Ski Resorts in Poland

Located in the heart of Europe, Poland is home to impressive mountain ranges, from the Table Mountains to the High Tatras and the Carpathians Forest, the only high-altitude mountains in the county, along with Poland’s highest mountain, the Rysy (2 499 m). Poland is a multifaceted country where cheap and really safe cities are full of hospitable people ready to welcome new visitors. Although it has developed in a modern, vibrant state over the past decade, it still maintains its traditional customs. With much more affordable ski resorts than Austria or Switzerland, Poland is a perfect destination for you if you want to avoid high prices and large crowds, so check out where to ski for a perfect winter holiday!

1) Zakopane

Zakopane is a townin the extreme south of Poland, lying in the valley between the Tatry Mountains and Gubałówka Hill. You can reach Zakopane by train or bus from the district capital Kraków. The town is a center of the popular Góral culture and is known as ‘the winter capital of Poland’. When it comes to mountaineering, skiing and winter tourism, Zakopane is the number one destination of the country. The best snow conditions are between January and late April, although sometimes the most popular resort in Zakopane, Kasprowy Wierch, is open into early May. Apart from Kasprowy Wierch, Nosal and Gubałówka Hill are popular spots as well. The entire area of Zakopane has direct access to 16 pistes served by 20 ski lifts.

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2) Szczyrk

Szczyrk is located in the mountain range of Beskid Śląski, about 600 m above sea level, in the valley of the river Żylica. The site is popular for its fantastic climatic conditions both in summer and winter. Being sheltered from the winds and exposed directly to the sun, it offers excellent snow conditions. With 2 chair lofts and 25 surface lifts, Szczyrk has the largest number of ski lofts and runs in Poland that offer skiers more than 700 m of vertical descent. 27 pistes cover the area of 40 km. However, if you prefer cross-country skiing there are six routes with a combined distance of a little bit less than 40 km. The airports of Kraków and Katowice are only a two-hour drive from the resort, so you can easily plan your ski weekend.

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3) Karpacz

Karpacz is one of the most important ski, ski jumping and mountain hiking centres in Poland. Apart from being a well known ski resort, it is also a spa town in Jelenia Góra County, Lower Silesia Voivodeship. It is situated in the Karkonosze Mountains, a resort with constantly increasing importance for tourism as an alternative to the Alps. Thanks to its fantastic location and the advantages of its environment, Karpacz is a sports and recreational center in the summer as well as in the winter. The site has mainly beginner-intermediate skiing and snowboarding pistes and is a family-friendly ski resort. Karpacz – Kopa has access to two distinct summits above the village, with several smaller ski areas nearby.

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4) Białka Tatrzańska – Kotelnica

Białka Tatrzańska – Kotelnica is a picturesque village consisting of 2 ski resorts, Kotelnica and Bania. Together these two make the biggest and best ski area in Poland, with the capacity of almost 20 000 passengers per hour. If you are a beginner, there are instructors to help you learn how to ski. You can also find ski and snowboard rental, but several ski huts with delicious food and warm beverages as well. There are a few ski centres in and around Białka: Kotelnica Białczańska, Kaniówka, Bania, Jurgów Ski, Koziniec, Grapa Litwinka, Czorsztyn-ski, U Kuruca, with numerous ski lifts of all sorts. Most of the ski lifts can be used within a common ski pass system, Tatra Ski.

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5) Szklarska Poręba
Szklarska Poręba is an important regional and national centre for mountain hiking, cycling and skiing, situated in the valley of Kamienna, between the Karkonosze Mountains in the south and the Izera Mountains in the west. Thanks to wide range of Alpine and Nordic skiing facilities, the ski resorts in this area are constantly growing in popularity. For every tourist looking for adventure, peace and quiet, or who just wants some time in nature, Szklarska Poręba is the place to visit. It offers amazing spots both for relaxation and active leisure, from breathtaking landscape to cascades surrounded by granite rocks. The centre of the town is Szrenica, the ski centre with five ski routes of different difficulty levels, the highlight of which is Karkonosz Express, a chairlift with couches for six people.

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