Wielka Krokiew Ski Jump

Wielka Krokiew (VYEL-kah KRO-kyef, "Great Krokiew") in Zakopane is Poland's largest and most famous ski jump, and one of the top things to do in Zakopane even if you have never watched ski jumping. In January it hosts a World Cup weekend with a stadium-like atmosphere; the rest of the year a chairlift takes visitors to the top of the hill for a view down the in-run and over the whole town below the Tatra Mountains.

Where it is and how to get there

Zakopane lies in southern Poland, about 100 km (60 miles) south of Kraków, at the foot of the Tatras on the Slovak border. Buses and cars from Kraków take roughly two hours; Kraków's airport is the nearest international gateway. The ski jump stands at ul. Bronisława Czecha 1 on the southern edge of town, at the base of Krokiew mountain. From the center you can walk there; taxis and local minibuses are an alternative in bad weather. On competition days, leave the car well away from the venue.

A century of ski jumping

The jump was designed by engineer Karol Stryjeński and officially opened on March 22, 1925. The winner of the first competition jumped just 30 and 36 meters. After many rebuilds — synthetic mats for summer jumping in 2004, a new base pavilion in 2009–2011, and a full modernization in 2016–2017 — it is now a K125 / HS140 large hill with ice tracks and floodlights. Since 1989 it has been named after Stanisław Marusarz, a legendary Zakopane ski jumper.

Wielka Krokiew has hosted the Nordic World Ski Championships (1929, 1939 and 1962), two Winter Universiades (1993 and 2001) and FIS World Cup events since the 1979/80 season. Ski jumping is one of Poland's most-watched winter sports, so a World Cup weekend here is a national event. The official hill record is 147 m, set by Japan's Yukiya Satō on January 25, 2020; Domen Prevc flew 150.5 m at a Red Bull show event in April 2025.

The site also has a place in Polish religious history: on June 6, 1997, Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass below the jump for an estimated 250,000–300,000 people.

Riding the chairlift to the top

The lift, opened in 2008, is the main reason to visit outside competition time. Your ticket covers the ride up and down plus the viewing points at the top, where you look straight down the in-run toward Zakopane and the Gubałówka ridge. Allow 1 to 1.5 hours. Kids usually love it. The lift may stop in strong wind and on training or competition days, so call the ticket office before you go.

The best time to ride is a clear morning, or a late summer afternoon when the lift runs until 7 pm and the low sun lights up the town. If you are lucky enough to catch a training session, you will see jumpers on the in-run from below — the best way to grasp just how steep the hill is. If you are nervous about heights, be warned that the view straight down the in-run is dramatic. The operator publishes no accessibility details online, so call ahead if you use a wheelchair.

Opening hours and tickets

As of October 2026, according to the operator (COS OPO Zakopane):

• Hours: daily from 9 am; until 5 pm in October, 4 pm in November, 3 pm in December and January, 4 pm in February, and 7 pm from May to August.
• Ticket office closes one hour before the lift stops.
• Tickets: 25 PLN standard, 20 PLN reduced (students up to 26, people with disabilities, with ID); children under 3 ride free.
• Phone: +48 725 300 163 (lift ticket office).

Prices are in Polish złoty (PLN).

Is it worth visiting in winter?

Yes, but plan around the short days: the lift closes at 3 pm in December and January. The World Cup in Zakopane is usually held in January; the preliminary 2026/27 calendar places it in mid-January 2027 (check the FIS calendar for final dates). Competition tickets are sold separately, traffic around the venue is restricted, and accommodation fills up early.

Nearby

About 0.5 km west is the mouth of the Biały Valley (Dolina Białego), a short, scenic gorge walk inside Tatra National Park. The smaller Średnia Krokiew jumps sit next door, and the Our Lady of Fatima Sanctuary at Krzeptówki keeps the altar from the 1997 papal Mass.