Letanovce
Photos: Honza Groh, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Sebastian B, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Jan Starec, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); EliziR, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Jan Starec, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Sebastian B, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Letanovce is a village in the Spišská Nová Ves District of the Košice Region, Slovakia, situated at an elevation of 508 metres in the Western Carpathians. The settlement lies in a picturesque area on the banks of the Brusník stream and the Biely potok, close to the well-known Kyseľ Gorge and Sokolia dolina. As of 2025, the population is 2,353.
The first written mention of Letanovce dates back to 1250. The village has a long history connected to the development of the Spiš region and its cultural heritage.
Letanovce is known for its location near natural landmarks such as the Kyseľ Gorge and Sokolia dolina, which attract hikers and nature lovers. The Brusník stream and Biely potok flow through the village, and the surrounding Carpathians provide excellent opportunities for exploring nature. Letanovce also has its own railway station, making the area easily accessible.
Visitors can enjoy numerous hiking trails, including "Smižany – Kláštorisko, shelter", "Kyseľ, mouth – Kláštorská Gorge, mouth", or "Podlesok, ATC – Suchá Belá, end". Notable sights nearby include Kláštorisko (ruins of a Carthusian monastery), the Hornád Breakthrough, the gorges of Suchá Belá, Kyseľ, and Piecky with their waterfalls, as well as the Zavojový Waterfall in Sokolia dolina. Horseback riding is available at the "U Trapera" ranch in Podlesok.
Getting there from Ukraine
From Uzhhorod ≈182 km, ≈2 h 45 min without queues: Uzhhorod – Vyšné Nemecké → I/19 via Sobrance and Michalovce to Košice → D1 motorway via Prešov to the exit near Levoča → road 533 to Spišská Nová Ves (≈177 km, ≈2 h 30 min from the border). From Lviv via Uzhok and Ubľa ≈407 km, ≈6 h 40 min; through Poland (Kraków – Nowy Targ) ≈496 km, ≈6 h 20 min. The D1 requires an e-vignette (eznamka.sk).
Sources: Wikipedia, Wikidata, OpenStreetMap, Karpaty.rocks data. More on Wikipedia
Trails nearby
All trails
ModerateOne-dayMarkedVydrník, station Letanovce, stopElevation profile517–934 m16 kmascent 512 m≈ 5 h walkingunder 1 km from the centre
HardTwo-dayMarkedSpišské Tomášovce, zastávka Pod ČižmouElevation profile515–1 092 m23 kmascent 866 m≈ 7.5 h walking1.7 km from the centre
ModerateOne-dayMarkedSmižany, zastávka Hrdlo HornáduElevation profile483–667 m13.5 kmascent 422 m≈ 4 h walking2.8 km from the centre
EasyOne-dayMarkedChodník Horskej službyElevation profile515–578 m8.6 kmascent 116 m≈ 2.5 h walking3.1 km from the centre
ModerateTwo-dayMarkedZbojnícka lúka Vydrník, stationElevation profile550–936 m18.6 kmascent 548 m≈ 5.5 h walking3.6 km from the centre
EasyOne-dayMarkedSmižany Kláštorisko, hutElevation profile484–839 m8.8 kmascent 377 m≈ 3 h walking3.8 km from the centrePeaks nearby
All peaks
PeakMariánska hora (Marian Hill)Levočaaltitude 761 m12 km from the centreMariánska hora (Marian Hill; Hungarian Máriahegy) is a hill on the southern edge of the Levoča Hills, about 2 km north of the centre of the town of Levoča in eastern...
PeakHavrania skalaStratenáaltitude 1 156 m13 km from the centreHavrania skala (Raven Rock) is a 1,156 m summit, one of the highest in the Slovak Paradise. It stands in the southern part of the national park, about 3 km north of...What to visit
All
NatureHornád River Gorge (Prielom Hornádu)Hrabušice4.2 km from the centreThe Hornád Gorge (Prielom Hornádu) is, together with the Suchá Belá ravine and the Tomášovský výhľad viewpoint, the best-known place in Slovak Paradise National Park.
WaterfallKláštorská Gorge and its waterfallsLetanovce4.5 km from the centreKláštorská roklina (Kláštorská Gorge) is one of the shortest but most picturesque gorges of the Slovak Paradise National Park in the Spiš region.
Historic siteKláštorisko – Carthusian Monastery RuinsLetanovce5 km from the centreKláštorisko is a broad plateau at 760 m on the ridge between Čertova sihoť and the Glac plateau, one of the main tourist hubs in the north of Slovak Paradise National...
WaterfallKyseľ Gorge and its waterfalls: the ferrata, Malý and Veľký KyseľLetanovce5.9 km from the centreKyseľ is one of the most characteristic and most visited gorges of Slovak Paradise National Park (Slovenský raj) in eastern Slovakia.
Horse ridingRanč u Trapera, Podlesok: Horse Rides in the Slovak ParadiseHrabušice6.9 km from the centreA little away from the main tourist bustle, below the forest, stands the family-run Ranč u Trapera, run by the Salaj family.
MuseumSpiš Museum in Spišská Nová Ves (Provincial House)Spišská Nová Ves8.4 km from the centreThe Spiš Museum (Múzeum Spiša) in Spišská Nová Ves is one of the most comprehensive regional museums in eastern Slovakia.Craft nearby
All craft places
Water parks & thermal poolsThermal Park VrbovVrbov12 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...
Craft beer & breweriesMinipivovar TATRAS, PopradPoprad15 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.
Water 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...Spas and thermal pools nearby
Water parks & thermal poolsThermal Park VrbovVrbov12 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...Water 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...
Water parks & thermal poolsClimatic spas of the High Tatras: Nový Smokovec, Polianka, KotlinaVysoké Tatry25 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...Huts, shelters and springs nearby
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
From Uzhhorod ≈182 km, ≈2 h 45 min without queues: Uzhhorod – Vyšné Nemecké → I/19 via Sobrance and Michalovce to Košice → D1 motorway via Prešov to the exit near Levoča → road 533 to Spišská Nová Ves (≈177 km, ≈2 h 30 min from the border). From Lviv via Uzhok and Ubľa ≈407 km, ≈6 h 40 min; through Poland (Kraków – Nowy Targ) ≈496 km, ≈6 h 20 min. The D1 requires an e-vignette (eznamka.sk).
Checked 23.10.2026; border crossing hours and timetables change — check before you travel.
