Zakopane is one of the most popular destinations in Poland. Both families with babies and true mountain enthusiasts travel here. Therefore, it is not surprising that we often get questions about which hiking trails with children in Zakopane are easily covered, which routes to choose. Therefore, we are sharing the recommendations and a wonderful inspiring interview of mother Asta, who hiked with her child three times in Zakopane.
Asta is not only a lover of mountains and travel, but also the founder of an amazing food blog“Sunny Kitchens”. In this interview, Asta shared very useful information for anyone planning to travel to Zakopane. Asta reveals the secret of how to motivate a child for hiking, how to dress and properly prepare. In addition, thanks to her, you will definitely find out which hiking trails with children in Zakopane can be easily covered.
Tell us a little about yourself. How old is the little traveler?
I’m Asta, a food blogger and photographer, culinary content creator and big travel enthusiast. Together with the whole family, we really like to travel, we love mountains. I am happy to share my travel impressions and advice, route recommendations on my blog and social networks. This is how a travel column “Sunny Kitchens” was created.
My husband and I discovered travel and the mountains a little over ten years ago while traveling across the United States. There, we realized for the first time that such a way of traveling could be possible – in nature, hiking through national parks, climbing mountains. We immediately felt that such trips are our trips, and since then, wherever we travel, we look for mountains, nature, hiking routes in that country.
Our little traveler, Joris, is now six. We have been traveling with him since he was little, we went on our first big trip when Joris was nine months old. Back then, we drove from Lithuania to Croatia by car and spent almost three weeks there, exploring the entire coast from the town of Rovinj to Dubrovnik. Even then, he went for long walks with us, climbed the mountains, settled in the carrier. The four of us completed the first hike in the mountains on our own – in the Sierra Nevada mountains in the south of Spain, we hiked an 8-kilometer route together. Since then, we keep coming back to the mountains together, and Joris hikes on longer and more difficult routes.
Exploring Zakopane with children
How many times have you been to Zakopane? Why do you choose Zakopane?
We have been to Zakopane three times. We went for the first time in winter, at Christmas. We stayed with the whole family in a big, very cozy house and spent the holidays among the mountains. The winter that year was fabulously beautiful, huge snowdrifts covered the roofs of houses and trees. The main hiking trails in Zakopane are accessible all year round, regardless of the weather, and the lifts are open. We had the opportunity to experience winter in the mountains – and it was amazing, very beautiful!
We traveled for the second time in autumn, in October. Nature was already painted in bright autumn colors, and the weather was still warm and sunny. I found it to be the most beautiful time of the year for hiking. Not too cold, not too hot, a little less crowded than in the height of the summer season. The weather is more stable, without the typical summer rains.
We went for the third time in the summer, at the very beginning of July. This is the time when there are the most tourists in Zakopane (as probably anywhere else), so, naturally, there are more of them on hiking routes. Nature is the greenest in summer and the days are the warmest, but at the same time, the weather in the mountains is the most unpredictable in summer, with a high probability of short rains.
I think we will return to Zakopane in the future as it is a very convenient destination. Zakopane is easy to reach by car quite quickly, the travel budget is not high and the Tatra Mountains are very beautiful and there are plenty of hiking routes in them!
Mountains – your hobby or the hobby of the entire family?
I think I can say that all three of us love the mountains. My husband and I discovered mountain hiking a long time ago, we have more experience, so we hike more difficult routes. We were in the Dolomite Alps, Tour du Mont Blanc, in Spain – everywhere together. But Joris is a really cool little hiker, he’s doing great! Of course, if you ask him himself, depending on his mood, he might say that he doesn’t like mountains at all. But as he himself has admitted many times: it’s hard, but he likes it. This is also confirmed by his shining eyes when we overcome the mountain, reach the goal of the hike and can see from above how far we have come.
Another fun observation that I believe applies to many children is the more complicated the merrier! Walking on smooth, neat roads is boring for Jori, so he quickly loses enthusiasm. But as soon as a more difficult route begins, as soon as there are more stones on the road, steeper slopes or some other “obstacles”, hiking becomes much more fun.
Is it easy to hike in the mountains with a child? How do you motivate a child to hike? How to prepare for such a trip with a child?
I thought for a long time how to answer this question. It is known that hiking in the mountains with a child is more complicated than without a child. There are many reasons for this: you are responsible for another little person and their safety, you have to adapt to a different pace of hiking. You have to be more patient and flexible than when hiking alone.
Hiking in the mountains also forces many adults to step out of their comfort zone, so let’s not talk about children – it would be naive to expect them to cover the entire route without fatigue, questions or “breaking points”. More than once, while climbing long, steep hills, I have thought: if it is difficult for me, then how cool Joris is that he has enough patience, strength and endurance to hike together!
Unlike adults, it is difficult to motivate children just because “you know, after six hours of hiking we will reach amazingly beautiful lakes!”. Especially since you won’t even be able to swim in them, just look and admire! So I always have gummies in my backpack, which I call “motivation gummies” and other snacks. Food, energy-giving snacks on a hike are very important for both children and adults. The feeling of hunger can be annoying even in ordinary everyday life, and it is at least several times more annoying during mountain hikes.
Exploring Zakopane with children
Attitude matters
Another thing, no less important, is to work on yourself and get in the mood. Understand that the hike will be a little different than hiking for adults alone, that you will need additional patience to answer hundreds of questions, sometimes “talk to your teeth”, redirect attention, and motivate yourself to cover a few more kilometers. This rule has worked for me many times: children immediately take over the emotions of their parents, so if we allow ourselves to lose patience, get irritated, all this will immediately be reflected in the child’s emotions and mood. It is necessary to hike with a good mood. Let’s start with ourselves – children will also take over the joy, ease of hiking and relaxation.
It’s true, during the last hikes, we noticed that Joris feels differently around me and around his dad. He is strong and energetic, walking side by side with his father. Meanwhile, walking to me, it’s easier to give in to weakness and fatigue and you want to comfort yourself more, more often. I think this is natural – mothers are usually gentler by nature, so tired children come to them for comfort.
Do you have special hiking shoes or clothes for your child?
Frankly, Joris set out for his first hikes with just everyday clothes and shoes. At that time, we were still not sure whether our desire to march together would come true or fail in the first kilometer. To our delight, it turned out that Joris is a great hiker, and we realized that there will definitely be more hikes. It was an opportunity to purchase hiking boots, hiking pants, and a waterproof hiking jacket.
I would say that the most important thing is comfortable, hiking shoes. It is important not only for comfort, but also for safety when hiking in the mountains. The soles of hiking boots are designed to grip the trail better; the heel of the shoe is usually slightly higher to keep the ankle more stable in the event of a fall or sprain; quality hiking boots are more breathable and waterproof.
Which routes would you recommend for first-time travelers to Zakopane with children, and which ones for advanced travelers? What are the best hiking trails with children in Zakopane? Can you tell me more about these tracks?
There are many hiking routes in the Tatra Mountains of Zakopane – from very simple ones, leading through beautiful valleys, to those that go up high to the peaks. I have described all the routes we tried on the blog and on instagram.
For first-time travelers or hikers with small children, I would recommend a hike to Morskie Oko, a walk in Dolina Kościeliska, a lift to Kasprowy Wierch and Gubałówka. You can add them all to your plans, no matter what time of year you travel. These hiking trails with children in Zakopane are a great choice.
Kasprowy Wierch. What to see in Zakopane
Kasprowy Wierch. What to see in Zakopane
Morskie Oko
The most popular hike to Lake Morskie Oko leads along a wide paved road, so it can be done by everyone, even with a stroller. It is true that there is another side of the coin – walking on smooth asphalt for several hours is a bit boring, but the views make up for it. Morskie Oko is a stunningly beautiful lake surrounded by mountains. After reaching it, you can go around the lake or climb up towards another lake. Only here the road is already stony and can only be overcome on foot.
Zakopane with kids. Morskie Oko
Zakopane with kids. Morskie Oko
Zakopane with kids. Morskie Oko
Dolina Kościeliska
Dolina Kościeliska – mentioned in many places as the easiest and one of the most beautiful walking trails (almost 12 km round trip). It’s really easy – it’s wide, without steep slopes, it can be overcome even with baby carriages. The trail stretches along the valley, at the beginning surrounded by forests, a stream flows along the sides, a little further – the trail is framed by high rocks on both sides, and in the distance you can see towering mountains. In the middle of the route, there is a rest area with wooden tables and benches for a rest break.
Those who want to see from the top of the mountains, but do not want or do not have the opportunity to climb them themselves, can go up to the top of Kasprowy Wierch by cable car. After walking on the mountain tops, you can go down with the same lift. It is most convenient to buy tickets online – then you will not have to stand in line at the ticket office. The views from Kaspeowy Wierch are spectacular no matter what time of year you ascend. The most important thing is to have a clear day! On an overcast day, all the views are drowned in gray clouds, although walking through them is also a magical feeling!
Dolina Koscieliska. Mountains with children
Dolina Koscieliska. Mountains with children
Dolina Koscieliska. Mountains with children
Dolina Koscieliska. Mountains with children
Gubałówka
Gubałówka can also be reached by cable car from the center of Zakopane. The entire small town is located here on the top of the mountain. That means you can go for a walk, have fun, and admire the city of Zakopane from above.
Meanwhile, for hikers already familiar with the mountains, I would recommend the slightly more difficult but amazingly beautiful hikes to Rusinowa Polana and Gesia Szyja. You can also hike to Wielki Kopieniec and Nosal, to Dolina Pięciu Stawów Polskich (Five Polish Ponds Valley) and of course to Kasprowy Wierch and Kopa Kondracka. Our Joris also covered all these routes when he was five.
Rusinowa Polana
The hike to Rusinowa Polana is easy, leading along a wide forest road. The only slightly steeper slope leads to a stunningly beautiful valley with an impressive mountain panorama. Here you can choose whether to travel back (then it will be a short and easy hike) or to climb the wooden steps towards Gesia Szyja. This section is a bit more difficult because the steps are quite steep and not all of them are in very good condition. It can be very slippery on rainy days, so you should be extra careful. After overcoming that hill, views of fantastic beauty greet you from Gesia Szyja. They are worth every step!
Rusinowa Polana
Wielki Kopieniec and Nosal
The hike towards Wielki Kopieniec and Nosal is easy enough, only the last section leading to Nosal with huge stones can be a bit more challenging. Both points can be divided into two separate routes, but it is very convenient to combine them if you can allocate at least half a day for the hike. The route takes you through valleys surrounded by mountains and dense forests. You will also see picnic-friendly rivers as you go up into the mountains. I’d say it’s varied, so it’s not boring at all. And, of course, absolutely beautiful.
Wielki Kopieniec. Hiking trails with children in Zakopane
Wielki Kopieniec. Hiking trails with children in Zakopane
Dolina Pięciu Stawów Polskich (Five Polish Ponds Valley)
Dolina Pięciu Stawów Polskich (Five Polish Ponds Valley) – for us, the most beautiful hike of all that we have hiked so far in the Zakopane Tatras. Traveling along this route, the landscape is constantly changing – from lush green forest to mountains supporting the sky, from a stream quietly gurgling on the side of the road to a waterfall falling down with a powerful current. Or from bare rocks to lakes calmly lapping at the top. More than once we felt as if we were somewhere further than neighboring Poland. Although the hike is not technically difficult, it requires patience and endurance due to the relatively long distance. We hiked 24 kilometers and climbed 823 meters in 8 hours.
The destination of the hike is the valley of five ponds, located high in the mountains. I highly recommend that you don’t rush past it – put some snacks in your backpack, maybe even a tourist stove and cups. On the way, make tea, coffee or soup. Such stops allow you to experience the mountains even more, absorb impressions, and enjoy your time. In addition, such breaks help restore strength for both young and old hikers, because there is always a long way back. If the possibility of cooking in nature does not appeal to you, in the valley of five ponds you will also find a mountain hut with a restaurant.
Five Polish Lakes Valley. Hiking trails with children in Zakopane
Five Polish Lakes Valley. Hiking trails with children in Zakopane
Five Polish Lakes Valley. Hiking trails with children in Zakopane
Five Polish Lakes Valley. Hiking trails with children in Zakopane
Kopa Kondracka
Another hike I must mention is towards Kopa Kondracka and from there along the mountain ridges towards Kasprowy Wierch. This is probably the most difficult hike that Joris has completed so far. The distance of the track is only 13 km, but the ascent is almost a kilometer. When hiking in the mountains, you quickly understand that it is not the distance that should be evaluated, but the elevation – it determines how steep the slopes are, and the steeper they are, the more strength and endurance you need. You will need quite a few of the latter on this hike, but once you reach the first goal, the peak of Kopa Kondracka, you will have a redeeming 360-degree panorama of the mountains of Poland and Slovakia from the top.
From this point it would be possible to go back down the same road. However, we like circular routes much more than linear ones, so we thought of hiking towards Kasprowy Wierch. This part of the hike was absolutely spectacular as it led along the mountain ridges. No matter which way you look, the views are breathtaking. Well, after reaching Kasprowy Wierch, you can choose: whether to go down by cable car or to hike on foot. If you have enough time and energy, I recommend going down via Hala Gąsienicowa.
If you are going to hike to Dolina Pięciu Stawów Polskich (Five Polish Ponds Valley) or Kopa Kondracka-Kasprowy Wierch, I would recommend that you do it during the warm season and be sure to check the weather forecast to avoid rain, storms or extremely strong winds.
Are there any trails you would recommend that are stroller friendly or for people who want to hike for the first time with kids?
The already mentioned routes to Morskie Oko, Dolina Kościeliska, Rusinowa Polana, Wielki Kopieniec are really suitable in this case. Also, I sincerely encourage you to take the cable car up to Kasprowy Wierch to experience what it feels like to be and look down from the top of the mountain. It is an impressive feeling and a unique experience, especially if you have not been up high in the mountains before.
How do you travel to Zakopane? With an intermediate stay or directly? Maybe visiting something on the way or nearby?
Once, in winter, we traveled with an overnight stay in Warsaw and visited the Christmas market. We also saw the “Copernicus Science Center”. The next two times we drove directly without intermediate overnight stays. True, during our stay in Zakopane in the summer, we set aside one day for an amusement park Energylandia. Lovers of attractions and adrenaline should definitely add this place to their travel itinerary. It is true that only part of the attractions are intended for smaller children, but the park is so big that the whole family will certainly find entertainment for themselves.
What time of year do you recommend going to Zakopane?
As I mentioned, we have been there in winter, autumn and summer. The landscape in all these three seasons was very different and always amazingly beautiful. However, I would prefer to choose autumn. I would choose the end of September or October, when nature is already painted with rich autumn colors, but the weather is still beautiful and sunny. A big advantage is the fact that there are a little less people in the mountains in autumn than in the height of summer.
