Gubalowka

Gubalowka is the long grassy ridge on the north side of Zakopane, and the source of the classic postcard view: the whole Tatra skyline lined up across the valley. It rises to about 1,126 metres and is reached by a funicular straight from the middle of town, which makes it the easy alternative to a mountain climb.

The funicular runs from a station near the top of Krupowki, the main street, up the side of the ridge in a few minutes. The line is about 1.3 kilometres long and climbs roughly 300 metres. It opened in 1938, built in a matter of months to ready Zakopane for the world ski championships the following year, and still carries most visitors to the top. At the top a paved terrace looks back across the town to the peaks.

The panorama is the reason to come. From the terrace the Tatra ridge fills the horizon, with Kasprowy Wierch and the sleeping-knight profile of Giewont clear across the valley. A row of stalls and snack bars along the ridge sells oscypek cheese and souvenirs. The ridge itself is gentle, so you can walk along the top away from the crowds, or follow paths back down to town on foot.

It suits families and anyone who wants the panorama without the effort of the high mountains. In winter the slopes below the ridge are used for skiing and snow tubing, and there is a gravity slide in the warmer months, so there is more here than the view alone.

Clear weather is everything, since cloud can hide the peaks. Aim for a bright morning or the hour before sunset, when the light on the Tatras is at its best. Midday in the summer and winter high seasons is the busiest, with queues for the funicular, so go early or late if you can.

The lower station is a short walk from Krupowki in the centre. You can also walk up on foot in under an hour if you prefer to skip the funicular. See the Zakopane guide for more on the town.

Gubalowka pairs well with the rest of Zakopane and the valleys around it:

• Krupowki, the main street, right at the lower station.
• Kasprowy Wierch, the cable-car summit on the far side of town.
• Dolina Koscieliska, an easy valley walk into the Tatras.

Most people take the funicular from the station near the top of Krupowki, which climbs to the ridge in a few minutes. You can also walk up on foot in under an hour.

In clear weather, yes. It gives the classic view of the whole Tatra skyline for very little effort, which is why it is one of the most popular things to do in Zakopane. In cloud the peaks disappear, so check the sky first.