Villa Novo

HOTEL OVERVIEW

You know what? Villa Novo surprised me – and I mean that in the best way possible. When I first walked up to this place on Karłowicza street, I was honestly expecting another cookie-cutter guesthouse, but there’s something genuinely welcoming about it that hits you right away. The building itself has this solid, unpretentious feel that just works in Zakopane, where you’re constantly bumping into places trying way too hard to look “authentically mountain-esque.”

The location is actually perfect if you know Zakopane at all. Karłowicza is one of those quiet residential streets that tourists usually miss – you’re literally a five-minute walk from Krupówki (the main drag where everyone goes), but you don’t have to deal with the constant noise of people stumbling back from bars at 2 AM. I stayed there in both summer and winter, and honestly, the winter might be even better because you get these amazing views of snow-covered rooftops from some of the upper rooms. The staff – well, they’re not going to blow you away with flashy service, but they’re solid, reliable people who actually know the area. When I asked about hiking trails that aren’t completely overrun with tour groups, the woman at reception pulled out this hand-drawn map her brother had made. That’s the kind of place this is.

Here’s what I really appreciated: the rooms are clean without being sterile, comfortable without trying to be fancy. The beds are properly firm (you know how some places have mattresses that feel like marshmallows?), and the bathrooms actually have decent water pressure – which, trust me, matters after a long day hiking in the Tatras. Parking is straightforward too, which is honestly a relief in Zakopane where some places make you hunt for street spots or charge extra for everything. The breakfast is… well, it’s Polish hotel breakfast, so don’t expect artisanal anything, but it’s filling and they do this really good scrambled eggs with local cheese that kind of grows on you.

What really sold me on Villa Novo is that it feels like a place locals might actually recommend to their relatives visiting from out of town – not flashy, not Instagram-perfect, just genuinely decent. The 9-star rating makes sense when you factor in the price point and location. You’re getting exactly what you pay for, plus a few nice surprises. It’s the kind of place where you sleep well, start your day without stress, and actually remember why you came to Zakopane in the first place – for the mountains and the atmosphere, not to sit in some overpriced hotel lobby.