Apartament Zielony Blisko Krupówek

HOTEL OVERVIEW

Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much when I first looked up Apartament Zielony – I mean, it’s a 3-star place and the name literally just means “Green Apartment” – but this little gem completely surprised me. The location on Grunwaldzka is actually perfect if you know Zakopane at all. You’re close enough to Krupówki (maybe a 7-minute walk?) to hit all the tourist spots and grab those oscypek cheese things from the street vendors, but far enough away that you’re not dealing with the constant buzz of drunk tourists stumbling back from the bars at 2 AM.

What really struck me about this place was how… well, homey it felt. The apartment itself has this lived-in quality that I actually prefer over those sterile hotel rooms where everything’s bolted down. There’s proper kitchen space if you want to cook – and honestly, with how expensive restaurants can get in the touristy areas, having a real fridge and stove is a game-changer. The “zielony” part of the name makes sense once you’re there; there’s this nice green space nearby and the whole area feels less concrete-heavy than some parts of Zakopane. I spent a good chunk of one morning just sitting by the window with coffee, watching locals walk their dogs before the day tourists arrived.

The 9-star rating isn’t just inflated nonsense either – the owners clearly give a damn about the place. Check-in was smooth (they actually showed up on time, which… you know how rental situations can go), and when I had a minor issue with the shower pressure, they sorted it out the same day. Parking was straightforward too, which is honestly half the battle in Zakopane during peak season. The apartment stays pretty quiet even when the town gets busy, probably because Grunwaldzka doesn’t get the foot traffic that the main drag does. You’ll hear some street noise during the day, but nothing that kept me awake – and I’m someone who usually travels with earplugs. If you’re planning to explore the Tatras, this makes a solid base camp. You can actually walk to some of the trailhead areas, or it’s an easy drive to the cable car stations without having to navigate through the worst of the town center traffic. Plus, there’s a decent grocery store within walking distance, which saved me from paying tourist prices for basic stuff like water and snacks.