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Krakow to Zakopane: Train, Bus or a Day Tour?
Krakow to Zakopane takes 1h 57m by PKP Intercity train, about 2h 4m by direct bus and about 1h 26m by car. This guide compares the three with a guided day trip, so you can pick by what you want to do in Zakopane. Prefer the day arranged? See zakopane day trip from krakow for the tours.
Quick answer Train, bus or tour in one view
The PKP Intercity train from Krakow Glowny to Zakopane takes 1h 57m and departs hourly, the fastest public option without a car. The direct bus takes about 2h 4m and driving about 1h 26m. A guided day tour such as Zakopane, Tatra Mountains and Gubalowka Day Trip costs $25 per person for a 9 hour day and handles the road, so the choice is about what you want to do once you arrive.
Key takeaways
- Fastest public option: the train at 1h 57m, hourly.
- Cheapest to book as a unit: a guided day tour from $19.50 per person, transport included.
- Winter trip: check weather and closures before you pick a date.
- Not sure which fits: read the decision section first.
What Are the Ways to Get From Krakow to Zakopane?
Train, bus, car, rideshare and a guided day tour all work, and they differ by under half an hour of travel time.
Several ways cover the route. The table puts the journey times side by side.
Journey Times Compared
PKP Intercity, MajerBus, FlixBus and BlaBlaCar all serve this route. Treat times as typical, not a promise, because mountain roads slow down on winter weekends. Fares change by date and booking time, so check the operator before you travel.
| Way | Time | Departs from | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PKP Intercity train | 1h 57m | Krakow Glowny | Hourly |
| Direct bus (MajerBus) | About 2h 4m | Jubilat station | Arrives at Zakopane ZDA |
| Car | About 1h 26m | Your hotel | 65.6 miles by road |
| BlaBlaCar rideshare | 1h 56m | Varies | Often the cheapest option |
Where the Day Tour Fits
A guided day tour is a different product, not a fifth vehicle. It collects you in Krakow, drives to Zakopane, adds stops and returns you the same day. Typical tours here run 9 to 11 hours door to door, for example Zakopane Tour with Hot Springs, Cable Car and Cheese Tasting at 11 hours and Zakopane, Tatra Mountains and Gubalowka Day Trip at 9 hours.
The comparison that matters is hours on the ground in Zakopane, not minutes on the road.
Kraków Główny is the main station where most trains for Zakopane begin their journey. Photo: Bahnfrend, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
How Long Is the Train From Krakow to Zakopane?
The PKP Intercity Pendolino takes 1 hour 57 minutes, and the route is served by 9 daily pairs of trains plus 2 seasonal pairs.
The train is the default pick for a traveller without a car who wants to plan their own day.
What PKP Intercity Runs
PKP Intercity introduced a Pendolino on the Krakow to Zakopane route with the December timetable. It is the first EIP service to the town and is one of 3 daily express pairs. The timetable carries 9 daily pairs and 2 seasonal pairs in total, and the train leaves Krakow Glowny hourly.
Check the PKP Intercity site or app for the fare on your date, because it moves with the train type and how early you buy.
The station in Zakopane sits in the town, so Krupowki Street and the Gubalowka funicular are reachable without a taxi. The Kasprowy Wierch cable car lower station at Kuznice is not reachable by car, so allow for public transport or a walk of about 40 minutes from the Jana Pawla II roundabout.
What a Train Day Looks Like
With a hourly departure you set your own hours in Zakopane. That freedom has a cost in local tickets. The Gubalowka funicular return is PLN 42 at the ticket office in the low season, and a Tatra National Park entry ticket is PLN 11 for one day.
Thermal baths are paid separately, for example Chocholowskie Termy charges PLN 95 for 3 hours on a Monday to Thursday in the low season. A tour that includes baths or a lift leaves less to buy on the day.
Sources: PKP Intercity, Polskie Koleje Linowe, Gubalowka, Tatra National Park, Chocholowskie Termy.
Where Do You Start and Arrive?
Trains leave from Krakow Glowny and buses from the bus station next to it. Tours pick up at hotels or central meeting points in Krakow and drive south, most of them with a stop in Chocholow on the way.
- 1 Krakow GlownyMain station for trains to Zakopane.
- 2 ChocholowWooden village and tasting stop on many tours.
- 3 Zakopane railway stationWhere the trains from Krakow arrive.
- 4 Krupowki Street, ZakopaneFree time on the day trips is spent here.
Numbers match the pins on the map.
Source: PKP Intercity.
Is the Bus From Krakow to Zakopane Worth It?
The direct bus takes about 2h 4m and runs every day, so it adds roughly the same time as the train for a flexible schedule.
Buses suit travellers who prefer a door-to-door ticket and a luggage allowance.
Operators and Stations
MajerBus buses run from Jubilat to Zakopane ZDA, and FlixBus also serves the route. FlixBus buses leave Krakow MDA Bus Station on ul. Bosacka 18 from platforms G14, G15, G16 and G17. FlixBus sells tickets online, in its app or at a FlixShop, and the phone works as the ticket.
On board, FlixBus has toilets and power outlets, wifi on most buses, and allows one carry-on bag plus one checked bag.
Look up the fare and timetable for the day you travel on the operator site.
Bus Versus Train
The bus gives you a second option when a train sells out, and it avoids driving in snow. The train is faster by a few minutes on paper. In both cases you arrive without a plan unless you build one, and Zakopane has more to see than a single day covers if you also want the baths or a lift.
Is Driving From Krakow to Zakopane Faster?
Driving takes about 1h 26m over 65.6 miles, but parking and the closed access road to some sights offset the time saved.
A car is the quickest on paper and the least flexible once you are in the mountains.
Car, Rideshare and Private Transfer
The drive takes about 1h 26m over 65.6 miles. BlaBlaCar rideshare takes about 1h 56m and is often the cheapest option. A private transfer is a fifth option next to train, coach and flying.
You cannot drive to Kuznice, the cable car lower station, because the road is closed to traffic. For Morskie Oko the official TPN car parks sell an online e-ticket for a passenger car from PLN 36 to PLN 75 depending on season and how early you buy, and TPN advises arriving before 8:00 a.m. to avoid queues. A tour handles that parking for you, so check which tour you pick.
Sources: Tatra National Park, Polskie Koleje Linowe, Kasprowy Wierch.
An EN77 regional train at the Zakopane platform, the type used on the Kraków route. Photo: Falk2, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Train, Bus or a Day Tour: Which Should I Pick?
Take the train for a self-guided day, and a tour when you want the baths, a lift or a village stop included in the day's plan.
The three options solve different problems. Pick by what you want to do, not by the road.
Decide by What You Want
Choose the train if you know Zakopane, want to walk Krupowki Street and ride the Gubalowka funicular at your own pace. You buy each ticket yourself on the day, and your hours on the ground depend on the return train you pick.
Choose a tour if you want the day arranged. The tours here run 9 to 11 hours with pickup in Krakow. Zakopane Day Trip from Krakow with Chocholow Thermal Baths is $32 per person for 11 hours, Zakopane Thermal Springs Tour from Krakow with Hotel Pickup is $32 per person for 7-11 hours with hotel pickup, and Zakopane Cable Car, Oscypek and Thermal Baths Day Trip is $53.92 per person for 11 hours. Each offers free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
- Train: self-guided, 1h 57m, tickets bought on the day.
- Bus: about 2h 4m, a backup when trains sell out.
- Car: about 1h 26m, parking and snow are your risk.
- Day tour: transport plus stops, 9 to 11 hours.
What a Tour Price Does Not Cover
A tour price is not a total. Zakopane and Tatra Mountains Day Trip, Baths Optional leaves the Gubalowka funicular at 42 PLN per person and Chocholow Thermal Baths at 115 PLN per person to be paid on the day, both optional, and the guide helps buy them. Ask the operator before you book what the ticket covers so you carry the right amount of cash and card.
Source: PKP Intercity.
Tours That Fit
These Krakow day tours cover Chocholow, Gubalowka, oscypek or the baths.
from $32
The pick
Zakopane Day Trip from Krakow with Chocholow Thermal Baths
The most booked Zakopane day: funicular, tasting and 3 hours in the Chocholow pools are all in the price, with 2 hours on Krupowki.
Check Availability
from $32
Most hours in town
Zakopane Tour with Hot Springs, Cable Car and Cheese Tasting
Funicular, tasting and a 3-hour bath ticket included, with about 2.5 hours of free time in Zakopane.
Check Availability
from $32
Top rated
Zakopane Thermal Springs Tour from Krakow with Hotel Pickup
Baths and funicular included, a later 8:00-9:00 pickup and 2.5 hours of free time in Zakopane.
Check Availability
from $53.92
Rated 5.0
Zakopane Cable Car, Oscypek and Thermal Baths Day Trip
The same day as the baths tours above, rated 5.0 on Viator, with both tickets and the tasting in the price.
Check Availability
from $25
Pay as you go
Zakopane and Tatra Mountains Day Trip, Baths Optional
The flexible day: choose the funicular, the baths, both or neither in Zakopane, and pay for them there.
Check Availability
from $25
Lowest price on GYG
Zakopane, Tatra Mountains and Gubalowka Day Trip
A classic Zakopane day without the pools: 2 hours on Krupowki and an hour up on Gubalowka.
Check AvailabilityWhat Should I Know Before Going?
Current closures in November are the Gubalowka funicular (16-27 November) and TPN e-buses to Morskie Oko, suspended for snow.
Mountain days run on weather and maintenance, and neither is guaranteed.
Closures and Weather
The Gubalowka resort is closed for technical maintenance from 16 to 27 November, with replacement coaches to the summit from 9:30 to 19:00. The Kasprowy Wierch cable car is taken out of service for maintenance every May and November and does not run in wind above 20 m/s. TPN suspended e-bus rides to Morskie Oko from 14 November because of snow on the road. Check the page before planning a winter trip.
From 1 March to 30 November all trails in the Tatra National Park are closed to walkers from dusk to dawn, so plan to be back before sunset. A view or an open lift is never a given, so keep the day flexible.
Tickets and Documents
Anyone entering the Tatra National Park on any trail needs an entry ticket, PLN 11 for a single day. The Kasprowy Wierch Tourpass includes it. Poland to Slovakia is an internal Schengen border with no control, but carry a valid ID card or passport, also for children, if your tour crosses it.
A driving licence is not accepted as an ID.
Sources: Polskie Koleje Linowe, Gubalowka, Tatra National Park, Tatra National Park, Polskie Koleje Linowe, Kasprowy Wierch.
Zakopane station is the end of the line from Kraków and sits a short walk from the centre. Photo: Adrian Tync, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Krakow to Zakopane FAQ
How far is Zakopane from Krakow?
The road distance is 65.6 miles and driving takes about 1h 26m. See zakopane day trip from krakow for tours that handle the road.
Is there a direct train from Krakow to Zakopane?
Yes. PKP Intercity runs a train from Krakow Glowny that takes 1h 57m and departs hourly. For a day with stops included, see Zakopane, Tatra Mountains and Gubalowka Day Trip.
How long is the bus from Krakow to Zakopane?
About 2h 4m on the direct MajerBus service from Jubilat, with FlixBus also on the route. A day tour such as Zakopane Tour with Hot Springs, Cable Car and Cheese Tasting bundles transport and stops.
Can I do Krakow to Zakopane as a day trip?
Yes. Tours run 7 to 11 hours with pickup, for example Zakopane Thermal Springs Tour from Krakow with Hotel Pickup.
Is it worth going in November?
Check closures first. The Gubalowka funicular is closed 16-27 November, so read what to know before going.
Does a day tour include entry tickets?
Not always. Zakopane and Tatra Mountains Day Trip, Baths Optional leaves the funicular and baths as paid extras on the day.
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- Things to Do in Zakopane on a Day Trip from Krakow
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- Zakopane in Winter: Is It Worth Going, and What Is Open?
Zakopane in winter in 2027: 1 hour 57 minutes from Krakow by Pendolino. See what is open and what lifts and baths cost.