High Tatras Hiking & Spis
Use Stary Smokovec as a base to hike the High Tatras valleys, with side trips to Levoca and Spis Castle.
Stay three nights in the same location, using the mountain electric railway to reach trailheads. Spend two days hiking to high-altitude chalets and western waterfalls, and the final day exploring historic towns and castles to the east. Ideal for weekenders or short-holiday travelers with decent fitness. This route skips the Lomnicky Peak cable car to maximize hiking time.
Chalet trails are open year-round, but snow conditions at higher elevations only stabilize after June.
Day by day
Day 1 · Enter the mountains from Poprad
High Tatras（Spišská Sobota、Starý Smokovec）
Walk or take a short taxi ride from Poprad Station to the Old Town, then take the Tatra Electric Railway to your base (approx. 40 minutes).
Stay: Starý Smokovec
Day 2 · Cold Water Valley to mountain chalets
High Tatras（Hrebienok、Studený potok Waterfalls、Zbojnícka chata）
Take the funicular or walk (approx. 45 minutes) up to Hrebienok, then hike to the chalets (approx. 2.5 hours).
Return the same way. Keep an eye on the time of the last funicular down.
Stay: Starý Smokovec
Day 3 · Strbske Pleso and Skok Waterfall
High Tatras（Štrbské Pleso、Skok Waterfall）
Take the electric railway to Strbske Pleso (approx. 40 minutes). Hike up to the waterfall (under 2 hours) and return the same way.
Stay: Starý Smokovec
Day 4 · Levoca and Spis Castle
High Tatras（Levoča、Spiš Castle）
Take the electric railway to Poprad, then a bus to Levoca (approx. 30 minutes), and continue to Spis. Return by bus (approx. 1 hour).
The walk from the town up to the castle takes 30 to 40 minutes. The upper part of the castle is closed.