Kościelisko
Photos: Jerzy Opioła, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Kris Sliver, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Art-X, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Jerzy Opioła, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Art-X, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Kris Sliver, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Kościelisko is a village in Tatra County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, southern Poland, and serves as the seat of Gmina Kościelisko. It is situated on the southern slopes of the Gubałówka Foothills and in the Kościeliska Valley, at the foot of the Western Tatras. The settlement borders Zakopane and is part of the Podhale region, known for its mountain scenery and proximity to Slovakia.
The first shepherd settlements that later formed Kościelisko were mentioned as early as 1623. Until 1867, the village was administratively united with Zakopane. From 1975 to 1998, Kościelisko belonged to the Nowy Sącz Voivodeship, and in the 1970s it was briefly part of the Kościelisko-Witów commune. Since 1994, it has been the center of its own gmina.
Kościelisko is recognized as a holiday destination with rich Goral traditions, wooden architecture, and picturesque valleys. The village features the wooden Church of St. Casimir, built between 1910 and 1914, as well as numerous craft and culinary venues. Its proximity to the Kościeliska Valley, mountain trails, and the natural wonders of the Western Tatras attracts many visitors.
Visitors can explore the Kościeliska Valley, Mroźna Cave, and ascend peaks like Gubałówka, Kasprowy Wierch, or Giewont, or hike routes such as Kuźnice – Myślenickie Turnie, Kiry – Siwa Polana, or Hala Chochołowska – Trzydniowiański Wierch. Those interested in local traditions can visit shepherds' huts on Chochołowska Polana, bacówkas in the Kościeliska Valley (Kiry), and take oscypek cheese workshops. For relaxation, Chocholowskie Termy and mountain huts like Schronisko na Hali Ornak or Schronisko Murowaniec are available.
Getting there from Ukraine
Lviv – Zakopane ≈421 km, ≈5 h 10 min without border queues. Route: M-10 Lviv – Krakovets → Krakovets – Korczowa checkpoint → A4 motorway (Rzeszów – Tarnów – Kraków) → Kraków southern bypass → S7/DK7 → DK47 ('Zakopianka') via Nowy Targ → Zakopane. In summer and at weekends the DK47 near Zakopane is often congested.
Sources: Wikipedia, Wikidata, OpenStreetMap, Karpaty.rocks data. More on Wikipedia
What's nearby
Trails nearby
All trails
EasyOne-dayMarkedGubałówka KiryElevation profile904–1 153 m5.5 kmascent 73 m≈ 1.5 h walkingunder 1 km from the centre
EasyOne-dayMarkedNędzówka Przysłop MiętusiElevation profile955–1 275 m2.8 kmascent 320 m≈ 1.5 h walking1.6 km from the centre
EasyOne-dayMarkedDroga pod ReglamiElevation profile890–1 003 m8 kmascent 144 m≈ 2.5 h walking1.7 km from the centre
ModerateOne-dayMarkedZakopane WitówElevation profile820–1 179 m11.5 kmascent 405 m≈ 3.5 h walking1.8 km from the centre
EasyOne-dayMarkedGronik RówienkiElevation profile939–1 170 m2.1 kmascent 3 m≈ 30 min walking2 km from the centre
EasyOne-dayMarkedGronik Przysłop MiętusiElevation profile939–1 193 m2.1 kmascent 254 m≈ 1 h walking2 km from the centrePeaks nearby
All peaks
PeakGubałówkaZakopanealtitude 1 126 m3.9 km from the centreGubałówka is a long, gentle hill above the north-western part of Zakopane and the best-known summit of the Gubałówka Foothills in Podhale.
PeakGiewontZakopanealtitude 1 895 m5.5 km from the centre1 trail to the topGiewont is a 1,895 m mountain massif in the Western Tatras, towering over Zakopane. Its main summit, Wielki Giewont, is usually regarded as the highest peak of the...
PeakPrzysłop WitowskiWitówaltitude 1 164 m5.6 km from the centrePrzysłop Witowski (Slovak: Príslop) is a wooded 1,164 m summit on the Polish–Slovak border, just north-west of the Western Tatras.
PeakMałołączniakKościeliskoaltitude 2 096 m6.5 km from the centreMałołączniak (Slovak Malolúčniak) is a 2,096 m summit of the Western Tatras on the main Tatra ridge along the Polish–Slovak border.
PeakCiemniakKościeliskoaltitude 2 096 m6.7 km from the centreCiemniak (Slovak: Temniak) is a 2,096 m summit in the Western Tatras and the westernmost of the four peaks of the Czerwone Wierchy (Red Peaks) massif.
PeakKrzesanicaKościeliskoaltitude 2 122 m6.7 km from the centreKrzesanica (Slovak: Kresanica) is a 2,122 m peak on the main ridge of the Western Tatras, on the border between Poland and Slovakia.What to visit
All
NatureKościeliska ValleyKościelisko2.3 km from the centreThe Kościeliska Valley is one of the best-known and most visited valleys in the Polish Tatras. It lies in the Western Tatras, west of Zakopane: its mouth is at Kiry,...
Cheese dairies & pasturesBiały Potok Shepherd's Hut, Witów: oscypek and cheese workshopsKościelisko2.5 km from the centreBiały Potok meadow in the village of Witów lies between the entrances to two of the most visited Tatra valleys, Chochołowska and Kościeliska.
ChurchOur Lady of Fatima Shrine at KrzeptówkiZakopane2.6 km from the centreThe Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima at Krzeptówki is one of the best-known modern churches in Poland and the most important pilgrimage site in Zakopane.
Mountain meadowPolana StrążyskaZakopanealtitude 1 029 m4.3 km from the centrePolana Strążyska is a forest glade in the Strążyska Valley of the Western Tatras, about 2 km from the valley entrance on the edge of Zakopane, at 1,000–1,060 m.
NatureMroźna CaveKościelisko4.5 km from the centreMroźna Cave is the best-known show cave in the Polish Tatras. It lies on the eastern slope of the Kościeliska Valley, in the Organy massif, about 120 m above the...
WaterfallSiklawica WaterfallZakopane4.6 km from the centreSiklawica (also Siklawica Strążyska) is a waterfall in the Western Tatras, in the upper part of the Strążyska Valley (strictly speaking in its branch called Mała...Craft nearby
All craft places
Cheese dairies & pasturesShepherd's Hut in the Kościeliska ValleyKościelisko3 km from the centreJózef Słodyczka's bacówka (shepherd's hut) on the Wyżnia Kira Miętusia glade is probably the most easily reached shepherds' hut in the Polish Tatras.
Craft beer & breweriesGwarno Restaurant & Brewery, ZakopaneZakopane4.3 km from the centreGwarno is a restaurant with its own small brewery at the foot of Gubałówka in Zakopane. It stands on Na Gubałówkę street right next to the lower station of the...
Markets & fairsMarket under GubałówkaZakopane4.3 km from the centreThe market under Gubałówka (Targ pod Gubałówką) is Zakopane's best-known bazaar and probably the most photographed row of stalls in the Polish Tatras.
Cheese dairies & pasturesDom Oscypka, Krupówki, Zakopane: cheese-making workshop with a bacaZakopane4.8 km from the centreDom Oscypka ("House of Oscypek") is a workshop studio on Krupówki in the very centre of Zakopane, where you can see how highland cheese is made from milk and make some...
Crafts & workshopsSztukomania Studio, Zakopane: handmade ceramics and pottery workshopsZakopane5 km from the centreSztukomania is a small ceramics and woodwork studio on Staszica street in Zakopane, a few minutes' walk from Krupówki.
Markets & fairsEuropean Fair of Regional Products, Zakopane (every August)Zakopane5.1 km from the centreThe European Fair of Regional Products (Europejskie Targi Produktów Regionalnych) is a five-day festival of food, crafts and music held every August on Górna Równia...Spas and thermal pools nearby
Water parks & thermal poolsTermy Zakopiańskie (Aqua Park Zakopane)Zakopane5.6 km from the centreTermy Zakopiańskie is a thermal water park right in Zakopane, on Jagiellońska Street, only a kilometre from Krupówki.
Water parks & thermal poolsChochołowskie TermyChochołów8.3 km from the centreChochołowskie Termy stand in the village of Chochołów in the Podhale region, north-west of Zakopane and not far from the Slovak border.
Water parks & thermal poolsTermy Szaflary (Termy Podhalańskie)Bańska Niżna15 km from the centreTermy Szaflary is a thermal complex in the village of Szaflary, between Nowy Targ and Zakopane. It used to be known as Termy Podhalańskie, a name still found in older...Huts, shelters and springs nearby
1 333 mMountain shelterHala Kondratowa HutWestern Tatras · PolandStandingOn a trailMeals servedPaid overnight stay
1 198 mMountain shelterKalatówki Mountain HotelWestern Tatras · PolandStandingOn a trailSleeps up to 86Meals served
1 100 mMountain shelterHala Ornak HutWestern Tatras · PolandStandingOn a trailSleeps up to 49Meals servedGetting there from Ukraine
Border crossings
- Krakovets – Korczowa — road, 24/7
- Shehyni – Medyka — road, 24/7 Pedestrian crossing is not confirmed by the Ukrainian border service — check dpsu.gov.ua before the trip.
- Smilnytsia – Krościenko — road, 24/7
- Hrushiv – Budomierz — road, 24/7
- Mostyska – Przemyśl (rail) — rail, 24/7
By car
Lviv – Zakopane ≈421 km, ≈5 h 10 min without border queues. Route: M-10 Lviv – Krakovets → Krakovets – Korczowa checkpoint → A4 motorway (Rzeszów – Tarnów – Kraków) → Kraków southern bypass → S7/DK7 → DK47 ('Zakopianka') via Nowy Targ → Zakopane. The A4 Katowice – Kraków section (Balice and Mysłowice toll plazas) is tolled, but this route does not use it. In summer and at weekends the DK47 near Zakopane is often congested.
Checked 23.10.2026; border crossing hours and timetables change — check before you travel.
