Poland- Krakow/Zakopane area in summer

[CoolShoeshine]

We were hoping to have a winter break in Zakopane but it is difficult to get time off.
We have summer holidayed in the Alps before and really enjoyed it. We were thinking this might be an interesting two centre holiday in summer - 3 nights in Krakow and 4 nights in Zakopane or an alternative mountain resort in the area.
we wouldn’t hire a car so would need to get around by public transport or Uber.
We’re pretty sure there will be plenty to do in Krakow but concerned about the mountain resorts. Will there be enough to do in summer? We don’t like to be bored but are not into extreme sports like paragliding or white water rafting!
Love shops, cafes, restaurants, cycling, swimming and walks. Would have liked to ski but guessing that’s not possible outside of winter. Are there any other interesting sights in the area? Will there be plenty of other holidaymakers that time of year?
also what is the climate like in July/Aug?

Zakopane has become manic in the summer, but you'd find plenty to do. We regularly visit Wisla further west, which is a lovely little town, but we hire a car. I'm not sure how doable it would be without.

Thank you @saraclara manic sounds ok to me as presumably lots of people = plenty of restaurants and cafes open and things to do!

Zakopane is great with some lovely walks. Morskie Oko, go up in the cable car and walk down. There was a beautiful valley we visited. We spent a week there and found plenty to do, but it was few years ago now. I would go back.

Thank you @MissAmbrosia i have looked up Morski Oko and that’s definitely on your to-do list

Zakopane is incredibly popular compared with our first visit 30 years ago! It's a good place to stay without a car as there are lots of minibuses going to the starts of the walks. You have to pay a small amount to go into the National Park. It's very beautiful. In some parts you can take a horse-drawn cart if you don't want to walk. There's a very good swimming pool complex in Zakopane, a folk museum and a fascinating graveyard. Most people speak at least some English these days. Polish is a difficult language but if you check out how to pronounce the letters it's very useful, eg sz =sh, cz=, sh, w=v, j=y, etc.
Good souvenirs are sheepskin slipper boots, smoked sheep's milk cheeses, carved painted birds, and paper cut-out pictures.
Imo Polish people tend to be reserved and formal with visitors but don't take this personally... They are also extremely hospitable, courteous, and sociable given the appropriate setting.
I hope that helps!

Does anyone have good tips on things to see/do in Krakow? I have been for work and managed a quick walk around the town square and the castle but nothing more. Likely to be more trips and I’d like to take advantage!

From Krakow, we went on a day trip to Auschwitz. Imo, it is very moving - the sheer size of the place (camps 1 and 2), the piles of goods taken off the prisoners, the railway tracks into camp 2……It’s a lesson to us all - don’t let this happen again!

We liked the old Jewish quarter in Krakow. Iirc, you can go and see Oskar Schindler’s factory. We walked along the river bank. There is a stunning little church on the main square. Eating and drinking is great!

We loved Zakopane!

Whenever you’re in any big Polish city don’t skip the museums, they’re almost all brilliant if that’s your sort of thing. The Princes Czartoryski Museum especially is wonderful and really quite big, has pretty V&A type artifacts.

Churches always also make good visiting in Poland, St Mary’s church where the trumpet call is played is enormous.

I’d also say eat in a milk bar, they serve traditional Polish food and some bits on the menu might be slightly baffling for someone English but they’re incredibly cheap and well cooked meals.

Thank you for all the tips everyone! I think we may have to postpone until after 2024 now but I’ll keep a note of your recommendations until I get there! 😊