A few years ago, leaving Warsaw for Zakopane meant fighting traffic jams in Zakopane, looking for a parking space and long hours behind the wheel. Today, more and more people are choosing a completely different scenario: morning coffee at the Warsaw Central Station, a comfortable place in the Pendolino, and then a few hours of leisurely travel where you can relax, work or just look out the window at the changing landscapes of Małopolska. That is why “Pendolino to Zakopane” has become one of the most frequently searched connections among the capital’s residents. The train gives you something that many of us miss on a daily basis — peace of mind and predictable travel times. No detours, no unexpected traffic jams, no stops “because it is necessary”. When choosing a train, your trip starts in Warsaw. The moment you take your seat, the weekend relaxation really starts. You can relax, read an overdue chapter of a book, catch up on a series or just close your eyes and let a few hours pass in comfortable silence.
For many Warsaw residents, it is this first part of the trip that has a huge impact on the perception of the entire trip. If the weekend is to be a breather from everyday life, then Pendolino is its best start. No stress, no fatigue, no need to drive a car – perfect for couples, families, but also for those who drive solo and want to get into the “Tatra chill” mode right away. In addition, Zakopane has become even more friendly to people arriving by train in recent years. The station is located close to the center, and most of the most beautiful points of the city — Krupówki, Gubałówka, Zakopane-style villas, museums — are within walking distance. This is important for people who do not want to rent a car or think about parking. So the weekend in the Tatra Mountains starts much earlier than you might think. Sometimes as early as the moment the Pendolino moves off the platform.
Although it is said that a trip to the mountains should be part of the adventure, hardly anyone dreams of standing in traffic jams in Zakopianka. That is why Pendolino Warsaw → Zakopane has become one of the most convenient and predictable ways to reach the Tatra Mountains.
The average travel time is approx. 4 hours and 50 minutes – 5 hours, depending on the selected connection. Importantly:
For many people, it is stability and lack of stress that make the Pendolino win over the car — especially in winter, when road conditions can be capricious.
The Pendolino is no ordinary train — it’s a comfortable, quiet, and pleasant space to spend a few hours. You can count on:
It’s a journey where you can really relax. Many people work on the road, some catch up on TV shows, others sleep or read. Unfortunately, the driver cannot rest in the car.
Morning departures:
Midday and afternoon courses:
Evening courses:
✔️ stable travel time: ~5 h
✔️ comfort and silence
✔️ the possibility of working or resting
✔️ no road stress
✔️ a great choice in winter and during the holidays
✔️ easy access from the station to the center of Zakopane
That is why so many Warsaw residents choose Pendolino not only in winter, but also in summer, for long weekends and city break trips in the Tatras.
The “train vs. car” debate comes back every season, but the truth is simple: it all depends on how you want to spend your trip. Therefore, instead of a table with pros and cons, it is worth looking at three real scenarios that most often concern people going from Warsaw to Zakopane.
What happens in practice?
Car:
Departure at 17:00 and then… long hours of driving. Friday’s traffic jams, slower sections of Zakopianka, fatigue after a whole week. Arrival often around midnight.
Pendolino:
You choose an evening course. You get in, sit down, rest. Zero focus on the road. Arrival 22:00–23:00, without feeling like you have just driven halfway across the country by force of will.
Request:
If the departure is spontaneous → the train wins with the comfort and energy you have for Saturday morning.
Car:
Children ask “how far is it yet?”, you have to take breaks, it’s cold, you have to take off/put on jackets every time you stop. The driver drives tense, and on the spot he often looks for parking or makes additional trips to the apartment.
Pendolino:
The child has a place, a tablet, a sandwich, a book, coloring books — and you don’t have to fasten him in the seat every time. You can walk around the carriage, to the toilet, to the bistro. Parents are relaxed because they don’t have to drive.
Request:
For families with children, traveling by train means less stress and more convenience – from start to finish.
Car:
One of the partners leads, the other… tries not to fall asleep. On the spot, the topic often comes up: where to park? Where to leave the car? How much does parking at the center cost?
Pendolino:
On the way, you can light a non-alcoholic wine, watch a series together, sit close to each other, arrange a sightseeing plan. Travel in itself is an element of relaxation.
Request:
For a romantic weekend, → train does the job, because the “moment for two” starts much earlier.
More and more Warsaw residents notice that they do not need a car in Zakopane:
As a result, the car is more often a waste of ballast than a real comfort.
➡️ If you like to drive and ride in a larger group — the car makes sense.
➡️ If you want to rest from the first minute — the Pendolino is unbeatable.
➡️ If you are traveling with children or your other half — the train gives you peace of mind that a car will never give you.
Pendolino stops in the heart of the city, and this is a big advantage for people coming from Warsaw without a car. After leaving the station, it turns out that most of the key points of Zakopane are… just at hand. You don’t have to look for parking lots, you don’t have to carry luggage over long distances, you don’t have to plan which way to avoid traffic jams.
A few steps are enough to find yourself on the main communication axis of the city. From this point on, the weekend becomes simple, light and really comfortable.
Taxis in Zakopane are much cheaper than in big cities.
Access to most apartments in the center costs a few to a dozen zlotys. The road to Kuźnice (entrance to the trails, cable car to Kasprowy) is also fast and affordable.
Thanks to this, many people who use only their own car on a daily basis in Zakopane find out that… the car is not needed at all.
From the station, just go straight and after a while you are on the main pedestrian street. This is a great option, especially on a Friday evening:
For many people, this is the first moment when they feel that they are already on the weekend.
The funicular to Gubałówka is so close that there is no point in ordering a taxi. On the way, you pass stalls, wooden houses, views of the Tatra Mountains. It’s the perfect plan for the first day after arrival.
Around the center you will find:
For a tourist from Warsaw, this is a great convenience — no logistics, no unnecessary planning.
Highlight: VillaT is ideally located for Pendolino arrivals.
Without a car, you are able to:
That’s why so many people from Warsaw choose the Pendolino → VillaT connection → a stress-free weekend.
Pendolino is a convenient way to get away from Warsaw for a few days and really relax. For five hours, you don’t have to think about traffic jams, conditions in Zakopianka or whether you will have to change lanes in a moment. You can just sit back, take a breath and let the weekend start the moment the train departs. And once you get off at the station in Zakopane, everything is simple. Krupówki, Gubałówka, cafes, thermal baths, winter walking routes – everything within easy reach. If you choose accommodation close to the center, you don’t need a car, and the whole trip turns into a quiet, light city break under the Tatra Mountains.
That’s why more and more people from Warsaw are choosing a combination that just works:
Pendolino → a weekend in Zakopane → an overnight stay in a comfortable apartment close to the center.
If you want a place that allows you to relax after an intense week, offers silence, a view of the Tatra Mountains and the atmosphere of true Zakopane luxury, it is worth visiting VillaT. It is a space where you can feel the mountains even when you are inside – whether by the fireplace or with a morning coffee with a view of Giewont. Because a well-planned weekend doesn’t start with packing your bags, but with the moment you decide, “Yes, I’m going to the mountains.” And Pendolino and VillaT make this decision turn into a really beautiful trip.