Štrbské pleso

Štrbské pleso is the emblem of the Slovak Tatras: a large mountain lake at 1,346 m surrounded by spruce forest, hotels and High Tatra peaks. It is the second-largest tarn in the Slovak part of the High Tatras and their most typical moraine lake. It covers 19.76 ha, is up to 26 m deep, 640 m long and 600 m wide. On average it is frozen 155 days a year. No stream flows in or out: the water comes from underground springs rising from more than 12 m deep and leaves by seepage.

The lake is named after the village of Štrba, in whose territory it lies. It once belonged to the Liptov family Szentiványi, who offered guests fishing, bathing and boating, and in 1901 the Hungarian state bought it. Until 1902 ice was harvested here in winter: hundreds of workers cut blocks that were shipped by rail to restaurants in Budapest, Vienna and Berlin. In 1896 a rack railway was built up from Štrba, and on 5–6 February 1925 the European Ice Hockey Championship was played on the frozen lake.

The resort of the same name, Štrbské Pleso, began in 1872 when the first chalet was built on the shore, and has been a climatic spa since 1885. It is the highest settlement in Slovakia.

What to see and do

• A walk around the lake — the easiest way to see the High Tatras reflected in the water; the route is level and suits families and older visitors.
• Boats. A boat landing has operated again by the southern bay since 2008 (boating was banned from 1976).
• The Slovak National Uprising memorial on a tiny peninsula (since 1953, a national cultural monument).
• A rare fish. The lake is home to the maraena whitefish (Coregonus maraena), brought from Lake Miedwie in Poland; Štrbské pleso is probably the only place in the world where it survives in pure form.
• The Solisko chairlift (Solisko Expres) — a ride above the lake with views of the Mlynická and Furkotská valleys.
• In winter the shore has the highest public ice rink, and there is a ski resort nearby.

Practical information

Getting there. From Poprad take the Tatra Electric Railway via Starý Smokovec, or the rack railway from Tatranská Štrba (on the main line). By car it is about 30 km from Poprad (via Starý Smokovec), 7 km from Tatranská Štrba and 32 km from Liptovský Hrádok via Podbanské. From the station it is a few minutes' walk to the shore. The lake is accessible all year and free of charge.

The Solisko chairlift, as of October 2026, runs for pedestrians; its autumn maintenance break is from 2 November to 4 December 2026. The operator uses dynamic pricing — check current fares on the operator's website.

TANAP rules. The lake lies on the edge of the Tatra National Park: trails start here to the Skok waterfall, to Popradské pleso and into the mountains. Hiking on park trails is allowed only in daylight. The section of the Tatranská magistrála from the Trigan junction to Popradské pleso and high-mountain routes are closed from 1 November to 31 May.

When to go. All year: in summer and autumn for walks and mountain reflections, in winter for the snowy lake and skiing.

Nearby

• Skok waterfall — 1.5 hours on the yellow trail up Mlynická dolina.
• Popradské pleso and the Symbolic Cemetery — about an hour along the Tatranská magistrála.
• Kmeťov waterfall in the Kôprová valley.
• Važecká Cave — below the Tatras, on the way to Liptov.

Official website: vt.sk

Photos: Timothy Langer, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Aleksandra Boguslawska aleksandraboguslawska, CC0, Wikimedia Commons; Sebastian Porzelle, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; PMATAS, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; Jozef Kotulič, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; Ing.Mgr. Jozef Kotulič, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons.