Karpacz is an incredibly charming town located in the heart of the Karkonosze Mountains. Initially founded as a gold miners' settlement in the 12th century, it quickly became a center of trade and tourism.
Today, it is popular as one of the larger winter sports centers, as well as an area of the Karkonosze National Park, full of wildlife and mountain landscapes.
So if you don't know what to do in Karpacz in winter, here are a few of our suggestions.
Karpacz - what to do outdoors in winter?
Winter is a special time. Despite the low temperatures outside, many of us love admiring mountain landscapes full of snow-covered trees and enjoying the winter atmosphere. A stay in Karpacz, at our Hotel, will be the perfect opportunity for this.
We have several options to choose from: winter walks on tourist trails, where viewpoint spots and rock formations await us, as well as active leisure: ski slopes, snowboard runs, and sledding tracks.
Below we briefly present some of the attractions we have selected.
Karpacz in winter, what to do in the mountains?
Karpacz Ski Arena
Karpacz has long been one of the centers of winter sports in the Karkonosze Mountains. Here is the Karpacz Ski Arena, currently the largest ski resort below Śnieżka – the highest peak of the Karkonosze and Sudetes, at an altitude of 1603.30 meters above sea level.
Regardless of our skill level, we will find trails suited to us, from easy to difficult runs, with a total of nine ski lifts operating.
"Zbyszek" Cable Car to Kopa
Another attraction is the "Zbyszek" cable car to Kopa (1378 m above sea level). This is the easiest way to get to Śnieżka, which is 2.5 km away from Kopa (about an hour's walk on foot).
"Kolorowa" Recreation and Sports Center
For the youngest winter sports enthusiasts, we recommend the "Kolorowa" Recreation and Sports Center, with two amazing sledding tracks, open not only in winter but also in summer. Great fun for the whole family!
Samotnia and Strzecha Akademicka – mountain shelters in Karpacz
Of course, we must also mention two shelters, which are symbols of Karpacz: Samotnia and Strzecha Akademicka.
The shelters, operating under the patronage of PTTK, offer accommodation in the mountains for all those heading to the trails.
Samotnia is a shelter located in the Small Pond Cirque, a post-glacial cirque, surrounded by Mały Staw lake. Its location is extremely spectacular, and the panoramic views are unforgettable.
On the way to Śnieżka, we can also choose a trail passing through the Small Pond Cirque and Biały Jar. Then we will pass the Strzecha Akademicka shelter. It is located a 10-minute walk from Samotnia and is the oldest shelter in the Karkonosze Mountains.
Krucze Skały, Pielgrzymy, and Słonecznik
We can also admire rock formations not far from Karpacz, which are the hallmarks of this region, such as Krucze Skały, Pielgrzymy, and Słonecznik. They are situated at considerable heights, but we can observe from them (especially from Krucze Skały) the panorama of the whole Karkonosze Mountains and sunsets.
What to do in Karpacz in winter in town?
And if we have already wandered along mountain trails and long for the urban atmosphere, Karpacz also offers many attractions close to the town center and Mövenpick Resort & Spa Hotel Karpacz. Here are the most interesting suggestions.
Wang Temple
Wang Temple - now also known as Our Savior Mountain Church, is an evangelical parish church moved in 1842 from the village of Vang in Norway.
An interesting fact is that not a single nail was used to build the church, and the whole structure is meant to resemble a Viking ship. This monument is located a 10-minute walk from the town center, on the trail to Śnieżka.
Museum of Sport and Tourism in Karpacz
As we have already mentioned, Karpacz has a rich history related to winter sports. There is even a museum that allows us to get closer to it.
The Museum of Sport and Tourism in Karpacz is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm and takes us on a sentimental journey through tourism in the Karkonosze Mountains. We will find medals, trophies, and old wooden skis there.
There is also an exhibition dedicated to the Karkonosze healers, or herbalists from this region, who once treated people with natural, herbal remedies.
Konstytucji 3 Maja Street
This is the main pedestrian street of the town. If you want to buy souvenirs from the Karkonosze, drink hot chocolate, or eat the regional delicacy - oscypek cheese with cranberry, you've come to the right place!
Konstytucji 3 Maja Street stretches from Lower Karpacz to Upper Karpacz, with shops, boutiques, escape room attractions, and many atmospheric mountain-style restaurants with local cuisine.
Karpacz in winter – what to do with children?
If we bring our children on a holiday in Karpacz, it's worth mentioning that we will also find many attractions for them. Below we present the most interesting ones to help you choose.
Karkonoskie Mysteries – Interactive Museum
If you like the legends of the Karkonosze region, and your children do too, the Karkonoskie Mysteries museum will transport you to a fairytale world.
Here we will hear legends about Liczyrzepa – the Mountain Spirit, treasures of the Karkonosze hidden in the adits, and many others. There are also interactive games and a great souvenir shop. The museum also offers guides who will take us through its mysteries.
Karpacz LEGO Museum
This is a treat for LEGO enthusiasts, both small and big. The museum features fairy-tale worlds built from LEGO bricks, including from our favorite movies.
The LEGO Museum in Karpacz is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm, including Sundays and holidays. And in the shop, we can buy unique LEGO sets.
In the same building, there is also the Video Games Museum, showing us vintage consoles and cult games, like those from the 80s. Who among us still remembers what we played before Xbox or PlayStation?
Fairy Tale Park
Open daily from 10 am to 6 pm, and closed only during particularly bad weather (rain, storms, snowfalls), the park will transport the youngest to a fairy-tale land.
Here we will find fairy tales such as: "The Snow Queen", "Thumbelina", "Hansel and Gretel", "Little Red Riding Hood", "Sleeping Beauty", "Cinderella", "Puss in Boots", and many others.
Children can listen to tales told by the narrator and also admire moving scenes.
Sleigh ride in Karpacz
Is it even mountain holidays without a sleigh ride? This tradition has been present in the mountains, including the Karkonosze, for years. A sleigh ride is a horse-drawn carriage traditionally pulling sleds or wagons with tourists, traveling among snow-covered mountain fields, usually in the evening.
Children will enjoy the views and the bonfire with sausages, which is usually the highlight of our sleigh ride.
The sleigh ride in Karpacz is organized by Western City, Kulig Karpacz and Rides by Carriage with Miśka and Hipka, Kuligowo.
Do you already know what to do in Karpacz in winter?
Have you already booked your accommodation at the Mövenpick Hotel? If yes, that's great. Now you also know what to do in Karpacz in winter.
We hope that the time spent in Karpacz, in the heart of the Karkonosze, will be a time of rest, magical, active, and unforgettable for you.
And if you haven't done it yet, book your stay at the Mövenpick Hotel today! Karpacz awaits you.