Apartament Pod Borem Zakopane APARTZAKOP

HOTEL OVERVIEW

Look, I’ll be honest – when I first saw the name “Apartament Pod Borem Zakopane APARTZAKOP,” I thought someone had a keyboard malfunction. But this little place in the Jaszczurówka-Bory area actually surprised me in the best way possible. It’s tucked away from the main tourist chaos of Krupówki Street (thank god), which means you get that authentic Zakopane vibe without feeling like you’re trapped in a snow globe gift shop.

The location is what really sold me on this spot. You’re basically surrounded by forest – I mean, “Pod Borem” literally translates to “under the forest,” so they weren’t kidding around with the name. The Jaszczurówka area is where locals actually hang out, and you’ll find yourself walking past these gorgeous wooden villas that look like they jumped out of a fairy tale. It’s maybe a 15-minute walk to the center when you want pierogi and chaos, but far enough away that you can actually sleep at night without drunk tourists singing Polish folk songs under your window at 2 AM (speaking from experience here). The apartment itself feels lived-in rather than sterile – you know what I mean? Someone clearly put thought into making it comfortable rather than just Instagram-ready. The mountain views from the windows hit different in the morning when you’re having coffee and the Tatras are doing that misty, dramatic thing they do.

What I really appreciated was how quiet it gets once the day-trippers head back to Krakow. Evenings here have this almost magical quality where you can hear the forest settling in for the night, and honestly, after a day of hiking or dealing with the madness of Gubałówka Hill, that peace is worth its weight in oscypek cheese. The 8-rating makes sense to me – it’s not luxury by any stretch, but it delivers exactly what you want from a Zakopane stay without the tourist trap nonsense. Plus, you’re close enough to the good hiking trails that you can actually start early before the crowds show up, which any serious hiker will tell you is absolutely crucial in this area. If you’re looking for that authentic mountain town experience where you feel like you’re staying in someone’s neighborhood rather than a hotel district, this is your spot.