RunCity

Zakopane on foot: a self-guided walking route

This route takes you past 8 of Zakopane's best-known sights, including Gubałówka funicular station, Pęksowy Brzyzek cemetery, Holy Family Church and Krupówki and more. It is about 8 km on foot, roughly 2.5 hours at an easy pace with short stops. Follow the list on your own, or play it as a free GPS checkpoint game with RunCity and race the clock on the Zakopane leaderboard.

  • 8Stops
  • about 8 kmDistance
  • 2.5 hoursWalking
  • about 64 minRunning
Play Zakopane in RunCity

Free during launch. Runs in your phone's browser; the app is in English, German and Hungarian.

Zakopane
Photo: Jerzy Opioła · CC BY-SA 4.0

Zakopane is Poland's mountain town at the foot of the Tatras, and this route of about 8 km runs from Gubałówka hill across the town to Kuźnice, the starting point for the high peaks. It starts at the bonus stop, the Gubałówka summit, with the whole Tatra ridge across the valley, and comes down by the funicular to its lower station. The Pęksowy Brzyzek cemetery, with carved wooden crosses and the graves of mountaineers and artists, is a short walk away.

Krupówki, the busy main street, runs past the Holy Family Church and the timber Tatra Museum. Villa Koliba was the first house built in the Zakopane style of carved wood, and the Wielka Krokiew ski jump hosts World Cup events. The route ends at Kuźnice, the lower station of the cable car to Kasprowy Wierch. Buses run between Kuźnice and the centre, and mountain weather changes fast.

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Download the route as GPX (for Komoot, Strava or a watch)

The stops

A suggested order. In the game you can visit them in any order.

  1. Gubałówka summit

    Gubałówka summit Bonus Photo

    The hilltop with the long view of the Tatra ridge.

    Photo: Jerzy Opioła · CC BY-SA 4.0

  2. Gubałówka funicular station

    Gubałówka funicular station Photo

    The lower station of the funicular up Gubałówka hill.

    Photo: enonim · CC BY-SA 3.0

  3. Pęksowy Brzyzek cemetery

    Pęksowy Brzyzek cemetery

    The old graveyard with carved wooden crosses and mountaineers' graves.

    Photo: Marcin Konsek · CC BY-SA 4.0

  4. Holy Family Church and Krupówki

    Holy Family Church and Krupówki Photo

    The church beside Krupówki, the main pedestrian street.

    Photo: Bazie · CC BY-SA 3.0 pl

  5. Tatra Museum

    Tatra Museum

    The timber-and-stone museum building on the Krupówki side.

    Photo: Margoz · CC BY-SA 4.0

  6. Villa Koliba

    Villa Koliba

    The first villa in the Zakopane style, carved from timber.

    Photo: Aneta Pawska · CC BY-SA 4.0

  7. Wielka Krokiew ski jump

    Wielka Krokiew ski jump Photo

    The big ski jump seen from below the hill.

    Photo: Kapitel · CC BY-SA 4.0

  8. Kuźnice and the Kasprowy Wierch cable car

    Kuźnice and the Kasprowy Wierch cable car Photo

    The valley beneath the cable car to Kasprowy Wierch.

    Photo: Jakub Hałun · CC BY-SA 4.0

Play Zakopane in RunCity

Leaderboard

    Questions

    Can you see Zakopane on foot in one day?

    Yes. The 8 stops on this route add up to about 8 km, roughly 2.5 hours at an easy pace with short stops. Some stops are far apart, so you may want public transport for a leg.

    Is this self-guided walking tour free?

    Yes. The route and map on this page are free, and the RunCity game for Zakopane is free during launch.

    How does the RunCity game work in Zakopane?

    Open Zakopane in RunCity, walk to a stop and tap Validate: your phone's GPS confirms you are there. Some stops also ask for a photo. Timed runs go on the Zakopane leaderboard.

    Where does the route start?

    This page suggests starting at Gubałówka summit and finishing at Kuźnice and the Kasprowy Wierch cable car. In the game you can take the stops in any order.

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