We had our eyes on the Morskie Oko hike for quite a while. It’s one of the most famous and popular hikes in Poland—and for good reason. The trail leads to a stunning alpine lake surrounded by the High Tatras, and it’s easy enough for most people to do, even with kids.
It’s often listed as a must-do in Zakopane and gets thousands of visitors every day during the high season.
Last summer, we actually tried to hike it, but we messed up the parking. We didn’t know how it worked, so we ended up parking really far from the trailhead and decided to skip the hike altogether.
This year, we came prepared. We booked the parking ahead of time and got a spot near the trailhead. No surprises, no stress.
We also brought along our two-month-old daughter in a stroller and did the hike just before the season kicked off. The trail was quieter, the weather was perfect, and we finally got to enjoy this iconic place.
We’re writing this post to help you avoid the mistakes we made and enjoy Morskie Oko to the fullest—whether you’re hiking with a baby, going with friends, or visiting for the first time.
Key Highlights
⭐️ Best time of the day to visit: start early in the morning (7:00 or 8:00)
⭐️ Best months to visit: late May, September – October
⭐️ Hiking distance: 7.9 km one-way
⭐️ Hike duration: 2 – 3.5 hours (one-way)
⭐️ Elevation gain: 424 m
⭐️ Facilities: Toilets, shelters, and food huts along the way
⭐️ Accessibility: Paved trail suitable for strollers and wheelchairs
Quick Overview
The hike to Morskie Oko is one of the most popular and accessible trails in the Polish Tatra Mountains. It’s a 7.9 km paved path (one-way) with 424 meters of elevation gain, taking about 2–3.5 hours depending on your pace.
The trail is stroller- and wheelchair-friendly, with toilets, shelters, and food huts along the way. You can also shorten the hike by taking a horse-drawn carriage (available for a fee).
The entrance to the national park costs 11 PLN per adult, and the reduced price is 5.5 PLN.
For the best weather and fewer crowds, visit in late May, September, or October. June to August is also a great time, but it can be very crowded. Start your hike early, around 7–8 AM, as it gets jam-packed from late morning onward.
How to get to Morskie Oko
Thanks for the clarification! Here’s the updated paragraph:
The hike to Morskie Oko starts at Palenica Białczańska on the Polish side. This is where most visitors begin their trek.
When the Palenica parking lot is full, many hikers use Lysá Poľana in Slovakia as an alternative parking spot.
From Palenica Białczańska, the trail is well-marked and leads through beautiful forest and mountain scenery all the way to Morskie Oko.
Arriving by car
Arriving by car at the Morskie Oko trailhead is straightforward but requires some planning. From Zakopane, it’s about a 25-minute drive to Palenica Białczańska. The roads are well-maintained and clearly signposted.
However, parking at Palenica is limited and fills up quickly, especially during peak season. Arriving early in the morning is the best way to secure a spot. If the main parking is full, you can park further away.
Parking options and tips
Parking at Palenica Białczańska – closest to the trail
The best place to park is at Palenica Białczańska, the closest and most spacious parking lot to the Morskie Oko trailhead. However, it fills up very quickly, especially during high season and weekends.
When we hiked in late May on a Tuesday, the lot did fill up, but it still managed the crowd well without forcing people to park far away.
Make a reservation in advance on the official website of Tatra National Park. This is for the parking lot at Palenica Białczańska. In case that’s full, you can park at Lysá Poľana with the same ticket.
Alternative options
If Palenica is full, the next option is parking near Lysá Poľana, about 1.5 km from the trailhead. This lot also fills fast in summer. On our first attempt, Lysá Poľana was completely full, and many cars were parked in smaller private lots even 8 to 10 km away.
These lots often offer minivan transfers to the trailhead for an extra fee. There is also a bus to Morskie Oko, but it runs infrequently and can become crowded, as most people board in Zakopane.
HUGE mistake we made
We made a reservation in advance, but we didn’t know it wasn’t for the lot closest to the trailhead.
Our booking was for a parking lot several kilometers away, which required additional transportation to the trail. Seeing the crowds and parking chaos, we decided to leave and try again another day.
TIP: Before making a parking reservation, check the location of the parking lot and the ways to reach the trailhead from there.
Public transportation
Several buses depart from the central bus station in Zakopane for Morskie Oko. The buses are very regular, especially during the main season. The trip takes around 40 minutes.
You can either catch a bus to Morskie Oko, Lysá Poľana, or Palenica Białczańska. Expect to pay around 10 PLN per person.
Joining a tour
If you prefer a hassle-free experience, joining an organized tour to Morskie Oko is a great option.
Tours typically include transportation from Zakopane or Kraków, a guide, and sometimes additional stops in the Tatra National Park. This is ideal if you don’t want to deal with parking, navigation, or planning.
In Zakopane, you’ll find several local companies offering group trips to Morskie Oko. These tours are easy to book in town—many have offices on the main streets.
Prices vary based on what’s included, so it’s worth comparing a few options before booking.
Entrance Fees and Regulations
To access the trail to Morskie Oko, you’ll need to pay an entrance fee to the Tatra National Park. The ticket costs 11 PLN for adults and 5.50 PLN for students and seniors. Children under 7 years old enter for free.
You can purchase the ticket directly at the entrance gate, but we recommend buying it online in advance—this way, you can skip the lines and save time, especially during busy periods.
Dogs are not allowed on the trail. Swimming in the lake is prohibited, as are drones, smoking, campfires, and loud music. It’s important to stick to marked trails and avoid disturbing the wildlife or picking any plants.
Trail Overview
The trail to Morskie Oko is one of the most popular and beginner-friendly hikes in the Tatra Mountains.
It follows a wide, paved road all the way to the lake, making it accessible even for strollers and wheelchairs.
While it’s not a wilderness trail, the views along the way—forests, rivers, and peaks—are still beautiful and make the walk enjoyable.
The trail starts at Palenica Białczańska and leads 7.9 km one-way to the lake. The route is steadily uphill, with an elevation gain of about 424 meters, but thanks to the smooth surface and moderate gradient, it’s manageable for most fitness levels.
You’ll be sharing the road with other hikers, occasional horse carriages, and sometimes service vehicles, so it’s not a quiet nature trail—but the final reward is worth it.
Morskie Oko, surrounded by dramatic mountain peaks, is one of the most iconic spots in all of Poland.
Along the route, you’ll find toilets, shelters, benches, a waterfall, and small food huts, making the experience more comfortable even for families with kids. In total, it usually takes 2 to 3.5 hours one-way, depending on your pace and the frequency of breaks.
If you’re looking for a scenic and accessible hike with a big payoff at the end, this is one of the best choices in the region.
Horse-drawn carriage
If you don’t want to hike the whole way, horse-drawn carriages run to about 1.5 km before Morskie Oko. The ride takes approximately 45 minutes and runs in both directions.
Going uphill costs about 80–100 PLN per person, while the ride down is slightly cheaper. Tickets are paid in cash to the driver, preferably in zloty, though some may accept euros. There’s no option to book in advance.
This service is controversial due to concerns about the horses’ welfare, especially in heat or high season. When we visited in late May, the horses weren’t operating yet, so we can’t comment on their condition.
If you consider using it, please use your judgment. Skip it if the horses seem tired or the weather is too hot. For most, hiking is manageable — and far more rewarding.
Facilities and Amenities
At the start of the trail, food kiosks offer snacks and drinks.
Portable toilets are available at regular intervals along the trail. Most had toilet paper in the morning, but not later in the day. They were clean, and signs show the distance to the next one.
There are resting spots with benches and shelters along the way, with amazing views over the High Tatras.
About one-third in, there’s a small refreshment hut. In case of sudden rain, you can also purchase a raincoat there.
Another larger establishment appears 20–30 minutes before the lake, offering indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a wide range of food and drinks.
They don’t accept cards — we paid in euros since we didn’t have zloty, and it worked fine.
At Morskie Oko, there’s a mountain hut (schronisko) serving hot Polish food. It gets crowded, though. The toilets are paid with long lines.
You can pay there only with cash, and in case you don’t have any, there is an ATM outside the building.
We preferred the lower food court for its variety.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Morskie Oko is from late spring to early autumn (May to October), when the trail is free of snow and fully accessible.
We hiked in late May on a Tuesday, and while the weather and conditions were great, our timing wasn’t perfect.
We started early, around 9 AM, thinking it would be quiet — but we ended up walking alongside several school groups, with about eight buses full of kids arriving just before us.
In hindsight, starting a bit later in the morning would have been better. Most school or tour groups begin early, so arriving a little later might mean having the trail almost to yourself.
Avoid weekends, holidays, and July–August, when the area gets very crowded.
Winter visits are also possible, but snow and ice make the hike more difficult and require proper gear.
What to Pack and Wear
Any sneakers will do since the trail is mostly paved. Dress in layers to stay comfortable as the weather can change.
Bring plenty of water—it’s a must. Don’t forget sunscreen and a hat for sun protection. Trekking poles can help, but aren’t necessary. Carry some cash for toilets, food, or horse carriage rides.
Extending Your Hike
From Morskie Oko, you can hike about 2 hours (4 km) mostly downhill to Wielki Staw Polski, a beautiful mountain lake with a mountain hut.
If you’re up for a challenge, continue to Rysy, the highest peak in Poland. It takes around 4 hours and 4.6 km, with an elevation gain of 1100 m. This route is only for experienced hikers. It’s possible to spend a night at Rysy.
On the way to Rysy, you’ll pass Czarny Staw lake, reached in about 1 hour (2.2 km).
Is Morskie Oko hike worth it?
Morskie Oko is mostly an asphalt path, which isn’t what we usually enjoy, but it worked well for us since we had a stroller. That’s honestly the main reason we chose this hike.
The trail is busy — with crowds, horse carriages, and during our visit in low season, road repairs meant trucks passing by frequently.
The views along the way are nice, but we’ve seen more stunning trails in the High Tatras. The best views are definitely at the end by the lake.
Morskie Oko itself is beautiful, but the crowds take away from the experience a bit.
Overall, we’d rate this hike 5/10. It’s worth doing if you want an easier, stroller-friendly hike with a stunning lake, but it’s not a top pick for mountain lovers seeking solitude or wild nature.
Final Thoughts
Morskie Oko is a classic and easily accessible hike, perfect for first-timers or those looking for a gentle mountain experience.
The paved trail and facilities make it convenient, especially if you have kids or want a technically less challenging walk. But it’s still a long one, so consider that.
However, be prepared for crowds and busy parking, especially in high season.
If you value peace and rugged nature, other Tatras trails might suit you better. Still, the lake’s beauty at the end is worth seeing at least once. Plan ahead, bring cash, start early, and enjoy your visit!
