How to get to Kasprowy Wierch
Kasprowy Wierch (pronounced Kasprovyh Vierkh) is considered to be one of the cult mountains of Poland. Every year, millions of tourists go there to admire the magnificent views of the Tatra mountains from the cable car and from the mountain’s peak. Our great audio guide will accompany you on your trip to the top! Listen to our guide and enjoy the views!
Here are some hints that will help you get the most out of your trip to the top of the most famous Polish peak.
How to get to Kasprowy Wierch
Getting to Kasprowy Wierch is not difficult at all. First, you need to get to Zakopane, which this blog post will help you do.
Once you get to the railway or bus terminal, you need to get to Kuźnice, it is where the bottom station of the cable car is located. From the railway station, it’s a 4 km walk, but I am not sure if its worth your effort as there’s nothing really spectacular to be seen on the way. The best, cheapest and faster way to get there is by one of the minibuses. They depart every few minutes from the bus station, so catching one is no problem at all. They will get you right in front of the bottom station building.
If you want to go there by car, keep in mind that the last stretch of the road, starting from this crossing, is closed for general traffic. Minibuses are allowed beyond this point, but private cars are not. You will have to leave your car on one of the parking areas, of which there are plenty available. For the last 1.5-2km, you will have to walk. It might be a good idea to leave your car somewhere in the centre and catch one of the minibuses.
The tickets
In the high season, Kasprowy gets really crowded and getting there may be challenging. You may spend hours waiting in the long line to buy your tickets. Remember that the departure time is fixed, so you can never be sure how many people are in front of you. Those who bought the tickets in advance don’t need to queue, they can come 10 minutes before departure.
Fortunately, you can buy the tickets in advance. The downside of this is that you don’t really know what the weather will be like on your date.
There are two ways of getting the tickets. First, you can ask at your hotel. In most places, the reception will be able to buy them for you.
A better way is to get them yourself on the Kasprowy Wierch website. It requires some language skills as, for some strange reason, the store is only partially available in English.
Planning your trip
When setting off for the trip, keep in mind that the weather in Tatras may change rapidly. Snow is not uncommon even in the warm months. At the time of this writing, 26 September, there was a 20 cm cover of snow on the top. Be prepared, get good shoes and warm, windproof clothes. Especially when you plan to hike down from the top.
When setting off for the trip, keep in mind that the weather in Tatras may change rapidly. Snow is not uncommon even in the warm months. For example, at the time of writing, 26 September, there was a 20 cm cover of snow on the top. Be prepared, get good shoes and warm, windproof clothes. Especially if you plan to hike down from the top.
Getting to Kasprowy Wierch
The cable car ride takes slightly more than 5 minutes for each section. You will have to change the cars halfway. On the lower section, the best views are on the right side of the car. On the upper section, you should stand in the front-left part of the car, right next to the conductor.
Our audio guide for the cable car to Kasprowy Wierch covers both sections, so make sure that you have it installed on your mobile during your way up.
Getting back
If you buy a return ticket, you will have approximately 1 hour 30 minutes on the top of Kasprowy Wierch. The time of your return trip is fixed, you can check what is on your ticket. If you miss your slot or come early, you are not guaranteed to go. The passengers holding the tickets for the given departure time will have priority, while the rest will be admitted on a first-come, first-serve basis.
A popular alternative to taking the ride down is a walk. In good weather conditions, it can be a nice, rewarding hike. Keep in mind that you will walk down nearly 1000 meters, so it is not as easy as it may seem. There is a decent route planner available here and we have prepared some sample routes for you:
Route 1: A short and easy hike, straight from the top to the bottom station. 6 kilometers 2-3 hours.
Route 2: A long and easy hike. Great views and an opportunity to visit Giewont. 10.5 kilometers and 4.5 to 6 hours. If you’re short of time, a shorter version is available.
Route 3: A long, moderate hike. Get closer to the High Tatras, and enjoy the views over the glacier lakes. 10.4 kilometers, 5 to 6 hours.
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