Štrbské Pleso

Poprad District · Prešov Region · Slovakia
Štrbské Pleso — photo 1 Štrbské Pleso — photo 2 Štrbské Pleso — photo 3 Štrbské Pleso — photo 4 Štrbské Pleso — photo 5 6

Photos: VargaA, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Timothy Langer, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons); neznámy - scen, Public domain (Wikimedia Commons); FOTO:Fortepan — ID 26176: Adományozó/Donor: Varga János., CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); FOTO:Fortepan — ID 31513: Adományozó/Donor: Mészáros Zoltán., CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Unknowl, neuvedený, neznámy, very old postcard, Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)

Štrbské Pleso is a small resort settlement in the High Tatras, located at about 1350 meters above sea level in the Poprad District, Prešov Region, Slovakia. The settlement lies on the southern shore of the glacial lake of the same name, surrounded by mountain ridges and coniferous forests. It is part of the municipality of Štrba and, since 2008, has been administered by it.

The history of Štrbské Pleso began in 1872, when Jozef Szentiványi built a hunting lodge here and opened it to tourists. In 1875, the Carpathian Union built the Chalet Joseph nearby. The arrival of the railway to Poprad in 1871 made access to the Tatras much easier. In 1901, the resort was acquired by the Hungarian state and later became part of Czechoslovakia.

Štrbské Pleso is known as a ski, tourist, and health resort, as well as a starting point for numerous routes in the High Tatras. The area features hotels, sanatoriums, and modern infrastructure for winter sports. The settlement is located by Štrbské pleso lake, with the small man-made Nové Štrbské pleso created in 1900 nearby. The area attracts visitors with its scenic views, clean air, and opportunities for active recreation.

Visitors can explore trails such as Štrbské Pleso – Crossroads below Furkotská Valley or Biely Váh – Kriváň, or ascend peaks like Kriváň, Kôprovský štít, and Veľké Solisko. Natural attractions include Popradské pleso and the Symbolic Cemetery, Skok Waterfall, and Veľké Hincovo pleso. For relaxation, there are climate resorts of the High Tatras, and accommodation is available at huts like the Popradské pleso Hut, the Hut under Rysy, or Téry Hut.

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
Škutnastá Meadow – Štrba, stationModerateOne-dayMarkedŠkutnastá Meadow Štrba, stationElevation profile894–1 826 m9.8 kmascent 56 m≈ 2.5 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 munder 1 km from the centreŠtrbské Pleso – Junction below Furkotská ValleyHardOne-dayMarkedŠtrbské Pleso Junction below Furkotská ValleyElevation profile1 349–2 298 m12.4 kmascent 945 m≈ 5 h walkingunder 1 km from the centreŠtrbské Pleso, Solisko Sanatorium – Junction in Krivánsky GullyHardOne-dayMarkedŠtrbské Pleso, Solisko Sanatorium Junction in Krivánsky GullyElevation profile1 137–2 122 m14.7 kmascent 986 m≈ 5.5 h walkingunder 1 km from the centreTri studničky, old forester's lodge – Popradské Pleso, stopHardTwo-dayMarkedTri studničky, old forester's lodge Popradské Pleso, stopElevation profile1 105–2 142 m21.4 kmascent 1 142 m≈ 7.5 h walking1.1 km from the centreTrigan – Popradské Pleso, hotelEasyOne-dayMarkedTrigan Popradské Pleso, hotelElevation profile1 432–1 532 m2.4 kmascent 90 m≈ 45 min walking1.9 km from the centre

Peaks nearby

All peaks
Veľké SoliskoPeakVeľké SoliskoŠtrbské Plesoaltitude 2 412 m5.4 km from the centreVeľké Solisko (Polish: Wielkie Solisko) is a 2,412 m peak in the Slovak High Tatras and the highest point of the Solisko ridge.KončistáPeakKončistáVyšné Hágyaltitude 2 537 m5.6 km from the centreKončistá (Polish Kończysta, German Kontschista, Hungarian Koncsiszta) is a 2,537.5 m summit in the High Tatras in Slovakia.KriváňPeakKriváňŠtrbské Plesoaltitude 2 495 m6.7 km from the centre1 trail to the topKriváň (Polish Krywań) is a 2495 m peak (precisely 2494.7 m) in the south-western part of the High Tatras in Slovakia.Batizovský štítPeakBatizovský štítVyšné Hágyaltitude 2 448 m6.7 km from the centreBatizovský štít (Polish Batyżowiecki Szczyt, German Botzdorfer Spitze, Hungarian Batizfalvi-csúcs) is a massive twin-topped summit 2448 m high on the main ridge of the...Kôprovský štítPeakKôprovský štítVyšné Hágyaltitude 2 363 m7.1 km from the centreKôprovský štít (Polish Koprowy Wierch, German Dillenspitze) is a prominent High Tatras peak in Slovakia, 2363 m high according to Slovak data (Polish and German...Gerlachovský štítPeakGerlachovský štítVyšné Hágyaltitude 2 655 m7.1 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.

What to visit

All
Štrbské plesoLakeŠtrbské plesoŠtrbské Plesounder 1 km from the centreŠtrbské 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.Popradské pleso and the Symbolic CemeteryLakePopradské pleso and the Symbolic CemeteryVyšné Hágy4 km from the centrePopradské pleso is a glacial lake in the Mengusovská valley at 1,494 m, below the cliffs of Ostrva. It covers 6.88 ha and is 17 m deep — the fourth-largest tarn of the...Skok WaterfallWaterfallSkok WaterfallŠtrbské Pleso4 km from the centreSkok (Vodopád Skok) is one of the most beautiful waterfalls of the Slovak Tatras. Here the Mlynica stream drops over a rock step that blocks the middle part of the...Jamské plesoLakeJamské plesoVyšné Hágy4.1 km from the centreJamské pleso is a small forest lake at the foot of Kriváň, an hour's walk west of Štrbské Pleso. It lies at 1,447 m among the massive moraine ridges of Važecká dolina,...Kmeťov Waterfall in Kôprová ValleyWaterfallKmeťov Waterfall in Kôprová ValleyPodbanské8.6 km from the centreKmeťov waterfall (Kmeťov vodopád) is a powerful two-step waterfall in the Kôprová dolina valley in the western High Tatras.Važecká CaveNatureVažecká CaveVažec9.7 km from the centreVažecká Cave (Važecká jaskyňa) is one of the best-known caves in northern Slovakia, even though it is among the shortest show caves.

Craft nearby

All craft places
Kone vo Východnej: horse rides below the TatrasHorse ridingKone vo Východnej: horse rides below the TatrasVýchodná11 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...Climatic spas of the High Tatras: Nový Smokovec, Polianka, KotlinaWater 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...Farma Východná — organic farm below the TatrasEco farmsFarma Východná — organic farm below the TatrasVýchodná14 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.Minipivovar TATRAS, PopradCraft beer & breweriesMinipivovar TATRAS, PopradPoprad19 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.AquaCity Poprad water parkWater parks & thermal poolsAquaCity Poprad water parkPoprad19 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 VrbovVrbov26 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...

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 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...AquaCity Poprad water parkWater parks & thermal poolsAquaCity Poprad water parkPoprad19 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 VrbovVrbov26 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

Solisko Hut1 840 mMountain shelterSolisko HutHigh Tatras · SlovakiaStandingOn a trailStaffedAll year
Majláth Hut1 500 mMountain shelterMajláth HutHigh Tatras · SlovakiaStandingOn a trailSleeps up to 15Meals served
Popradské Pleso Mountain Hotel1 494 mMountain shelterPopradské Pleso Mountain HotelHigh Tatras · SlovakiaStandingOn a trailSleeps up to 165Meals served
Hut under Rysy2 250 mMountain shelterHut under RysyHigh Tatras · SlovakiaStandingOn a trailMeals servedSummer only
1 308 mSpringLúčny potok SpringHigh Tatras · SlovakiaNot verifiedOn a trail
980 mSpringPsotkov SpringHigh Tatras · SlovakiaNot verified

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