Hiking, biking, climbing, flyfishing, running, skydiving … all in one! Zakopane is a great place to practice all kinds of sports.
Fact, sometimes there’s too much rain and wind here, but on the other hand there is nothing to complain about – the Tatra region is the most beautiful in Poland and a paradise for people who love different activities. All enthusiasts of climbing, biking, running, trekking, skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling and extreme sports – everyone will feed their hunger for sports!
On first sight, sports life in Zakopane is not very widespread. Apart from skiers in winter and summer tourists hiking the Tatras, it’s hard to spot other active people here. But this is due to the fact that fans of outdoor sports appreciate places away from the hustle and bustle and do not like to squeeze through the crowds of tourists. And when you also decide to stray off the beaten track, you will discover how many options of active holidays in Zakopane are waiting for you! And we will prove it to you in right now 🙂
Discover 10 best summer outdoor activities in Zakopane
1. TREKKING
The phenomenon of the Tatra mountains is based on their alpine nature combined with a relatively small heights (the highest peak in Poland -2499 meters above the sea level), and thus easily accessible trails. Even during facile trekking you will have breathtaking views all over. Therefore, everyone should choose one of the trails and walk among the beautiful nature and majestic mountain peaks. It is best to go for such trekking with a licensed guide – he/she will take care of a nice and safe trip, but more importantly, you will have a chance to be away from the crowds which are not easy to avoid in summer.
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2. CLIMBING
Are you already a climber? Or maybe you would like to try rock climbing? The Tatras are perfect for both! For advanced climbers the Tatras offer beautiful granite multi-pitch climbing at all levels of difficulty. There are also hidden spots in the Tatra valleys with some great sport climbing routes. There is no official guidebook but as soon as you meet a climber, you have a chance to get to the crag 🙂
If you are a beginner and wish to try climbing with an instructor – you will experience an unforgettable adventure. There are several licensed climbing instructors in Zakopane. It is best to ask for them in the Tatra Heroes’ office. They can either take you to rocks or to a climbing wall (in case of bad weather).
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3. BIKING
Biking is becoming a more and more popular sport in Poland. Every day new kilometers of bicycle routes are being created. Due to the mountainous nature of the landscape, Zakopane and the Podhale region is a treat for MTB lovers. Last year a dozen of kilometers of single tracks were created in Zawoja (55 km from Zakopane). There are also some good single tracks on the other side of the border – in Slovakia.
For road cycling lovers, the Tatra region can be a real challenge – the most difficult part of the Tour de Pologne runs through our area. Therefore you can feel like a real cyclist when forcing 12% uphill climbs.
However, the real bike trip is to follow the trail around the Tatra Mountains! So far the route has 250 kilometers and it is part of the path that is to lead in the future all around the Tatra Mountains both on Polish and Slovakian side.
If you want to recognize the area on a bike or safely start the adventure with mountain bikes, go for a private ride with MTB instructor – you will be given the best bike equipment and you will ride under the guidance of an English-speaking leader.
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4. RUNNING
Fans of running know that it is possible to practice this sport almost everywhere. Therefore you can run around Zakopane, along Droga pod Reglami trail or on the treadmill at the stadium with a view of the Tatras. However, the most satisfied with running here will be those who are into trail running!
Tatra Mountains are the Polish capital of trail running. During the year there are many mountain races and some shorter skyrunning competitions attracting hundreds of runners (and supporters).
In Zakopane there are many outstanding runners with whom you can go for running in the Tatras. It is a good way to make an effective training and get to know the best trails for running in our mountains.
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5. HORSE RIDING
Horses, next to cows, are the most popular animals in Podhale region. These elegant animals used to be an important “engine” in traditional farming. Nowadays they work well for touristic purposes. In winter, they pull sleighs with people, which is called a “kulig”. In summer, you can profit riding on their backs at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. In the area of Zakopane there are several large stables that organize lessons for beginners as well as beautiful trips for more advanced horse riders.
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6. RIVER RAFTING ON PONTOONS
Rafting on Dunajec River is a great adventure and fun for everyone, especially for families and groups of friends. In contrast to traditional “highlander” rafting on wooden rafts, rafting on the pontoons is an active time paddling together with the whole pontoon crew. Dunajec is an easy river for rafting, so we will not call it extreme sport. However, this massive water flowing through the gorge makes this experience like from a movie!
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7. ATV TRIPS
Quads is an entertainment for almost any weather. As you will get dirty from the rivers and mud you will ride through, you can go on ATV even if it’s raining. And this is a valuable advice because it rains quite often in the Tatras 🙂
Quad expedition is a treat for motorsport enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers. It’s best to go on a two-hour trip with the leader (an hour is definitely not enough!) – you’ll see how fast time flies when conquering forest and mountain terrains!
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8. DOG TREKKING
Niche entertainment for “off the beaten track” lovers.
This is not only an adventure because of the dogs, but also their owners who will go with you on a trip. Kasia and Grzegorz will draw you into their world by telling stories about raising 16 Husky dogs, winning Polish championships in dog sleds and making documentary movies about their extraordinary life. And all this will happen when walking with a dog fastened to your belt – ain’t it sound tempting? 🙂
Dog trekking is definitely one of the most interesting offer for active people. Highly recommended.
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9. FLY-FISHING
Mountain rivers are rich in trouts which are ideal for fly-fishing adventure.
In Zakopane, we have several great fly-fishing specialists. When you want to go for fly-fishing you should always go with them. Why? Because they know our rivers like a book! They will teach you the technique, they provide the equipment and they will tell you where to go to find the fish 🙂 But above all, they will take care of our valuable and sensitive environment. Remember – in this entertainment it’s about great fun under the open sky, not about hunting. We care about our environment and we do not kill fishes under any circumstances. All fishes that you catch are released. If you want to catch a fish to eat, we have special trout fisheries close to Zakopane.
10. SKYDIVING
The most extreme entertainment of all after which you become a true Tatra Heroe!
At first, you will fly over the Tatras, then jump into space and slowly fall down … until you spread your parachute 🙂 If the weather conditions are good enough for skydiving and you really want to jump – do not lose the chance! You can have everything recorded on go-pro, so it is definitely a unique souvenir from the Tatras…
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WE KNOW WHAT AND WHERE
If you wish to know more about outdoor activities in the Tatras or you would like to organize an outdoor activity with an English speaking instructor in Zakopane, CONTACT US!
