Leśne Zacisze

The walk into the center of Karpacz takes about 40 minutes, which was the main drawback for us. Still, I’d happily stay at Zacisze Leśne again. The hosts were kind and helpful, and the guesthouse felt really cozy. We arrived at night and, for a small fee, they picked us up from the airport in Wroclaw and dropped us off around 1:00 a.m. Our room was on the third floor. It wasn’t very big, but it had two single beds, a little kettle, towels, and excellent Wi-Fi. There’s a fully equipped kitchen and dining room in the basement, and a private ABC store nearby with a good selection and friendly service.

Friends of mine stayed here with their small child and came away very disappointed. They had expected a spacious apartment but got a tiny attic room, with the toilet squeezed in so tightly that a 175 cm tall man struggled to use it. Hot water was rationed, too. For this price, you can find much cozier, tastefully furnished rooms in Karpacz, instead of a pile of old junk. The woman on the phone was very pleasant up to checkout, then not so much. She seemed stuck in the past, as if she hadn’t noticed that the glory days of the guesthouse were long gone. It felt like a museum of communist Poland, very Bareja. I wouldn’t recommend it.

The nice tourist tips we got on arrival were one of the few bright spots. We’d booked months ahead at a place in a quiet forest, explained that we wanted the mountains and were bringing our 4-year-old, and arranged both breakfast and dinner. But when I asked about dinner, the lady said she wouldn’t cook for just two people and that we should eat out. We did manage to get breakfast. I ate once, then lost my appetite after seeing the kitchen, the toaster burned through with holes, and the general smell and atmosphere. The room was also a pretty poor standard: very old-fashioned, with a badly renovated bathroom, a sagging shower tray, and a bedside table coming apart. After two days we decided to move. My wife called the owner to let her know, and the owner said we had been lied to, told us to leave within an hour, and then switched off her phone. We aren’t argumentative, so at the owner’s request we moved to another guesthouse, which turned out to be wonderful, with up-to-date standards and incredibly friendly staff. Our trip started beautifully but ended so-so, though it led us to accommodation in Karpacz we really recommend. I can only imagine this place working for people with no expectations who leave at dawn and come back late.

Ania was the highlight for me. She’s so warm, friendly, and helpful, and happy to tell you what’s worth seeing and what you can skip. Leśne Zacisze sits right beside the forest, away from the bustle of the center, so it’s a lovely spot to unwind. Everything at the guesthouse was clean and well cared for. The home-cooked breakfasts and dinners were delicious, too. I wholeheartedly recommend it!