Nestled at the foot of the High Tatra Mountains, Vysoke Tatry comprises several villages and resorts near Slovakia’s border with Poland. It’s the second-largest urban area in the country (after the capital, Bratislava) and centres around the village of Starý Smokovec, with most of the surrounding communities connected along the Tatra Railway.
Things to do in Vysoké Tatry
One of Vysoke Tatry’s most creative attractions is Tricklandia, which features interactive and illusory artwork based on Slovak fairy tales. Step inside one of the antigravity rooms or experience the stunning mirror maze before admiring some of Slovakia’s centuries-old castles that have been recreated as works of art.
If you’re visiting in the summer months, you can cool off at Aquapark Tatralandia, which is the biggest water park in Slovakia. Its thermal waters are sourced from a mineral spring located 2.5 kilometres beneath the earth’s surface and feed several pools, waterslides and tube tracks. Kids can let loose in the tropical-inspired Pirates of the Caribbean playground while adults can relax with a massage at the Wellness Paradise.
Vyoske Tatry serves as a gateway to Tatra National Park, which sprawls across the Tatra Mountains along Slovakia’s border with Poland. In addition to more than 600 kilometres of hiking trails to explore, the park encompasses around 300 caves that include the show cave of Belianska. For stunning views of the rugged peaks, head to the region’s largest lake, Morskie Oko.
Getting around Vysoké Tatry
Vysoke Tatry is 10 minutes’ drive from Poprad and 1.5 hours from Košice International Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe. Regular trains connect to the Starý Smokovec railway station in the heart of Vysoke Tatry and travel throughout the municipality. Most of Vysoke Tatry’s villages can be explored on foot.