Apartament u Zosi 2

HOTEL OVERVIEW

Look, I’ll be straight with you about Apartament u Zosi 2 – it’s one of those places that completely changes how you think about staying in Zakopane. When I first pulled up to Jaszczurówka 8, I was honestly a bit skeptical because the street looks so residential and quiet, but that turned out to be exactly what made it special.

The thing about this apartment is that Zosi (the owner) has this incredible knack for making you feel like you’re staying at a friend’s place rather than some sterile rental. I mean, she’s actually around and genuinely cares about whether you’re comfortable – not in an intrusive way, but you know what I mean. The apartment itself sits in this perfect sweet spot where you’re close enough to walk into the main tourist area (it’s maybe a 15-minute stroll to Krupówki), but far enough away that you don’t hear the late-night revelry from all the bars. Honestly, after spending days hiking in the Tatras, coming back to this quiet little corner felt like such a relief. The place has that mountain cabin feel without being rustic to the point of inconvenience – there’s good wifi, the shower actually has decent pressure, and the kitchen is stocked with everything you’d actually need to make breakfast or heat up some of those amazing local sausages from the market.

What really won me over was how Zosi knows the area inside and out. She’ll casually mention that the best pierogi spot is actually three blocks down from where all the guidebooks send you, or that if you take the trail behind the cemetery (sounds morbid, but bear with me), you’ll hit some of the most gorgeous mountain views without fighting crowds of tourists. The apartment building itself is this charming older structure that feels authentically Polish – none of that generic European hotel vibe. You can hear the neighbors occasionally, but it’s more like comforting life sounds rather than anything disruptive. Parking was way easier than I expected too, which if you’ve ever tried to navigate Zakopane’s center with a car, you’ll know is a minor miracle. The beds are actually comfortable (I’m picky about this), and there’s this little balcony where you can sit with your morning coffee and watch the mountains wake up. During peak season it fills up fast, and I can see why – it’s got that perfect combination of being affordable without feeling cheap, personal without being overwhelming, and positioned where you feel like you’re living in Zakopane rather than just visiting it. That 9-star rating isn’t some fluke; it’s what happens when someone actually cares about hospitality instead of just running a business.