Hiking in the Tatras in Slovakia: tips and scenic trails in the High Tatras

Discover hiking in the Tatras in Slovakia: scenic trails, mountain lakes, and personal tips for exploring the High Tatras beyond hiking.

About the High Tatras in Slovakia

Back in 2023, I did several hikes in the Tatra Mountains, but on the Polish side. I loved the rugged peaks and crystal-clear lakes, and I knew right away: I want to see more of this. So the Slovak side of the Tatras quickly moved to the top of my list. Not just because the area is much more extensive there, but also because I was curious about the atmosphere, the hiking options, and how it compared to Poland.

What struck me immediately? The Slovak Tatras may be a bit less touristy, but they’re still surprisingly well organized. Modern trains take you easily from village to village, hiking trails are clearly marked, and there are mountain huts in all the right places.

The rugged landscape gives it that adventurous feel, yet it’s all very accessible. A perfect destination if you love hiking in the mountains but don’t want to spend hours figuring everything out.

The High Tatras (Vysoké Tatry) are located in northern Slovakia, near the border with Poland. This area is part of the Carpathian Mountains and officially a national park. You’ll find peaks over 2,600 meters, dozens of mountain lakes, and countless kilometers of hiking trails.

The most popular base is Poprad, a town with a good train connection and its own airport. From there, it’s easy to travel to mountain villages like Tatranská Lomnica, Starý Smokovec, and Štrbské Pleso – all great starting points for hikes and day trips.

The atmosphere is a bit mixed. On the one hand, there are some worn-out hotels from the 1960s; on the other, modern apartments and guesthouses. It’s not as polished as the Alps (yet), but that’s part of its charm. The Slovak Tatras are a great place to spend a few days and explore this stunning corner of Slovakia.

Tips for visiting the Tatras in Slovakia

Before you lace up your hiking boots, it’s good to know a few practical things. Here are some helpful tips for your visit to the Tatras in Slovakia:

How to get there?

Most travelers start their journey in Poprad, a town at the foot of the mountains. You can fly there (it has a small regional airport), but most people arrive by train or car. I personally took the train from Prague, and it went surprisingly smoothly – just one change.

From Poprad, the Tatranská elektrická železnica (a local mountain train) takes you straight into the heart of the Tatras. You’ll reach Starý Smokovec in about 30 minutes, and Štrbské Pleso, the last stop on the line, in just over an hour. Ideal if you’re traveling without a car or want to hike from one station to the next.

Where is the best place to stay?

There are several good options if you want to go hiking in the High Tatras. These are the most popular places to stay:

• Štrbské Pleso – This village is located on the far western side of the mountains and sits beautifully on a lake. It’s a bit more upscale, but also quite touristy.
• Starý Smokovec – The most centrally located and very easy to reach. You’ll also find plenty of restaurants here, and several hiking trails start in the area.
• Tatranská Lomnica – Located more towards the eastern side of the Tatras. It’s a beautiful village that feels a bit more authentic. A great base if you want to take the cable car up into the mountains.
• Poprad – The main town at the foot of the mountains. It offers the most facilities and is usually a more affordable place to stay. From here, it’s also easy to travel to other parts of Slovakia.

I stayed in two different places myself. First, I spent a week in an apartment in Poprad, and then a few more days in a studio in Veľká Lomnica. This is a quiet village just outside the busy areas, but still close to the mountains. A great option if you’re looking for more space and peace.

👉🏼 You’ll find the best accommodation options in these places later in this article.

Staying overnight in the park

Wild camping is not allowed in the national park, so if you want to spend the night in the mountains, you’ll need to rely on official mountain huts (chatas). Most huts are basic, but they usually have a friendly atmosphere. You can also get something to eat at most of them.

👉🏼 Look here for a list of mountain huts in the High Tatras in Slovakia.

Best travel time

The hiking high season runs from mid-June to late September and this also the best time to visit the High Tatras. In spring, many of the higher trails are still closed due to snow and avalanche risk. July and August tend to be busier, especially around Štrbské Pleso.

I visited the Slovak Tatras at the end of June and found the crowds to be quite manageable. It was noticeably busier on the weekends than during the week, but if you set out on a longer hike, it doesn’t feel too crowded.

Do you need a permit?

Entry to the national park is free, and you don’t need a permit to go hiking in the Tatras in Slovakia. Just keep in mind that the highest peak, Gerlachovský štít, can only be climbed with a certified guide.

Beautiful hikes in the High Tatras

My main reason for visiting the High Tatras in Slovakia was simple: I couldn’t wait to go hiking there. The options are endless, from easy circular walks around scenic mountain lakes to more challenging trails with chains and plenty of elevation gain.

The trails are well marked, usually with red, blue, green, or yellow route markers. You’ll often see signposts along the way showing the time it takes to reach the next point. While some routes are popular, you definitely won’t be walking in a crowd, especially if you start a bit earlier or choose a longer trail.

Below, I share four hikes I did myself, all of which are well worth it. They’re easy to combine if you’re spending a few days in the Tatras, and each one can be reached by train.

💡 Want to hike in the Slovak Tatras yourself?
I’ve bundled the four hikes below into one handy digital guide (PDF + GPX files), complete with maps and clear explanations. Download it here for $5.99 and hit the trail fully prepared.

Route 1: Štrbské Pleso to Vyšné Hágy via Popradské pleso

This was my first hike, and I thought I’d start off easy. It ended up being nearly 20 kilometers, with over 900 meters of elevation gain and strong winds at the top. But honestly, it was such a great hike!

I started in Štrbské Pleso, walked around the lake (blue route), and followed the red trail to Popradské pleso. You can take a break at the mountain hut there, or head straight up to the pass near Ostrva. It’s a tough climb, but the views are incredible.

From there, I continued along the ridge to Batizovské pleso, and then followed the yellow trail down to Vyšné Hágy, where I caught the train back to Poprad.

• Distance: 19.7 km
• Walking time: approx. 6 hours (including breaks)
• Altitude difference: 915 m
• Difficulty: Moderate. The trail to Popradské pleso is easy; the climb after that is more demanding. The section along the ridge has a few rocky parts where you need to watch your step, but nothing too technical.

Route 2: Tatranská Lesná to Starý Smokovec via Hrebienok

A slightly shorter but surprisingly beautiful route. The first part (yellow route), from Tatranská Lesná to the waterfalls, follows a fast-flowing river filled with small cascades and boulders. When I walked it, it was very quiet (hardly anyone else on the trail), and in some spots it really reminded me of the Canadian Rockies.

I only saw more people once I reached the waterfalls and Hrebienok. Not surprising, as there’s a cable car that brings people up here, along with a few cafés and mountain huts. From Hrebienok, I didn’t take the direct path down but followed a longer route instead (first red, then blue) back to Starý Smokovec. This stretch runs through the forest, with occasional views over the valley.

• Distance: 8.7 km
• Hiking time: approximately 2.5 hours (with a few short photo stops)
• Altitude difference: 454 meters
• Difficulty: Easy. The uphill section along the river is gradual, with occasional roots and stones, but never difficult. The descent is also manageable, though a bit steep in places.

Route 3: Round trip to Kozie pleso from Štrbské Pleso

This was the toughest, and most beautiful, hike I did in the Slovak Tatras. The first stretch to the waterfall (Vodopád Skok) runs through the forest and is full of tree roots and stones. And I wasn’t the only one: it was a Sunday, and this trail is clearly popular. But after the waterfall, it immediately gets quieter, and much more challenging.

From there, the climb really begins, including a section where you have to pull yourself up using a chain. Then follows a stunning stretch past several mountain lakes, including the impressive Kozie pleso.

After that, things get serious. You have to find your way over large boulders, and the trail is barely visible in some parts. The final section before the summit is steep and technical, with more chains to hold onto. I was shaking on my legs, but I did it, and I was so proud of myself!

The descent is gentler, although you keep walking across boulders for quite a while before reaching the forest again. You follow the yellow route most of the way, switching to red at the end to return to Štrbské Pleso.

There are no huts or places to stop for food along the way, so make sure to bring plenty of snacks and water.

• Distance: 16.5 km
• Walking time: approx. 6.5 hours (including breaks)
• Altitude difference: 1049 meters
• Difficulty: Hard. After the waterfall, the trail becomes technical, with chains and scrambling sections. Not suitable in wet or slippery conditions. Good hiking shoes and some mountain experience are strongly recommended.

Route 4: Tatranské Zruby to Starý Smokovec via Velické pleso

This was unexpectedly one of my favorite hikes in the Slovak Tatras. Not too hard, not too easy, and the second part offers amazing views. The first stretch (blue route) from Tatranské Zruby climbs steadily through the forest. What stood out: I didn’t see a single person here. Very quiet. Only at the junction toward the lake (via yellow, then green) did I run into a few other hikers.

Velické pleso is a beautiful mountain lake with a waterfall, a perfect place to take a break. I sat there in the sun with a sandwich and seriously struggled to get up again.

Next, the red route takes you across the slope of the mountain with constant views over the valley. Eventually, you descend steeply via the blue route back to Starý Smokovec. It’s perfectly doable, but trekking poles might come in handy.

• Distance: approx. 11 km
• Walking time: approximately 4 hours (including break at the lake)
• Altitude difference: about 600 meters
• Difficulty: Moderate. The climb is manageable, the final descent is a bit steeper. Not technical, but you’ll need a basic level of fitness.

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📥 Ready to hit the trails?
These hikes are also available as a digital guide, including GPX files, maps, and practical tips. Perfect for offline use while hiking in the Tatras.
Buy the guide now and explore one of Europe’s most beautiful mountain ranges.

Other attractions in the Slovak Tatras

Even if you’re not a big hiker, there’s still plenty to see and do in the High Tatras in Slovakia. A few suggestions:

Discover the mountain lakes

The mountain lakes in the High Tatras are absolutely stunning – and there are a lot of them. Many can only be reached by hiking, but there are definitely some that are easier to visit:

• Štrbské Pleso – Easily accessible by car and train. It’s surrounded by a few hotels, so it can get quite busy.
• Velické pleso – Reachable by car or bike. There’s a hotel next to it, but other than that it’s just nature. So peaceful!
• Skalnaté pleso – You can get here by cable car. It’s impressive, especially with the steep cliffs behind it.

Go to Lomnický štít

Lomnický štít is the second-highest peak in the Tatra Mountains, at 2,634 meters. You can climb it (it’s very steep), but there’s also a cable car that will take you up in three stages: from Tatranská Lomnica to Stanica lanovky Štart, then to Skalnaté pleso, and finally to the top of Lomnický štít.

The final section only fits 15 people, and just three cable cars go up per hour. Because of that limited capacity, this “climb” comes with a hefty price tag. I spent a long time doubting whether I should do it but in the end, I went. And honestly? It was amazing. You’re right among the peaks, above the clouds, and the views go on forever. Definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

👉🏼 Tickets can be purchased on the GoPass website. If you’re not keen on going all the way up, you can also just take the cable car to Skalnaté Pleso. It’s much cheaper and still a really nice experience.

Spot wildlife (maybe a bear!)

The Tatras are not only stunning, but also home to plenty of wildlife – from chamois and marmots to, with a bit of luck, even a bear. The chance of running into one on a busy hiking trail is very slim. Bears usually avoid people and are mostly active in the early morning or evening. Still, you’ll sometimes see warning signs or trash containers with fences around them in the villages. I didn’t spot any wild animals myself, apart from one squirrel.

My tip if you’d rather not bump into a bear: make a bit of noise if you’re hiking solo on a quiet forest trail, especially outside the high season. Also, keep any food sealed up well – just in case.

Visit the mountain villages

The villages in the Tatra region have a unique mix of wooden chalets and old Eastern Bloc architecture. Štrbské Pleso is lively and touristy, Starý Smokovec is centrally located with lots of restaurants, and Tatranská Lomnica feels a bit more authentic and has a few museums.

Every village has a supermarket, a bakery and often a small spa or wellness center. Perfect after a long day on the trails. And if you’re into souvenirs, you’ll find them in most places. I always bring back a t-shirt for my dad from somewhere special, and he added another one to the collection on this trip.

TANAP Museum

If you’re curious about the region, pop into the TANAP Museum in Tatranská Lomnica. It’s not very big, but it gives you a good overview of the national park’s flora, fauna and history. A nice stop if you’ve got some time to spare.