Zakopane appears on the pages of history quite late, in 1605. Few would know that at the beginning of the 19th century, it was known mainly for the ironworks in Kuźnice. Only the arrival of Tytus Chałubiński, a physician, botanist, social activist and philanthropist, to the Tatra Mountains in 1873 brought a change. And it was he who made the town famous for the quality of its climate and unusual charm, thus earning him the title of 'discoverer of Zakopane'. Today, the millions of tourists that go to Zakopane makes it the most heavily visited place in all of Poland.

Zakopane is not only a resort, the ‘capital of the Tatra Mountains’ and the ‘winter capital of Poland’, but also, or perhaps above all, one of the cradles of highland culture and Podhale art, alongside which the unique Zakopane style developed. It is also worth recalling that at the end of the 19th century, the circles of Polish intelligentsia concentrated in Zakopane, inspired by the proximity of the Tatra Mountains and its amazing highland folklore.

Of course, one should also add the natural qualities of the Tatra National Park (unique valleys, jagged ridges and towering karsts, picturesque mountain trails, unique vegetation), remarkable cycling trails, numerous ski slopes, as well as delicious highland cuisine.

The Tatra Mountains and Podhale are also home to numerous places closely connected with the Polish Pope, John Paul II – one of the first Papal Trails in Poland was established in the Saint's beloved Tatra Mountains, in his favourite place to go hiking, the Chochołowska Valley. As the highlanders say, the whole of the Tatra Mountains is sacred – they repeat this to tourists and watch over the paths of Nojwieksy Gazda, mindful of his repeated admonitions during his lifetime: ‘Watch over these trails for me’.
The Zakopane Tourist Information Centre (CIT) is located in the modern space of a beautifully restored historic building at the railway station. It is a comfortable interior adapted to the needs of people with disabilities and equipped with modern multimedia facilities.

On the touch screens, a special application presents a map of Zakopane with more than 40 objects of the Zakopane Style Trail marked on it – each of them is described in detail and illustrated with photographs, and a QR code, when scanned, displays information about them on the mobile device. The screens also display a calendar of current events and the weather in Zakopane and  the Tatra Mountains. A real-time synchronised timetable for public transport can also be found here.
A special monitor displays current weather conditions in the Tatras, camera views, and safety spots along with mountain emergency numbers. This is an initiative of CIT in cooperation with the Tatra Voluntary Rescue Service to ensure the safety of tourists setting out for the mountains.

Archival photos of Zakopane and photographs illustrating the history of the Zakopane railway station are shown on the walls of the Tourist Information Centre. CIT also offers free Wi-Fi. It also houses a gallery with traditional arts and crafts, and you can also buy a unique, traditional, handmade souvenir from Zakopane.

It is also worth taking a look at the CIT’sextensive website. There, you will find tips on what to visit and see, a database of accommodation facilities – including mountain hostels – and information on current events, attractions, trails, excursions and walks, transport and cable cars, and cultural and sports offers.

The Information Centre also provides guides, brochures, leaflets and maps in several languages free of charge and cooperates with local, regional and national institutions. The Information Centre’s staff are experts in every respect, providing and intriguing facts and information about local and regional sights, trails, and events, and recommendations about restaurants and easteries and where accommodation for the night can be found. In this one place, you can learn about the wealth of tourism opportunities in Zakopane, the Tatra Mountains and the Podhale region, and purchase your chosen attractions, trips or passes.

The Zakopane Tourist Information Centre is run by the Zakopane Cultural Centre. It is part of the Małopolska Tourist Information System.