Day Trips to Tatra Mountains and Thermal Waters from Krakow

If you are still wondering what to see and do in Krakow, I have the answer. Krakow, that small city in Poland, is relatively close to the Tatra Mountains. For locals and tourists alike, travelling up there is synonymous with physical and spiritual relaxation.

In addition to eating, sightseeing and playing, you can enjoy relaxing hot springs in the mountains. I invite you to travel on an all-inclusive tour and forget the hassle in the mountains, so that it's just you in connection with nature as you get to know the heart of Europe.

If you are going to Krakow I suggest you don't miss the opportunity to visit Zakopane. This city is known as the winter capital of Poland, and is located at the foot of the Tatra Mountains.

On a day trip you can appreciate its beauty and learn about the area from a professional guide. The experience lasts around 8 hours and costs on average €80.

On this tour you don't have to worry about taking public transport as the transfer from the hotel you are staying at in Krakow is included. The vehicle is private, mountain-weather conditioned and equipped to carry small groups of people.

After pick-up from your hotel, the vehicle will take you to your first stop at Wielka Krokiew, where you will see the Ski Jumping Hill, the ski jumping area of Zakopane.

You will also drive along the main street, Krupówki Street, to see the quaint shops and restaurants in the area. These tours are definitely some of the best things to do around Kraków

As you walk around the area, your guide will tell you interesting facts about Zakopane and its mountains. From this street you can admire the Tatra Mountains. If you wish, you can take the funicular to Gubałówka Hill.

From there you will have a better view of the mountains. However, this trip is not included in the tour and costs an average of €5.

Interesting details

• Price: about 80 €.
• Duration: about 8 hours.
• Means of transport: private vehicle.
• Advantages of this option: the vehicle is air-conditioned for mountain temperatures and picks you up from your hotel.
• Disadvantages of this option: it only allows you to do a sightseeing tour, it does not include other activities in the Tatra Mountains.

If you want to take a dip in the hot springs hidden in the Tatra Mountains, this tour is for you. It's about a 12-hour drive from Krakow to these famous mountains.

The trip has an average price of €80 and includes transfer and a tour with stops at the hot springs.

After the private vehicle picks you up from your hotel, you will be on your way to the Bukowina Tatrzańska spa. This site is located about 16 kilometres from Zakopane.

When you arrive, make the most of your time and relax here for at least 2 hours. This is one of the most renowned places for relaxation and rest in the entire Tatra Mountains.

Afterwards you will take the same vehicle to Zakopane to continue enjoying the excursion. Once there you can take the funicular to the Gubalowka Mountain and stroll along Krupówki Street, the main street of this area in Zakopane.

There you will find restaurants with typical food and you can taste the smoked cheese and vodka of the region. If you are interested in local food, I invite you to find out which are the best restaurants in Krakow, but you can also enjoy this food in Zakopane.

At each stop and activity you will have a few hours to enjoy each experience, combined with rest and movement. You won't get lost at any time as the vehicle keeps its WiFi activated so your smartphone will always have a signal.

Take the opportunity to take a few photos and post them in real time on your social networks. The idea of this tour is to combine relaxation with sightseeing and shopping.

Interesting details

• Price: approximately €80.
• Duration: around 12 hours.
• Means of transport: private vehicle.
• Advantages of this option: this excursion includes several activities which, although more time-consuming, are worth the price of the whole package.
• Disadvantages of this option: you must dedicate a full day to this excursion as it lasts about 12 hours.

If you want to get in touch with the nature of the Tatra Mountains, you should embark on this tour. You will travel in an air-conditioned bus to the Pienins National Park to be impressed by a whole tour full of fun activities. The trip takes on average 12 hours and costs approximately €150.

As you travel on the bus, you will pass through the Polish countryside on your way to the Bachlekda Valley in Slovakia. The first stop on the tour is the Bachlekda Treetop Trail. This famous tourist trail is 24 metres above the ground- dare you cross it, I advise you not to look down!

At the end of the trail you will find an observation tower over 30 metres high. From there you will be able to contemplate the magnitude of the Pieniny National Park's forests. I recommend that you include this hike as one of your summer things to do in Krakow, as the weather is warmer and you will enjoy the hike more.

Your tour guide will then take you to the Belianske Tatras, a mountain range of the Eastern Tatras located in north-central Slovakia. These mountains in turn are part of the Tatra National Park, which is also present in Slovakia.

In this area you will learn about the fauna and flora, you can buy lunch in a restaurant on Krupówki Street. Finally, end the day properly by taking a dip in the hot springs of the Chochołow Thermal Spa.

Interesting details

• Price: about 150 ¤.
• Duration: about 12 hours.
• Means of transport: private, air-conditioned bus.
• Advantages of this option: includes a variety of activities to make the most of a full day in the mountains.
• Disadvantages of this option: does not include lunch or any kind of snacks for the walk. This must be at your own expense.

If you love discovering small villages then I recommend one of the best day trips from Krakow. On this day trip you can travel to the Tatra National Park and explore the surrounding villages and valleys. The trip can take around 5 hours and costs an average of €70.

During the trip you will pass through the Five Lakes Valley to Lake Morskie Oko. All along the way you will be dazzled by the breathtaking views of this majestic site.

The hike to Morskie Oko Lake takes about 2 hours. It is a quiet trail that you can walk along with your guide.

Afterwards you can enjoy about 5 hours of free time in the Tatra National Park. This excursion is one of the things you can do with children in Krakow. I advise you to prepare some fun games or bring a ball for them to play with.

On your way back to Krakow, your driver and guide will pass through Chochołów. This is a small medieval village in the area that is still inhabited. You can explore it for an hour to take some photos and continue your way back to Krakow.

Interesting details

• Price: about 70 ¤.
• Duration: about 5 hours.
• Means of transport: bus.
• Advantages of this option: it is a short tour that allows you to enjoy the rest of the day in Krakow.
• Disadvantages of this option: you don't get to explore the whole area as the activities are very punctual and simple.

If you want a high-altitude experience, I recommend choosing a tour that includes a cable car ride. Travel by private transport from Krakow to Zakopane on a 5-hour trip for the price of approximately €70 for a totally different day in the Tatra Mountains.

The first stop will be the cable car ride to the Kasprowy Wierch peak, the highest and most central point in the Tatra Mountains. From there you can admire the beauty of the mountains and the nearby villages. At this point you can walk for at least an hour before heading back.

After descending by cable car you will visit Krupówki Street. There you will have at least 2 hours to explore, eat and drink as much as you wish. The last stop will be the relaxing thermal baths nearby.

Afterwards transport will take you to your hotel in Krakow. As this is a short tour you can include it in your list of things to do in Krakow in 2 days.

Details of interest

• Price: around 70 €.
• Duration: about 5 hours.
• Means of transport: bus.
• Advantages of this option: it includes two of the main attractions of the Tatra Mountains and is a fun experience that consumes only 5 hours of your day.
• Disadvantages of this option: You may be left wanting to explore more of the area. Also, it does not include lunch or snacks.

One of the things to do in Krakow during the winter is a ski trip to the Tatra Mountains. This fun excursion for the whole family also includes a visit to the thermal pools at the foot of the slope.

The excursion starts when the bus driver picks you and the rest of the group up and takes you to the ski centre in Zakopane. This person will give you a ski pass and a ticket that allows you to enter the hot springs. The whole experience usually lasts approximately 12 hours at an average cost of €85.

Both beginners and experts can find the ideal slope for each other. In any case I advise you to read a beginner's guide to skiing before you go.

You don't need to bring your own equipment, as ski equipment is available for hire near the slopes. At the end of the activity, you can go and relax in the thermal baths.

The thermal pool centre has jacuzzis, saunas, artificial waves, indoor and outdoor pools. After relaxing in the place of your choice, you can have lunch and a hot drink in the local cafes, restaurants or taverns. At the end of your time, the driver will take you back to your hotel.

Interesting details

• Price: 85 € more or less.
• Duration: about 12 hours.
• Means of transport: bus.
• Advantages of this option: includes a fun activity for the whole family, perfect if you are travelling in winter. It also includes snacks and bottles of water.
• Disadvantages of this option: not recommended for people with back problems, heart disease or people who are not at least moderately fit.

Do you want to have a truly relaxing experience? Then I recommend that you don't miss a trip to the hot springs in the Tatra Mountains and specifically to the Chochołów Spa. You will find one of the most beautiful thermal baths in the world.

On this tour your guide will take you to the Chochołów spa, which I am sure you will enjoy because of its size and space. For this you will have to travel for at least two hours in the private transport offered by the company you hire. Remember that although these are hot springs, the temperature outside can be very cold in winter.

At this site you will find indoor and outdoor pools whose water is between 30 °C and 38 °C. You can choose to immerse yourself in these waters or take a steam bath, go into the sauna or enjoy a hydromassage. Enjoy 8 to 11 hours in this spa before returning to your hotel in Krakow.

Interesting details

• Price: about 40 €.
• Duration: about 8 to 11 hours.
• Means of transport: bus.
• Advantages of this option: you can spend a whole day relaxing and carefree in the thermal baths.
• Disadvantages of this option: it only focuses on the Chochołów hot springs and not on the other attractions this area has to offer.

As you may have already noticed, the Tatra Mountains are an ideal place to go on holiday, especially if you go in winter. If you do go during the winter, be sure to pack warm clothing to keep you warm. Remember that many of the attractions require a lot of walking.

In this regard, it is best to wear good, comfortable shoes. This way you will be able to walk at ease. If you want to practice a snow sport, it is best to bring your gloves and some personal items. Some places offer the necessary equipment to practice the sport, but it is better to go prepared.

If you are going to spend the day in the hot springs, I recommend you to take bathing clothes. Also bring some towels to dry yourself when you finish your bath. I advise you to bring a large towel to dry yourself, this way you can use it to keep warm when you get out of the water, as the cold can affect you a bit.

Finally, be very punctual when the bus or private vehicle picks you up at the hotel. If you don't like to stick to a specific schedule, I advise you to rent a car in Krakow. A day's rental can cost around 20 €. However, it would be up to you to find parking places.

Travelling to the Tatra Mountains on your own involves a lot of planning and investment. One of the options you have at hand is to rent a car or order a taxi on an app. If it's high season, it may be difficult to get a taxi unless you hire one in advance.

Also, when you get to the mountains you need to use Google Maps or a physical map to guide you. This can be tricky if you don't have an internet signal, which can be poor in some areas. It can be even more complicated if you don't know Polish. Also, all the activities you do must be paid for separately. This can lead to additional costs.

On the other hand, when you go on an organised tour everything is included in one price. Usually you also pay for your transport from the hotel where you stay in Krakow.

It is worth noting that excursions are organised according to the season. In case you wish to travel on your own, you should research the best time of year to travel to Krakow.