Zakopane Day Tour from Krakow with Tasting and Funicular ride

Simon, our guide, communicated effectively and was a perfect host. We had a fantastic day and we were dropped off right in front of our hotel. You can tell that Simon loves his job! Thank you!

Marta was a fantastic guide and driver, she was knowledgeable and gave us lots of information about the Polish culture in general and also the area we were visiting. She made the experience fun and was extremely attentive to our needs. The Zakopane mountains were beautiful and we really enjoyed our day!

We had heard so much about Zakopane and decided to take a tour rather than go by train. So glad we did! It was door to door service with excellent communication ahead of the pick-up point from our guide and driver Pawel. There were 7 of us in his spacious, immaculate vehicle and three different variations of the tour represented by all 7 passengers. Pawel was courteous, patient, accommodating throughout the day. He had excellent local knowledge and entertained us with facts and anecdotes as we headed towards Zakopane. We had a comfort stop, a stop off at a UNESCO village famed for its wooden houses and we got into one to observe a wood carver at work and another stop at a shepherds hut to sample smoked cheese and vodka! We were brought to the funicular railway in Zakopane and Pawel sorted out our tickets. We hadn’t opted to attend the thermal spa but those who did were given time to enjoy the sights at the magnificent viewpoint overlooking the Tatra mountains before Pawel drove them to the spa. Had we gone by train we would have missed out on so much. The price seemed expensive compared to public transport but we had a wonderful day full of rich experiences and made new friendships with our fellow passengers. We’ve always enjoyed escorted tours on previous holidays in Europe and this one was up there with the best days out at around £67 per head. It was approximately 12 hours from start to finish, in a very comfortable vehicle with an excellent guide. In context, Thousand Miles charged us the same as some golf buggy tours around the Old Town which lasted 1.5 hours! And the same price as a 30 minute trot in a horse drawn carriage around the square! Definitely recommend this trip with this company.

Despite the rain, it was a magnificent day. Olaf is a wonderful person and a true professional; magnificent work.

Absolutely lovely full day out. Mirek our tour guide was wonderful, so knowledgeable and explained in very clear english the history surrounding our trip, from visiting the wooden village to the vodka and cheese tasting to the wooden church and then onto Zakopane. A big special thank you to him.

AMAZING EXPERIENCE – WOULD 100% RECOMMEND 💗 Our tour guide Fabian and driver Michael were both absolutely lovely – nothing was too much trouble. They contacted us the night before the trip with our pick-up location, time, and a description of the vehicle, which was incredibly helpful. Our stop was extremely busy that morning, but knowing exactly who and what to expect meant we felt calm and organised. The vehicle was a smaller bus rather than a large coach, which made the experience feel much more personal. It was also ideal for anyone who suffers from travel sickness. After booking, the company contacted us via WhatsApp, where I shared our hotel details. They were brilliant at picking everyone up right outside their accommodation. They even rang people to make sure no one missed the tour and were happy to wait if needed – something you definitely wouldn’t get with a large coach. Little touches, like a great music playlist, really helped us relax and enjoy the journey. When the music changed to local Zakopane-style tracks, it added even more to the experience. The tour itself was unreal, and I would absolutely recommend it – Zakopane is stunning 😍 We were aware beforehand that Zakopane would be busy, especially after seeing posts online and knowing December is the busiest time of the year. However, despite this, everything was very well managed. The cable car queue moved surprisingly quickly, as did the shops and market stalls. Fabian was really helpful in explaining things along the way, including advising us that as tourists, if items don’t have a visible price, prices can change each time – so it’s best to only buy from stalls with clear pricing. Restaurants were understandably very busy, so if possible it’s worth booking a table in advance. That said, we were still able to find food after a short wait and a walk around. The bus journey included three well-timed stops, including a toilet break, exploring the town and its architecture, and a visit to a shepherd’s hut where we enjoyed vodka and cheese tasting. Fabian and Michael ensured everything ran smoothly and that everyone got to enjoy these experiences without any stress. Fabian shared helpful information about the culture and expectations, delivered in a way that was informative without being overwhelming. At each stop, he walked us off the bus, clearly explained directions, and set clear return times. Once we arrived at our destination, he also sent messages with recommendations for places to eat and useful tips, along with reminders of when to return to the bus. He did the same when we arrived back in Krakow. There were also multiple buskers around Zakopane, which added to the atmosphere and gave the place a real Hallmark movie vibe – such a beautiful way to end our trip. Overall, it was an incredible experience that we genuinely can’t stop talking about 😊

Brilliant day trip and well looked after by Paweł and the team. Loved the visit to Zakopane and the cheese & vodka were nice surprises!

We booked to be picked up at our apartments, we had to walk to the bus with 3 registered disabled people. When we got to Zakopane we stayed for 5.5 hours as we didn't go the thermal baths. We went up the funicular and gave plenty of time to get down (1 hour 10 minutes before departure) The queues were horrendous and after 25 minutes of not moving we decided we would have to walk down (with 3 disabled people) We asked the staff at the top for disabled access they bawled at us to get in the queue! We started to walk down the 3km walk and found it lethal underfoot, so slippery, even young people were falling. No lights whatsoever and the only thing to hang onto was a piece of rope. My husband fell along with 2 others and we suspected he'd badly damaged his leg. No where to get help so I phoned the guide and told her how bad it was and that we couldn't make it down in time that my husband was badly injured and we were having to carry him down between us. She told us a mini bus would come. The driver, Marek, came skidding in the car park and we explained what had happened, we were all covered in mud and upset. He said we had kept 40 people waiting and that he was tired as he had worked all day and to hurry up and get in. His attitude was disgusting so we got out. He demanded payment, I said we would pay half as he wasn't taking us back. He then shouted polish obscenity to us. We then were bombarded with messages from the company telling us we had to pay by 9pm or polish law states we would be arrested. Never did I say I wouldn't pay the half. Avoid this company because of the worse happens, they only care about the money.

Pawel did a great job driving, showing us around and providing touring suggestions!! The thermal baths 🛁 was excellent along walking 🚶‍♂️ around the town and views from the top....

A nice variety of experiences on this trip to Zakopane. It was all made very easy- and fun- by Simon. Don't miss the thermal bath- it was so relaxing. All ages in the different pools and everyone was respectful and warm.