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We recently visited the High Tatras Mountains and had the BEST time. We love to travel to new places that are a bit under the radar so, when we came across Slovakia’s Tatras Mountains it immediately excited us.

If you’re wondering “Where should I stay in the High Tatras Mountains, Slovakia” then read on! We’ve done all of the research so you don’t have to.

The Tatras Mountains are a series of mountains within the Western Carpathians that form a natural border between Slovakia and Poland. The Polish side, with Zakopane being the most popular gateway to the mountains. They’re definitely somewhere which are on our bucket list, but, it was the Slovakian side that was beckoning us.

We found £30 flights from London to Poprad (the airport closest to the mountain range on the Slovakian side) and did a bit of research into the time of year to visit (the higher mountain ranges are only open between 1st June – 31st October) just leaving the question: Where should we stay?

When deciding where to stay in Slovakia’s Tatras Mountains, you really have two options: Stay in the Tatras Mountains or in the city of Poprad, which is about a 30-minute drive away from the mountains and home to the nearest airport.

While both options have pros and cons, we recommend staying within the Slovakia Tatras.

A map of the areas to stay in the Tatras Mountains

Where to stay in the High Tatras Mountains, Slovakia

Staying in Poprad

Poprad offers a perfect blend of amenities and is close to the Tatras Mountains. With excellent transportation links, including an international airport and the Tatra Electric Railway, you can easily access popular hiking trails, ski resorts, and nearby mountain villages whilst still having multiple restaurants and various hotels to suit most budgets. However, it lacks the charm that the mountain towns do.

Staying in Poprad is a great option if you like a mix of city life and hiking whilst paying a smaller price for accommodation. However, you will also have to factor in either hiring a car or around a 1-hour train journey every day to get to the start of the mountains. If you opt to stay in Poprad you will also lose that charm that comes with a weekend in the mountains. For us, we really couldn’t put a price on that feeling.

Areas to stay within the High Tatra Mountains

If you opt to stay in one of the settlements within the High Tatra we’re here to help you decide where exactly to stay!

It can feel slightly overwhelming trying to decide exactly where to stay, so firstly we suggest choosing which hikes you want to do then look at the map and see what else there is to do in that area, which hotels are there and what the town/ village is like. Think: does it have restaurants, or will you be cooking, can you easily get there from the airport, those kinds of things. However, the train system also works really well, so you can always hike or two around where you’re staying before taking the train to a different trail in the High Tatras (this is what we did).

Disclosure: We were hosted at Hotel Aplend Kukucka as part of a collaboration, but as always, this review is based on our personal experience and the hotel has no editorial control of our content.

Tatranská Lomnica

Known for the highest ski resort in Slovakia and a 6.5 km long slope, it has a ski lift to take you to the very top as well as a beautiful lake with wild foxes running around. In the summer Tatranská Lomnica is a gorgeous mountain resort with multiple hiking trails. In the winter the area transforms into a popular skiing and snowboarding resort.

The area is a great little one nestled at the base of the mountains. Home to a train station, supermarket, shops and restaurants and a couple of bars.

We stayed in Hotel Aplend Kukucka, around a 5-minute walk from the ‘main’ area and absolutely loved it.

We opted for an apartment in a separate building just moments from the hotel with a kitchen, bedroom, large bathroom, walk-in shower, and wrap-around balcony with mountain views. The hotel has a spa, kids area and restaurant which serves incredible food. We opted for half board and whilst the vegetarian options were limited, they went out of their way to create a special dish each night, which was a really nice touch. The food is of really high quality. We also had breakfast included where there was a variety of hot, cold, local and international dishes; perfect to set us up for a day of hiking!

Hotel Kukucka is located about 10 minutes from the cable car station which you can ride to the top of Lomnický ští where there are beautiful hikes, shorter walks and a restaurant where you can enjoy a local dish with beautiful views out towards Poprad.

Štrbské Pleso

Štrbské Pleso is also another popular area to stay at in the Tatras Mountains.

In the centre is a beautiful alpine lake surrounded by rocky towering mountains, lush dense forests and one of the most popular spa hotels in the area.

The glacial lake sits at an altitude of 1,346 meters and offers year-round activities, from hiking and skiing to smaller walks and boat trips. It’s also a great area to stay if you prefer to relax and enjoy the mountains without doing anything too adventurous as the area is a little more built up than some of the other mountain areas.

It has a fair few traditional restaurants, we enjoyed a lovely meal of bryndzové halušky (similar to Gnocchi) one with poppy seeds and the other with sheep cheese.

Plus, there are tons of hotels and little shops. It’s also the start of a few of the trails and on the mountain train line, so it’s a great spot to stay. You can also take the Solisko chair lift, which leads to a mountain hut and some epic hiking trails, or you can just ride it to the top for some wonderful views.

Starý Smokovec

Starý Smokovec is one of the most picturesque areas of The Tatra Mountains with beautiful mountainous terrain, gorgeous hikes and lakes. There aren’t too many hotels or apartments in the region but, it’s on the train line and it’s the start of some of the most beautiful hikes in the region. The lower station for the cable car to Hrebienok also starts here.

You can find hotels in these areas here:

Smaller villages in the High Tatras

As well as the more popular spots, there are also many smaller mountain reserves dotted about at the base of The Tatras Mountains. So, when wondering where to stay in the Tatras Mountains, these should be considered, especially if you’re looking for a peaceful mountain retreat. For something more tucked away from the small towns but nearer to the bustling city of Poprad, consider Veľký Slavkov. If you’re looking for a quieter spot with close proximity to the city of Poprad then Dolný Smokovec is a great choice.

If you’re looking for more information on visiting the High Tatras Mountains then you can read our full guide here.