Zakopane Travel Guide

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Zakopane

Overview: The Tatras, forming the border with Slovakia, is Poland's beautiful alpine range of towering peaks, rocky cliffs and glacial lakes, dotted with numerous little villages preserving traditional highland lives. The region's largest town is Zakopane, Poland's premier mountain resort and a popular tourist destination, both in winter and in summer. It is the winter sports capital of Poland, superbly situated at the foot of the Tatras with immediate access to the ski slopes in winter, but also to the well-marked walking trails during the summer. The charming town has a laid-back fairytale atmosphere, the steep streets lined with traditional wooden cottages made from roughly cut logs and the 'Zakopane-style' architecture featuring delicately carved patterns and intricate woodwork decoration. The town's heart is a pedestrian mall lined with restaurants, cafes and shops. The region is popular for outdoor activities and one of the more popular attractions is the trip to the exquisite glacial lake, Morskie Oko. Zakopane has good facilities and is also known for its fascinating highland folklore and culture and many of the inhabitants wear colourful traditional dress. The resort lies about two hours south of Krakow.