APARTAMENT – ZAKOPIAŃSKI

HOTEL OVERVIEW

You know what? When I first pulled up to Apartament Zakopiański on Droga do Olczy, I wasn’t sure what to expect – the street name sounds all official, but it’s actually this quiet residential road that winds up toward the Olcza area. Honestly, that turned out to be one of the best things about this place. You’re still definitely in Zakopane (you can hear the horse-drawn carriages clip-clopping down Krupówki when the wind’s right), but you’re not dealing with the constant tourist chaos that comes with staying right in the center.

The apartment itself is… well, it’s exactly what you’d hope for in a mountain town like this. Three stars might sound modest, but I mean, what more do you really need when you’re spending most of your day hiking or exploring? The place has that solid, no-nonsense Polish mountain vibe – thick walls that actually keep the sound out (crucial when you’re trying to sleep off a day of trekking), decent-sized rooms that don’t feel cramped when you’re spreading out all your gear, and honestly, the kitchen setup is better than half the hotels I’ve stayed in. There’s something really satisfying about being able to make your own coffee in the morning and maybe heat up some oscypek you picked up at the market. The whole building has this sort of alpine lodge feel without being overly cutesy about it – you know those places that go overboard with the wooden everything? This isn’t that.

What really sold me on the location is how easy it is to actually get around from here. Droga do Olczy puts you close enough to walk into town when you want to (maybe 15-20 minutes to Krupówki if you don’t mind a bit of uphill on the way back), but you’re also perfectly positioned for heading up toward the trails. The Morskie Oko route is practically right there, and if you’re planning to tackle Kasprowy Wierch, you’re not fighting through the main tourist drags to get to the cable car. Plus – and this might sound silly but it matters – there’s actually decent parking here. Anyone who’s tried to park near the main square in Zakopane during peak season knows this is basically like finding gold. The whole area gets busy in summer and absolutely packed during ski season, but staying up on this road means you can actually escape the madness when you need to. The rating of 8 feels about right – it’s not going to blow your mind, but it gets all the important stuff right and gives you a proper base for exploring the Tatras without breaking the bank or dealing with tourist trap nonsense.