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Zakopane in Winter: What Can You Do in the Snow?
Zakopane in winter is best in January and February, when averages stay between -6.6°C and 1.5°C and sleigh rides, skiing, cable cars and thermal baths all run. This guide covers the weather by month, ski costs, family options and a plan for a warm spell without snow.
Quick answer Best months, top activities, no-snow plan
January and February are the best months, with average highs between -0.2°C and 1.5°C, and the region is not usually short of snow. Plan skiing, a cable car, a thermal bath and a sleigh ride with a bonfire, and keep the baths as the fallback for a warm spell.
Key takeaways
- Evening plan: the Chochołowska Valley sleigh ride with bonfire at $90 runs 3 hours with pickup in Zakopane.
- From Krakow in one day: the snowmobile, bonfire and hot springs tour at $50 takes 10 hours.
- Snowmobile rides cost 400 PLN per vehicle for up to 2 people, paid in cash on site, on top of the tour price.
- Compare every winter trip at zakopane tours.
Is Zakopane worth visiting in winter?
Yes, because it packs skiing, high cable cars, thermal baths and sleigh rides into one small town.
Winter is when Zakopane does everything at once. These are the five things that most guides lead with.
The five winter plans
Skiing and snowboarding come first, on the Kasprowy Wierch slopes at almost 2000 metres or at the big resorts nearby. The Kasprowy Wierch and Gubałówka lifts are the sightseeing option. A thermal bath is the warm option.
A kulig, the traditional horse-drawn sleigh evening, is the evening option. Winter walks in the Kościeliska and Chochołowska valleys, on well maintained paths, round out the list.
On the street
The local answer to the cold is hot mead, an alcoholic drink made from honey and spices that is quite strong. Pair it with a walk through town after the lifts close. At the top of Gubałówka there are market stalls and cafés.
Giewont seen from Zakopane in winter. Photo: Andrzej Otrębski, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What is the weather in Zakopane in winter, month by month?
Average highs run from -0.2°C in January to 5.8°C in November, and every month in the table has 11 to 13 days of rain or snow.
January and February are the coldest months and the best bet for snow. December is close behind.
Temperature and precipitation
Figures are 1995 to 2024 averages. Precipitation counts days with 1 mm or more of rain or snow, as water.
| Month | Average high | Average low | Wet days | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | 5.8°C (42°F) | -0.4°C (31°F) | 11.1 | Park bulletin already warns of snow and ice |
| December | 0.9°C (34°F) | -5.1°C (23°F) | 11.4 | Town lights and the Christmas market |
| January | -0.2°C (32°F) | -6.6°C (20°F) | 12.1 | Coldest month |
| February | 1.5°C (35°F) | -5.6°C (22°F) | 13.0 | Most wet days of the three core months |
| March | 4.6°C (40°F) | -3.2°C (26°F) | 13.4 | Highs well above freezing |
Zakopane in December
December averages 53 mm of precipitation and a low of -5.1°C. It is the month for town lights as much as for snow.
Source: Copernicus Climate Data Store.
What does skiing in Zakopane cost?
Ski hire and day passes are priced by each ski area, while PKL sells one season skipass for Gubałówka and Kasprowy Wierch.
Zakopane skiing splits into the local Tatra Super Ski area, the big resort of Białka Tatrzańska and Alpine-style runs on Kasprowy Wierch.
Where to ski and what it costs
Pick the area first, because passes differ.
| Area | What it offers | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Tatra Super Ski area | Passes for the whole area or single resorts | Passes sold by the area |
| Białka Tatrzańska | Three linked resorts, 21 km of slopes, mostly blues and reds, snow park and floodlit night skiing | Own passes, on the resort site |
| Kasprowy Wierch | Alpine-style skiing at almost 2000 m | Cable car not included in the Tatra Super Ski pass |
| Cross-country | Centralny Ośrodek Sportowy, Równia Krupowa, Biały Potok, Siwa Polana, Kościelisko | Check the trail operator |
Check snow first
In mid-November the Kasprowy Wierch summit had 17 cm of snow and all ski runs and the Gąsienicowa and Goryczkowa chairlifts were closed. The season skipass, covering Gubałówka and Kasprowy Wierch, costs 2,799 PLN normal from 1 December. It does not include the Kasprowy Wierch ride, which needs a 45 PLN online seat booking.
Which cable car or funicular should you ride in winter?
Gubałówka is the quick, cheap view at 1,123 m, and Kasprowy Wierch is the high one at 1,987 m.
Both are run by PKL and both sell cheaper tickets online.
Gubałówka against Kasprowy Wierch
Prices below are the low-season online return tickets, listed to 18 December. No winter high-season list is published beyond it yet.
| Lift | Ride | Return, normal | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gubałówka funicular | About 3 minutes, every 15 minutes | 37 PLN online, 42 PLN at the desk | Land of Light, almost 2,000,000 LED lights from 16:00 |
| Kasprowy Wierch cable car | About 20 minutes with one change, every 10 minutes | 129 PLN online | Tourpass gives 1 hour 40 minutes at the top |
Timing tips
The Gubałówka funicular is closed 16 to 27 November for inspection, with replacement buses at 34 PLN one way. The Kasprowy Wierch car may not run in strong wind, and a Tourpass can be returned for a full refund if wind stops it. Buy online and arrive 20 minutes before the departure.
Sources: PKL Gubałówka, PKL, PKL Gubałówka.
Tours That Fit
A bonfire sleigh ride in town and a full day from Krakow with snowmobiles and hot springs.
from $90
Most reviewed
Zakopane: Chochołowska Valley Sleigh Ride with Bonfire
A 1-hour sleigh ride plus a 1-hour bonfire with sausages and tea, with carriages instead if snow is short.
Check Availability
from $50
Most reviewed
Krakow: Zakopane Snowmobiles, Bonfire and Hot Springs Tour
Snowmobile or quad ride, bonfire and 3 hours at the baths in one day, but the 400 PLN ride fee is paid in cash.
Check AvailabilityWhich thermal baths are worth it in winter?
Chochołowskie Termy, Termy Bukovina and Terma Bania are the large ones, and Termy Zakopiańskie in town is closed until 7 December.
Baths are the warm answer to a cold day, and they work with or without snow.
Four baths compared
Adult prices are the low-season lists, Monday to Thursday first.
| Bath | Size and water | Adult ticket | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chochołowskie Termy | 4,500 m2 of water, 32 to 38 degrees | 95 PLN for 3 hours, 115 PLN Friday to Sunday | 9:00 to 22:00, Friday and Saturday to 23:00 |
| Termy Bukovina | 30 to 38 degrees | 89 PLN for 3.5 hours, 99 PLN Friday to Sunday | 9:00 to 22:00 |
| Terma Bania | 15 basins, 2,400 m2 of water | From 73 PLN online for 2.5 hours | 9:00 to 22:00 |
| Termy Zakopiańskie | In town, sauna zone 18+ | From 79 PLN online for 2.5 hours, high-season list | Closed 16 November to 7 December, then 9:00 to 22:00 |
Which to pick
Terma Bania is about 25 km from Zakopane, and a Szos-Mig minibus runs from the Zakopane bus station to the baths' stop. Chochołowskie Termy are at Chochołów 400. A guided day that includes hot springs is Krakow: Zakopane Snowmobiles, Bonfire and Hot Springs Tour.
Sources: Chochołowskie Termy, Termy Bukovina, Terma Bania, Termy Zakopiańskie.
What can you do in Zakopane in winter if there is no snow?
Go to the baths, ride a cable car, book a bonfire trip or skate, since none of them depends on a deep snow cover.
The region is not usually short of snow, but one visit fell in an unexpectedly warm spell. Have a plan B.
The fallback list
A 200 m toboggan run lets you bring your own toboggan or rent one. The cable cars and baths above run in any weather except wind. For the evening, Zakopane: Chochołowska Valley Sleigh Ride with Bonfire costs $90 per person and lasts 3 hours.
It is rated 4.4 from 58 reviews with free cancellation 24h ahead. The kulig takes you into the Chochołowska Valley for a bonfire with live music, grilled sausages and highlander tea.
Snowmobile trips
Krakow: Zakopane Snowmobiles, Bonfire and Hot Springs Tour costs $50 per person for 10 hours with hotel pickup in Krakow, rated 4.8 from 1,358 reviews. The snowmobile or quad ride costs 400 PLN per vehicle for up to 2 people, which is 200 PLN each when shared, paid in cash on site. The listing calls the ride optional.
What can you do in Zakopane in winter with kids?
Snowlandia, ice skating, a toboggan run and the Gubałówka playgrounds suit families, and children up to 4 ride the lifts free.
Zakopane works for families, and the family snow park is the one attraction only one guide prices.
Snowlandia and other family stops
Snowlandia sells attraction tickets, adult then reduced.
| Attraction | Adult | Reduced |
|---|---|---|
| Labyrinth | 20 PLN | 16 PLN |
| Igloo | 20 PLN | 16 PLN |
| Pyramid | 16 PLN | 12 PLN |
| All areas | 53 PLN | 42 PLN |
Lifts, baths and rides
Children up to 4 ride the Gubałówka funicular and the Kasprowy Wierch cable car free on a guardian's ticket, and prams ride free on Gubałówka. At the top of Gubałówka there are market stalls, cafés and small playgrounds. A family ticket at Chochołowskie Termy for 2 adults and 1 child costs 195 PLN Monday to Thursday and 245 PLN Friday to Sunday, and a child up to 3 enters free.
Sources: PKL Gubałówka, Chochołowskie Termy.
How do you get to Zakopane in winter?
From Krakow the Pendolino takes 1 hour 57 minutes, the bus about 2 hours 10 minutes, and a guided day trip takes 10 hours.
Krakow is the usual base, and the S7 expressway from Myślenice to Rabka-Zdrój is open, about 32 km long.
Train, bus or guided day
The Koleje Małopolskie K5 train costs 26.50 PLN one way. Szwagropol runs 15 buses a day, the normal fare is 37 PLN, and the first leaves at 06:10 and the last at 21:20. For the return, buses leave Zakopane from 06:15 to 20:50. Krakow: Zakopane Snowmobiles, Bonfire and Hot Springs Tour handles transfers and a full winter day for $50.
Sources: PKP Intercity, Koleje Małopolskie, Szwagropol, GDDKiA.
The Old Church of Our Lady of Częstochowa in Zakopane in winter. Photo: Margoz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Zakopane in Winter FAQ
What is the weather in Zakopane in December?
December averages a high of 0.9°C and a low of -5.1°C, with 53 mm of precipitation over 11.4 days. See festive options at zakopane tours.
Is Zakopane good for families in winter?
Yes. Snowlandia, ice skating, a toboggan run and the Gubałówka playgrounds suit children, and children up to 4 ride the lifts free. A calm evening option is the sleigh ride with bonfire.
Do you need to book the Kasprowy Wierch cable car in advance?
Yes, online is cheaper at 129 PLN return in the low season and the car can get busy. Tourpass tickets are for a set time, arriving 20 minutes early. A guided option is the Krakow snowmobile and hot springs tour.
Can you ski in Zakopane every winter?
The region is not usually short of snow, but warm spells happen. Check the lifts' snow reports before you pay, or choose baths as plan B at zakopane tours.
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