Bachledka (Ždiar – Bachledova dolina): ski resort on the Spišská Magura

Bachledka (Bachledka Ski & Sun) is a year-round family mountain resort on the Spišská Magura ridge above the village of Ždiar, on the border of the Pieniny and Tatra national parks, about 30 km north of Poprad. The ridge offers views of the Belianske Tatras, Zamagurie and the Pieniny. The resort links three valleys — Bachledova dolina, Malá Franková and Jezersko — and from each you can ride up to the ridge. Once purely a ski centre, over the years it has become a modern all-season resort: in summer the well-known Bachledka Treetop Walk is the main draw. Bachledka is part of the shared Tatry Super Ski pass, which covers 19 resorts in Poland and Slovakia.

Slopes and lifts

The resort offers 13.4 km of slopes of all difficulty levels — blue, red and black — of which 9.9 km are covered by snowmaking and groomed. For lovers of untouched snow there is the Bachledka Freeride run, which is left ungroomed. A 10-seat gondola (1519 m, 2250 people per hour) carries skiers from Bachledova dolina to the ridge that links all the slopes in 6–7 minutes. From Malá Franková runs a detachable 6-seat bubble chairlift built in 2024 (1100 m); there are also the 4-seat Jezersko chairlift and four surface lifts, the longest 920 m. The blue slopes on the ridge and in Bachledova dolina suit beginners. For ski clubs there are two training centres with runs of 1220 and 950 m and 235 and 212 m of vertical.

Beyond the alpine slopes there are 20 km of cross-country trails and a 7 km scenic trail from the ridge to the Strachan resort (when there is enough natural snow), plus a 2.5 km sledging run from the top of the Magura to the car park in the valley. On Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings sledging runs until 20:00 together with the illuminated Magic Land on the treetop walk.

Season and ski passes

In winter the resort (per the 2025/26 timetable) operates daily from 8:30 to 16:00. From 2 to 30 November 2026 there is a planned shutdown, so the new season is expected from December; exact 2026/27 dates have not been announced. The Tatry Super Ski pass applies: its 2026/27 prices are not published in static form, so check them on the resort's website before travelling. A season pass for the three Ždiar resorts (Bachledka, Strachan, Strednica) costs from €299 in presale, and a ski bus runs between them. Car parks P1–P3 on the Ždiar side cost €6 per day. Prices as of October 2026 — check the official website.

Who it suits

Bachledka is above all for families: on the Hrebeň slope operates the area's largest ski school, Gorgyho, with three carpet lifts (30, 30 and 90 m), fairy-tale figures and a warm children's room; for this season the learning zone has been enlarged by 5000 m². Experienced skiers will find red and black runs and the freeride slope. Ski and sledge rental and service operate in the valley.

Getting there from Ukraine

From the Uzhhorod – Vyšné Nemecké border crossing the road leads via Michalovce to Košice, along the D1 motorway via Prešov to Poprad and then via Kežmarok to Ždiar — roughly 250 km. You can also go through Poland: via Krakovets or Shehyni to Kraków and Zakopane, then through the Lysá Poľana crossing to Ždiar. By public transport, take the train to Poprad and then a bus to Ždiar.

Nearby: trails and peaks

In summer the route Ždiar, Bachledova dolina – Malá Franková, junction starts from the bottom station. In the village itself see Ždiar — Goral village below the Belianske Tatras, and nearby Belianska Cave. Other Tatra ski areas are Tatranská Lomnica and Štrbské Pleso.

Official website: bachledka.sk

Photos: Jerzy Opioła, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Ing.Mgr.Joizef Kotulič, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.