Where to relax in Slovakia: Tatras
Slovakia is a country with mountains and plains, rivers and lakes, waterfalls and caves, thermal springs and gastronomic tours, big cities, and cozy villages in a small area. Slovaks themselves adore their country, explore it, and spend their holidays mostly in their mountains all year round. Travel like "na vylet", that is, 1-2-day trips to nature, are also popular and loved.
Tatras
So, the Tatras is the highest part of the Carpathians. It is a mountain range that stretches along the entire northern border of Slovakia with the Czech Republic, Poland, right up to Ukraine.
The highest point is Mount Gerlahovski Shtit - 2655 meters.
The Tatras are ideal for skiing in winter and mountain walks in summer, as there are 25 peaks over 2500 meters high.
The ski resorts of Jasna, Donovaly, Strbske Pleso and Tatranska Lomnica enjoy the greatest attention of tourists. The local ski slopes are not inferior in quality to popular Austrian ones, and the trainers of the ski schools operating there will help even the smallest or just the beginners to start skiing in a couple of lessons.
In cold weather, you will be warmed by a glass of hot wine or (without) alcohol punch, which are often washed down with local liqueurs, the most popular is Tatra tea (a liqueur infused with various herbs from 27 to 72 degrees).
In all resorts in the Tatras, hotels, pensions, spas, gyms are open all year round, you can order a sauna or bath.
TOP-3 resorts in the Tatras
Smokovets
It is the oldest and largest ski resort in Slovakia, located in the High Tatras. It was formed after the unification of several villages with the same name. Located 10 km from Poprad-Tatry airport. Nearby are the tourist centers Strbske Pleso, Tatranska Lomnica, which can be reached by rail from Bratislava or from the eastern side of Slovakia.
The season starts in December and ends in April.
The heights of the slopes are 800-1480 m.
The number of descents - 7.
The total length of the tracks is 7 km.
There are 13 lifts in operation - 11 drag lifts, 1 funicular, and a baby lift.
For experienced athletes, the Horna Luka slalom track has been made.
On the territory of the recreation center Novy Smokovets, some of the slopes are illuminated at night. Like almost everywhere in Slovakia, snow cannons work there. For lovers of long routes, there are cross-country skiing trails, they pass through the forests and protected areas of the region.
Tatranska Lomnica
The sports complex is located in the north of Slovakia, in the eastern part of the High Tatras. Feature - maximum height - 2650 m above sea level. Due to weather conditions, a stable snow layer forms at the end of November and lasts until April.
This famous ski resort in the Tatras is designed for families with children. There is a developed infrastructure - a choice of hotels, inns, sledding, tubing. There are preventive complexes that are useful for people with diseases of the respiratory system
General description of Tatranska Lomnica:
The total length of the slopes is 17.5 km.
16 routes are marked on the piste map.
Lifts - 3 drag lifts, 4 cabins, 3 chairlifts and 1 funicular.
15 cross-country skiing routes have been developed.
Strbske Pleso
The ski resort Strbske Pleso is located on the shores of the lake of the same name in the High Tatras. It is designed for active and extreme winter recreation. Competitions are often held here, many challenging tracks for downhill and cross-country skiing, slalom, biathlon have been developed. There are also places for freeriding.
The height of the ski area is 1480-1840 m.
The number of slopes is 6. Of these, 2 are blue and 4 are red.
There are 2 chairlifts and 3 drag lifts.
The maximum length of the slopes is 800 m.
The approximate cost of rest in the winter:
Ski-pass: from 6 to 11 euros per lift, depending on the resort, weekly cost - from 300 to 480 euros.
The price of renting a standard set of ski equipment for 1 day is from 55 Euro.
Hotels and apartments are available from 40 euros per day.
A standard dinner for two, consisting of a hot dessert, a bottle of wine, and coffee, will cost about 40-50 euros, without wine - 25 euros.
Traveling in Slovakia is quite cheap, travel by train from Bratislava to the High Tatras will take 3.5 hours and cost a little more than 10 euros.