The Tatra Mountains are a mountain range which forms a natural border between Poland and Slovakia, and are the highest mountain range in the Carpathian Mountains.

In both countries, the English translation of their part is "Tatra National Park". However, in Polish, it's Tatrzański Park Narodowy - while the Slovakian side the name is Tatranský Národný Park.

Understand

Sheep grazing in Kościelisko Valley

History

Tatra mountains were used at first by local shepherds who grazed sheep in valleys. Their names usually come from different families/villages that owned these fields. In 19th century there was growing interest in wood and game from Tatra mountains. Concerns about environment prompted local government to implement law forbidding hunting certain species of animals and in 1873 society was founded which main purpose was protecting certain rare plant species and buying land in Tatra mountains in order to protect it from further damage.

Tatra National Park was founded in 1954 from lands acquired by state, Tatra societies and nationalised property of Uznanski family. By this time many valleys were overgrazed and forests damaged. Despite government efforts, highlanders refused to stop grazing or even sell their property, so their possesions were forcibly taken to expand the park. Nowadays, most of the area is owned by park and shepherd are allowed under certain restrictions to graze sheep in the park valleys. It is the most popular national park in Poland at over 3 million visitors per year (2024).

Landscape

Tatra mountains are pretty much the only proper mountains in Poland with real mountain layers (with exception of the top-most glacier level which is absent). There are many peaks which rise at least 2000 metres above the sea level. Valley is dominated by humans with towns, farming and pastoral activity and deciduous forests. Going higher deciduous forest slowly recedes in favor of pine trees then these give way to pine bushes and alpine layers. On a few mountains there is also exposed rock, these mountains are a little bit higher to climb if you wish so. Some of the mountain valleys are glacial cirques - very steep valleys formed by ice, dividing mountain range. Many lakes are located at their bottom, one of them Morskie Oko is very popular hiking spot.

Flora and fauna

Flowers blooming on Hala Gąsienicowa

Tatra National Park contains many uncommon or even endemic animal and plant species. You can find here Tatra chamois and marmots, more ordinary animals include deer, brown bear, lynx and weasel. There are also many small mountain flowers which often create colorful rugs during flowering. Outside valleys there are many trees including spruce, pine and beech.

Climate

Climate in the park is heavily dependent on your altitude. Lowest parts of the park have continental climate which is about 5 degree colder than usual in Poland and has heavy year-round rainfall with at least 60 mm of rain in month peaking in the summer to about 150 mm of water. Average temperature in the valley are around 15 degrees in the summer and -5 degrees in winter. Mountain peaks can be more than 10 degree Celsius colder than valley and have twice the rainfall. Expect frequent and sudden thunderstorms in the summer.

Talk

Tatra mountains span across border between Poland and Slovakia, so most people you may meet there will speak in languages of these countries, but communicative English is also very common. Staff at mountain refuges should be able to communicate in English too.

Get in

No matter which mode of transport you choose you will be forced to endure huge traffic as Tatra National Park is located closed to Zakopane which is one of the most popular tourist spots in Poland.

By car

The usual route is to go from Kraków via highway then use road . Another way is to go from Silesia via Wadowice by road . If you are coming from eastern Polish mountains you can also use road . In case of Slovakia you will have to use winding roads 57, D3 and 520 going from west or route 66 going from east.

By train

You can reach Zakopane train station pretty much from any larger city in Poland as many trains end their route here. From here you can use local transportation or even go by foot to Tatra National Park as it is only 2 km away.

By bus

You can reach Zakopane from Kraków by many operators including Flixbus and Maxbus. You can also reach Białka Tatrzańska from Poprad in Slovakia. After reaching any of the towns you will have to use local transportation to reach the park.

Fees and permits

You need a ticket to enter the park. You can buy ticket on the internet or thru numerous ticket booths on park entrances (though queues are more than sure). Prices are 10 zł per person, and 5 zł reduced for students, pensioners, disabled and children below age 7. You can opt for 7-day ticket which is 50 zł per person (25 zł reduced). Parkings inside park are paid per day: 36 zł for car, 19 zł per motorcycle and 65 zł for bus/caravan. Group tickets (up to 10 people) are available for 90 zł per day (45 zł reduced). Photo sessions are paid additionally 200 zł. More information available on park site.

Get around

By foot

Most interesting part of these mountains is under national park protection, so if you want to see it, you will have to walk a lot. Mountain range has many trails for both experienced and novice hikers, so navigation is not a problem, but checking difficulty of trail before setting of is mandatory if you want to avoid unpleasant surprises. Another thing worth noticing is that some harder trails are one-way only, and can be pretty dangerous under bad weather conditions.

By bus

On the Polish side, the bus is the best way to get around outside the national park, because buses are cheap (3zł ~ €0.7), arrive and depart very often, and sometimes it is possible to negotiate the route.

There are many mini buses that depart from Zakopane to the main walking areas. A one-way bus to Morskie Oko costs 15zł and to Dolina Chochołowska it is 15zł. Buses leave from the bus station next to the main Zakopane railway station. You will need to have cash for the driver and you usually pay once you arrive at the destination.

See

• 1 Morskie Oko. Circular lake in the middle of valley with deep blue water color compared to sea. There is shelter near lake shore. Expect huge crowds. (updated Sep 2024)
• 2 Dolina Gąsienicowa (Hala Gąsienicowa). Mountain valley on route to Kasprowy Wierch. It is best to visit in August when milions of willowherb flowers bloom in beautiful pink-violet color through entire valley. (updated Sep 2024)
• 3 Dolina Chochołowska. Quite mundane valley for an easy stroll with paved road all the way to it. However if you visit in April the usual field will turn into a violet carpet full of crocus flowers. (updated Sep 2024)
• 4 Wielka Siklawa. Largest waterfall in Poland at 60 metres of height with two cascading streams that spray water creating rainbows. (updated Sep 2024)

Do

Giewont, notice the head on right side

Hike

• 1 Giewont. Mountain in shape of sleeping knight (or so people say) with steel cross on the top. Popular hiking spot and often first spot where people learn about cable and chain supports which make for huge queues. For itinerary you can check Hiking from Zakopane to Giewont. (updated Sep 2024)
• 2 Kasprowy Wierch (Kasprov vrch). Tallest mountain in Poland which can be reached by cable car, although you can hike too. Route goes through scenic valleys. (updated Sep 2024)
• 3 Rysy. Tallest mountain in Poland at 2500 metres. Some hiking experience is advised as it is easy to fall over the rocks. It may be actually better to reach from Slovak side where there are fewer crowds. (updated Sep 2024)

Sleep

Lodging

• 1 PTTK Shelter Murowaniec, ☏ +48 18 201 26 33. Lodge in the mountains. In the rooms with 5 people and more, a fee for linen (10 zł/person) is required. 45-85 zł per person depending on room size. 
• 2 Shelter Kalatówki (Schronisko Kalatówki), ☏ +48 18 206 36 44, recepcja@kalatowki.pl. 55-125 zł per person depending on room size and period of traveling. 
• 3 Shelter Hala Kondratowa (Schronisko Hala Kondratowa), ☏ +48 18 201 91 14, schronisko@halakondratowa.pl. Shelter with two rooms for 6 and one big room for 8 people. 37 zł per person. 

Camping

You are only allowed to camp in designated paid camping sites in towns. There is no camping in the National Park so don't bother bringing your tent. The only options for an overnight stay within the park are the lodges listed above. However they are very popular and can book out up to a year in advance during the summer peak season.

Backcountry

It is illegal to camp outside designated places in national parks in Poland. Tatra National Park does not offer any places to set camping on your own, off the beaten path.

Stay safe

Tatra mountains have probably some of the most turbulent weather in Poland. Sudden thunderstorms and heavy rainfall are a given in summer. In winter avalanches, cold snaps, snowfall and short days may be dangerous. Have good boots as these are tallest mountains in Poland, many tourists foolishly enter park in flip-flops or even boots with heels especially since entrances are usually paved roads. Apply general caution against large mammals: boars, lynx, brown bears and wolves. They are unlikely to attack you, especially if you stay loud enough to not scare them suddenly.

When climbing higher mountains mind the ice. As Polish side of the park is the northern side, ice can remain even up until June!

Go next

• Zakopane - Polish capital of Tatra mountains
• Babia Góra National Park - small park with tallest peak outside Tatra mountains in Poland
• Kraków - capital of Małopolskie
• Niedzica - town with scenic castle in the mountains
• Pieniński National Park - close to Tatra National Park and often combined by tourists, has scenic raft boat tour passing through
• Tatra National Park - on Slovak side, much quieter than Polish park