Gubałówka ski slope and snowpark (PKL), Zakopane

Gubałówka (1123 m) is the ridge above the northern part of Zakopane, reached from the town centre in 3.5 minutes by the funicular of Polish Cableways (PKL). At the top, on the glade next to the upper station, PKL runs a small ski area: a nursery slope with a T-bar and the Goobaya snowpark, which the operator calls the highest snowpark in Poland. It is not a resort for long descents but a place to ski for an hour or two with the whole Tatra panorama in front of you, practise your first jumps or put a child on skis right above the town. The funicular has a long history: it opened on 20 December 1938 after 168 days of construction and was completely rebuilt in 2001, since when it has carried up to 2000 people an hour.

Slopes and lifts

According to PKL's table, Gubałówka's ski facilities are:

• "Górna Polana" run (Upper Glade) – 300 m, floodlit and with snowmaking.
• "Polana Gubałówka" T-bar – a single-person drag lift, 300 m along the slope.
• Goobaya snowpark – 300 m of features, kickers and training zones, also floodlit and snow-made. It has a Banger Bag airbag for safe first jumps, a separate area for learning freestyle basics and features for different levels; lessons are given by a freestyle academy.
• Tubing – a separate 100 m track for sliding down on inflatable rings.

The slope is reached by funicular from the lower station on Na Gubałówkę Street (1301 m of track, cars for 120 people). Next door, on another slope of the same ridge, the separate Polana Szymoszkowa station runs a six-seat chairlift and a longer run – it has a different operator and a different ski pass. PKL's two-seat chairlift to Butorowy Wierch is listed by the operator as a sightseeing lift; PKL does not list a ski run along it.

Season and ski passes

The season depends on snow and snowmaking – usually December to March; in winter 2025/26 the "Polana Gubałówka" lift was running at least from early February. PKL has not yet announced the 2026/27 dates. The Gubałówka ski pass is time-based: it is valid on the T-bar and includes one funicular ride up and down. Under PKL's current price list (season 2025/26) an adult ticket costs 85 PLN for 2 hours, 95 PLN for 4 hours and 109 PLN for a day online; at ticket offices, machines and the customer service office it is 89, 99 and 119 PLN. Reduced tickets are for children aged 5–15 and people over 65, and children under 4 ride free. Gubałówka is also part of the PKL 2026/27 season pass, together with Kasprowy Wierch, Palenica, Mosorny Groń and Jaworzyna Krynicka (2099–2799 PLN depending on the purchase date). The funicular currently runs from 9:00 to 19:00; PKL posts the winter lift hours in the status tables on its website. Prices as of October 2026 – check the official website.

Who it suits

Gubałówka suits beginners, children and anyone who wants to pop onto the snow between walks around Zakopane, as well as teenagers and adults learning freestyle: the Banger Bag airbag lets you try jumps without the risk of injury. Experienced skiers will find it cramped – for real slopes head to Kasprowy Wierch or neighbouring Szymoszkowa. There are restaurants and market stalls at the top, and for non-skiers the funicular and the Tatra views are attraction enough.

Getting there from Ukraine

From the Krakovets–Korczowa or Shehyni–Medyka crossings the road runs along the A4 motorway to Kraków, then the S7 and road no. 47 to Zakopane (about 330 km in total). Trains and buses run from Kraków to Zakopane. The lower funicular station is at Na Gubałówkę 4, a few minutes' walk from Krupówki Street, where PKL also has a customer service office. It is easiest to leave the car in one of the paid car parks in central Zakopane and ride the funicular up.

Nearby: trails and peaks

The ridge and its views have their own page: Gubałówka — viewpoint ridge above Zakopane. The hiking trail Antałówka – Gubałówka, upper funicular station leads to the top station, and from town you can walk up the path Zakopane – Kotelnica – Gubałówka. Next to the lower station is the Market under Gubałówka.

Official website: pkl.pl

Photos: Jonathanawhite at English Wikipedia, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons; Mateusz Kudła, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; Kgbo, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Igor123121, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.