A comfortable route up the valley
The Kościeliska Valley is reckoned one of the loveliest valleys in the Polish Tatras. The main track is wide and comfortable (horse-drawn carts use it in summer too), with little climb — an ideal family route. Above the valley floor rise distinctive limestone crags and rock gates, and halfway along lies the broad Hala Pisana clearing.
What you can see
- Hala Pisana — a broad clearing halfway up the valley, a good place to rest
- The caves — the Mroźna Cave (seasonal, lit) and the Mylna Cave among others
- The limestone rocks — distinctive crags and rock gates above the track
- The Ornak hut — a hut deeper in the valley, the natural continuation of the route
In practice
The valley lies in the Tatra National Park — a day ticket applies and leaving the waymarked trails is forbidden. Get there from Zakopane by minibus or public transport to Kiry, then walk up the valley. Take sturdy boots and protection from the weather; seeing the caves calls for a head torch and care.
How to get there and practical info
- Getting there
- Minibus or public transport from Zakopane to Kiry, then on foot
- National park ticket
- A day ticket for the national park
- Difficulty
- Easy (the main track) / moderate (the caves)
- Time needed
- Half a day (Hala Pisana there and back)
- The caves
- With a head torch; some are seasonal
- Who it suits
- Very good for families with children
When to go
May and June — melting snow higher up, meadows in flower lower down and few people.
The height of the season — the busiest time, so set off early; storms are possible in the afternoon.
September — golden larches, settled weather, the best time.
A snow-covered valley for ski touring and walking; the caves are closed.
Other sights in Zakopane
Straight-line distances from „The Kościeliska Valley" — calculated from real coordinates. By road it is often further.
Where to stay nearby
Places from our list that have The Kościeliska Valley within walking distance or a short drive.
