Hotel Willa Pod Skocznią

HOTEL OVERVIEW

Honestly, when I first pulled up to Hotel Willa Pod Skocznią on Piłsudskiego street, I wasn’t expecting much from a 3-star place. But you know what? Sometimes the unassuming spots are the ones that totally surprise you. The location is actually brilliant if you know Zakopane – you’re literally a stone’s throw from the famous ski jump (hence the name “Pod Skocznią” which means “Under the Ski Jump”), and I mean that literally. You can see it from some of the rooms, which is pretty cool when they’re hosting competitions.

What really got me was how the staff seemed to genuinely care about making your stay work. The owner – I think his name was Marek – actually remembered my coffee preference by day three, which doesn’t happen at those big chain hotels. The rooms are clean and comfortable, nothing fancy but everything works properly (the shower pressure is surprisingly good, and trust me, after hiking in the Tatras all day, that matters). I stayed in October when Zakopane gets those crisp mountain mornings, and the heating worked perfectly. The breakfast isn’t huge but it’s proper Polish fare – fresh bread, local cheeses, and strong coffee that’ll wake you up before hitting the trails.

Here’s the thing about the location that guidebooks won’t tell you – you’re right on one of the main streets, but it’s actually quiet at night because most of the tourist chaos happens closer to Krupówki pedestrian street. You can walk to the town center in maybe 10 minutes, but you’re far enough away that you won’t hear drunk tourists at 2 AM. There’s decent parking too, which if you’ve driven in Zakopane during peak season, you’ll appreciate. The Aqua Park is practically next door if you’re traveling with kids, and honestly, the thermal pools there are perfect after a day of hiking. What I really loved was being able to walk to some of the quieter trail starts – you can hit the path to Gubałówka without dealing with the cable car crowds, or head toward Jaszczurówka for those Instagram-worthy chapel shots. The hotel feels more like a family-run guesthouse than a typical hotel, which works perfectly in a place like Zakopane where the whole vibe is about mountain hospitality rather than corporate polish.