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Tatra National Park
Things to Do in Tatra National Park
Lake Morskie Oko
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Lake Morskie Oko

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Lake Morskie Oko
4.5
873
#1 of 13 things to do in Tatra National Park
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.5
873 reviews
Excellent
621
Very good
157
Average
53
Poor
18
Terrible
24
JustDiveIn
Miami, FL1,012 contributions
Beautiful winter hike
Dec 2019
The last time we visited was in the summer, this time we decided to make the hike to see nature's beauty in the winter. It's one of the largest lakes in the Tatra Mountains at 1393m above sea level. In the winter it is completely frozen. You can walk across the lake like many do who venture to Black Lake (Czarny Staw) or into the higher mountains. It snowed the day before our hike, the views we encountered during our hike were picturesque. The hike to Morskie Oko is 8.5 km. The parking lot is around 985m above sea level, by the time you reach the chalet by the lake you will be at 1393m, that's a rise in elevation by 408m. The path leading to the lake was full of snow, it looked like it was plowed at some point but there was at least 10-15cm of packed snow on the path, in places it was a bit slippery on the compacted snow. Hiking shoes are a must. The hike still took 2hrs, although only one of the shortcut paths was open, the rest were closed. Halfway in the hike by the waterfall (Wodogrzmoty Mickiewicza), there are portable bathrooms, in the winter this is also a spot that encounters frequent avalanches. From December 21 - Jan 6 there is also an option to take a horse-drawn sleigh ride for the ones that don't feel like walking. The last sleigh ride up is at 16:00 and the last sleigh ride down is 19:00. Unfortunately on our day clouds rolled in and we were not able to see the peaks of the mountains that surround the lake, but it was still a nice site to see. Arrive early, it's a lot easier to find parking and you can have the lake all to yourself before all the crowds arrive. There is a mountain chalet at the end of the trail, it has a restaurant where you can get some food or hot coffee/tea to warm up.

Parking is available at Palenica Bialczanska, the cost to park 30zl, or you can take a bus from Zakopane. Entrance to the park is 5zl per person.

The one thing that disappointed me in this hike was the tourists that walk the path. I don't understand why they have to litter so much, we were one of the first ones on the path in the morning and there were many cups, plastic bottles, receipts and wrappers that were discarded on the path. Its a disgrace that tourists pollute such a beautiful place. Please discard your trash at the wastebaskets that are provided and not on the trail.

If you found this helpful feel free to hit the Thank button below. Happy Hiking.
Written February 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Rob
Dublin, Ireland2,955 contributions
Beautiful but packed
Sep 2019
This is a nice lake a 2 hour walk from the main entrance on a flat road or alternatively by horse. The downside of this is that is was absolutely packed when I visited which took away from it a bit. I'd really recommend visiting the 5 lakes if you can alongside here as better views with less people.
Written January 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Kristiina R
4 contributions
Stunning views
Jul 2022 • Family
We went on the hike to Morskie Oko with our family. We were expecting the hike to take place in the forest, but it is a asphalt road up to the mountains. It is possible to go up by horse carriage, but as I have a severe allergy to horses we had to walk. It is about 8 km up to the lake. It was 33 degrees and direct sun so it took us 4 h to get up to the lake. The lake is stunning and all the pain and difficulties were gone just being there. Those who can, should definitely take the horse carriage up and then come down on foot. Coming down only took 1,5 h and was a lot easier as the temperature had gone down to just plus 25 degrees (Celsius). All in all we spent 8 days in the High Tatras. We also went to Slovakia side and I do recommend that area. A lot of different hiking trails and wonderful views.
Written July 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Girlie787878
Budapest, Hungary9 contributions
If you don't like crowds, go somewhere else
Oct 2021 • Couples
The massive amount of crowds totally ruins the experience. 2 hours of walking on an asphalt road, then you literally fight your way down to the water, just like the other hundreds of people who want to take the same photo. Is it worth it? Honestly, I wish I had gone somewhere else instead. The lake itself is pretty the surroundings are really spectacular, but I can get much better and more genuine experience in the lesser known, less Instagrammable places in the Tatras.

The other thing is, I couldn't stop wondering how exploited the horses are, they kept going up and coming down nonstop :(

Written October 31, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
ian m
2 contributions
Poland and zacopane
Dec 2019 • Couples
Went on a lovely trip to Poland for Christmas and new year and stayed in Zacopane. It was magical and at the beginning of the week did a short sleigh ride through the forest at night. We enjoyed it so much we booked a daytime sleigh ride up to the lake in the Tatra mountains. This we found distressing to realise two horses had to pull a heavy sleigh with a lot of people in it for miles and miles uphill. Many other tourists had decided to walk down and were quite verbal about the horses struggle and us just sitting there. We got out and pushed. We also walked down. Be sure it's the right thing morally for you
Written February 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Zelkind Bible Land Tours-Travel Israel
Israel492 contributions
Very beautiful lake but an ugly way to get there
Aug 2021 • Couples
The Poles claim that Morskie Oko (Sea's Eye) is one of the most beautiful in the world. It might not be so, who knows, but the lake is tremendously indee
beautiful indeed.
The problem is that, in order to get there, one needs to either walk up the hill a distance of over 9 km, or to take a horse carriage. But even the carriage does not take you to the lake, and one needs to add another 15 min of walk to get there. There no distance signs at all, and it is very difficult to guess what is expected.
Needless to say that using a horse driven carriage for 10 people is really ugly but it seems that the Poles could not care less. Moreover, the redt of the way takes over 15 min of up-hill walk on an asphalt road. Something which could be easily avoided if the Poles cared to provide a decent transportation, instead of using the horse power, long time forbidden in most of the developed countries.
Written August 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Freestyletraveling.com
County Dublin, Ireland18 contributions
Do NOT use Horse Carriage Transport - it is meant to be banned!
Nov 2020
At the entrance to the park you will see a lot of horses with carriages taking you directly to Morskie Oko - please DO NOT use it! For years people and media have been fighting to ban the Carriage Horse Transport to Morskie Oko Lake in the Tatra National Park in Poland! Horses are constantly dying on the way to the lake, as they are forced to work way below their capabilities.
I really can't understand that people here are still recommending this activity - SHAME on you guys! there is so much information on internet, please save the horses and make our lives better. thanks all ;)))
Written November 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
MacbethHilversum
Hilversum5 contributions
December 1975
Dec 2020
I went there from Zakopane in December of the year 1975. At the time we just hired a taxi that brought us at a spot that wasn't so very far from the lake. It took us about three quarters of an hour to get there on foot on a path dug in the snow with high walls of snow on either side. if I remember well. I don't think it's possible today to reach the lake, the way we did at the time. I read that you have to walk at least 2 hours or go by a horse driven sleigh.
We walked around and on the frozen lake as far as we could and had tea in the beautiful old house that is lying high on the shore. It was rather primitive in those days of course. Everybody wearing coats inside and sitting as near to the brown coal stove as they could in the big room.
I remember there were hardly any tourists there only locals.
A fond memory of a rather authentic experience!
Written January 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Raimonds R
Riga, Latvia519 contributions
Nice Zakopane lake
Dec 2019
Nice lake with cristal clear water. Close to Zakopane, go with public transport possible. From public transport neeed go by legs 5 km to Morskie Oko and 5 km back. Road is with hard cover and nice. No dislikes, liked everything.
Written January 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jenny Z
1 contribution
Poor horses
Aug 2022 • Family
Nice 2h walk and a lovely lake at the end.

But PLEASE, walk by yourself. The horses are not being well treated, dragging all the lazy tourists up and down in the heat. They were EXHAUSTED.

If you can't walk by yourself, you shouldn't go there at all.
Written August 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Lake Morskie Oko (Tatra National Park) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

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