Going from Krakow to the Tatra Mountains for a two or three-day trip is very popular among tourists coming to Krakow. Tatra Mountains in Poland are often associated with Zakopane – which is the most popular city in this region – and there are several ways of getting from Krakow to Zakopane. There is even a direct bus to Zakopane from Krakow Airport (about 3h, 40 PLN).
Below you’ll find information about the best ways to get from Krakow to Zakopane and getting around Zakopane. In another article, we write about the top things to do in Zakopane once you get there.
Getting from Krakow to Zakopane
There are two very convenient ways of going to the Tatra Mountains from Krakow by public transport: train and bus.
By train
Train is the most convenient way to reach the Tatra Mountains, although not the fastest one. It takes 2,5-4 hours to get there, and the ticket costs 22,5-75 PLN depending on the train type. Some tickets need to be booked in advance, and trains without reservation tend to be congested on some days – usually on “long weekends” in May and June.
All trains going to Zakopane start/end or pass by Krakow’s main Railway station (Krakow Glowny).
The railroad has undergone some investments that allowed trains to go faster. The fastest trains are now comparable to buses, but far more comfortable.
The slowest trains (4h)- Regio, are the cheapest – ticket costs 22,5 PLN, and there are no reservations. The fastest trains – intercity and Eurocity manage to get to Zakopane in 2h 20 minutes, but the ticket costs about 30-75 PLN.
By bus
This is, at least in theory, the fastest way of getting from Krakow to the Tatra Mountains. There are many buses or minibuses leaving Krakow Main Bus Station for Zakopane (if you want to skip Krakow, there is even a direct bus to Zakopane from Krakow Airport). Ticket for most buses costs around 30-40 PLN, and with most of them, the scheduled trip lasts about two hours. But bear in mind, that this may extend a lot on some days, as roads between Krakow and Zakopane tend to be very congested. This may extend the time to 4-5 hours. This may usually happen during winter on summer holidays or so-called “long weekends (1-3 May), or some special events taking place in Zakopane (Ski Jumping, New Year’s Eve).
Getting from Krakow to Tatra mountains by car
This, of course, gives you more flexibility and is the fastest way to get to Zakopane, but has some drawbacks. The road to Zakopane is under construction, so you might expect detours on your way. Furthermore, parking spaces in Zakopane are limited, and you need to pay for it. Some hotels have their parking slots, but it’s uncommon. Moreover, driving in Zakopane might be tiring, as there are many pedestrians in the city centre.