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Tatra Mountains

Often called the Polish Alps (which is geologically not so far from the truth), the Tatra Mountains, also known as the Tatras (Tatry in Polish) are perhaps the most picturesque – and certainly the most monumental – of the Polish mountains. And although only about 20 percent of the total area of the Tatra Mountains lie in Poland, they still remain a perfect place for hiking, climbing, paragliding and, of course, skiing.

The highest peak of the Tatra Mountains is Gerlachovský štít, or Gerlach in Polish, 2655 meters AMSL, and on the Polish side this title goes to Rysy with their 2499 m. These two, and other equally high peaks make the Tatras the highest range of the Carpathian Mountains, and though they may be not as high as the Alps, some of the views are equally breathtaking, and some of the paths challenging.

The Tatra Mountains' Highlights

Among the highlights of the Polish Tatras, apart from certainly the magnificent view from the peak of Rysy, there is the Morskie Oko ('Sea Eye'), a beautiful lake and one of the most popular tourist destinations. Another Tatra lake, right above the Morskie Oko, is Czarny Staw, offering a view of its neighbor. Other popular tourist destinations include Giewont, a mountain shaped in a way that encouraged the belief that a sleeping knight will wake up when Poland is in peril; there's also the Kasprowy Wierch with the cable car that makes it a nice family excursion place in Summer, and a good skiing place in Winter. For the more demanding tourists, there are more challenging routes, like the Orla Perć.

The Flora and Fauna of the Tatra Mountains

The nature in the Tatra Mountains are not only the rocks. Due to its beautiful and vulnerable flora and fauna, the region was turned into the Tatra National Park (Tatrzanski Park Narodowy) in the 1950s. And there is indeed quite a lot to protect – apart from species that occur in other parts of the world, like the wolves or bears, there are a few animals unique to the Tatras, like the Tatra Marmot or the Chamois. The Tatra Chamois is highly endangered, and only about 500 are left, but it seems that the population is slowly growing.

Weather in Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains

The weather in the Tatras can change very rapidly, so even on a seemingly hot, sunny day it's advisable to have some warmer clothes. It is significantly colder than in the lowlands, and gets even colder along with the altitude. Rain or snowstorms can come and go suddenly, so be prepared.

Accommodation in the Tatras

As for the accommodation, the most popular Tatra Mountains resort would certainly be Zakopane, but those who prefer calmer places will probably be able to find a quarter in one of the nearby villages.

Getting from Krakow to the Tatra Mountains

The best idea for a visit in the Tatra Mountains is booking the Zakopane Tour from our Krakow Tours section.

To get to the Tatra Mountains from Krakow, you will probably have to reach Zakopane in one way or the other. The Zakopianka road (E77 into road no. 47) is the only choice by car, and trains and buses leave from the Krakow Train Station and the Krakow Bus Station. The train, though, needs about four hours to cover the 100 kilometers from Krakow to Zakopane, so a bus is probably a better idea.