DID YOU KNOW?

Whether you're zipping down the slopes, climbing canyons or just kicking back in the bars, Zakopane has a new spring in its step these days. The highland haven is zooming into top gear, welcoming ever larger crowds each season. Adrenaline junkies will have plenty of fun lined up. This mini-guide may not be able to help you wrestle a grizzly bear or become an overnight skiing champ. But it may just come in handy if you're trying to find your way around this highland hideaway. Zakopane has plenty of tricks up its sleeve, and not just for mountain maniacs. Check our tips on all the top spots in Zakopane, from cafes to restaurants, and hotels to cultural centres. And discover what festivals are coming to town in our concise events calendar. At the very minimum, you'll be able to make a fleet of paper airplanes from this pdf printout. They might even reach Slovakia if you fly them from the top of Mount Giewont. Enjoy Zakopane!

The Flying Moustache

Zakopane has seen its fair share of visionaries over the years, from angry artists to magical minstrels. But today, the crown of local hero must surely go to one Adam Malysz. Known in the Western Press variously as 'The Flying Moustache' and 'The Polish Batman', Malysz conquered the hearts of the Highlanders with his sky-surfing antics. The five foot seven wonderboy has blitzed the ski-jumping scene in recent years, winning trophies left, right and centre. Besides a series of triumphs here in Zakopane, he's notched up more World Cup wins than anyone else in the history of the sport. Polish Pope John Paul II - who skied most of the mountains in the Tatra range - would have been proud.