Bratislava and the High Tatras Walking & Culture

Bratislava, Slovakia’s capital, is a charming city with an intriguing history, and the perfect place to start your Slovakian journey.

When you arrive you’ll get familiar with the programme for the next seven days. Depending on your arrival time, the rest of the day is free to explore.

Meals included
None

Accommodation
Hotel Devin (or similar)

Today is free for you to explore Bratislava. Have a stroll through the narrow streets of the Old Town and a wander along the Danube with its many cafes and restaurants.

There are numerous fascinating historical buildings in Slovakia’s capital. Some of our favourites are Bratislava Castle, which houses the Museum of History and a 47-metre high tower with commanding city views, the old town hall and the 18th century Primate’s Palace, which has a beautiful pink and white façade and an amazing Hall of Mirrors (entrance fees for your own account).

We’ll provide you with a recommended walking route to follow so you can take-in all of Bratislava’s main sights – we wouldn’t want you to miss anything!

Meals included
Breakfast

Accommodation
Hotel Devin (or similar)

Today you head out of the city and into the heart of the Tatra Mountains. Travelling by train in Slovakia is a comfortable experience and, in a little over three and a half hours, you will arrive at Poprad Tatry, gateway to the mountains.

The High Tatras are an area of phenomenal natural beauty. The mountains are home to lakes, waterfalls, flowers, valleys, craggy peaks, ridges, and much more. All of this is the perfect habitat for mammals and birds, and over the next few days you’ll explore this beautiful area and its attractions.

Meals included
Breakfast

Accommodation
Hotel Villa Siesta (or similar)

This morning you take a cable car to Skalnate Pleso lake (1 751 m), one of the most popular destinations in the Tatras. Following one of the most popular walking trails in the Tatras, from here you´ll walk to two of the Tatras’ mountain huts and waterfalls. Mountain huts have been a part of the Tatras’ tapestry for years; they’re traditional, welcoming and often have a historic story to tell. They also offer tasty lunches!

Your hike will take you to Rainerova, the oldest hut in the mountains, dating back to 1863. Today, it is a small stone building serving drinks and snacks, and Zamkovskeho is a pretty wooden chalet offering a sheltered resting spot.

Cold Creek Waterfalls is also on you route today, and you can pause here and soak up the fresh mountain air. The waterfalls begin where the Great Cold Creek meets the Small Cold Creek and spill over rocks and boulders, and through pine forests. Walking trails run alongside the cascades, so you can admire the views.

From Hrebienok, you descend to Smokovec by funicular cable car and return back to your hotel.

Total walking
Distance: 15 km
Total ascent: 663 m
Total descent: 1 420 m
Max elevation: 2004 m
Min elevation: 1004 m

Meals included
Breakfast

Accommodation
Hotel Villa Siesta (or similar)

Today’s trek starts with a tram journey to Strbske Pleso, Slovakia´s highest village with a beautiful lake of the same name. From here, follow a trail to the crystal-clear mountain lake of Popradske Pleso, one of the biggest in the Tatra range. Enjoy lunch on the terrace of the mountain hotel, and visit the symbolic cemetery which is dedicated to the victims of the Tatra mountains. In the afternoon, descend back to Strbske Pleso and return to Smokovec.

Total walking
Distance 11 km
Total ascent: 370 m
Total descent: 370 m
Max elevation: 1 534 m
Min elevation: 1 329 m

Meals included
Breakfast

Accommodation
Hotel Villa Siesta (or similar)

This morning you’ll transfer to the charming region of Spiš, which is home to a number of remarkable UNESCO sites. The first one on the list will be the medieval town of Levoca. This authentic town with beautifully preserved city walls is the jewel of the Spiš region. In the heart of the town you´ll find the ancient square of Master Paul, the creator of the highest wooden altar in the world, whose beauty you can admire during your visit in the basilica of St James. You´ll also visit the town’s hall.

The next highlight on the list will be Spissky castle, the biggest castle site in Central-Eastern Europe. Your tour then continues with a hike to Spisske Podhradie, a little town beautifully nestled below the castle.

After lunch in Spisske Podhradie you’ll continue hiking to Spisska Kapitula, the main seat of the church administration in the region in the 12th century. Today’s hike ends with a walk across Spissky Jerusalem, which recalls ancient Jerusalem in on-to-one scale. It’s a magical end to this walking adventure with stunning views over the Spisska Capitula, Spissky castle and the Tatra mountains. You’ll then return to Smokovec.

Meals included
Breakfast

Accommodation
Hotel Villa Siesta (or similar)

This morning you take the train from Poprad back to Bratislava, where your tour ends.

Meals included
Breakfast

This tour is for those who enjoy cultural discovery combined with non-demanding walks. Exploring the top cultural and natural sites of Bratislava, the High Tatras and the Spis region on foot is the perfect way to explore and discover Slovakia’s top attractions from a different perspective in an active way.

• Six nights in three-star hotels
• Six breakfasts
• All local transfers
• Return train from Bratislava to Poprad
• Maps and detailed route descriptions, routes for GPS devices
• 24/7 local support

• Flights
• Arrival and departure airport transfers
• Cable car to Skalnate Pleso (approx.. 20 EUR)
• Travel insurance

Single room supplement: 130 EUR
Solo traveller: 250 EUR (includes the single room supplement)

Normally 16 max.

This tour starts in Bratislava.

This tour ends in Bratislava.

To enhance flexibility our holidays do not include flights. This gives you the freedom to choose a local airport that works for you and shop for the best deal.

List of airports with distances to the first hotel in Bratislava:

Bratislava Airport – 14 km
Vienna Airport – 64 km

Once you have decided which airport works for you best you will need to choose the way how to get to the starting hotel / joining point. There are two options:

Public transport

You can reach Bratislava city by public transport (bus, train). Using the public transport is another way of experiencing your destination, which puts you right in the centre of the action. If you prefer to travel by public transport we can help you find the best option.

Private transfers (door to door service)

Book your private airport transfers directly with us. Our fast, reliable and affordable private transfers are the best way to reach your starting hotel quickly and comfortably. For up-to-date prices of Airport private transfers click here.

During this tour you´ll stay in comfortable three star hotels with private facilities.

If you need to arrive or leave on a different date, please contact us and we’d be more than happy to arrange extra pre or post tour accommodation for you in many popular destinations including Bratislava and Vienna.

We recommend you pack as light as possible, with a suitcase or backpack that are easy to lift and carry. A daypack for activities is also useful. Below you will find a recommended packing list. It is by no means exhaustive, so if you’re in any doubt, please contact us.

• T-shirts and shorts
• Long-sleeved tops and trousers
• Jacket/coat/fleece
• Swimwear
• Walking boots
• Strong trainers
• Water bottle
• Small first-aid kit
• Sun cream, sunhat and sunglasses

Please note, we want to run this trip following the day-to-day itinerary on the trip notes. However, sometimes operational circumstances may sometimes prevent us from doing this. Your tour leader will keep you fully informed of any alternative plans that are necessary on-the-ground. Also, based on feedbacks from past travellers, occasionally our itineraries are amended. Final version of your trip notes will be emailed to you prior to travel.

1. Check availability online or contact us by email or phone.
2. Secure your place/s online by clicking the BOOK NOW button or contact us by email/phone. Your place is secured with a 99 EUR deposit per person and can pay by bank transfer.
3. Once the deposit is received a confirmation email will be sent to your email automatically, and your place/s will be officially confirmed.

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions at all. Our knowledgeable and helpful team is here to help, and we look forward to welcoming you to our spectacular country soon!