Terchová

Žilina District · Žilina region · Slovakia
Terchová — photo 1 Terchová — photo 2 Terchová — photo 3 Terchová — photo 4 Terchová — photo 5 6

Photos: Jozef Kotulič, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Alkhimov Maxim, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Michal Jakubský, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Česlav Gajdzica, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); Michal Jakubský, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons); EliziR, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Terchová is a village and municipality in the Žilina District, Žilina region, Slovakia. It lies in a valley of the Lesser Fatra mountains, about 25 km east of Žilina. The area is surrounded by picturesque peaks and is known for its canyons — Horné diery, Dolné diery and Nové diery — as well as the Vrátna dolina tourist resort. The cadastral area covers 84.54 km², with an elevation of 560 m. As of 2025, the population is 3,912.

The first written mention of Terchová dates to 1580. Originally a Vlach settlement, it gradually became an agricultural village as new settlers arrived in the 17th century. In the 19th century, natural disasters and emigration reduced the population. At the end of World War II, the wooden part of the village was destroyed by fire, but it was rebuilt in the postwar years. Terchová is the birthplace of the legendary outlaw Juraj Jánošík.

Terchová is known for its unique nature, numerous hiking trails, and cultural heritage. In 2013, the Music of Terchová was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The village attracts visitors with its scenic canyons, mountain landscapes, and as a center of traditional culture and crafts. Notable natives include Juraj Jánošík and Adam František Kollár.

Visitors can explore many trails, such as Medziholie – Medzirozsutce, Štefanová – Medziholie saddle, and Zázrivá, center – Talapkov Beskyd. Highlights include Jánošíkove diery, Vrátna dolina, the Kysuce Village Museum in Vychylovka, and the forest railway. Mountain lovers can ascend Veľký Rozsutec and Stratenec peaks. For rest, there is Chata na Grúni and the Vrátna shelter. Also worth visiting is the Salaš “Syrex” in Zázrivá, the home of Zázrivá korbáčiky cheese.

Getting there from Ukraine

From Uzhhorod to Žilina ≈330 km, ≈4 h 20 min without queues: Uzhhorod – Vyšné Nemecké → I/19 to Košice → D1 via Prešov, Poprad, Liptovský Mikuláš and Ružomberok (≈17 km on I/18 between D1 sections) → Žilina. To Terchová ≈314 km, ≈4 h 15 min: from the D1 onto I/70 and II/583. From Lviv through Poland: M-10 → Krakovets – Korczowa → A4 to Kraków → S7/DK7 to Chyżne – Trstená → R3, I/59 to Dolný Kubín → II/583 via Terchová to Žilina: to Terchová ≈493 km (≈6 h 30 min), to Žilina ≈518 km (≈7 h). Via the tolled A4 Kraków – Katowice, S1 and D3: ≈533 km, ≈6 h 35 min. The D1 requires an e-vignette (eznamka.sk).

Sources: Wikipedia, Wikidata, OpenStreetMap, Karpaty.rocks data. More on Wikipedia

What's nearby

Trails nearby

All trails
Terchová – Penzión RaciborHardMulti-dayMarkedTerchová Penzión RaciborElevation profile503–1 346 m41.2 kmascent 1 648 m≈ 13.5 h walkingunder 1 km from the centreTerchová – Belianske skalyEasyOne-dayMarkedTerchová Belianske skalyElevation profile490–714 m10.9 kmascent 191 m≈ 3 h walkingunder 1 km from the centreVyšné Kamence – TiesňavyEasyOne-dayMarkedVyšné Kamence TiesňavyElevation profile494–1 017 m3.9 kmascent 445 m≈ 2 h walking1.3 km from the centreVyšné Kamence – ZlieňModerateOne-dayMarkedVyšné Kamence ZlieňElevation profile493–836 m10.4 kmascent 505 m≈ 3.5 h walking1.5 km from the centreTiesňavy – Pod PálenicouEasyOne-dayMarkedTiesňavy Pod PálenicouElevation profile571–1 179 m6.3 kmascent 318 m≈ 2 h walking1.5 km from the centrePríslop Saddle – Malé NocľahyEasyOne-dayMarkedPríslop Saddle Malé NocľahyElevation profile912–1 173 m3.1 kmascent 169 m≈ 1 h walking1.9 km from the centre

Peaks nearby

All peaks
Malý RozsutecPeakMalý RozsutecTerchováaltitude 1 343 m5.3 km from the centre1 trail to the topMalý Rozsutec is a craggy limestone summit 1343 m high in the Malá Fatra (Lesser Fatra), Slovakia, in its Krivánska part.Veľký RozsutecPeakVeľký RozsutecTerchováaltitude 1 610 m5.8 km from the centre1 trail to the topVeľký Rozsutec (Polish Wielki Rozsutec) is a 1,609.8 m summit in the Malá Fatra, the most striking mountain of its Krivánska part and, according to Slovak sources, one...Veľký KriváňPeakVeľký KriváňTuranyaltitude 1 708 m7.8 km from the centre1 trail to the topVeľký Kriváň (Polish Wielki Krywań) is the highest peak of the Lesser Fatra (Malá Fatra) at 1,708 m. It stands on the main ridge of the Krivánska Fatra — the part of...ChlebPeakChlebŠútovoaltitude 1 646 m7.9 km from the centre1 trail to the topChleb (Slovak for “bread”) is a 1,646 m summit on the main ridge of the Lesser Fatra (Malá Fatra) and the third highest peak of the range.OsnicaPeakOsnicaPárnicaaltitude 1 363 m8 km from the centreOsnica is a 1363 m summit in the north-eastern part of the Lesser Fatra (Malá Fatra) in Slovakia, about 9 km west of Dolný Kubín.Malý KriváňPeakMalý KriváňSučanyaltitude 1 668 m9 km from the centre2 trails to the topMalý Kriváň (also Malý Fatranský Kriváň; Polish Mały Krywań) is a 1668 m summit and the second highest mountain of the whole Malá Fatra after Veľký Kriváň.

What to visit

All
TerchováHistoric siteTerchováTerchováunder 1 km from the centreTerchová is a village in northern Slovakia, in the Žilina district, between the Krivánska Malá Fatra and the Kysucká vrchovina uplands.Jánošík's Holes (Jánošíkove diery)NatureJánošík's Holes (Jánošíkove diery)Terchová3.2 km from the centreJánošíkove diery (Jánošík’s Holes), or simply Diery, is a system of narrow gorges and canyons in the Krivánska Malá Fatra near the village of Terchová, birthplace of...Vrátna ValleyNatureVrátna ValleyTerchová3.4 km from the centreVrátna dolina, or simply Vrátna, is a valley in the Krivánska Malá Fatra and the largest centre of summer and winter tourism in these mountains.The hole of Malá Fatra: Chleb, Snilovské sedlo and HromovéMountain meadowThe hole of Malá Fatra: Chleb, Snilovské sedlo and HromovéŠútovoaltitude 1 647 m7.9 km from the centreThe hole of Malá Fatra are the treeless grassy ridges in the highest, Kriváň part of the range (Krivánska Malá Fatra) in northern Slovakia, above the Vrátna valley and...Šútovo WaterfallWaterfallŠútovo WaterfallŠútovo8.7 km from the centreThe Šútovo Waterfall (Šútovský vodopád) is the highest waterfall in the Malá Fatra mountains and one of the highest in Slovakia: the water drops 38 m.Starý hrad (Old Castle)CastleStarý hrad (Old Castle)Nezbudská Lúčka14 km from the centreStarý hrad (Old Castle), known locally as Starhrad and in the past as Varín (Warna), is the ruin of a medieval castle on a granite crag on the right bank of the Váh,...

Craft nearby

All craft places
Salaš Syrex in Zázrivá — Home of the Zázrivá Korbáčik CheeseCheese dairies & pasturesSalaš Syrex in Zázrivá — Home of the Zázrivá Korbáčik CheeseZázrivá5.4 km from the centreZázrivá is a scattered mountain village on the border of Orava and the Malá Fatra, famous throughout Slovakia for its korbáčiky: thin strings of steamed cheese braided...Salaš Krajinka near RužomberokCheese dairies & pasturesSalaš Krajinka near RužomberokRužomberok22 km from the centreSalaš Krajinka is a genuine sheep farm on the edge of Ružomberok in lower Liptov. It was founded in 1983 to keep a thousand sheep, and the owners have deliberately...URSUS craft brewery, Čutkovská valleyCraft beer & breweriesURSUS craft brewery, Čutkovská valleyRužomberok26 km from the centreURSUS craft brewery (Remeselný pivovar URSUS) is the first brewery of the town of Ružomberok, tucked away in the picturesque Čutkovská valley in lower Liptov.Farma Brezany near Žilina: hand-stretched cheese and a distilleryCheese dairies & pasturesFarma Brezany near Žilina: hand-stretched cheese and a distilleryBrezany27 km from the centreBrezany is a village a few kilometres south of Žilina, on the edge of the Žilina basin and the foothills leading towards the Rajec valley and the Strážov Hills.Spa Aphrodite thermal pools, Rajecké TepliceWater parks & thermal poolsSpa Aphrodite thermal pools, Rajecké TepliceRajecké Teplice29 km from the centreHot mineral water rises here, and it feeds the Spa Aphrodite resort, whose thermal pools, saunas and Natural Spa zone are open not only to patients but to anyone with...Raková farm in Kysuce: bryndza, žinčica and cheese cakesCheese dairies & pasturesRaková farm in Kysuce: bryndza, žinčica and cheese cakesRaková29 km from the centreKysuce is a hilly region in north-western Slovakia, near the Polish and Czech borders, with scattered hillside hamlets (“kopanice”) and an old tradition of keeping...

Spas and thermal pools nearby

Spa Aphrodite thermal pools, Rajecké TepliceWater parks & thermal poolsSpa Aphrodite thermal pools, Rajecké TepliceRajecké Teplice29 km from the centreHot mineral water rises here, and it feeds the Spa Aphrodite resort, whose thermal pools, saunas and Natural Spa zone are open not only to patients but to anyone with...Lúčky Spa and AQUA-VITAL ParkWater parks & thermal poolsLúčky Spa and AQUA-VITAL ParkLúčky30 km from the centreLúčky Spa (Kúpele Lúčky) lies in a quiet valley beneath the Choč Mountains, in the village of Lúčky near Ružomberok.

Huts, shelters and springs nearby

Chata na Grúni (Grúň Hut)973 mMountain shelterChata na Grúni (Grúň Hut)Lesser Fatra · SlovakiaStandingOn a trailMeals servedAll year
740 mMountain shelterVrátna HutLesser Fatra · SlovakiaStandingOn a trailStaffed
564 mSpringSpring below OravcovéLesser Fatra · SlovakiaNot verifiedOn a trailMarked as drinkable
586 mCaptured springCaptured spring below Mních (south-east slope)Lesser Fatra · SlovakiaNot verified90 m from a trail
533 mSpringSpring below Sokolie (north-east slope)Lesser Fatra · SlovakiaNot verifiedOn a trail
718 mSpringSpring below MravečníkKysuce Beskids · SlovakiaNot verifiedOn a trail

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

From Uzhhorod to Žilina ≈330 km, ≈4 h 20 min without queues: Uzhhorod – Vyšné Nemecké → I/19 to Košice → D1 via Prešov, Poprad, Liptovský Mikuláš and Ružomberok (≈17 km on I/18 between D1 sections) → Žilina. To Terchová ≈314 km, ≈4 h 15 min: from the D1 onto I/70 and II/583. From Lviv through Poland: M-10 → Krakovets – Korczowa → A4 to Kraków → S7/DK7 to Chyżne – Trstená → R3, I/59 to Dolný Kubín → II/583 via Terchová to Žilina: to Terchová ≈493 km (≈6 h 30 min), to Žilina ≈518 km (≈7 h). Via the tolled A4 Kraków – Katowice, S1 and D3: ≈533 km, ≈6 h 35 min. The D1 requires an e-vignette (eznamka.sk).

Checked 23.10.2026; border crossing hours and timetables change — check before you travel.