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01 · Poland · Zakopane · Lesser Poland · border with Slovakia

Tatra National Park

Poland's only high mountains: Morskie Oko at the end of a road without cars, a cable car to almost 2,000 metres and a ticket for every day in the park.

Photo: Aneta Pawska ↗ · CC BY 3.0 ↗

Tatra at a glance · PDF, 2 pages

Tatra National Park: landscape and origins

Tatra National Park charges an entrance fee: one day ticket for all trails, plus fees for car parks, e-buses and the cable car.

Entrance fees are set by the park director's Order No 6/2025, in force since 1 March 2025; they include 8 % VAT. Proof of a reduction must be shown at the ticket point or if checked.

The park sells the Morskie Oko car parks at variable prices: online PLN 36 to 75 per car, PLN 10 more on the day itself, up to PLN 20 above the base price when demand is high. Order 5/2026 caps the fee at PLN 150 a day.

If you take the cable car to Kasprowy Wierch, park entry is included in the Polskie Koleje Linowe ticket. The e-buses to Włosienica include it as well.

TPN: Order No 6/2025 on entrance fees, in force from 1 March 2025 (PDF, Polish) ↗

The park in numbers

Entry, one day
PLN 11
Reduced
PLN 5.50
7-day ticket
PLN 55, reduced PLN 27.50
Group of up to 10
PLN 99, reduced PLN 49.50
Children under 7
free
Parking Palenica Białczańska, online
PLN 36–75 per car and day
E-bus Zakopane–Włosienica
PLN 89 incl. entry
Kasprowy Wierch cable car, October to December
PLN 129 return
Jaskinia Mroźna
PLN 11

Tatra National Park: Poland's high mountains

02 · Places

Map: Morskie Oko, Kasprowy Wierch and the valleys

Eighteen points between Kiry in the west and Łysa Polana in the east, each checked against OpenStreetMap.

Photo: Jakub Krajňák ↗ · CC0 ↗

Map

20 places on the map

Eighteen points between Kiry in the west and Łysa Polana in the east, each checked against OpenStreetMap.

Open map3D terrain · details and photos for every place
  • Mountains & rock5
  • Water3
  • Arrival3
  • Where to stay3
  • Nature5
  • Surroundings1

03 · Out and about

Things to do: Morskie Oko, Kasprowy Wierch, valleys

From the paved road to the lake to the cable car at almost 2,000 metres (6,560 ft).

Photo: Jakub Hałun ↗ · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗

“Almost 96 per cent of the park lies less than a kilometre from a marked trail.”

Tatra National Park · Grazing sheep in the Kościeliska Valley

Things to do: Morskie Oko, Kasprowy Wierch, valleys

Offer photo: From Kraków: guided day hike over Kasprowy Wierch to Hala Gąsienicowa

Poland Active Krakow · Guided hike from Kraków · 13 hours · Kasprowy Wierch

From Kraków: guided day hike over Kasprowy Wierch to Hala Gąsienicowa

By cable car from Kuźnice to Kasprowy Wierch, over the Liliowe pass to Hala Gąsienicowa and down through the Jaworzynka valley – with an English-speaking guide and pickup in Kraków.

5.0 out of 5 stars1 review on GetYourGuidefrom €271.52as of 5 Oct

  • 13 hours
  • Guide in English
  • Pickup in Kraków
  • Admission fees included

Departure Pickup at your hotel in Kraków, drop-off back there.

According to the list of inclusions, pickup and drop-off, transport in an air-conditioned van, an English-speaking guide and “admission fees” are included; food, drinks and tips are not. The list does not say explicitly whether the cable car ride is covered. The cable car does not run from 19 October to 6 November 2026. Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.

View tour ↗Ad · partner link · checked 5 Oct 2026

More checked toursAd · partner link · checked 5 Oct 2026

  • From Kraków: Tatras and Morskie Oko with a hiking guide ↗Poland Active Krakow · 12 hours · GetYourGuidePrivate transfer with an English-speaking guide to Morskie Oko, park entry included.

    4.8 out of 5 stars6 reviews on GetYourGuidefrom €285.21as of 5 Oct

  • Kraków: hiking in the Tatras and thermal baths ↗VABO TRAVEL · 10 hours · GetYourGuideDepending on the weather to Morskie Oko or higher to the Gąsienicowy lake, park entry included; the thermal baths afterwards are outside the park.

    4.9 out of 5 stars6 reviews on GetYourGuidefrom €134.62as of 5 Oct

Provider's product photo · GetYourGuide

Offer photo: From Kraków: evening at the Chochołów thermal baths with a view of the Tatras

HelloCracow · Evening from Kraków · 7 hours · outside the park

From Kraków: evening at the Chochołów thermal baths with a view of the Tatras

Three hours in the Chochołów thermal pools north of the Tatras, at sunset and in the evening, with return transport from Kraków. The baths are outside the national park.

4.6 out of 5 stars574 reviews on GetYourGuidefrom €56.05as of 5 Oct

  • 7 hours
  • Meeting point Kraków
  • 3 hours in the baths
  • outside the park

Departure Meeting point Wielopole 2 in Kraków, return there.

According to the list of inclusions, a 3-hour ticket for the indoor and outdoor pools, relaxation area and textile saunas, an English-speaking driver and return transport are included; food, drinks, the VIP area, the Olympic pool and towels are not. In the evening the national park is closed: from 1 March to 30 November nobody may be on the trails between dusk and dawn. Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.

View tour ↗Ad · partner link · checked 5 Oct 2026

Provider's product photo · GetYourGuide

Morskie Oko in Tatra National Park in the morning: the peaks above the lake reflected in the still water, wooded slopes on the right

Krakow Balloon Team · Balloon flight · 4 hours · start Nowy Targ

Balloon flight with views of the Tatras from Nowy Targ airfield

About an hour in a hot-air balloon over the Tatra foothills, with views of Zakopane, the Pieniny and Lake Czorsztyn. The launch site is outside the national park.

4.8 out of 5 stars6 reviews on GetYourGuidefrom €228.17as of 5 Oct

  • 4 hours
  • Flight about 60 minutes
  • Meeting point Nowy Targ airfield
  • all year

Departure Meeting point Nowy Targ airfield, Lotników 1; the exact launch site depends on the weather.

According to the list of inclusions, the balloon flight, helping to prepare and pack the balloon, a briefing, champagne after landing and a certificate are included; transport and meals are not. The wind decides the route; crossing the park is not promised. Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.

View tour ↗Ad · partner link · checked 5 Oct 2026

Landscape image, not a provider photo · Photo: Aneta Pawska ↗ · CC BY 3.0 ↗

Ad · we may earn a commission if you book through this partner link – at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the atlas. Offer details checked 5 Oct 2026. See official ticket information.

Nature: chamois, marmots, stone pines

04 · Before you go

Places nearby

Photo: Aneta Pawska ↗ · CC BY 3.0 ↗

Around the park

Field book · Tatra National Park

checked 5 Oct 2026

Tatra at a glance · PDF, 2 pages ↓

00My visit

Nothing saved yet. Every place card has a pin, and so does every place on the Map. What you save collects here, with days, notes and a preview you can share.

01Best time to visit: summer, autumn and closures

What the park sets out about times and closures.

No trails at night

From 1 March to 30 November it is forbidden to be on the park trails between dusk and dawn.

TPN: Daily tourist bulletin – trail conditions and closures (Polish) ↗

Three trails closed in winter

From 1 December to 15 May three sections are closed, among them the crossing from the Valley of Five Polish Ponds over Świstówka to Morskie Oko.

Tatra National Park: rules, FAQ and founding in 1954 (English) ↗

Show on the map

Cable car maintenance breaks

The Kasprowy Wierch cable car stops for inspections in May and November; in 2026 from 19 October to 6 November.

Polskie Koleje Linowe (PKL): Kasprowy Wierch prices 2026 and operating hours, maintenance closure 19 Oct – 6 Nov 2026 (Polish) ↗

Show on the map

Early at the car park

To avoid queues, the TPN advises arriving at Palenica Białczańska before 8:00. From 1 March to 30 November the car park is open from dawn to dusk.

TPN: Morskie Oko in brief – parking prices, e-buses, regular buses, rules (Polish) ↗

Show on the map

At least seven hours for Morskie Oko

The park allows 2.5 hours each way and about two hours at the lake.

TPN: Morskie Oko in brief – parking prices, e-buses, regular buses, rules (Polish) ↗

Show on the map

Cave only in the warmer half of the year

Jaskinia Mroźna is closed from 31 October to 25 April.

Tatra National Park: rules, FAQ and founding in 1954 (English) ↗

Show on the map

Climate through the year

Weather and climate in Tatra National Park

Best months by the climate data: June and August and September. Average daytime highs of 17 to 22 °C, lows of 7 to 12 °C, 89 to 124 mm of precipitation a month. The wettest month is July (137 mm), the driest December (53 mm).

Climate chart in Tatra National ParkAverage daily highs from −2 °C to 22 °C, lows from −8 °C to 12 °C; monthly precipitation from 53 mm to 137 mm.
All monthly values as a table
Monthly averages 2001–2020, NASA POWER model
MonthHigh °CLow °CPrecipitation mm
January−1.7−8.356
February−0.3−7.555
March4.5−3.861
April11.61.564
May16.26.4117
June19.510.2124
July21.712.0137
August22.111.795
September17.17.389
October11.83.071
November6.0−0.856
December0.0−5.953
Year978

Modelled values, not a weather station: NASA POWER (MERRA-2) for a grid cell of about 55 × 45 km around the park's reference point (49.27° N, 19.98° E), with an average cell elevation of about 710 m. Averages for 2001–2020. Higher ground and valleys can differ markedly.

Source: NASA POWER, climatology 2001–2020 ↗ · retrieved 5 Oct 2026

02How to get there: Zakopane, Palenica Białczańska and Kuźnice

Zakopane is the base; for Morskie Oko you continue to Palenica Białczańska, for the cable car to Kuźnice.

Zakopane as your base

The park's tourist information is in Zakopane at Chałubińskiego 44, daily 7:30 to 16:30; it also sells entry and parking tickets.

TPN: Tourist information point, Chałubińskiego 44, Zakopane (Polish) ↗

Show on the map

More than 20 km to Palenica

From Zakopane to the Palenica Białczańska car park is more than 20 km (12 mi) according to the TPN. Regular buses of other operators run there; since 1 January 2026 you buy the ticket from the driver.

TPN: Morskie Oko in brief – parking prices, e-buses, regular buses, rules (Polish) ↗

Show on the map

Morskie Oko parking only with an online ticket

Only drivers who bought an e-ticket in advance may enter the TPN car parks at Palenica Białczańska and Łysa Polana. Your arrival time decides where you park.

TPN: Daily tourist bulletin – trail conditions and closures (Polish) ↗

Show on the map

Kuźnice without a car

The road to the cable car is closed to private cars. Buses marked “Kuźnice” leave from Zakopane bus station.

TPN: Getting to Kuźnice – no private cars (Polish) ↗

Show on the map

Park e-buses

Until 14 October 2026 e-buses run from Zakopane and Palenica to Włosienica; the ticket includes park entry. The service pauses in winter.

TPN: E-buses to Morskie Oko – timetable, prices and opening hours (Polish) ↗

Show on the map

Other TPN car parks

Kiry at the Kościeliska Valley and Chałubińskiego in Zakopane cost PLN 30 a day, Wierch Poroniec PLN 40. The Zazadnia car park is closed because of road works.

TPN: All car parks of the park with rates (Polish) ↗

Show on the map

LegendaryKrakow · Day trip from Kraków · 9 hours · Morskie Oko

From Kraków: day trip to Morskie Oko in Tatra National Park

Pickup at your accommodation in Kraków, drive to the Palenica Białczańska trailhead and walk on your own to Morskie Oko and back. Entry to Tatra National Park is included.

4.5 out of 5 stars42 reviews on GetYourGuidefrom €148.31as of 5 Oct

Departure Pickup at your accommodation in Kraków, drop-off back there.

According to the list of inclusions, an English-speaking driver, pickup and drop-off, entry to Morskie Oko and Tatra National Park and a piece of cottage cheese are included; food, drinks and a guide are not. According to the provider you walk for about four hours. Not suitable for people with reduced mobility. Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.

View tour ↗Ad · partner link · checked 5 Oct 2026

More checked toursAd · partner link · checked 5 Oct 2026

  • From Kraków: Morskie Oko and Zakopane in one day ↗Legendary Krakow · 12 hours · ViatorSame provider via Viator: Morskie Oko with park entry, then the Gubałówka funicular in Zakopane (outside the park) with cheese and vodka tasting.
  • From Kraków: Morskie Oko, SkyWalk and Zakopane ↗KRK-KrakowTours · 12–13 hours · GetYourGuideVan transfer with free time at the lake; park entry not included. The SkyWalk in Poronin and Zakopane are outside the park.

    4.9 out of 5 stars32 reviews on GetYourGuidefrom €91.27as of 5 Oct

  • From Kraków: Zakopane with the Gubałówka funicular and Chochołów ↗Krak Tours · 9 hours · GetYourGuideDoes not enter the national park: the wooden village of Chochołów, the ski jump and the view of the Tatras from Gubałówka, with an English-speaking guide.

    4.8 out of 5 stars975 reviews on GetYourGuidefrom €18.07as of 5 Oct

Ad · we may earn a commission if you book through this partner link – at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the atlas. Offer details checked 5 Oct 2026. See official ticket information.

03Tatra National Park tickets & entrance fees

One day ticket for the whole park, online, at the ticket points or by QR code at the entrance.

PLN 11 per day

Standard PLN 11, reduced PLN 5.50. The weekly ticket costs PLN 55, reduced PLN 27.50. Groups of up to ten pay PLN 99, reduced PLN 49.50.

TPN: Order No 6/2025 on entrance fees, in force from 1 March 2025 (PDF, Polish) ↗

Online, at the ticket point or by QR code

Tickets are sold at the entrances, online at tpn.gov.pl and through QR codes at the access points. Because there is often no signal in the park, the TPN advises buying beforehand.

TPN: Entry to the park – fees, reductions, exemptions and opening hours of the ticket points (Polish) ↗

Who pays less

Pupils and students, pensioners, people with disabilities and serving soldiers pay the reduced rate. Proof must be shown if checked.

TPN: Entry to the park – fees, reductions, exemptions and opening hours of the ticket points (Polish) ↗

Who pays nothing

Children under seven, holders of the Karta Dużej Rodziny (Large Family Card) and residents of Zakopane, Kościelisko, Poronin, Bukowina Tatrzańska and Biały Dunajec.

TPN: Entry to the park – fees, reductions, exemptions and opening hours of the ticket points (Polish) ↗

15 per cent for mountain rescue

The park spends the income on trails, toilets and nature conservation; 15 % goes to the Tatra mountain rescue service TOPR.

TPN: Entry to the park – fees, reductions, exemptions and opening hours of the ticket points (Polish) ↗

Dolina Chochołowska: its own ticket point

Most of the valley belongs to a forest community that sets its own fees and often takes cash only at Siwa Polana.

TPN: Entry to the park – fees, reductions, exemptions and opening hours of the ticket points (Polish) ↗

04Where to stay: mountain huts, no tents

There are eight PTTK huts in the park; camping is forbidden.

Eight PTTK huts

All mountain huts on the Polish side belong to the Polish Tourist and Sightseeing Society PTTK, among them the huts at Morskie Oko and in the Valley of Five Polish Ponds.

Tatra National Park (TPN): the park – 21,197 ha, Rysy 2,499 m, 275 km of trails, eight mountain huts (Polish) ↗

Show on the map

The hut at Morskie Oko

Today’s building from 1908 stands on the moraine above the lake; beside it is the Old Hut of 1891, once a carriage house.

TPN: Trail Palenica Białczańska – Morskie Oko and the loop around the lake (Polish) ↗

Show on the map

Parking for several days

If you stay in a hut, buy the Palenica parking ticket in advance for every day. Sleeping in vehicles is not allowed there.

TPN: Morskie Oko in brief – parking prices, e-buses, regular buses, rules (Polish) ↗

Show on the map

Murowaniec on Hala Gąsienicowa

On Hala Gąsienicowa, one of the four climbing areas of the park, stands the Murowaniec hut.

Tatra National Park (TPN): the park – 21,197 ha, Rysy 2,499 m, 275 km of trails, eight mountain huts (Polish) ↗

Show on the map

05Rules: dogs, drones, camping, bears

What the park explicitly forbids or requires.

No dogs

Dogs and other pets are not allowed on the park trails, not even in a backpack. Guide dogs are the exception.

Polskie Koleje Linowe: Kasprowy Wierch FAQ – Tourpass, journey time, last ride up (Polish) ↗

No drones

Drones disturb wildlife and endanger the mountain rescue helicopter; flying them in the park is forbidden.

Tatra National Park: rules, FAQ and founding in 1954 (English) ↗

No camping

You stay overnight in the mountain huts. Fires, open flames and smoking are only allowed at designated places.

Tatra National Park: rules, FAQ and founding in 1954 (English) ↗

Stay on the trails

Almost 96 % of the park lies less than a kilometre from a marked trail; nobody may walk off them.

Tatra National Park: rules, FAQ and founding in 1954 (English) ↗

Bears: back away calmly

Bears, wolves and lynx live in the Tatras. If you meet a wild animal, move away quietly and never feed it.

TPN: What to do if you meet a bear (Polish) ↗

No litter bins

There are deliberately no bins in the park; take everything you bring back out.

Tatra National Park: rules, FAQ and founding in 1954 (English) ↗

06Frequently asked questions: Tatra National Park

Does Tatra National Park charge an entrance fee?

Yes. A day costs PLN 11, reduced PLN 5.50, a week PLN 55 or PLN 27.50. Children under seven and holders of the Karta Dużej Rodziny pay nothing.

TPN: Order No 6/2025 on entrance fees, in force from 1 March 2025 (PDF, Polish) ↗

Where do I buy Tatra National Park tickets?

Online at tpn.gov.pl, at the ticket points at the entrances or through QR codes at the access points. Because there is often no signal in the park, the park recommends buying in advance.

TPN: Entry to the park – fees, reductions, exemptions and opening hours of the ticket points (Polish) ↗

Do I need to book parking for Morskie Oko?

Yes. Only drivers with an e-ticket bought in advance may enter the TPN car parks at Palenica Białczańska and Łysa Polana. Online a car costs PLN 36 to 75 a day.

TPN: Daily tourist bulletin – trail conditions and closures (Polish) ↗

How long is the walk to Morskie Oko?

About 8 km (5 mi) on a paved road from Palenica Białczańska, 2.5 hours each way according to the park. With a break at the lake, allow at least seven hours.

TPN: Morskie Oko in brief – parking prices, e-buses, regular buses, rules (Polish) ↗

Are there still horse carriages to Morskie Oko?

Yes, but since 1 September 2026, as a pilot, only as far as Wodogrzmoty Mickiewicza, about 2.9 km (1.8 mi). The park e-buses continue to Włosienica.

TPN: Horse-drawn carts to Morskie Oko – rules, pilot from 1 September 2026, veterinary checks (Polish) ↗

How much is the Kasprowy Wierch cable car?

From 1 October to 18 December 2026 a return ticket costs PLN 129, reduced PLN 109. In summer online prices ranged from PLN 99 to 165 depending on the time. Park entry is included.

Polskie Koleje Linowe (PKL): Kasprowy Wierch prices 2026 and operating hours, maintenance closure 19 Oct – 6 Nov 2026 (Polish) ↗

Can I bring my dog?

No. Dogs are not allowed on the trails of Tatra National Park, not even in a backpack. Guide dogs are the exception.

Polskie Koleje Linowe: Kasprowy Wierch FAQ – Tourpass, journey time, last ride up (Polish) ↗

Can I hike in Tatra National Park at night?

Not from 1 March to 30 November: all trails are closed between dusk and dawn. If you walk to Morskie Oko, be back at your car before sunset.

TPN: Daily tourist bulletin – trail conditions and closures (Polish) ↗

Is Tatra National Park the same as the one in Slovakia?

No. The Polish Tatrzański Park Narodowy borders the Slovak Tatranský národný park (TANAP). Together they form one natural area, but each has its own administration and rules.

Tatra National Park: rules, FAQ and founding in 1954 (English) ↗

07Where the facts come from

Entry and fees from the park director's orders 6/2025 and 5/2026, parking, e-buses and carts from tpn.gov.pl, cable car prices from the operator PKL, visitor numbers from Statistics Poland (GUS).

  1. Tatra National Park (TPN): the park – 21,197 ha, Rysy 2,499 m, 275 km of trails, eight mountain huts (Polish) ↗
  2. Tatra National Park: rules, FAQ and founding in 1954 (English) ↗
  3. TPN: Entry to the park – fees, reductions, exemptions and opening hours of the ticket points (Polish) ↗
  4. TPN: Order No 6/2025 on entrance fees, in force from 1 March 2025 (PDF, Polish) ↗
  5. TPN: Order No 5/2026 on fees for parking, horse-drawn carts and the cable car, in force from 1 February 2026 (PDF, Polish) ↗
  6. TPN: Online tickets for entry, parking and e-buses (Polish) ↗
  7. TPN: Morskie Oko car parks – online tickets, rules and opening hours (Polish) ↗
  8. TPN: Morskie Oko in brief – parking prices, e-buses, regular buses, rules (Polish) ↗
  9. TPN: All car parks of the park with rates (Polish) ↗
  10. TPN: E-buses to Morskie Oko – timetable, prices and opening hours (Polish) ↗
  11. TPN: Horse-drawn carts to Morskie Oko – rules, pilot from 1 September 2026, veterinary checks (Polish) ↗
  12. TPN: Trail Palenica Białczańska – Morskie Oko and the loop around the lake (Polish) ↗
  13. TPN: Daily tourist bulletin – trail conditions and closures (Polish) ↗
  14. TPN: Cable car to Kasprowy Wierch – length, stations, operating hours and closures (Polish) ↗
  15. TPN: Getting to Kuźnice – no private cars (Polish) ↗
  16. Polskie Koleje Linowe (PKL): Kasprowy Wierch prices 2026 and operating hours, maintenance closure 19 Oct – 6 Nov 2026 (Polish) ↗
  17. Polskie Koleje Linowe: Kasprowy Wierch FAQ – Tourpass, journey time, last ride up (Polish) ↗
  18. TPN: Director's orders (Polish) ↗
  19. TPN: What to do if you meet a bear (Polish) ↗
  20. TPN: Tourist information point, Chałubińskiego 44, Zakopane (Polish) ↗
  21. Statistics Poland (GUS): Polish national parks in official statistics (Polish) ↗
  22. Polskie Parki Narodowe (portal of the Ministry of Climate and Environment): Tatrzański Park Narodowy ↗
  23. Karkonosze National Park: entry and ticket points (Polish) ↗
  24. Správa TANAP: Tatranský národný park, the Slovak side of the Tatras (Slovak) ↗

How current is this information?

Researched 5 Oct 2026. Not a live status. Dates apply only to the year stated. A successful automatic fetch is not an editorial confirmation; outdated automatic values are hidden and replaced by the source link.

Current information from the park ↗

Image and map credits

Location sources: All points come from OpenStreetMap and are individually referenced by their object number. The tourist information in Zakopane and the Łysa Polana car park lie on the edge of or outside the park and are shown as starting points. Altitudes according to TPN, PKL and OpenStreetMap. Markers do not imply that access is permitted. Base map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Coastlines of the chapter map: Natural Earth.

End of the field book · Park authority ↗