Levoča

Levoča District · Prešov Region · Slovakia
Levoča — photo 1 Levoča — photo 2 Levoča — photo 3 Levoča — photo 4 Levoča — photo 5 6

Photos: JoJan, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); GiMa38, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); GiMa38, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Ing. Mgr. Jozef Kotulič, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Ing.Mgr.Jozef Kotulič, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Matthew Taratuta, CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Levoča is a town in Slovakia, the administrative center of Levoča District in the Prešov Region. It is situated at an elevation of 628 m in the eastern part of the country, on the southern slopes of the Levoča Hills, by the Levočský potok stream. The town lies near the Spiš Magura mountain range, on the main road between Prešov and Poprad. The historic center of Levoča, together with Spiš Castle, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The first written mention of Levoča dates back to 1249. The town developed on the site of earlier Slavic settlements that existed before the 12th century. After the Mongol invasion, German settlers arrived, and Levoča became an important trade and cultural center of the Spiš region.

Levoča is renowned for its medieval architecture, preserved town fortifications, and numerous cultural monuments. The most prominent is the Basilica of St. James, which houses the tallest Gothic wooden altar in the world, crafted by Master Pavol of Levoča. Other notable sights include the historic town hall, the "Cage of Shame," the Great County House, the city theater, the Protestant church, the Church of the Holy Spirit, and the Basilica of the Virgin Mary on Marian Hill.

Visitors can explore the Basilica of St. James in Levoča, the exhibitions of the Spiš Museum in Levoča, and the ruins of the Carthusian monastery at Klastorisko. The area offers many hiking trails, including routes to Klastorisko Gorge and its waterfalls, Spišská Kapitula and St. Martin's Cathedral, and the Zavojový Waterfall in the Sokolia Valley. Traditional cuisine can be sampled at the Spišský salaš near Spiš Castle, known for bryndza dumplings.

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
Smižany – Levoča, near Košická GateModerateTwo-dayMarkedSmižany Levoča, near Košická GateElevation profile451–660 m19.6 kmascent 406 m≈ 5.5 h walkingunder 1 km from the centreLevoča – Zbojnícka lúkaModerateOne-dayMarkedLevoča Zbojnícka lúkaElevation profile529–936 m12.3 kmascent 491 m≈ 4 h walkingunder 1 km from the centreLevoča – Levočská dolina, settlementEasyOne-dayMarkedLevoča Levočská dolina, settlementElevation profile553–912 m6.6 kmascent 305 m≈ 2.5 h walkingunder 1 km from the centreMariánska horaEasyOne-dayMarkedMariánska horaElevation profile570–797 m2.6 kmascent 18 m≈ 45 min walking2.2 km from the centreZbojnícka lúka – OľšavicaModerateTwo-dayMarkedZbojnícka lúka OľšavicaElevation profile562–969 m20.1 kmascent 640 m≈ 6.5 h walking2.6 km from the centreZbojnícka lúka – Nižné Ružbachy, ChurchHardMulti-dayMarkedZbojnícka lúka Nižné Ružbachy, ChurchElevation profile549–1 206 m39.5 kmascent 779 m≈ 11.5 h walking4 km from the centre

Peaks nearby

All peaks
Mariánska hora (Marian Hill)PeakMariánska hora (Marian Hill)Levočaaltitude 761 m2.2 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...Ihla (Levoča Hills)PeakIhla (Levoča Hills)Ihľanyaltitude 1 283 m18 km from the centreIhla (Slovak for "needle"; German Nadel) is a 1283 m summit in the Levoča Hills (Levočské vrchy) in eastern Slovakia, the third highest in the range.Čierna hora (Levoča Mountains)PeakČierna hora (Levoča Mountains)Jakubanyaltitude 1 289 m19 km from the centreČierna hora is a 1289.4 m summit, the highest point of the Slovak Levoča Mountains (Levočské vrchy) – a flysch range of the Podhôľno-magurská region in eastern...Smrekovica (Branisko)PeakSmrekovica (Branisko)Vyšný Slavkovaltitude 1 200 m21 km from the centreSmrekovica is the highest peak of the Branisko Mountains in eastern Slovakia, 1200 m high (1199.9 m to be exact).SľubicaPeakSľubicaSlatvinaaltitude 1 129 m21 km from the centreSľubica is a 1129 m summit in the Branisko mountains of eastern Slovakia, the third highest of the range and the highest in its southern part, which bears the same name.Havrania skalaPeakHavrania skalaStratenáaltitude 1 156 m23 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
Spiš Museum in Levoča: Historic Town Hall and Minorite MonasteryMuseumSpiš Museum in Levoča: Historic Town Hall and Minorite MonasteryLevočaunder 1 km from the centreThe Spiš Museum (SNM – Spišské múzeum) is a branch of the Slovak National Museum that cares for the heritage of historic Spiš.Basilica of St James, LevočaChurchBasilica of St James, LevočaLevočaunder 1 km from the centreThe Basilica of St James (Bazilika svätého Jakuba), together with the Renaissance town hall, dominates Master Paul Square in Levoča — a former free royal town and the...Spišský salaš below Spiš Castle: Spiš cooking since 1964Koliby & Hutsul cuisineSpišský salaš below Spiš Castle: Spiš cooking since 1964Spišská Kapitula11 km from the centreBetween Spiš Castle and Spišská Kapitula, at the edge of the plain below the travertine mound of Sivá brada, stands the wooden Spišský salaš.Spiš CastleCastleSpiš CastleŽehra13 km from the centreA castle visible for dozens of kilometres Spiš Castle (Spišský hrad) is the ruin of a vast castle on top of a 634 m travertine rock that rises 200 m above the Spiš basin.Hornád River Gorge (Prielom Hornádu)NatureHornád River Gorge (Prielom Hornádu)Hrabušice14 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.Kláštorská Gorge and its waterfallsWaterfallKláštorská Gorge and its waterfallsLetanovce15 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.

Craft nearby

All craft places
Thermal Park VrbovWater parks & thermal poolsThermal Park VrbovVrbov14 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...Ranč u Trapera, Podlesok: Horse Rides in the Slovak ParadiseHorse ridingRanč u Trapera, Podlesok: Horse Rides in the Slovak ParadiseHrabušice17 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.AquaCity Poprad water parkWater parks & thermal poolsAquaCity Poprad water parkPoprad21 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

Thermal Park VrbovWater parks & thermal poolsThermal Park VrbovVrbov14 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...AquaCity Poprad water parkWater parks & thermal poolsAquaCity Poprad water parkPoprad21 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...Climatic spas of the High Tatras: Nový Smokovec, Polianka, KotlinaWater parks & thermal poolsClimatic spas of the High Tatras: Nový Smokovec, Polianka, KotlinaVysoké Tatry30 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

542 mSpringSpring below ŠibeníkLevoča Mountains · SlovakiaNot verified230 m from a trail
772 mDrinking waterDrinking water below Mariánska horaLevoča Mountains · SlovakiaNot verifiedOn a trail
754 mSpringSpring below Mariánska horaLevoča Mountains · SlovakiaNot verified110 m from a trail
861 mSpringSpring below Zimná hôrkaLevoča Mountains · SlovakiaNot verified230 m from a trailMarked as drinkable
841 mSpringSaint Ján SpringLevoča Mountains · SlovakiaNot verified300 m from a trail
906 mSpringLevočského potoka SpringLevoča Mountains · SlovakiaNot verified180 m from a trail

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

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.

What's nearby