Chochołów is home to more than 100 well-preserved wooden buildings with ornate carvings; as you walk through the village, be on the lookout for the 19th-century “Cottage from one fir,” whose front wall was built from the trunk of a single fir tree. While most of these cottages are still occupied today, you can see how Tatra highlanders lived in the mid-19th century at the Chochołowski Uprising Museum, which features recreated interiors and information on the 1846 uprising against Austria. Travelers typically end a day of sightseeing with a relaxing soak at the village’s thermal bath complex.
Rather than traveling to Chochołów alone, travelers frequently visit the village as part of a full-day trip from Krakow that also showcases Zakopane’s highlights, the Tatra Mountains, and sometimes Morskie Oko Lake. This can be with a private driver or as part of a group tour.
Chochołów can get bitterly cold in winter, with snow and below-freezing temperatures; be sure to dress appropriately.
The village is small, so restaurant choices are limited. In addition to Polish cuisine, it’s possible to find places serving Italian food and burgers.
Due to the traditional nature of the buildings, some of the wooden buildings may not be wheelchair accessible.
The Chochołowskie Thermal Baths complex is wheelchair-accessible. It has a wheelchair-accessible elevator and free wheelchair rentals to move around the pool hall.
Chochołów is small enough to discover either on foot or by bike.
Chochołów is about 11 miles (18 kilometers) northwest of Zakopane and 62 miles (100 kilometers) south of Krakow. There isn’t a train station in Chochołów, so the easiest way to get there is by car or via guided tour. From Krakow, it takes roughly two hours if you take the E77 road towards Zakopane, then transfer to the S7 and DW958. There are also local buses from Krakow and Zakopane.
The busiest time of year is during the summer months (June–August), so to beat the heat and the summer crowds, plan your visit in either May or September. The village doesn’t attract the crowds that nearby Zakopane does, so it shouldn’t be too overcrowded if walking around. Generally, it’s best to visit on weekdays instead of weekends.
If you happen to be in southern Poland, one of the best ways to take a break from sightseeing, hiking, or skiing is a visit to Chochołowskie Thermal Baths. One of the biggest thermal bath complexes in the Podhale region, it features pools, slides, saunas, salt caves, a wild river, hydromassage stations, and plenty of child-friendly areas.
