Morskie Oko in winter – why does it attract the most tourists during this season?

Tourists agree that the pearl of the Tatra Mountains, as Morskie Oko is commonly called, becomes its most magical in winter. It’s easy to imagine the grandeur of the moment when this lake, surrounded by snow-covered peaks, reveals the true power of nature. While winter is an exceptionally charming season, especially in the mountains, it can also bring dangers. Discover key information and plan your dream trip to Morskie Oko in winter.

Natural and environmental features

Morskie Oko is the largest lake in the Tatra Mountains, located at an altitude of 1,395 meters above sea level. When it freezes, it forms an ice cover that, in the past, reached up to 1 meter in thickness. Unfortunately, climate change has left its mark here. This thickness has decreased to 0.65 meters, and the duration of ice cover has shortened from 170 to 139 days.

Visiting the pearl of the Tatras in winter allows you to admire the snow-covered surrounding mountains: Mnich and Mięguszowieckie Peaks. However, such conditions also bring the risk of avalanches, particularly in the gullies, such as Żandarmeria or Marchwiczny, where masses of snow, ice, and rocks regularly flow. These avalanches can reach the trails and pose a real threat to tourists.

Getting to Morskie Oko in winter and changes in transportation

Traditionally, tourists reach Morskie Oko in winter on foot or by horse-drawn sleighs, which replace the summer wagons (fasiągi). The trail begins at Palenica Białczańska, where there is a paid parking lot and buses from Zakopane. From there, a 7.7-kilometer asphalt road leads to the lake, which can be traversed on foot in about 3 hours. In recent years, initiatives have been launched to modernize transportation to Morskie Oko. In May 2024, electric buses were tested on this route as a replacement for traditional horse-drawn carriages. The ultimate goal is to introduce electric buses to improve animal welfare and modernize tourist transportation in the region.

Practical tips for tourists visiting Morskie Oko in winter

• Proper preparation is key: Ensure you have warm clothing, suitable footwear, and a thermos with a hot drink. Check current weather conditions and avalanche warnings before setting off. Since it gets dark earlier in winter, start your hike earlier in the day.
• Safety on the trail: Due to avalanche risks, particularly on the section above Włosienica, caution is advised, and hikes should be avoided in unfavorable conditions. Walking on the frozen lake surface is also strongly discouraged, as the ice may be thin and could break under a person’s weight.
• Transportation to Morskie Oko: Currently, tourists can use sleighs to get to Włosienica, from where it’s about a 1.5-kilometer walk to the shelter by the lake. However, keep track of updates, as the introduction of electric buses may change access methods in the future.

Morskie Oko in winter captivates with its unique charm. Before starting your trip, check current information and announcements, and follow the recommendations of the Tatra National Park staff to safely and fully enjoy your planned mountain adventure.

Fun facts about Morskie Oko – do you know them?

• The name: Do you know why Morskie Oko is called that? German settlers described lakes in the Tatras with the words Meer (sea) and Auge (eye). Another legend suggests that the name comes from an underground connection between the lake and the sea.
• Stocked mountain lake: Morskie Oko was once called Fish Lake (Rybim Jeziorem) or Fish Pond (Rybim Stawem) because it is one of the few naturally stocked lakes in the Tatras, home to trout.
• Legends of a connection to the Adriatic: According to legends, Morskie Oko has no bottom because it is directly connected to the sea. Evidence for this claim is said to be the retrieval of objects from Morskie Oko’s waters that came from a ship sunk in the Adriatic Sea.