High Tatras
Home to the Carpathians' highest peak, with stunning glacial lakes and granite spires, a cable car up to Lomnický štít, classic trails at Štrbské Pleso and Popradské Pleso, and Spiš Castle in the valley below.
The High Tatras lie in northern Slovakia on the Polish border and form the highest part of the Carpathians, often called “the world's smallest alpine range”: less than 30 km from east to west, yet packed with more than twenty granite peaks over 2,500 m and over a hundred glacial lakes. In 1949 Slovakia's first national park, TANAP, was established here. Visitors usually stay in one of three resorts — Starý Smokovec, Štrbské Pleso or Tatranská Lomnica — linked by the Tatra Electric Railway (TEŽ) and connected to Poprad below. There are three main areas to explore: in the west, set out from Štrbské Pleso to Popradské Pleso or Skok Waterfall, or climb Rysy; in the centre, take the funicular from Starý Smokovec up to Hrebienok to see the Studená dolina waterfalls and hike to Téry Hut; in the east, ride the cable car up to Skalnaté Pleso and Lomnický štít. Below the mountains lies the historic Spiš region, with the UNESCO-listed old town of Levoča, Spiš Castle, the wooden church in Kežmarok, the gorges of Slovak Paradise and Dobšinská Ice Cave all within an hour's drive. The best seasons are June–September for hiking and December–March for skiing. Mind the national park rules: higher trails close every year from 1 November to 15 June, and thunderstorms are common on summer afternoons, so start early. Poprad has an airport and direct trains to Bratislava (about 4 hours), and it's about a 2.5-hour drive from Kraków. Allow 3–5 days.
Top sights
- Štrbské Pleso – A glacial lake and resort at 1,346 m in the High Tatras. Its gentle loop trail is backed by snowy peaks, making it the classic entry point…
- Popradské Pleso – A high mountain lake in the Mengusovská Valley, where lakeside huts serve hot soup and beer. It is the most popular half-day hiking destina…
- Lomnický štít Cable Car – Ride a cable car straight up to Lomnický štít, Slovakia’s second-highest peak at 2,634 m. A weather station and café sit at the summit, mak…
- Studený potok Waterfalls – A cluster of waterfalls near Hrebienok. Gentle forest trails and a mountain funicular make it an easy half-day outing for the whole family.
- Levoča – A walled UNESCO World Heritage old town where St. James Church houses the world’s tallest Gothic wooden altarpiece. It is a must-see in the…
- Spiš Castle – One of the largest castle ruins in Central Europe, perched on a limestone hill. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is hugely impressive…
- Slovak Paradise National Park – A national park famed for climbing waterfall gorges via iron ladders, chains and wooden walkways. The Suchá Belá and Hornád gorges are the…
- Symbolic Cemetery – An open-air cemetery in the forest commemorating climbers who died in the High Tatras, with painted wooden crosses and plaques that are dee…
- Skalnaté Pleso – A cable car transfer station and mountain lake at 1,751 m, with an observatory nearby, where the Lomnický štít cable car meets the classic…
- Hrebienok – The upper station of the Starý Smokovec funicular, a starting point for several trails in summer, and in winter home to sled runs and the T…
- Starý Smokovec – The oldest resort town and transport hub of the High Tatras, with hotels, restaurants and outdoor gear shops concentrated here; most visito…
- Tatranská Lomnica – A resort town at the foot of the Lomnický štít cable car, with a large ski area and a Tatra National Park museum, ideal as a base on the ea…
- Gerlachovský štít – At 2,655 m, the highest peak of the entire Carpathian range, with no marked trails, so climbing must be done with a licensed mountain guide.
- Rysy – A popular 2,499 m peak on the Slovak–Polish border that hikers can climb on their own, passing Rysy Hut, the highest mountain hut, on a cla…
- Kriváň – Slovakia's national symbol, a hook-shaped peak at 2,494 m that can be hiked to the summit, its silhouette stamped on Slovak 1, 2 and 5 cent…
- Zelené Pleso – An emerald lake in the cirque on the north side of Lomnický štít, ringed by five high peaks; the lakeside hut is one of the most beautiful…
- Téryho chata – A 2,015 m mountain hut at the head of the Small Cold Valley, in a basin of five lakes, a classic day hike from Hrebienok.
- Zbojnícka chata – The 'Robbers' Hut' deep in the Great Cold Valley, surrounded by lakes and rocky peaks; together with Téryho chata it forms the famous Cold…
- Velické Pleso – A glacial lake beside the Sliezsky dom mountain hotel, with vehicles able to drive up close to the lake; above it lies the famous flower va…
- Skok Waterfall – A 25 m waterfall in the Mlynická dolina valley, about 1.5 hours from Štrbské Pleso, the top choice for easy hiking.
- Belianska Cave – The only cave in the Tatra mountains open to the public, rich in stalactites, stalagmites and underground lakes, and a good choice on rainy…
- Bachledka Treetop Walk – A canopy walkway and 32 m observation tower on a ridge near Ždiar, offering views of both the High Tatras and the Belianske Tatras at once.
- Ždiar – A traditional Goral village beneath the Belianske Tatras with well-preserved painted wooden houses, and a ski village in winter.
- Kežmarok Castle – A Renaissance-style urban castle beside Kežmarok's old town, now a museum, best combined with a visit to the wooden church.
- Wooden Articular Church in Kežmarok – A Lutheran wooden church completed in 1717 without a single iron nail, one of the wooden churches of the Carpathian region listed as a Worl…
- Spišská Sobota – A well-preserved medieval square inside Poprad, with Renaissance townhouses, and a Gothic altar by Master Paul of Levoča in St. George's Ch…
- AquaCity Poprad – A large water park and spa centre using geothermal water, the top choice for relaxing in the hot pools after a rainy day or a hike.
- Dobšinská Ice Cave – One of Europe's most important ice caves, with ice more than 20 m thick year-round, part of the UNESCO World Heritage 'Caves of Aggtelek Ka…
Where to eat
- Koliba Kamzík (Starý Smokovec) – A rustic chalet restaurant in Starý Smokovec, serving bryndzové halušky, duck breast, and large grilled meat platters.
- Koliba Žerucha – A popular chalet in Tatranská Štrba known for generous portions, with garlic soup in a bread bowl and roasted pork knuc…
- Starý Šmakovec – A charcoal-grilled steakhouse in Starý Smokovec, offering steaks from Wagyu to Black Angus, alongside local Tatra dishe…
- Spitz Restaurant & Bar – A modern restaurant and bar in Starý Smokovec, highly praised for its beef tartare, featuring a terrace with mountain v…
- Koliba Patria – A traditional chalet restaurant on the shores of Štrbské Pleso, perfect for enjoying bryndzové halušky and goulash afte…
- Ždiarsky Dom Restaurant – A Goral-style restaurant in Ždiar village, serving traditional dishes made with local ingredients, adjacent to a small…
Itineraries
- Grand Slovakia Road Trip Loop – A complete loop starting from Bratislava, connecting castles, three major mountain ranges, and historic towns in the ea…
- Slovakia East-West Rail Journey – Travel east along the main Bratislava-Kosice railway line, exploring castles and the High Tatras without a car.
- High Tatras Hiking & Spis – Use Stary Smokovec as a base to hike the High Tatras valleys, with side trips to Levoca and Spis Castle.
- Krakow to Budapest via the Tatras – Head south from Poland's ancient capital, cross the Tatra Mountains, travel through eastern and central Slovakia, and f…