Krupowki Street (Ulica Krupówki)

The basics

It would be hard to visit Zakopane without taking a stroll or several along Krupowki Street, and whether you’re looking to eat out, grab a drink, sample cheese and vodka, stock up on souvenirs, or buy some last-minute mountain gear, there will be something for you here. Skiers, snowboarders, and hikers tend to base in Zakopane, but travelers with less time often visit on day trips from Krakow: Krupówki is as essential a stop on Zakopane tours as the Mt. Gubalówka funicular.

Things to know before you go

• Krupowki Street is a must for any visitor to Zakopane: You can’t say you’ve been to Zakopane if you haven’t wandered down Krupowki Street.

• You could spend anything between a 5-minute photo stop, an afternoon’s shopping, and a night’s entertainment on Krupowki Street.

• Krupówki is reasonably accessible, but cobbles in places may challenge some travelers who rely on wheelchairs.

How to get there

Krupowki Street is in the heart of Zakopane’s historic district, running for about 1,100 yards (1 kilometer) from Kościeliska and Nowotarska streets to Witkiewicza, Tetmajera, and Zamoyskiego streets. It’s about 1.5 miles (2.5 kilometers) from the train station, and the journey from Krakow takes about 2 hours.

When to get there

Krupowki’s shops and stores stay open well into the evening, while you can find a drink somewhere as late as 3am. Early evening is a good time to visit, with stores, restaurants, pubs, and bars open for business. Needless to say, it’s busiest at weekends.

What to buy on Krupowki Street

Krupowki Street is a shopping heaven, with international brands from North Face to TK Maxx. But souvenir buyers will want to go more local. On the clothing front, leather jackets are well-priced, as are traditional highland folk costumes. From a food and drink perspective, delicious oscypek cheese is a must—or you can brave the potent local plum brandy, śliwowica.