A word of warning about Zakopane: Beware of the booze.

While the skiing is great, the hospitality excellent, and the scenery stunning, the local grog could leave you with more than just a sore head. Having been invited to sip a traditional shooter ("mad dog") by a guy I met en route to this sleepy ski town in the Tatra Mountains, I duly accepted—only to discover it was 95 percent alcohol. With one of the key ingredients being Tabasco sauce, it felt like someone was trying to strip the roof of my mouth with a potato peeler.

Armed with this heads-up about the perils of Polish drinking culture, however, you’re now ready to take to the hills...