High Tatras

Vysoké Tatry (High Tatras) is a mountain range in Tatra National Park in Slovakia.

Cities


Vysoké Tatry is a conglomerate, (area-wise) largest urban area in Slovakia. In fact, it consists of three sub-areas, which consist of 14 settlements:



Understand
High Tatras belong to the national park (TANAP) and also are registered in UNESCO because many protected animals and plants are found in High Tatras. High Tatras consist of peaks, mountain lakes and basins. The highest peaks are Gerlachovský štít, Kriváň , Rysy and Lomnický štít. Gerlachovský štít is the highest peak in Slovakia and the Carpathian Mountains rising to above the sea level.

In November 2004 a huge storm destroyed a part of the forest and disturbed natural fauna and flora, but most of the damage has been cleared away. The trees that used to protect the soil from erosion are gone now and the topsoil is being exposed to rain and erosion. The disaster did not have such catastrophic impact on tourism, and all ski centers, hotels and cottages go on providing their services.

Poprad, a town stretching below High Tatras, offers a beautiful town center, various types of accommodation, small air port for tourists and incredible view at High Tatras scenery.

By train
As most towns in the region are connected to the rail network, this is one of the fastest and most convenient ways of getting into High Tatras. There are 9 express IC standard trains operating between Bratislava and Košice, the 'Tatran', 'Kriváň', 'Gerlach', 'Rysy', 'Chopok' and another 4 untitled IC trains which all stop in Poprad-Tatry.

If you're coming from Prague (Czech Republic), and want to get as much time in for sightseeing as possible, consider the overnight sleeper trains. EN 'Slovakia' leaves Prague in the evening (get a full day in Prague), and you can get a very cheap ticket for a sleeper booth, plus you wake up in the Tatras with the whole day in front of you. EC 'Košičan' leaves Prague in the morning and comes to Poprad-Tatry in the afternoon. Both operate between Prague and Košice.

The fastest access to High Tatras is from the same station - Poprad-Tatry operates tram connection directly to Starý Smokovec, Štrbske Pleso and Tatranská Lomnica with many stops along the way. All of that stops are in Vysoké Tatry region.

By car
From Czech Republic Austria, west and east Slovakia you can use a motorway 'D1', from Hungary roads of 1 class and part of motorway 'R1'. Connection from Poland is a bit more complicated, with only one road connecting Zakopane and the Slovak part of the High Tatras through the border check point in Lysá Poľana.

By bus
For those wishing to travel from Krakow:

There are many buses, every 20 minutes of so during daytime, to take you from Krakow to Zakopane on the Polish side. Journey is about 2½ hours.

From there, there are buses connecting Zakopane on the Polish side of the border with Stary Smokovec and Poprad. These run from out-front of the bus station where you will be deposited. However, many only run in peak season (which, in the summer, starts from June 16). The bus company's name is Strama. You will see the signs out front of the bus depot. Check their website for exact times. Last one is about 17:00. There are approximately four daily.

When these buses do not operate, simply go across the road from the bus station, and get a bus to Lysa Polana, which costs about 10 zł. Takes about 20 minutes. From where you will be dropped off, cross a small bridge up 50 m and to the left and you will be in Slovakia - there is a small restaurant, gift shop, and another small shop on the border, where you can change remaining złoty for euros, should you not yet have any. There are no ATMs.

From there, there is a bus which waits at the top end of the carpark which runs through the Vsyoke Tatry to Poprad, about once every hour or two. It costs €2.2 for a single ticket. Journey time is about 30 or 40 minutes to Stary Smokovec.

By plane
There are also flight connections available through Poprad Airport.

By foot
If you are on a hiking trip, it is possible to cross from Poland on foot at several places.

Get around
Transportation and orientation in High Tatras is very easy. Trains, cog railway, cable railways, and trams these are possibilities how to get to any locality in High Tatras.

Local rail public transport form an inexpensive way to get around. It consists of the lines listed below. As of 2017, single ticket prices range from €0.50-2 based on the distance travelled. Daily tickets cost €4, a weekly pass is €14 and a monthly pass is €16. Consult the Slovakrail route planner for the schedules. The trains can be rather crowded in high season.
 * The Tatra Electric Railway trains running between Štrbské Pleso, Poprad and Tatranská Lomnica., although the schedules are not the most convenient. Typically there is one train per hour, but frequency is increased to two trains per hour in the peak hours of the summer season. Most trains run direct between Poprad and Štrbské Pleso via Starý Smokovec, which serves as a transfer point to Tatranská Lomnica. Transfers are timed during most of the day, however, there can be some exceptions.
 * There is a rack railway (Zubačka or Toothed) that connects Štrba railway station (actually in Tatranská Štrba) with Štrbské Pleso. There are usually one to two trains an hour, but the schedule is somewhat irregular in order to provide connection to the national rail services.
 * A normal-gauge train service connects Tatranská Lomnica and Poprad (Transfer at Studený Potok, generally one every 1-2 hours).

Frequent bus services connect destinations not served by rail, such as Tatranská kotlina to Tatranská Lomnica and Starý Smokovec (Less frequently to Poprad and Ždiar).

While trams are often the most convenient option, the villages and towns in the region are also connected by roads, so driving is always an option, though you might have to pay for parking. Finding parking spots can also be a trouble in the high season.

There are cable cars and chairlifts that take you further uphill. Prices are roughly proportional to the altitude gain, and range from €8 (Starý Smokovec to Hrebienok ) to €27 (all the way up to the Lomnitz peak and back) in 2017.

There is a great variety of hiking and cycling trails as well. They are mapped very well, e.g. in the OpenStreetMap project or mapy.cz, which also have free offline mobile viewers available. The purchase of the tourist map of High Tatras can be recommended too, as they are cheap and show a very detailed map of the trails, marked along with the time it takes to walk them. There is also a free android app with many hiking trails, waypoints and options to save individual routes: Trails Tatra Mountains.

See


You can also take a tram and travel under the highest peaks and take delight in magnificent nature.

Hiking
There are numerous opportunities for hiking, depending on the fitness level of the hiker, ranging from an easy stroll to a difficult all day hikes.

Popular all day hikes, sorted by "perceived" local popularity, include:

Skiing
In High Tatras it is possible to ski downhill in nine localities and each one consist of two to nine slopes.

Snow conditions during the winter are usually great for skiing or snowboarding. Funiculars are accessible to many alpine localities, such as
 * Solisko (1840m)
 * Skalnata chata (1751m) where tourists can take another funicular

Cycling
Cycling is another activity that is very interesting for people who love adrenaline. Cyclists can choose either between asphalt or field roads. Different kind of roads with various level of difficulty are suitable for less or more demanding people.

A 9-km long cycle road is available between Spišská Belá and Tatranská Kotlina with a smooth asphalt surface - also good for inline skating.

Amusement
Children can have fun e.g. at:



Sleep
Among others, these huts are located in high(-ish) altitudes above the sea level: Each cottage offers accommodation and food and most of them offer their service just during the summer because of bad access condition during the winter and/or closed tourist paths.

Most of the bigger hotel resorts in the area provide restaurants and wellness areas. The most iconic ones (often portrayed on photos and Tatry area marketing materials) include:


 * Hotel Patria, one of the most recognizable hotels right at the Štrbské pleso lake
 * Grand hotel Kempinski
 * Grand hotel Starý Smokovec
 * Grand hotel Praha in Tatranská Lomnica

Stay safe
Emergency calls (Núdzové volania):
 * Helicopter emergency medical service (Letecká záchranná zdravotná služba) in Poprad: 18 155
 * Medical emergency service (Zdravotná záchranná služba): 155, 112
 * Mountain rescue service (Horská záchranná služba): 18 300
 * Fire and Rescue Corps (Hasičský záchranný zbor): 150, 112
 * Police (Polícia): 158, 112

Go next
Central Slovakia | Western Tatras | Belianske Tatras | Spiš