Starý Smokovec

Poprad District · Prešov Region · Slovakia
Starý Smokovec — photo 1 Starý Smokovec — photo 2 Starý Smokovec — photo 3 Starý Smokovec — photo 4 Starý Smokovec — photo 5 6

Photos: FOTO:Fortepan — ID 11811: Adományozó/Donor: Unknown., Public domain (Wikimedia Commons); FOTO:Fortepan — ID 86418: Adományozó/Donor: Magyar Földrajzi Múzeum / Erdélyi Mór cége. archive copy at the Wayback M…, Public domain (Wikimedia Commons); Ing.Mgr.Jozef Kotulič, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Ing.Mgr.Jozef Kotulič, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Jozef Kotulič, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); bbrang2, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Starý Smokovec is a settlement in Slovakia, serving as the administrative center of the town of Vysoké Tatry in the Poprad District, Prešov Region. Located on the southern slope of the Slavkovský Ridge in the High Tatras mountains at 1006 m above sea level, it is the oldest recreational center in the High Tatras. Today, Starý Smokovec is a popular tourist hub for hikers and skiers, as well as an important junction of the narrow-gauge Tatra Electric Railway connecting Poprad, Tatranská Lomnica, and Štrbské Pleso.

Starý Smokovec was founded in 1793 as part of Austria. In the 19th century, a neo-Gothic alpine-style church with stained glass windows was built here, designed by architect Gedeon Majunke. One of the most notable buildings is the Grand Hotel, constructed in 1904. In 2004, the surrounding forests were almost completely destroyed by a hurricane, and in 2013, a fire damaged the young forest planted after the disaster.

Starý Smokovec is known as a center for skiing and hiking, with the lower station of the funicular to Hrebienok and the headquarters of the Slovak Mountain Rescue Service (HZS) located here. The scenic ski slopes on the slopes of Slavkovský Ridge are a highlight. The village also features a monument commemorating the 2004 disaster, known as the Great Calamity.

Numerous hiking trails start from Starý Smokovec: the green trail to Hrebienok and further to Rainer Hut, the blue trail via Kráľovský Nos to Slavkovský Peak, and the yellow trail to Velická Valley. Other nearby routes include the Tatranská Magistrála: Podbanské – Veľké Biele pleso, and peaks such as Slavkovský štít, Kriváň, and Lomnický štít. Visitors can also reach Rainer Hut, Téry Hut, Zamkovský Hut, enjoy wellness at the High Tatras climatic resorts, or visit the Tatras microbrewery in Poprad.

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
Stary Smokowiec – Tatrzańska JaworinaHardTwo-dayMarkedStary Smokowiec Tatrzańska JaworinaElevation profile996–2 342 m22.4 kmascent 1 382 m≈ 8.5 h walkingunder 1 km from the centreStarý Smokovec – Slavkovský PeakHardOne-dayMarkedStarý Smokovec Slavkovský PeakElevation profile996–2 452 m7.3 kmascent 1 457 m≈ 4.5 h walkingunder 1 km from the centreTatranská magistrála (Tatra Highway): Podbanské – Veľké Biele plesoHardMulti-dayMarkedTatranská magistrála (Tatra Highway): Podbanské Veľké Biele plesoElevation profile929–2 043 m50.1 kmascent 1 639 m1.6 km from the centreTatranské zruby – Junction above ZrubyEasyOne-dayMarkedTatranské zruby Junction above ZrubyElevation profile1 006–1 394 m2.3 kmascent 388 m≈ 1.5 h walking2.1 km from the centreTatranská Lesná – Waterfalls of Studený StreamEasyOne-dayMarkedTatranská Lesná Waterfalls of Studený StreamElevation profile922–1 237 m3.9 kmascent 315 m≈ 1.5 h walking2.2 km from the centreTatranská Lomnica – Lysá PoľanaHardMulti-dayMarkedTatranská Lomnica Lysá PoľanaElevation profile853–2 268 m27.3 kmascent 1 415 m≈ 9.5 h walking2.5 km from the centre

Peaks nearby

All peaks
Slavkovský štítPeakSlavkovský štítStarý Smokovecaltitude 2 452 m3.9 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.Lomnický štítPeakLomnický štítTatranská Lomnicaaltitude 2 634 m6 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 m6.3 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...Kežmarský štítPeakKežmarský štítKežmarské Žľabyaltitude 2 556 m6.4 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.Východná VysokáPeakVýchodná VysokáNová Poliankaaltitude 2 429 m6.7 km from the centreVýchodná Vysoká ("Eastern High One"; Polish Mała Wysoka) is a pyramid-shaped peak 2429 m high (more precisely 2428.6 m) on the main ridge of the High Tatras in Slovakia.Malý Ľadový štítPeakMalý Ľadový štítTatranská Javorinaaltitude 2 602 m6.8 km from the centreMalý Ľadový štít (formerly Ľadová kopa; Polish Lodowa Kopa; German Markasitturm) is a 2602 m summit on the main ridge of the Slovak High Tatras.

What to visit

All
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 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...Studený potok Waterfalls and HrebienokWaterfallStudený potok Waterfalls and HrebienokStarý Smokovec2.6 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...Obrovský vodopád (Giant Waterfall)WaterfallObrovský vodopád (Giant Waterfall)Starý Smokovec3.2 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...Velické pleso and Sliezsky domLakeVelické pleso and Sliezsky domNová Polianka5.1 km from the centreVelické 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.Skalnaté pleso, Observatory and Lomnický štít Cable CarLakeSkalnaté pleso, Observatory and Lomnický štít Cable CarTatranská Lomnica5.3 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.TANAP Museum in Tatranská LomnicaMuseumTANAP Museum in Tatranská LomnicaTatranská Lomnica5.3 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...

Craft nearby

All craft places
AquaCity Poprad water parkWater parks & thermal poolsAquaCity Poprad water parkPoprad11 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...Minipivovar TATRAS, PopradCraft beer & breweriesMinipivovar TATRAS, PopradPoprad11 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.Thermal Park VrbovWater parks & thermal poolsThermal Park VrbovVrbov16 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 ParadiseHrabušice23 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.Kone vo Východnej: horse rides below the TatrasHorse ridingKone vo Východnej: horse rides below the TatrasVýchodná23 km from the centreKone 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...Farma Východná — organic farm below the TatrasEco farmsFarma Východná — organic farm below the TatrasVýchodná25 km from the centreFarma Východná is the highest-lying organic farm in Liptov, at 930 m in the village of Východná right below the Tatras.

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 Tatryunder 1 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 parkPoprad11 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 VrbovVrbov16 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

Bilík Hut1 255 mMountain shelterBilík HutHigh Tatras · SlovakiaStandingOn a trailStaffedAll year
Rainer's Hut1 301 mMountain shelterRainer's HutHigh Tatras · SlovakiaStandingOn a trailMeals servedAll year
Zamkovský Hut1 475 mMountain shelterZamkovský HutHigh Tatras · SlovakiaStandingOn a trailSleeps up to 23Meals served
Skalnatá Hut1 725 mMountain shelterSkalnatá HutHigh Tatras · SlovakiaStandingOn a trailStaffedAll year
Zbojnícka Hut1 960 mMountain shelterZbojnícka HutHigh Tatras · SlovakiaStandingOn a trailSleeps up to 16Meals served
Téry Hut2 015 mMountain shelterTéry HutHigh Tatras · SlovakiaStandingOn a trailSleeps up to 24Meals served

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