Very subjective recommendations. Information current as of 05.08.2025 Restaurants and cafés Places to eat due to their proximity: - Gazdówka pod Lasem Kościelisko tel. 18 207 02 28 - Zajazd Józef w Witowie tel. 600 951 92 - Pełna Chata Witów ----- In Zakopane I recommend a great bistro with scenic views and interesting food. On a sunny day you can see Giewont, and on a rainy day you can observe the life on Krupówki from the 3rd floor at a safe distance 😉 Best to book a table. Prices are unfortunately not cheap, but you can always sit with a pot of tea ;) http://www.strh.pl/ STRH Bistro Art Cafe Address ul. Krupówki 4a (3rd floor) Zakopane Contact tel. 538 439 130 ---- Kawiarnia Filiżanki Grunwaldzka 4A, 34-500 Zakopane —- Food in Zakopane: 1. French Crêpes (from around 14 PLN for a large crêpe) ul. Stanisława Witkiewicza 15, 34-500 Zakopane Prices around 35–40 PLN: 2. Restaurant – Home-cooked Meals "Rusałka" Małe Żywczańskie 5a, 34-500 Zakopane 3. Willa Amicus Regle 1, 34-500 Zakopane Budget food: 4. Prymus Catering School canteen at the secondary school — open 7 days a week, 11:00–16:00 Słoneczna 1, Zakopane Daily set meal 27 PLN ——- Expensive food (small portions, high prices, but hey, you can always break open your piggy bank ;) There are of course plenty of such places ;) There are only 5 restaurants in Poland with a Michelin star, and one of them is right here in Kościelisko. If anyone would like to have a coffee with a view — or even a full meal — at a Michelin-starred restaurant, head to Restaurant Giewont near Zakopane. ——— In the centre of Kościelisko you'll find — a church, a café/patisserie "Samanta", Papu — Italian ice cream, a sports pitch (Orlik), a playground and outdoor gym, a community centre with tourist information and a craft shop, and an indoor play area. Grocery stores: Lejbuś near Królewska street and three shops around the church in Kościelisko Żabka Marcelek Lewiatan Larger supermarkets: Lewiatan – Supermarket Rajski Kościelisko Lidl and Biedronka in Zakopane ——- Regional treats — certified shepherd's huts on the oscypek cheese trail: - Shepherd's hut (bacówka) at Polana Biały Potok in Witów, opposite number 314 — a large wooden highlander figure stands in front — this is where Miss Poland Ewa Wachowicz and we ourselves buy bundz cheese ;) - In Kościeliska Valley — about 10 minutes' walk from the ticket booth, on the right side of the trail. ——- Nearest attractions: - A short walk to the nearest stream and little hill — exit through the back gate, then turn right, around 5 min on tarmac then straight along a dirt track. After a few minutes, turn left to the stream (you can try to cross the stream, then uphill to the first meadow and then the second), or turn right to go a little higher and get a view from the hill. - Chapel at Płazówka — black trail or off-trail through Witów Roztoki. Unfortunately only open on Sundays during mass at 9:30. - STUNNING VIEWS of the Tatras from the Chapel at Śmiechówka — In my opinion the number one picnic spot. If the weather is clear I highly recommend it — 45 min on foot straight from the estate. Marked on maps as Prędówka. Address: Królewska near no. 79. - Lejowa Valley - Biały Potok Valley – Chochołowska Valley – free entry - Trail to Gubałówka - Trail to Butorowy Wierch — you can descend by chairlift, then return by bus - Beach at Gubałówka https://share.google/9mQDN8AzKJ7BizeA4 At the top of Gubałówka in Zakopane, during the summer holidays, there is the highest-altitude beach in Poland. There is sand, comfortable sunloungers, and a superb view (I haven't personally checked it out yet) - Wooden village of Chochołów — Regional Museum (sculpture workshop), Natural Heritage Centre, Museum of the Chochołów Uprising, stone church, Cukiernictwa Marduła patisserie — you can buy directly from production: French cheese pastries, apple cake and more. - Outdoor thermal pool with views of Giewont – Szymoszkowa (Zakopane) — summer only - Termy Chochołów thermal baths — we have 10% discount vouchers for the baths in the apartment. May still be valid. - Picnic by the Czarny Dunajec river — Plaża Roztoki beach — near the road to Chochołów and Chochołowska Valley — about 20 min on foot - Biathlon Stadium and forest — great for cycling with small children, rollerblading, cross-country skiing. In summer a pleasant woodland walk, in winter cross-country skiing only. - Kościeliska Valley — 5 publicly accessible caves and a mountain hut - Chochołowska Valley — mountain hut. Part of the route can be covered by a train-styled vehicle - Kościelisko Kiry This is where the Kościeliska Valley trail begins (free parking near the Biathlon stadium, but not in the official car park — use the side street Groń instead: turn right behind the Lejbuś shop, behind the Biathlon buildings, on the left side of the road. You can walk through the Biathlon grounds). What to do in Kiry where there seemingly isn't much…? 1. If you don't want to enter the valley (ticketed entry), you can walk for free along the Droga pod Reglami path all the way to Zakopane — black trail 2. Konsul horse riding stables 3. Chapel of Our Lady 4. Chałka roll with raisins at the wooden kiosk at the end of Groń street in Kiry 5. Lodowe Wierchy ice cream parlour — before the ticket booth in Kościeliska Valley — even an oscypek flavour ;) 6. Earth Interior Archive Museum — interesting, but for older children. Quite a lot of geological detail, but worth at least popping into the underground section and the gift shop. 7. Gazdówka pod Lasem — they used to have the cheapest daily lunch specials, but sadly those ended. The menu might now not be as expensive as other places in the area. For children: - Indoor play area with café "Fabryka Talentów" Kościelisko. In the same building on the ground floor: Tourist Information with a regional craft shop and Community Centre. - Orlik pitch, playground and outdoor gym at the primary school in Kościelisko - Playground at Dom Ludowy (village hall) - Playground behind the Fire Station On a rainy day The Tatra Museum, which has 10 branches and free permanent exhibitions on Thursdays. I recommend the main building at ul. Krupówki 10. There is also a very nice Tatra National Park Nature Education Centre, Tytusa Chałubińskiego 42a, Zakopane. Entry to the "spoken" exhibition is free. Booking online is required. Warm regards, Dorota 🙂