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Starý Smokovec: the Jakubkova lúka slope and the Hrebienok funicular

Jakubkova lúka, Starý Smokovec, 062 01 Vysoké Tatry, Slovakia
Starý Smokovec: the Jakubkova lúka slope and the Hrebienok funicularStarý Smokovec: the Jakubkova lúka slope and the Hrebienok funicular — 2Starý Smokovec: the Jakubkova lúka slope and the Hrebienok funicular — 3Starý Smokovec: the Jakubkova lúka slope and the Hrebienok funicular — 4Starý Smokovec: the Jakubkova lúka slope and the Hrebienok funicular — 5

Starý Smokovec is the historic heart of the town of Vysoké Tatry, a resort village below Slavkovský štít. In winter Tatry mountain resorts, which also runs nearby Tatranská Lomnica and Štrbské Pleso, operates the small Jakubkova lúka ski area right in the village, and above it the funicular to Hrebienok, one of the most popular spots in the Tatras. This is not a resort for long runs: people choose Starý Smokovec for their first steps on skis, for sledging, walks through the snowy forest and as a base for the other High Tatras ski areas.

Slopes and lifts

The Jakubkova lúka slopes are marked blue, meaning they are the easiest runs, suitable for everyone. The main run is 950 m long with only a gentle gradient along its whole length — ideal for family skiing and practising technique. There are two surface lifts: one serves the ski school, the other is the main lift. The children's practice area has obstacles, gates and slalom poles. The meadow offers a fine view of Slavkovský štít, and the funicular's valley station, the railway station and the bus station are close by.

The Starý Smokovec – Hrebienok funicular climbs about 250 m in 7 minutes — from 1025 to 1272 m — with a capacity of 1600 people per hour. The resort calls Hrebienok, at 1285 m, the crossroads of the Tatras. According to the operator, in winter there is a 2.5 km sledging track, snowtubing and fun on skifoxes, snowbikes and snowscoots, and the resort invites visitors to Hrebienok and the Tatra Ice Dome, a winter structure made of ice.

Season and ski passes

Jakubkova lúka operates in winter when there is enough snow; the 2026/27 season dates have not been announced yet. Lift and funicular tickets are sold through the GOPASS system with flexible prices: buying online in advance is cheaper, and the day's price is shown at the cash desks. Children under 6 accompanied by an adult ride free, and there are discounts for children aged 6–12, juniors and seniors over 60. As of late October 2026 the funicular is closed for autumn maintenance. Prices as of October 2026 — check the official website.

Who it suits

Starý Smokovec is for children, families and first-time skiers: a gentle slope, a training lift and a ski school next door. Strong skiers come here rather for a day of sledging and walks, and go skiing in Lomnica or at Štrbské Pleso. Tatry Motion rental and service operate in the village, including sledging equipment.

Getting there from Ukraine

From the Uzhhorod – Vyšné Nemecké border crossing the road leads via Michalovce to Košice and on along the D1 motorway via Prešov to Poprad; from there Starý Smokovec is about 13 km away — roughly 205 km from the border in total. By train from Košice travel to Poprad-Tatry station and change to the Tatra Electric Railway, which stops in Starý Smokovec next to the ski meadow and the funicular.

Nearby: trails and peaks

From Hrebienok it is not far to Studený potok Waterfalls and Hrebienok. From the village the route Starý Smokovec – Slavkovský Peak leads to the summit of Slavkovský štít. For longer runs head to neighbouring Tatranská Lomnica and Štrbské Pleso.

Official website: vt.sk

Photos: Akul59, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Tatransky, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; Ing.Mgr.Jozef Kotulič, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.

Season 2026/27 at the resort

Lifts
2 (2 surface lifts at Jakubkova lúka (main and ski-school); separately the Starý Smokovec – Hrebienok funicular (for pedestrians, 1025–1272 m))
Season 2026/27
in winter, snow permitting; 2026/27 dates not yet announced
Ski pass
flexible GOPASS prices for the High Tatras resorts

Data: vt.sk, checked 30 Oct 2026. Prices and schedules may change — check the resort’s website.

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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.

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Location on the map

Trails nearby

All trails
Starý Smokovec, TEŽ station – Velická PoľanaEasyOne-dayMarkedStarý Smokovec, TEŽ station Velická PoľanaElevation profile996–1 570 m5.6 kmascent 574 m≈ 2.5 h walkingunder 1 km from Starý Smokovec: the Jakubkova lúka slope and the Hrebienok funicularStarý Smokovec – Slavkovský PeakHardOne-dayMarkedStarý Smokovec Slavkovský PeakElevation profile996–2 452 m7.3 kmascent 1 457 m≈ 4.5 h walkingunder 1 km from Starý Smokovec: the Jakubkova lúka slope and the Hrebienok funicularTatranské zruby – Junction above ZrubyEasyOne-dayMarkedTatranské zruby Junction above ZrubyElevation profile1 006–1 394 m2.3 kmascent 388 m≈ 1 h walking1.4 km from Starý Smokovec: the Jakubkova lúka slope and the Hrebienok funicular

Nearby attractions

Climatic spas of the High Tatras: Nový Smokovec, Polianka, KotlinaWater parks & thermal poolsClimatic spas of the High Tatras: Nový Smokovec, Polianka, KotlinaVysoké Tatryunder 1 km from Starý Smokovec: the Jakubkova lúka slope and the Hrebienok funicularNový 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...Studený potok Waterfalls and HrebienokWaterfallStudený potok Waterfalls and HrebienokStarý Smokovec · High Tatras3.1 km from Starý Smokovec: the Jakubkova lúka slope and the Hrebienok funicularheight 13 m1 276 m above sea levelThe Studený potok waterfalls (Vodopády Studeného potoka), known in Polish literature as the Zimna Woda waterfalls, are one of the oldest tourist attractions of the...Velické pleso and Sliezsky domLakeVelické pleso and Sliezsky domNová Polianka · High Tatras4.7 km from Starý Smokovec: the Jakubkova lúka slope and the Hrebienok funicular1 663 m above sea levelarea 2.2 haup to 4.5 m deepVelické pleso is the largest lake of the Velická valley in the High Tatras, at 1,663 m, at the foot of Gerlachovský štít — the highest peak of the Tatras.

Craft nearby

All craft places
AquaCity Poprad water parkWater parks & thermal poolsAquaCity Poprad water parkPoprad11 km from Starý Smokovec: the Jakubkova lúka slope and the Hrebienok funicularAquaCity 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...Minipivovar TATRAS, PopradCraft beer & breweriesMinipivovar TATRAS, PopradPoprad11 km from Starý Smokovec: the Jakubkova lúka slope and the Hrebienok funicularMinipivovar TATRAS is a brewpub on Poprad’s main square, Námestie sv. Egídia, housed in a building with a long brewing history.Thermal Park VrbovWater parks & thermal poolsThermal Park VrbovVrbov16 km from Starý Smokovec: the Jakubkova lúka slope and the Hrebienok funicularThermal 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...Shepherd's Hut on Rusinowa PolanaCheese dairies & pasturesShepherd's Hut on Rusinowa PolanaBrzegi16 km from Starý Smokovec: the Jakubkova lúka slope and the Hrebienok funicularRusinowa Polana is one of the most beautiful mountain glades in the Polish Tatras, and from May to October it is home to the bacówka (shepherd's hut) of baca Stanisław...U Jancoka Shepherd's Hut, Brzegi: oscypek from Poland's first female bacaCheese dairies & pasturesU Jancoka Shepherd's Hut, Brzegi: oscypek from Poland's first female bacaBrzegi22 km from Starý Smokovec: the Jakubkova lúka slope and the Hrebienok funicularThe U Jancoka shepherd's hut (bacówka) stands beside regional road 960, which runs from Bukowina Tatrzańska to the Łysa Polana border crossing, in the village of Brzegi.Kone vo Východnej: horse rides below the TatrasHorse ridingKone vo Východnej: horse rides below the TatrasVýchodná22 km from Starý Smokovec: the Jakubkova lúka slope and the Hrebienok funicularKone vo Východnej (“Horses in Východná”) is a small family horse farm on the meadows above the village of Východná in upper Liptov, with a sweeping view of the High...