Zakopane is for everyone

For many years, there has been an opinion in the media that Zakopane has the highest prices compared to other tourist destinations in Poland. There are also those who say that in Austria or Switzerland it is cheaper than in Zakopane, did anyone believe it?

It is true that, like everywhere in Zakopane, offered are rooms in four or five-star hotels, but this is only a few percent of all the available accommodation there. It is also worth adding that most three-star hotels in Zakopane offer a standard higher than four-star hotels abroad. The prices of meals in Zakopane also differ, if you are a tourist and you came to Podhale to enjoy nature, you will probably be satisfied with any regional restaurant, and there are also fast food restaurants for those who have little time. It is really worth trying everything that is on the menu of the highlander restaurant, there are much more amazing different dishes than days in a week.Attractions in Zakopane cost the same as in Sopot, Hel or Łeba (other popular summer destinations in Poland) . The cost of entering the Tatra National Park today is only PLN 8.00, and for a seven days only PLN 40.00, could it be cheaper? Below are examples of accommodation, restaurants and attractions for a family of parents with two children under 12 years of age.

HOTELS 

Bachleda Resort Zakopane 5* – the center of Zakopane
One week of stay is PLN 4,200 – two adults and two children under 12 years of age. The cost includes breakfast.
The hotel has: Swimming pool, Sauna, Internet in the room, Pets allowed, Restaurant, Monitored parking, Playground for children, Fitness. Parking does cost – PLN 50 per day.

Hotel Boruta 3* – 1.3 km from center of Zakopane
One week of stay is PLN 2,100 – two adults and two children under 12 years of age. The cost includes breakfast.
Near the hotel there are: Aqua Park based on natural geothermal springs, the Zakopane-style museum Willa Oksza, the road to Antałówka, from which you can see a beautiful panorama of the Tatra Mountains and Zakopane. Parking is free.

It turns out that for parents with two children, can comfortably sleep a week in Zakopane for an average of PLN 3,000. For comparison, accommodation in Władysławowo (see resort in Poand) with a similar standard is over PLN 5,000. It looks like sleeping well in Zakopane is cheap.

RESTAURANTS

Gazdowo Kuźnia
Prices: soup PLN 25, salad PLN 40, main courses PLN 44-75

Casa Mia
Prices: soup from 27 to 49 PLN, salad 45 PLN, main courses 45 to 119 PLN

Karczma Zapiecek
Prices: soup from 11 to 21 PLN, salad from 20 to 41 PLN, main courses from 44 to 75 PLN

Bąkowo Zohylina Wyźnio
Prices: soup from PLN 16 to 20, salad from PLN 27 to 32, main courses from PLN 30 to 78.

The prices for a meal on the children’s menu are very similar in all restaurants – PLN 30.

In these restaurants, we can order these unique dishes: pan fried riga mushrooms(very tasty), dumplings with deer meat, sour soup – specialty of Zakopane, boletus soup, venison dishes, tenderloin in boletus sauce, trout, steaks and many other that can only be found in Zakopane and Podhale.

For a family of parents and two children up to 12 years of age, on average, one dinner is PLN 260, times 7 it will amount to no more than PLN 2,000.
Free of charge, we get a beautiful stylish interior design of the restaurants, music and atmosphere. Visiting several restaurants, we can leave Zakopane with beautiful photos of all the family meals.

ATTRACTIONS
Cost for parents with two children:

• Tatra National Park – the cost of tickets for a week for our exemplary family is PLN 100
• Tatra Muzeum – PLN 40
• Bus tickets – Zakopane – Palenica Białczańska (Morskie Oko) – 60 PLN
• Tickets for the Kasprowy Wierch cable car, ascent and descent – 328 PLN
• Cable railway to Gubałówka – PLN 96
• Bukowina Thermal Baths – for 3.5 hours – PLN 304
• Bania Thermal Baths – for 4.5 hours – 396 PLN
• BIKEDOO – trips by electric bikes – about 4 hours. – 600 PLN
• Butorowy Bike Rental – mountain bikes rental, all day – PLN 176, e-bikes – PLN 400
• Parrots conservatory, dozens of different parrots – 86 PLN

Probably all attractions of a week’s stay will not exceed PLN 1,500. It seems that the average cost of a stay in Zakopane for a family who served us as an example is PLN 6,500. For those who have a smaller budget in Zakopane, there are many equally attractive accommodation offers, but with a lower standard, 50% cheaper than the above-mentioned hotels. You can find cheaper restaurants or prepare your own meals because most guesthouses or apartments are fully equipped. In this way, for PLN 6,500, you can spend two weeks in Zakopane.

AUSTRIA
For comparison, 6 nights at Hotel Flattacher Hof 4 * in Flattach, Austria – for parents with two children it is 1.515.00 € = 7.136 PLN. The standard of such hotel is not up to the standards in Zakopane. The restaurant in this town, Launsberghuette Obervellach, offers dishes from 9 to 24 €, this is 70 € a day for a family, for a week it is 490 € = 2,300 PLN. Only accommodation and meals for our family in Austria in hotels and restaurants no better than in Zakopane cost is over PLN 9,000. There are no more attractions in Austria, and how many Poles know German well enough to feel at ease there. It is hard to believe that Poles are returning from Austria with fond memories.