Polana Szymoszkowa ski station, Zakopane

Polana Szymoszkowa is a ski station on the north-western edge of Zakopane, on the slope of the Gubałówka ridge, about 1.5 km from Krupówki Street. Its great asset is the view: from the chairs and the runs you see the whole Tatra panorama with Giewont as well as Zakopane itself. A six-seat Doppelmayr chairlift, 1291 m long, takes six minutes to climb to the Gubałówka crest and its top station at 1120 m; the main run has a vertical drop of 261 m. In winter the station runs two chairlifts, and in summer the larger one works as a scenic lift, bikes included. The station is privately run and belongs to the joint Tatry Super Ski pass, which links ski areas in Podhale, Spisz, the Pieniny and the Slovak side of the Tatras.

Slopes and lifts

According to the station there are two runs, each along its own lift:

• Run A (along the large six-seat lift) – 1322 m long, average gradient 20 %, vertical drop 261 m. The station recommends it to those who already ski confidently and to visitors who ride up for the views.
• Run B (along the smaller chairlift to mid-slope) – 400 m, average gradient 10 %, vertical drop 60 m; the ride takes 3.5 minutes. It is a gentle slope for beginners who want to practise safely.

Next to the bottom station of the small lift there is a Kids Park with a conveyor belt for the youngest. At the top station of the large lift there are bars looking out on the Tatras, and from there you can join the walking path along the Gubałówka ridge. The whole area is small and compact, which makes it handy for half a day or a full day with children.

Season and ski passes

The season usually lasts from December to March, depending on snow; the station has not yet announced exact dates for 2026/27. In winter 2025/26 the lift ran from 9:00 to 16:00 from 9 March, and since 19 October 2026 the station has been on its technical break, preparing for winter. Tickets are the joint Tatry Super Ski pass: under the published 2026/27 price list an adult day pass costs 165 PLN until 24 December, 200 PLN in the holiday period (25 December – 6 January), 185 PLN in high season (7 January – 7 March) and 180 PLN from 8 March. There are 4-hour tickets, an evening "after 16:00" ticket, reduced passes for children under 16 and people over 65, a "child with adult" package and a season pass for any 14 days; a 10 PLN deposit is charged for the card. The pass is also valid at the other member stations, including Harenda. There is a large free car park at the foot of the slope. Prices as of October 2026 – check the official website.

Who it suits

Szymoszkowa is a family station. Szymoszkowa Ski School teaches small children (aged 4 to 12) in the Kids Park on five-day courses based on an eight-level system, in the morning or the afternoon; adults can book private and group ski or snowboard lessons. There is equipment rental and servicing (only new gear, with boots dried and disinfected), ski clothing rental and a sports shop. Experienced skiers will enjoy Run A for a few hours, and for longer descents it is worth combining a day here with other Tatry Super Ski stations or with Kasprowy Wierch.

Getting there from Ukraine

From the Krakovets–Korczowa or Shehyni–Medyka border crossings take the A4 motorway to Kraków, then the S7 and road no. 47 (the "Zakopianka") to Zakopane – about 330 km in total. In town the station advises following Kasprowicza Street to the first roundabout, then Nowotarska Street to the third roundabout and Nędzy-Kubińca Street all the way to the glade. The railway and bus stations in Zakopane are about 2.8 km away; trains and buses run from Kraków to Zakopane. You can also drive up to the car park by the top station on Gubałówka.

Nearby: trails and peaks

The top station stands on the ridge described on our page Gubałówka — viewpoint ridge above Zakopane. The hiking trail Zakopane – Dzianisz passes the foot of the slope, and a kilometre away stands the wooden Our Lady of Fatima Shrine at Krzeptówki.

Official website: szymoszkowa.pl

Photos: Andrea Nour, CC0, Wikimedia Commons; guteko40, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; Jerzy Opioła, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Andrzej Otrębski, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Tomasz Józefczak, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons.