WILLA MALINÓWKA

HOTEL OVERVIEW

You know what caught me off guard about Willa Malinówka? I expected another typical mountain guesthouse when I pulled up to Poznańska 2, but this place actually has character. The building sits right in the heart of Karpacz – and I mean you can literally walk to everything from here, which honestly surprised me given how quiet it feels once you’re inside.

The owners clearly know what they’re doing, and it shows in all those little details that most places completely miss. Like, the rooms aren’t huge – I mean, this isn’t some massive resort – but everything feels intentional. The windows actually open properly (you’d be amazed how many places mess this up), and you can hear just enough of the town below to know you’re somewhere special without being kept awake. I stayed there in late spring when Karpacz gets pretty busy with hikers heading up to Śnieżka, but the location on Poznańska keeps you just off the main tourist drag. You’re close enough to grab coffee or hit the trails, but far enough that you’re not dealing with tour groups at 7 AM.

What really impressed me was how the place feels more like staying with locals who actually care rather than some cookie-cutter operation. The check-in was refreshingly straightforward – no rushing you through some scripted spiel about amenities you’ll never use. And honestly, with a 9.8 rating, I went in expecting maybe some inflated reviews, but I get it now. It’s not fancy in that over-the-top way, but everything works perfectly. The heating was spot-on during those chilly mountain evenings, the Wi-Fi didn’t cut out every five minutes like half the places I’ve stayed in smaller Polish towns, and – this might sound weird – but the beds are actually comfortable. Like, proper sleep comfortable, not just “eh, it’s fine for one night” comfortable.

The real win here is that you’re positioned perfectly for exploring the Karkonosze without feeling like you’re stuck in some isolated mountain hut. Walk five minutes and you’re at the base of the cable car to Kopa, or you can take the longer route up through the forest if you’re feeling ambitious. There’s decent parking too, which – trust me – matters a lot in Karpacz, especially during peak season when finding a spot can turn into this whole ordeal. I actually ended up extending my stay an extra night because leaving felt premature, and they accommodated that without any fuss or penalty fees. That’s the kind of flexibility that makes you want to come back, you know?