Poprad
Photos: Cepom, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Ladabohac, CC0 (Wikimedia Commons); Martinmlynar, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Michal Klajban, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons); PhDr. Pavol Svetoň, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Ladislav Luppa, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Poprad is a town in northern Slovakia, serving as the administrative center of the Poprad District in the Prešov Region. It sits at an elevation of 672 m above sea level, at the foot of the High Tatras, on the Poprad River. The town is surrounded by mountain ranges: the Levoča Hills to the east, Kozie chrbty to the south, and the Low Tatras to the southwest. Several streams, including Potocky, Hagan, Ganovsky, and Hozelsky, flow through the area.
Poprad was founded in the 13th century, with the first written mention in 1256. It developed as a German settlement (Deutschendorf) and became an important trade and craft center. For four centuries, Poprad was nominally under Polish rule as a pawn. After the construction of the railway in 1871, the town became the main gateway to the High Tatras and a significant industrial hub.
The town is known as a tourist center and a gateway to the High Tatras. Major companies such as Tatravagónka, Tatrakon, Tatramat, and Whirlpool operate here. Poprad is home to the Podtatranské Museum with valuable archaeological finds, the Tatra Gallery, and numerous churches, including the Church of St. Egidius. The International Mountain Film Festival is held annually. Poprad is also famous for the AquaCity Poprad aquapark and its developed sports infrastructure.
Visitors can explore more than 25 hiking trails, such as "Téry Hut – Zbojnícka Hut", "Starý Smokovec – Tatranská Javorina", and "Kvetnica – Zamčisko – Kvetnica". Notable sights include Spišská Sobota and the Church of St. George, the Studený potok waterfalls, and the Podtatranské Museum in Poprad. For relaxation, there is AquaCity Poprad, the Vrbov Thermal Park, and the Tatras microbrewery. Mountain enthusiasts can ascend Slavkovský Štít or Pyšný Štít, and visit huts like Rainer's Hut, Téry Hut, Zamkovský Hut, and others.
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 (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.
Sources: Wikipedia, Wikidata, OpenStreetMap, Karpaty.rocks data. More on Wikipedia
Trails nearby
All trails
ModerateOne-dayMarkedSpišská Teplica Sedlo TabličkyElevation profile698–1 256 m10.8 kmascent 600 m≈ 4 h walking3.7 km from the centre
EasyOne-dayMarkedKvetnica forest park loopElevation profile736–924 m4.1 kmascent 188 m≈ 1.5 h walking4.1 km from the centre
ModerateOne-dayMarkedKvetnica loopvia ZámčiskoElevation profile671–941 m13.3 kmascent 520 m≈ 4.5 h walking4.1 km from the centre
HardTwo-dayMarkedSvit, station Smrečinské SaddleElevation profile729–1 448 m24.5 kmascent 1 067 m≈ 8.5 h walking7.3 km from the centre
HardTwo-dayMarkedSpišské Bystré Kráľova hoľaElevation profile670–1 941 m19.6 kmascent 1 342 m≈ 7.5 h walking8 km from the centre
ModerateTwo-dayMarkedZbojnícka lúka Vydrník, stationElevation profile550–936 m18.6 kmascent 548 m≈ 5.5 h walking9.8 km from the centrePeaks nearby
All peaks
PeakSlavkovský štítStarý Smokovecaltitude 2 452 m15 km from the centreSlavkovský štít (Polish Sławkowski Szczyt, German Schlagendorfer Spitze) is a broad, massive peak 2452 m high in the High Tatras of Slovakia.
PeakLomnický štítTatranská Lomnicaaltitude 2 634 m17 km from the centreLomnický štít (Polish Łomnica, German Lomnitzer Spitze) is one of the highest and most visited peaks of the High Tatras.
PeakGerlachovský štítVyšné Hágyaltitude 2 655 m17 km from the centreGerlachovský štít (colloquially Gerlach; Polish Gerlach, German Gerlsdorfer Spitze) is the highest peak of the High Tatras, of Slovakia and of the entire Carpathians.
PeakKežmarský štítKežmarské Žľabyaltitude 2 556 m17 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.
PeakPyšný štítStarý Smokovecaltitude 2 621 m17 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...
PeakZadný GerlachVyšné Hágyaltitude 2 616 m17 km from the centreZadný Gerlach (officially Zadný Gerlachovský štít, “Rear Gerlach”; Polish Zadni Gerlach) is a mighty 2,616 m junction summit on the main ridge of the High Tatras (2...What to visit
All
MuseumPodtatranské Museum, Poprad, and the Prince's TombPopradunder 1 km from the centreThe Podtatranské Museum in Poprad (Podtatranské múzeum v Poprade) is a supra-regional museum at the foot of the High Tatras, run by the Prešov Self-Governing Region.
Craft beer & breweriesMinipivovar TATRAS, PopradPopradunder 1 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 parkPopradunder 1 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...
Historic siteSpišská Sobota and St George's ChurchPoprad1.8 km from the centreSpišská Sobota is the best-preserved historic quarter of Poprad. It used to be an independent market town and became part of Poprad in 1946.
NatureSuchá Belá GorgeHrabušice13 km from the centreThe most romantic gorge in the Slovak Paradise Suchá Belá is the most visited gorge in Slovak Paradise National Park and, according to the park administration, one of...
CastleKežmarok CastleKežmarok14 km from the centreKežmarok Castle (Kežmarský hrad) stands in Kežmarok on Castle Square (Hradné námestie). According to the Kežmarok Museum it is the only fully preserved castle in the...Craft nearby
All craft places
Water parks & thermal poolsThermal Park VrbovVrbov9.7 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 poolsClimatic spas of the High Tatras: Nový Smokovec, Polianka, KotlinaVysoké Tatry11 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...
Horse ridingRanč u Trapera, Podlesok: Horse Rides in the Slovak ParadiseHrabušice11 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.Spas and thermal pools nearby
Water parks & thermal poolsAquaCity Poprad water parkPopradunder 1 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 poolsThermal Park VrbovVrbov9.7 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 poolsClimatic spas of the High Tatras: Nový Smokovec, Polianka, KotlinaVysoké Tatry11 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
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.
