Apartament W Starym Obiektywie

HOTEL OVERVIEW

So here’s the thing about Apartament W Starym Obiektywie – it’s one of those places that makes you feel like you’ve discovered something special in Kowary, even though honestly, I wasn’t expecting much when I first pulled up to 1 Maja street. The name literally means “apartment in the old lens” which, you know what, actually makes perfect sense once you see the place. There’s this really thoughtful attention to detail that feels like someone who genuinely cares about photography and aesthetics designed every corner.

The location on 1 Maja is pretty brilliant, actually – you’re right in the heart of things without dealing with tourist chaos. I mean, Kowary isn’t exactly Prague levels of crowded, but still. You can walk to the main square in maybe three minutes, and there’s this little bakery just around the corner that locals hit up early morning (trust me on the rogale). What really got me though was how quiet it stays at night. I was expecting some street noise since you’re so central, but the windows are solid and the building itself just has good bones, you know? Parking was surprisingly easy too – there’s street parking right there, and during my stay in September it wasn’t an issue at all.

The apartment itself feels like staying at a friend’s place, if your friend happened to have impeccable taste and actually knew how to make a space both comfortable and Instagram-worthy. Everything works properly – and I say this as someone who’s dealt with plenty of European rentals where the shower pressure makes you question your life choices. The kitchen’s actually functional for more than just making coffee, which was a pleasant surprise. I ended up cooking a couple meals because, honestly, sometimes you just want to grab stuff from the local market and stay in. The whole vibe is this perfect mix of old building charm with modern touches that don’t feel forced or trying too hard. Even small things like the lighting – it’s warm and makes everything look good without being too dim to actually read.

Look, a 9.9 rating sounds almost too good to be true, but after staying here I get it. It’s not that everything’s perfect in some sterile hotel way – it’s that someone clearly thought through what travelers actually want versus what looks good in photos. The check-in was smooth, communication was clear, and honestly the whole experience just felt… easy. Which is exactly what you want when you’re exploring the Karkonosze region and using Kowary as your base. The town’s got this authentic mountain feel without being touristy, and this apartment fits right into that vibe. If you’re planning to hit the hiking trails or check out the underground mine tours, you’ll appreciate coming back to a place that actually feels like home rather than just somewhere to crash.