Stanisław Witkiewicz, an artist and thinker at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, proposed architecture inspired by local highlander building traditions — adapted so it could serve modern villas and guesthouses. For students this is a great starting point: compare vernacular wooden forms with their adaptation in historic villas and chapels.
It’s not just decoration — the Zakopane style was also a cultural and aesthetic statement. It shows how art and regional identity influenced the development of tourism and social life in the Podhale region. For a class: an observational task — find folk elements in facades, carvings and interiors of villas. (An excellent exercise for art, history and geography students).
Zakopane combines authentic wooden architecture, places associated with important figures of Polish culture, and the town’s transformation from a shepherding village to an international mountain-tourism center. For students it’s a living lesson — buildings, cemeteries, museums and landscape teach more than a textbook.
The town also offers varied activities — from short educational walks to easy hikes and funiculars — which can be adapted to the age and fitness of the class. With good planning the program is interesting without exhausting the students.
A trip “with class” also means pacing the day, respecting local culture and connecting with local stories — it’s worth inviting a guide or using preprepared educational materials and field tasks.
Villa Koliba (Museum of the Zakopane Style) - the first realization of the Zakopane style, perfect for showing how local forms became the basis of a new architectural movement. Interiors and furniture illustrate the work of Witkiewicz and his collaborators.
Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Jaszczurówka - a Witkiewicz design, an example of wooden sacred architecture in Zakopane that blends folk forms with artistic vision. Easy to reach, visually striking and quick to visit.
Krupówki and Równia Krupowa - today a tourist promenade, but worth examining for their historical transformations: from a local market to the town’s main tourist thoroughfare; use this to discuss the impact of mass tourism on landscape and buildings.
Pęksowy Brzyzek Cemetery - a necropolis of the distinguished, where regional history connects with biographies of notable Poles. For older classes it’s an opportunity to talk about memory and cultural figures.
The ski jump and the history of winter sports - a brief story of how Zakopane became Poland’s “winter capital”; show the sports facilities from the outside and tell some key historical events.
Morning - arrival and walk along Krupówki: a short orientation, assignment of observation tasks (architecture, shops with local handicrafts, advertising forms).
Late morning - Villa Koliba (Museum of the Zakopane Style): a guided tour with a short quiz for students — elements of the Zakopane style, materials, furniture.
Midday - picnic or lunch at a local inn; optional tasting of oscypek and kwaśnica for those who want to try regional dishes (warn in advance about sheep’s milk products).
Afternoon - visit the Jaszczurówka chapel and a short educational walk (discuss wooden construction, carvings, symbolism). Alternatively: take the funicular to Gubałówka — discuss the impact of tourist infrastructure on the landscape.
Wrap-up - on Równia Krupowa or by the coach: short group presentations (3–4 minutes) on what students noticed and what stuck with them most.
Day 1: the sites listed above + a walk among the villas (e.g. Pod Jedlami, Atma — viewing from the outside), a visit to the main Tatra Museum building or another branch, and an evening of stories about the Tatra Mountains.
Day 2: Pęksowy Brzyzek Cemetery, biographical museums (e.g. Karol Szymanowski’s museum, if the program focuses on culture), optional easy ascent with a guide (e.g. Kalatówki) — it’s important the route matches the students’ age and fitness.
For humanities classes: field tasks — collect inscriptions from gravestones and compare villa architecture with textbook descriptions. For art classes: sketchbooks and simple carving workshops inspired by Podhale patterns.
Book tickets and time slots in advance — museums and their branches often have seasonal opening hours; also check guide availability if you want a dedicated group tour.
Transport: coaches are most conveniently dropped off around Krupówki/Równia Krupowa; moving on foot around the center is best. For more distant spots (Jaszczurówka, Kościeliska) consider a local minibus or short transfer.
Safety: adapt the route to the class’s fitness; avoid longer mountain hikes without a qualified mountain guide. Remember clothing: weather in the mountains can change quickly, even in summer.
Meals: if you plan a restaurant lunch, reserve a table for the group. It’s also wise to plan a packed-lunch alternative — there are shops and bakeries in the center.
Architectural drawing workshop — simple exercises by the villas (sketching, reading an elevation).
History tasks: a mini-investigation at Pęksowy Brzyzek — students choose one buried figure and prepare a 3-minute story.
Eco-activities: a talk about the impact of mass tourism on the Tatra environment and Zakopane’s historic buildings — what can we do as visitors?
A short contest for the best-designed “highlander element” (e.g. pattern on a wooden board, drawing) — materials can be prepared in advance.
Traditional inns such as Karczma “Po Zbóju” or “Watra” — examples of places serving regional cuisine; well-known to tourists and ideal for trying oscypek and kwaśnica.
Pizzerias and quick-service restaurants along Krupówki — a good alternative for younger students who may not prefer highlander dishes.
If you plan a picnic — bring embroidered tablecloths, local cheeses (oscypek) and hot tea; remember to leave the area clean — respect for the environment is part of the lesson.
Trying to fit too many attractions into one day — result: tired students and no time for reflection. Solution: no more than 3–4 main points per day, with breaks.
Not reserving restaurants or museums — in season lines form quickly. Solution: book ahead and have a plan B.
Ignoring the weather — mountain conditions change fast. Solution: prepare vests, rain jackets and a brief rainy-day contingency plan.
Focusing too much on “Instagram spots” at the expense of understanding the place. Solution: give students short substantive tasks before the trip — questions and observation topics.
Villa Koliba has had many roles over the years — from museum to... an orphanage. It’s a reminder that historic buildings often have eventful lives. Such stories teach that monuments have their own “biographies.”
Krupówki were not always a promenade — they were once a place of trade and local life. Today they are a tourist showcase, but it’s worth looking at their historical functions.
Many villas in the Zakopane style were built as summer residences for artists and intellectuals — a good topic for a discussion about culture and its role in place identity.
How much time to allow for the Museum of the Zakopane Style? - For a class, 60–90 minutes with a guide or with preprepared tasks is usually enough.
Is a mountain (Tatra) guide necessary? - For short walks around town no, but for trails in the Tatra Mountains YES — a licensed mountain guide is required for more demanding routes.
Do students have to pay for tickets? - Museums usually offer group tickets and school discounts; check prices and reservation rules in advance.
Invite students to short presentations (2–3 groups of 3 minutes) — what they remembered, what surprised them and how their impression of Zakopane changed after the walk.
Encourage reflection: which aspects of the architecture are worth protecting and why? This naturally opens the topic of heritage conservation and responsible tourism. Finally: collect a few photos and short captions — perfect material for a school newsletter or the school website.
If you want the trip to be polished in the details and run “with class,” I will gladly help prepare the route, educational materials and guide the group in an engaging way. Contact details for guide Małgorzata Kasprowicz can be found on zwiedzaniekrakowa.com — I invite you to get in touch and book dates.
If you found this article helpful — share it with colleagues or on social media; it’s the best way other teachers can prepare a valuable trip. Thank you and I wish you an inspiring journey!
Prepare a short pre-trip briefing for students with basic vocabulary (e.g. oscypek, kwaśnica, Zakopane style) to help them get more from visits.
Bring a simple first-aid kit and a list of emergency contacts (school, local emergency number, coach driver).
Consider audio headsets for larger groups to keep explanations clear while moving along busy streets.
Check seasonal opening hours of museums and attractions and confirm group discounts before departure.
This article was prepared to help teachers and group leaders plan an educational and pleasant trip to Zakopane. For tailored programs and guided tours in Kraków and nearby regions, feel free to contact Małgorzata Kasprowicz via zwiedzaniekrakowa.com.
