Telgárt
Photos: Daniel Baránek, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Janobb, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Janobb, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Marian Lacko, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Sebastian B, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Ing.Mgr.Jozef Kotulič, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Telgárt is a village in the Brezno District of Slovakia's Banská Bystrica Region, situated at an elevation of 886 metres in the scenic Low Tatras. The village lies in the upper Hron valley, at the southeastern foothills of the Kráľova hoľa massif, on the border of three geographic regions: the Low Tatras, Stolické Mountains, and Slovak Paradise. Most of the settlement stretches along the Zubrovica stream down to its confluence with the Hron.
Telgárt was first mentioned in historical records in 1326, and in 1549 it appeared as Thygart. From 1948 to 1990, the village was known as Švermovo, named after Jan Šverma, a participant in the Slovak National Uprising. During World War II, fierce fighting took place in the area, and on 5 September 1944, the village was almost completely destroyed during a counterattack.
Telgárt is known as the source of the Hron river and for its unique natural features: mineral water springs, the "Meanders of the Hron" nature reserve, alpine meadows of the Low Tatras, and proximity to the Kráľova hoľa peak. The village is crossed by railway line 173 Margecany – Červená Skala, featuring notable engineering works like the Telgárt tunnel and viaducts.
For visitors, Telgárt is an excellent starting point for hiking, with numerous trails such as "Sedlo Predná Hora – Orlová – Faltenovo sedlo", "Červená Skala – Muránska Zdychava", and "Dobšinská Ice Cave – Sedlo Besník". Mountain enthusiasts can ascend Kráľova hoľa or Havrania skala, and explore the alpine meadows of the Low Tatras. The "Chata pod Kráľovou hoľou" hut is available for overnight stays.
Getting there from Ukraine
Uzhhorod – Poprad is about 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). The D1 requires an e-vignette (eznamka.sk). From Lviv, the fastest route to Poprad is through Poland — Krakovets – A4 – Kraków – Zakopane – Łysa Polana ≈468 km (≈5 h 50 min).
Sources: Wikipedia, Wikidata, OpenStreetMap, Karpaty.rocks data. More on Wikipedia
Trails nearby
All trails
ModerateOne-dayMarkedTelgárt, Pension Kráľova HoľaElevation profile875–1 941 m7.2 kmascent 71 m≈ 2 h walkingunder 1 km from the centre
HardMulti-dayMarkedHorná Poruba, U Brdárov Pred ČuntavouElevation profile309–2 004 m241.6 kmascent 15 694 munder 1 km from the centre
EasyOne-dayMarkedTelgárt Pred ČuntavouElevation profile885–1 309 m4.2 kmascent 427 m≈ 2 h walkingunder 1 km from the centre
EasyOne-dayMarkedHorebez Pod žľabyElevation profile1 161–1 309 m3.7 kmascent 148 m≈ 1 h walking1.9 km from the centre
EasyOne-dayMarkedDobšinská Ice Cave Saddle BesníkElevation profile844–994 m6.5 kmascent 9 m≈ 1.5 h walking3 km from the centre
HardMulti-dayMarkedStará Čuntava SlavošovceElevation profile415–1 477 m27.5 kmascent 1 329 m≈ 9.5 h walking3.3 km from the centrePeaks nearby
All peaks
PeakKráľova hoľaŠumiacaltitude 1 946 m5.3 km from the centreKráľova hoľa (German Königsberg, Hungarian Király-hegy – “King's Mountain”) is a 1,946 m summit, the highest in the eastern part of the Low Tatras, which are called...
PeakStolicaMuránska Zdychavaaltitude 1 476 m8.8 km from the centreStolica (Hungarian Sztolica) is the highest peak of the Stolické vrchy and of the entire Slovak Ore Mountains at 1,476 m.
PeakHavrania skalaStratenáaltitude 1 156 m12 km from the centreHavrania skala (Raven Rock) is a 1,156 m summit, one of the highest in the Slovak Paradise. It stands in the southern part of the national park, about 3 km north of...What to visit
All
Mountain meadowKráľova hoľa — mountain meadows of the Low TatrasŠumiacaltitude 1 946 m5.3 km from the centreKráľova hoľa (1,946 m) is a broad, treeless «hoľa» — a mountain meadow above the tree line — at the eastern end of the main ridge of the Low Tatras.
NatureDobšinská Ice CaveDobšiná8.7 km from the centreDobšinská Ice Cave (Dobšinská ľadová jaskyňa) is one of the most important ice caves in the world. Since 2000 it has been on the UNESCO World Natural Heritage list.
Mountain meadowVeľká lúka on Muránska planinaMuráňaltitude 887 m12 km from the centreVeľká lúka («the Great Meadow») is a huge mountain meadow on the limestone Muránska planina plateau north of the village of Muráň, in the south-eastern part of the...
CastleMuráň CastleMuráň14 km from the centreMuráň Castle (Muránsky hrad, officially Muráň) is the ruin of a medieval castle on the summit of Cigánka (935 m) at the southern edge of the Muránska planina plateau,...
LakePalcmanská Maša reservoirDedinky14 km from the centrePalcmanská Maša is the largest reservoir in the Slovak Paradise. It lies on the upper course of the Hnilec river, in a basin-like widening of the valley below the...
WaterfallVeľký Sokol Gorge and its waterfallsStratená15 km from the centreVeľký Sokol is the longest gorge in the Slovak Paradise National Park and, according to the park administration, one of its wildest and most exposed.Craft nearby
All craft places
Horse ridingRanč u Trapera, Podlesok: Horse Rides in the Slovak ParadiseHrabušice19 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.
Craft beer & breweriesMinipivovar TATRAS, PopradPoprad24 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 parkPoprad25 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...Spas and thermal pools nearby
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.
