Planning a trip to Zakopane
You will be surprised by the sheer number of private tourist agencies offering everything from information to accommodation, lift tickets, and day trips. Zakopane's small Tourist Information Center (Centrum Informacji Turystycznej; Kosciuszki 17; tel. 18/201-22-11; www.promocja.zakopane.pl) can help with general orientation questions and provide maps, but that's about it. A private agency, Zwyrtozka, two doors down toward town (Kosciuszki 15; tel. 18/201-52-12), maintains a list of rooms. Both agencies can help arrange day trips, including excursions to Slovakia, as well as sell lift passes and advise on things like ski and bike rental.
Getting There
By Train -- Zakopane's tiny train station Zakopane PKP (Chramcówki 35; tel. 18/201-50-31) is centrally located but practically useless. Most visitors come here from Kraków, and the bus is simply much quicker.
By Bus -- Several bus companies make the 2-hour trip from Kraków's main bus station to Zakopane's main station, Zakopane PKS (Nowotarska 24; tel. 18/201-46-03 [information]), at near-hourly intervals throughout the day. One of the leading bus companies for trips to Zakopane is Szwagropol (ul. Kosciuszki 19a; tel. 18/201-71-23; www.szwagropol.eu). It offers 18 departures daily to and from Kraków. Tickets are 18 z each way. You can buy tickets at the station window or directly from the driver.
By Car -- It takes about 2 hours to drive the 100km (62 miles) from Kraków. It's mostly a straight shot south, following signs first to Nowy Targ and then Zakopane. Be sure to watch weather conditions. It can be sunny and warm in Kraków but completely snow-covered in Zakopane, so be sure to have winter tires and antifreeze.
Getting Around
Central Zakopane is fairly compact and partly closed to car traffic, so walking is the only option for getting around. The town itself, though, spreads out a couple miles in both directions, so if you're staying outside the center (and don't have a car), you'll have to rely on taxis or local buses to get around. The main taxi stand is conveniently located just outside the main bus and train terminals. Bikes are another option in summer, but ask at the Tourist Information Office, since rental agencies change from season to season.
