Kežmarské Žľaby

Poprad District · Prešov Region · Slovakia
Kežmarské Žľaby — photo 1 Kežmarské Žľaby — photo 2 Kežmarské Žľaby — photo 3 3

Photos: Doko Ing. Mgr. Jozef Kotulič, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Jozef Kotulič, CC BY 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons); FOTO:Fortepan — ID 96044: Adományozó/Donor: Schermann Ákos. archive copy at the Wayback Machine, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Kežmarské Žľaby is a small settlement in Slovakia, located in the Poprad District of the Prešov Region. It sits at the eastern foothills of the High Tatras, between Tatranská Kotlina and Tatranské Matliare, at an elevation of about 902 metres above sea level. Surrounded by the Great Kežmarok Forest, the village lies near the Belianske Tatras, in a scenic valley that leads to renowned peaks and lakes of the region.

The first buildings in Kežmarské Žľaby appeared at the end of the 19th century: in 1885, the Kežmarok town forester’s lodge was built, followed by a shooting society house in 1888. In 1933, part of the settlement was damaged by fire. After World War II, existing buildings were renovated, and in 1995 a new recreational centre for school youth was established. Since 1947, Kežmarské Žľaby has been part of the town of Vysoké Tatry.

The settlement is known for its location at the mouth of the Kežmarská Valley, surrounded by natural forests and mountain landscapes. It features a forester’s lodge, homes for TANAP employees, and the CROCUS recreational facility. Nearby are natural attractions such as Zelené pleso (Kežmarské), Modré pleso, and the Belianska Cave. The village is a popular starting point for exploring the Belianske and High Tatras.

Visitors can start several hiking trails here: the blue Zbojnícky Chodník leads through the Kežmarský Forest to Tatranská Kotlina, while the yellow trail goes along the Kežmarská Valley to Zelené pleso. From here, you can reach peaks such as Kežmarský štít, Lomnický štít, and Slavkovský štít, and visit huts like Chata pri Zelenom plese, Téryho chata, and Rainerova chata. The region also features climatic resorts, including Kotlina and Nový Smokovec.

Getting there from Ukraine

Uzhhorod – Poprad ≈195 km, ≈2 h 55 min without queues: Uzhhorod – Vyšné Nemecké checkpoint → I/19 via Sobrance and Michalovce → Košice → D1 motorway via Prešov → Poprad. The D1 requires an e-vignette (eznamka.sk). From Lviv, the fastest way to Poprad is through Poland — Krakovets – A4 – Kraków – Zakopane – Łysa Polana ≈468 km (≈5 h 50 min).

Sources: Wikipedia, Wikidata, OpenStreetMap, Karpaty.rocks data. More on Wikipedia

Trails nearby

All trails
Kežmarské Žľaby – Tatranská KotlinaEasyOne-dayMarkedKežmarské Žľaby Tatranská KotlinaElevation profile763–928 m4.6 kmascent 176 m≈ 1.5 h walkingunder 1 km from the centreBiela voda, car park – Jahňací štítHardOne-dayMarkedBiela voda, car park Jahňací štítElevation profile917–2 230 m10.1 kmascent 1 313 m≈ 5 h walkingunder 1 km from the centreTatranské Matliare – Tatranská JavorinaModerateTwo-dayMarkedTatranské Matliare Tatranská JavorinaElevation profile885–1 779 m17.9 kmascent 894 m≈ 6.5 h walking1.6 km from the centreČierna Voda, junction – Plesnivec HutEasyOne-dayMarkedČierna Voda, junction Plesnivec HutElevation profile906–1 306 m2.9 kmascent 400 m≈ 1.5 h walking2.2 km from the centreŠtart – Skalnaté plesoModerateOne-dayMarkedŠtart Skalnaté plesoElevation profile1 122–1 757 m7.7 kmascent 631 m≈ 3 h walking2.3 km from the centreTatranská Kotlina, Čárda – Veľké Biele TarnModerateOne-dayMarkedTatranská Kotlina, Čárda Veľké Biele TarnElevation profile763–1 623 m9.4 kmascent 890 m≈ 4 h walking2.5 km from the centre

Peaks nearby

All peaks
Bujačí vrchPeakBujačí vrchKežmarské Žľabyaltitude 1 947 m4.7 km from the centreBujačí vrch (Polish Bujaczy Wierch, German Stirnberg) is a 1,947 m summit on the main ridge of the Belianske Tatras in Slovakia and the last high mountain at the...Kežmarský štítPeakKežmarský štítKežmarské Žľabyaltitude 2 556 m5.8 km from the centreKežmarský štít (Polish Kieżmarski Szczyt, German Kesmarker Spitze) is a 2556 m granite summit in the Slovak High Tatras and one of the highest peaks of the whole range.Lomnický štítPeakLomnický štítTatranská Lomnicaaltitude 2 634 m6.2 km from the centreLomnický štít (Polish Łomnica, German Lomnitzer Spitze) is one of the highest and most visited peaks of the High Tatras.Pyšný štítPeakPyšný štítStarý Smokovecaltitude 2 621 m6.6 km from the centrePyšný štít (Polish Durny Szczyt, German Schwalbenturm) is a rocky High Tatra summit of 2,621 m — according to Slovak and Polish sources the fourth highest mountain of...Jahňací štítPeakJahňací štítTatranská Javorinaaltitude 2 230 m7.2 km from the centreJahňací štít (Polish Jagnięcy Szczyt) is a peak 2230 m high (more precisely 2229.6 m) in the High Tatras of Slovakia.HlúpyPeakHlúpyKežmarské Žľabyaltitude 2 061 m7.4 km from the centreHlúpy (also Šialený vrch, "Crazy Peak"; Polish Szalony Wierch; German Törichter Gern) is a 2061 m summit in the Slovak Belianske Tatras and the third highest of this...

What to visit

All
TANAP Museum in Tatranská LomnicaMuseumTANAP Museum in Tatranská LomnicaTatranská Lomnica3.3 km from the centreThe Tatra National Park Museum (Múzeum TANAP-u) in Tatranská Lomnica is the best place to understand in an hour or two how the Tatras work: from geology and forests to...Belianska CaveNatureBelianska CaveKežmarské Žľaby4 km from the centreBelianska Cave (Belianska jaskyňa) is the only show cave in the High Tatras and one of the most visited in Slovakia.Skalnaté pleso, Observatory and Lomnický štít Cable CarLakeSkalnaté pleso, Observatory and Lomnický štít Cable CarTatranská Lomnica4.9 km from the centreSkalnaté pleso is a small moraine lake in the lowest cirque of the Skalnatá valley below Lomnický štít, at about 1,751–1,754 m.Zelené pleso (Kežmarské)LakeZelené pleso (Kežmarské)Kežmarské Žľaby6 km from the centreZelené pleso, often called Kežmarské Zelené pleso, is a moraine lake in the Dolina Zeleného plesa valley in the north-east of the High Tatras, at 1,545 m.Obrovský vodopád (Giant Waterfall)WaterfallObrovský vodopád (Giant Waterfall)Starý Smokovec6.4 km from the centreObrovský vodopád (Polish Wodospad Olbrzymi, German Riesenwasserfall – the "Giant Waterfall") is one of the most powerful and photogenic waterfalls of the Slovak High...Studený potok Waterfalls and HrebienokWaterfallStudený potok Waterfalls and HrebienokStarý Smokovec6.4 km from the centreThe Studený potok waterfalls (Vodopády Studeného potoka), known in Polish literature as the Zimna Woda waterfalls, are one of the oldest tourist attractions of the...

Craft nearby

All craft places
Climatic spas of the High Tatras: Nový Smokovec, Polianka, KotlinaWater parks & thermal poolsClimatic spas of the High Tatras: Nový Smokovec, Polianka, KotlinaVysoké Tatry8.6 km from the centreNový Smokovec is the best known of the climatic spas of the High Tatras. It grew up in a spruce forest at about 1010 m, south-west of Starý Smokovec, with which it...AquaCity Poprad water parkWater parks & thermal poolsAquaCity Poprad water parkPoprad15 km from the centreAquaCity Poprad is a large year-round water park and wellness complex in the town of Poprad, a few minutes from the centre; according to the complex, the High Tatras...Thermal Park VrbovWater parks & thermal poolsThermal Park VrbovVrbov15 km from the centreThermal Park Vrbov is one of the best-known thermal baths in the Spiš region, on the southern edge of the village of Vrbov, about 6 km (as the crow flies) from...Minipivovar TATRAS, PopradCraft beer & breweriesMinipivovar TATRAS, PopradPoprad16 km from the centreMinipivovar TATRAS is a brewpub on Poprad’s main square, Námestie sv. Egídia, housed in a building with a long brewing history.Vyšné Ružbachy Spa: Izabela Mountain Pools and Indoor Thermal PoolWater parks & thermal poolsVyšné Ružbachy Spa: Izabela Mountain Pools and Indoor Thermal PoolVyšné Ružbachy22 km from the centreVyšné Ružbachy is one of Slovakia’s oldest spas. It lies on the south-eastern slope of the Spišská Magura at about 617 m, surrounded by coniferous forest that merges...Goral raftsmen of Červený Kláštor: wooden-raft trip on the DunajecEthno tours & guidesGoral raftsmen of Červený Kláštor: wooden-raft trip on the DunajecČervený Kláštor24 km from the centreBetween Červený Kláštor and Lesnica the Dunajec cuts a deep, winding gorge through the limestone Pieniny, and here the river becomes the border between Slovakia and...

Spas and thermal pools nearby

Climatic spas of the High Tatras: Nový Smokovec, Polianka, KotlinaWater parks & thermal poolsClimatic spas of the High Tatras: Nový Smokovec, Polianka, KotlinaVysoké Tatry8.6 km from the centreNový Smokovec is the best known of the climatic spas of the High Tatras. It grew up in a spruce forest at about 1010 m, south-west of Starý Smokovec, with which it...AquaCity Poprad water parkWater parks & thermal poolsAquaCity Poprad water parkPoprad15 km from the centreAquaCity Poprad is a large year-round water park and wellness complex in the town of Poprad, a few minutes from the centre; according to the complex, the High Tatras...Thermal Park VrbovWater parks & thermal poolsThermal Park VrbovVrbov15 km from the centreThermal Park Vrbov is one of the best-known thermal baths in the Spiš region, on the southern edge of the village of Vrbov, about 6 km (as the crow flies) from...

Huts, shelters and springs nearby

Plesnivec Hut1 290 mMountain shelterPlesnivec HutBelianske Tatras · SlovakiaStandingOn a trailSleeps up to 20Meals served
Skalnatá Hut1 725 mMountain shelterSkalnatá HutHigh Tatras · SlovakiaStandingOn a trailStaffedAll year
Green Tarn Hut1 550 mMountain shelterGreen Tarn HutHigh Tatras · SlovakiaStandingOn a trailSleeps up to 56Meals served
Zamkovský Hut1 475 mMountain shelterZamkovský HutHigh Tatras · SlovakiaStandingOn a trailSleeps up to 23Meals served
Rainer's Hut1 301 mMountain shelterRainer's HutHigh Tatras · SlovakiaStandingOn a trailMeals servedAll year
Bilík Hut1 255 mMountain shelterBilík HutHigh Tatras · SlovakiaStandingOn a trailStaffedAll year

All springs of the CarpathiansAll Carpathian huts

Getting there from Ukraine

Border crossings

  • Uzhhorod – Vyšné Nemecké — road, 24/7
  • Malyi Bereznyi – Ubľa — road, 24/7 For cars and buses; pedestrians not confirmed by the Ukrainian border service, lorries up to 3.5 t.
  • Mali Selmentsi – Veľké Slemence (pedestrian) — pedestrian, 09:00–21:00 Kyiv time Pedestrians and cyclists only; inconvenient for the Tatras without onward transport.
  • Chop – Čierna nad Tisou (rail) — rail, 24/7

By car

Uzhhorod – Poprad ≈195 km, ≈2 h 55 min without queues: Uzhhorod – Vyšné Nemecké checkpoint → I/19 via Sobrance and Michalovce → Košice → D1 motorway via Prešov → Poprad (Liptovský Mikuláš is ≈56 km further on the D1, total ≈249 km). Košice – Poprad ≈112 km. The D1 requires an e-vignette (eznamka.sk). Note: from Lviv the fastest way to Poprad is through Poland — Krakovets – A4 – Kraków – Zakopane – Łysa Polana ≈468 km (≈5 h 50 min); via Uzhok and Malyi Bereznyi ≈419 km but slower (≈6 h 40 min). Zakopane – Poprad ≈69 km, Zakopane – Liptovský Mikuláš ≈80 km.

Checked 23.10.2026; border crossing hours and timetables change — check before you travel.

What's nearby