Białka Tatrzańska is a quaint village in southern Poland, often overlooked for its larger, more well-known cousin, Zakopane. After a 5-day group ski trip, I can highly recommend it for beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders.
Area
The area is located 1h30m south of Kraków and about 40 minutes north-east of Zakopane, a common winter destination for central European and UK tourists. Białka Tatrzańska is considered a village, with a population of only 2,300. Over the last five years an incredible amount of construction has happened at the main ski area, transforming the facilities into a perfect destination for families looking for a more affordable way to hit the slopes.
It's incredible to see the transformation the area has had in the last 40 years, going from a small farming village to a premium-feeling holiday destination.
Accommodation
Due to the growing interest in the area, many newly-built hotels have popped up nearby. For our trip we stayed at Aparthotel Białczański, located about a 6-minute walk from the main ski area. It also has one of the best restaurants in the area, Restauracja Białczańska, which we enjoyed so much we ate there multiple times. The hotel also provides ski storage, which we found really useful.
There's a good variety of options for different group sizes and budgets. I'd recommend finding somewhere relatively close to the ski area, though it's not a must — ski storage lockers are available at the slopes themselves for around €14 a day for a two-person locker, which was a game-changer.
One thing to keep in mind: the village is unfortunately not very pedestrian-friendly. It's unclear why, given how much of the infrastructure is new, but you'll find yourself walking in the road quite a bit.
Slopes, Facilities & Activities
The whole Białka Tatrzańska area (Kotelnica + Kaniówka + Bania) has 21.3km of slopes across 21 lifts, with the majority being blue runs and a handful of reds. All the blue runs were relatively gentle and ranged from 400m to 1,900m in length. While they weren't the longest, chair lift queues were pretty reasonable.
One thing worth calling out: there are very few resort staff monitoring the lifts, and little structure at chair lift lines. During busier periods you could find yourself waiting 15 minutes while 1 or 2-person chairs go up, with people cutting in around you.
At the bottom of the main ski area is Karczma Bania, which has an après-ski bar with live music, a lunch buffet, and other useful facilities including ski storage lockers, rental equipment and shops.
A major attraction in the area is the thermal baths at Terma Bania. It makes for a great post-ski activity with friends and family, with indoor and outdoor pools, bars, saunas and relaxation areas.
All in all, I can highly recommend Białka Tatrzańska for anyone just getting into skiing or looking for an affordable trip with world-class facilities.
Hotel: Aparthotel Białczański
Restaurants: Restauracja Białczańska, Karczma Hajnos, BAITA, Góralski Zwyk
Ski Rental: Zig Zak
Ski Storage: Waluś Ski
Transfer from Krakow: Krakow Direct (€120-160 per trip, up to 6 people)