • Overall represents average value for money
  • Overall offers the best value resort in the country

Value (Global): 4.4

  • Overall, Zakopane is one of the most expensive ski resorts in the world
  • Overall it offers pretty average value for money compared to resorts from other countries
  • Internationally the resort offers excellent value for money

Show all 35 ratings

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December 22, 2009
derek fitzharris from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
I have taken my family to Zakopane 4 years running. Fantastic food, though restaurants very busy. Took 16 friends last year all had good time and want to return, even though not much snow. Cheap to learn to ski and very friendly at Nosal though quite icy and hard.
December 10, 2009
kostek from Ski Poland Poland
Zakopane as a city is nothing but a poor place with lots of tourists, eastern Europe atmosphere, no idea how people should arrange the city for tourists. Zakopane without Tatra Mountains is almost nothing. For travelers a good place to meet original culture and see how far from western Europe that city is and how close to the east we are. Mountains above Zakopane are the reason why You should have come here. Backcountry terrain is great. You can hike, you can climb, you can ride. Skitouring and freeriding is so cool there. Check this video out! -> this will tell you all what Zakopane really means: http://www.vimeo.com/6590059
July 15, 2009
Gareth Nicholls from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
I've spent three winters working in Zakopane now and know the place, the slopes and a lot of people there. It has something to offer everybody and the best part is it's cheap. Cheap skiing or snowboarding, cheap drinking and eating and you can get everything organised for you by UK based ski and snowboard holiday company White Side Holidays.
February 26, 2009
Janet Kulbat from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
My family travel to Zakopane most years for the February half-term. My son snowboards and my husband is into skiing. Once again, a terrific holiday. Fabulous snow, although it was very cold this year. Ski slopes: excellent. Everywhere offers value for money and the people can't do enough for you. You don't need a car at Zakopane, as the local mini-buses run frequently and are very cheap. Restaurants and bars are plentiful and offer really good meals. Would recommend Zakopane to all people of all ages.
February 12, 2009
Christophe Signolet from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
I've been skiing and snowboarding in Zakopane for the past 4 seasons now and it's amazing. I traveled each time with a British tour operator called Sunshine World who organise everything from flights and airport transfers to accommodation of all standards and also equipment rental, transport in resort, lift passes and professional coaching with their own English speaking ski and snowboard team. It's so cool because I don't have to think of anything - they do it all and it doesn't even cost more than if I did a go it alone holiday as they have negotiated discounts everywhere and have buyer-power so the savings are passed on to us. I'd recommend Zakopane and Sunshine World to anyone looking for a cheap yet great quality skiing or snowboarding holiday. Now I'm actually a qualified ski and snowboard instructor with the CSIA and CASI and definitely thank the excellent coaching of the Sunshine World team - thanks again to all the guys and girls and see you this season for sure. Chris
February 09, 2009
Chris from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
Zakopane is the biggest and best known ski centre in the south of Poland but what most people aren't aware of is that every other town between Myslowice and Zakopane and down to the Polish border have ski slopes. These vary in length, altitude and facilities but one thing you can do at all of them is ski without queues. Take a look at Rabka where there are 2 lots of ski slopes: 1. Maciejowa and 2. Polczakówka. You haven't got the same variety of nightlife and conditions are simple but if it's skiing you want there is a great choice all over Poland. Search the web using terms such as narty kamera Wyciąg trasa for a list of webcams at all these slopes. The other advantage of skiing outside Zakopane is easier and cheaper parking plus cheaper accommodation.
April 06, 2008
James from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
We went to Krakow recently (March 2008) and spent 1 day snowboarding in Zakopane (to research the resort for a future holiday). I have to say, I was very pleased with the snow and the experience. The snow, even at this time in the season, was well maintained and the conditions were very good. Skiing there isn't like the Alpes where there is one integrated resort - instead it is split into several ski areas where you purchase separate ski passes based on the number of times you use the lift. The equipment near the ski slopes was very good (perhaps one season old at most) and it lives up to the level of ski service you would expect in the Alpes. I would avoid the rental shops in dead centre of town as some of it looked very dated. Sign posting there is poor to say the least, but the official tourist office is very helpful when you find it. All in all, we had a great day of skiing. As a guide: our snowboard and boot rental came to £8 for the day and they didn't try and charge me when I returned a boot halfway through the day which I had broken! The ski pass was about £12 each for the equivalent of a day of skiing (but some areas are more and less expensive.)
February 07, 2008
Darryl Ramage from Ski Poland Poland
Keep the bad reports coming, all the better for us that have found this gem of a place. You've seen the film Beach and that wee paradise away from all the idiots! Zakopane should be kept a secret from all those numb nuts. The place, people and food are excellent. If you can't find something to do, you're not looking and shouldn't be there. Let the clown pay sky high prices for that we bit of 'lets pose on the slopes', get a life.
December 30, 2007
Ian from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
Have been snowboarding in Zakopane for the last 3 years now. Granted, the options are limited but if cost is a factor when booking a trip then this is a great destination! We found the best conditions and variety at Kasprowy Wierch. We used the cable car the first couple of times we went, which you can end up queuing up to 3 hours for, but then found out that it's a beautiful 45 minute walk up to the first chair lift if your legs can take it! Food and drink is cheap, the people are friendly and the nightlife isn't bad either, check out Paperazzi. Looking forward to returning in Feb 08.
February 26, 2007
Byron from Ski United Kingdom United Kingdom
Spent 9 days in Nosal, mid Feb 2007, which is a about 1 mile from Zakopane central. It only snowed for 1 day while we were there. However the snow was pretty packed from recent snow fall. There is only 1 decent run in Nosal which was always really busy and was a very poor conditioned piste. The Ski lifts are very old and very disorganised as you have to purchase individual tickets every time you want to use the lift. The only half decent run is in Kasprowy Wierch which is about 10 minutes away, but you always had to queue for about 2-3 hours if you get there about 9ish. ( RECOMMEND BOOKING FOR THIS AS SOON AS YOU ARRIVE.) The cable car up to the top is very old and in need for modernisation. Once you get up there, the views are just incredible and the skiing is quite good to. On the whole, Zakopane isn't for the experienced skiers as there are limited runs. I would recommend Zakopane to people who want a little bit of skiing as well as some sightseeing as Zakopane has some great tours available. P.s. - Alcohol and food is very cheap; 60p for a pint of beer.