Apartament Olivia Zakopane

HOTEL OVERVIEW

Look, I’ll be honest – when I first pulled up to Apartament Olivia on Bulwary Słowackiego, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. The address sounds fancy, but it’s actually this pretty straightforward street that runs parallel to the main tourist drag, which turned out to be perfect. You get that authentic Zakopane neighborhood feel without being stuck in the middle of all the souvenir shop chaos.

The apartment itself is solid three-star territory – nothing flashy, but everything you actually need is there and works properly. What I really appreciated was how quiet it gets at night, especially considering you’re only about a ten-minute walk from Krupówki Street where all the action happens. The owner clearly knows the building well because check-in was smooth, and they had these little local tips written down that you don’t find in guidebooks. Like which bakery opens earliest if you’re planning an early Tatra hike (it’s the one near the bus station, by the way). The kitchen setup is actually pretty decent – I mean, you’re not going to be preparing any elaborate meals, but if you want to grab some oscypek from the market and make a simple breakfast, you’re all set.

Here’s what sold me on the place though: the location gives you options. You can walk to the cable car station without breaking a sweat, but you can also head the other direction toward the cemetery area where there are some genuinely good local restaurants that most tourists never find. The building itself has that solid, no-nonsense Polish construction feel – thick walls, reliable heating, and windows that actually keep the mountain air out when you want them to. Parking was straightforward too, which honestly can be a nightmare in some parts of Zakopane, especially during ski season. The rating of 8 out of 10 feels about right – it’s not going to blow you away with luxury touches, but it delivers on the basics really well and the value is there. If you’re the type who wants to spend your time exploring the mountains and the town rather than hanging around your accommodation, this place gets you sorted without any drama.