Tui adds Zakopane — tui picks a ‘fairytale’ Polish town

Mo. Basuony

Published: February 27, 2026 7:09 AM ET

Tui adds Zakopane — tui picks a ‘fairytale’ Polish town

Tui has added Zakopane in Poland to its Lakes & Mountains programme for 2026, describing it as “one of Europe’s most spectacular yet little‑known mountain towns, but without the price tag of the Alps”. The operator, tui, said a pint and a pizza cost less than £10 and packages will be available from May to September, flying from 16 airports across the UK with partner airlines easyJet and Ryanair.

Tui Lakes & Mountains programme

The Polish town joins the programme for 2026 and is described as a “fairytale lake town”, surrounded by the Tatra Mountains in southern Poland. The flight time from the UK is just two-and-a-half hours and the destination is also described as just two and a half hours from the UK in other coverage of the announcement. The operator said packages run from May to September and fly from 16 airports across the UK with easyJet and Ryanair as partner airlines. Kraków is less than two hours away by train, making day trips an add‑on option for holidaymakers.

What Zakopane offers visitors

Zakopane will be promoted with lakes, wooden chalets, wildflower meadows, markets, beer halls and thermal baths. Coverage of the destination highlights Krupówki Street, packed with markets, beer halls and local craft shops, and mentions horse-drawn carriages winding through the lively streets. Thermal baths are described as featuring expansive pools filled with naturally heated, mineral-rich water and surrounded by mountain panoramas. The operator said a pint and a pizza cost less than £10.

Flights, dates and pricing

Packages are available from May to September. A seven-night Tui holiday to Zakopane, staying at the 3T Apartamenty ApartArt Zakopane on a room-only basis, costs from £616 per person. That price is based on two adults sharing a one-bedroom apartment and departing from Luton on May 26 with hand luggage only. The operator noted flexibility from short four‑night breaks to longer 10-night stays.

Local attractions and nature

Coverage names several mountain sights and activities around Zakopane, including Morskie Oko, described as a crystal-clear turquoise lake regularly featured among Europe's most beautiful lakes; the famous Giewont peak, which locals say resembles a sleeping knight; and the Five Lakes Valley for gentler walks. Visitors can take the Kasprowy Wierch cable car or hop on the Gubałówka funicular for views without strenuous effort. Wildlife mentioned includes marmots, chamois, golden eagles and even brown bears on the mountainsides.

Alcohol rules for travellers

Separate guidance on alcohol and flying notes that rules can differ by airline and that the law states “a person must not enter any aircraft when drunk, or be drunk in any aircraft. ” For TUI, drinks under 24% ABV are not subject to restrictions; drinks over 70% ABV are not permitted. For drinks with ABV between 24% and 70%, the guidance sets specific requirements: “alcoholic beverages, containing more than 24% but not more than 70% alcohol by volume, when in retail packaging in receptacles not exceeding 5 L, with a maximum total net quantity per person of 5 L for such beverages. ”

Jet2’s position is that people boarding a Jet2 aircraft with alcohol may not consume it during the flight and the airline reserves the right to restrict the consumption of alcohol on board at any given time. Alcohol with an ABV over 70% is not permitted in checked or hand luggage. Jet2’s guidance states: “You may not bring on board alcohol for the purposes of consumption whilst on the aircraft. For safety reasons we restrict the consumption of alcohol on board. Only alcoholic drinks purchased on board may be consumed during the flight. It is an offence to be drunk on any aircraft. Jet2. com reserves the right to serve alcoholic drinks to customers at our absolute discretion. ”

On British Airways flights, travellers can bring as many alcoholic drinks as they want if they are under 24% ABV. If the ABV is between 24% and 70%, there is a 5 L limit and anything above 70% ABV is not permitted. The guidance states: “There's no limit on the number of alcoholic beverages you can travel with as long as their alcohol volume is below 24. You can bring up to five litres of alcohol with an alcohol volume between 24% and 70%. This can travel in your cabin bag if you purchased it in the airport duty-free shop, or you can pack in your checked baggage. Drinks above 70% alcohol volume are not permitted on board our aircraft in either checked baggage or hand baggage. Please see the hand baggage requirements section above for information about taking liquids in your hand baggage through the sec” (text truncated in the material provided).

Separately, an unrelated line that appeared in the coverage reads: "Man who burned Koran outside Turkish consulate wins latest court battle".

Chris Logan, Tui UK & Ireland commercial director, said: “As experts in lakes and mountains holidays, we know a good thing when we see one, and Zakopane ticks every box. It’s a fresh alternative to the Alps, offering the same dramatic scenery but in a less expensive and discovered setting. With emerald lakes, Tatra peaks, wooden chalets and vibrant Goral culture, it brings something genuinely new to our programme. Because we work with a wide range of trusted airline and hotel partners, we can offer complete flexibility from short four‑night breaks to longer 10-night stays. ”

Closing note

Zakopane joins the Lakes & Mountains offering for summer 2026 with accessible flights, on-site attractions and precise guidance on alcohol carriage and consumption tied to carrier rules and ABV thresholds.