Ryanair now flies to the Tatras Mountains
Great news for ski-loving families looking for amazing winter sports holidays at amazing prices. Ryanair, one of Europe’s premier airlines, has launched a brand new route between Poprad and London starting from 1 November 2023, further connecting Slovakia and the UK. The carrier will operate four weekly flights between Poprad-Tatry Airport and London Stansted, making it easier and cheaper than ever to take your family on a dream ski holiday. Ryanair will now join Wizz Air as the two major airlines flying to Poprad from the UK.
World-class skiing in the Tatras and Liptov region
Slovakia’s Tatras and Liptov region offers world-class ski infrastructure, terrain and après-ski to rival the western Alps, while also being exceptional value for money. The region has created and curated a skier’s paradise, providing everything from adrenaline-fuelled ski runs to gentle inclines for families and beginners. Visitors will also discover restaurants located on panoramic summits and experience the healing properties of geothermal waters. Your invitation awaits within the “little big mountains of Europe”!
Three of the best ski resorts
The number one activity during winter in Slovakia is skiing and the Tatras region is where all the action happens. Whether you prefer thrilling vertical drops, long and gentle runs, or engaging terrain parks, skiers and snowboarders have endless opportunities for fun and adventure. The region’s three major ski resorts already have a core following of UK fans who return year-on-year. These are Jasná Ski Resort, Slovakia’s largest and most prestigious resort; Tatra Lomnica Ski Resort, which boasts an incredible 5.7km ski run, the longest in the region; and Strbske Pleso Ski Resort, an ideal ski destination for families and intermediate skiers which is the highest-located settlement in the High Tatras and has 26.5km of ski-tracks.
Best waterparks with geothermal waters
The Tatras region is a top destination for wellbeing, headlined by reservoirs of geothermal waters that bubble to the surface and can be enjoyed at facilities far and wide. Within the High Tatras and Liptov regions, the three waterparks not to be missed are Tatralandia, Bešeňová and AquaCity Poprad.
Tatralandia is sustained by thermal waters rising from a depth of more than 2,500m and is a complete water world located on the north bank of the man-made Liptovska Mara reservoir. Slovakia’s largest aqua park is open year-round and a complete array of facilities will keep every member of the family happy for hours.
Bešeňová is another of Liptov’s epicentres of health, wellness and relaxation. Hot thermal spring water is pumped into nine pools – four thermal with its reddish-brown hue signifying the water’s health-giving mineral content and five summer pools of clear water.
AquaCity is located in Poprad city, at the foot of Slovakia’s snow-capped High Tatras Mountains. It has everything required for families, health tourists, elite athletes and sports teams who are interested in combining nature with wellness.
Accommodation: where to stay
The diverse range of accommodation available in the Tatras region is as spectacular as the environment they are home to. Visitors can choose from some amazing heritage hotels, which have been in operation since the turn of the 19th century, or go more rustic and find a chalet or mountain hut. There are many hotels which include a ski pass and well-being pass as standard when booking accommodation with them.
A true bucket list adventure is to sleep at least a night at the top of one of the two most famous peaks in the Tatras Mountains. The first is at Mt Lomnica, the second highest peak in the whole region at 2,364m, where visitors can spend a night beside the observatory, which offers breathtaking views of the Slovak high mountains. Enjoy a uniquely captivating silence in the highest located hotel room in Central Europe.
In the Liptov region, head for a night to Jasna Ski Resort’s Mt Chopok. This is another chance to sleep with your head in the clouds at the Rotunda Hotel. Once again, views of the High Tatras’s panorama or the basin of Slovakia is guaranteed directly from your rooms.
Quirky activities
Experiential travel has become a key driver for choosing where and what to do on vacation. The region is blessed with verdant and cinematic landscapes, where the list of fun, quirky and bucket-list activities will be the envy of your social group.
As a teaser, would you be brave enough to ski down a piste at Jasná resort in only your swimwear? If so, you simply cannot miss the annual mass participation downhill “Bikini Skiing” race. Held annually in March, winter ski clothes are exchanged for swimwear as many hardy souls take to the northern side of Mt Chopok within the famous Jasna Ski Resort to participate in this funky event. Also, a judging panel is on hand to select winners for the most creative and artistic competitors. Prizes will be provided. See the “did you know?” section below and more inspirational activities here.
Making memories with the kids
If you want to keep the kids amused, when you are not on the slopes, then the Tatras Region is jam-packed with very cool alternatives. In fact these activities are perfect for the whole family to enjoy, so slip and slide into just three of many more examples the Tatras region offers.
Sledding: when the snow falls, all kids (and adults) want to go sledging. One of the best runs is on the well groomed and lit 2.6km-long sledge track leading from Hrebienok down to Starý Smokovec. Let the funicular take the strain up the hill to the starting-point at Hrebienok and away you go.
Visit the Tatra Ice Dome: a popular winter attraction to excite the kids is the Tatra Ice Dome at Hrebienok. The sculptors create a new ice dome at the beginning of each winter with a new theme, and this year’s ice sculpture will recreate London’s Westminster Abbey, which follows on from Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia and Vatican City’s St. Peter’s Basilica. There is no entry fee and it’s best to visit at the beginning, when the ice sculpture is freshly carved.
Ice skating: ice hockey is an obsession in Slovakia, so much so that the IIHF World Championship was hosted in 2019 in the country. Visitors will find ice rinks everywhere in the region as almost every town has a hockey stadium. If you are lucky, maybe there is a chance of natural skating on Strbske Pleso lake. The resort of Strbske Pleso is the highest located ski resort, whose lower cable car station is located at the altitude of 1,400m and their ski season is the longest one in Slovakia.
Did you know?
- In 2019, Slovakia’s High Tatras Region was voted No.1 destination to visit on Lonely Planet’s “Best-in-Europe” listing.
- Visitors can ski on the same slopes as Slovakia’s Olympic ski racer Petra Vlhová, who was born and raised next to Jasna Ski Resort. She became the slalom gold medallist at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing and the overall slalom FIS Alpine Ski World Cup winner in 2021, the first Slovakian ever to achieve this feat.
- Café culture has been taken to new heights! Dedo Café atop Mt Lomnicky (2,634m) can be reached by cable cars from Tatranska Lomnica, providing unparalleled views from the summit and a pretty good coffee too.
- Take a luxurious grand snow taxi groomer with tracked wheels, to your elevated dining spot on Mt Lomnica. The restaurant is at the interchange station Štart (1,173m), where guests can feast on the beautiful mountain scenery and discover the delicious tastes of a five-course menu served in a magical atmosphere by candlelight. The evening starts with a welcome drink at the après ski bar in Tatranská Lomnica at the foot of Mt Lomnica.
- The last sherpas of Europe, with packs on their backs, still ascend the paths to supply the mountain huts with food and equipment. The heaviest load carried by a porter was carried by Mr. Kulanga. He carried 207.5kg from Hrebienok to Zamkovského chata (Zamkovskeho hut); a route which is 3km long and normally takes about one hour to walk.
- Tatranska Magistrala is the longest trail in the High Tatras. It measures more than 70km and it connects famous places like Podbanské, Štrbské pleso (Lake Strbske), Popradské pleso (Lake Popradske), Hrebienok, Skalnaté pleso (Lake Skalnate) or Zelené pleso (Lake Green).
- The longest ski slope is located in the Tatranska Lomnica ski centre. You start skiing in Lomnicke sedlo and go all the way down to the village of Tatranska Lomnica. It’s about 6km long and the vertical difference is 1,300m. However, the beginning of the slope is only for advanced skiers.
- You can find the highest situated botanic garden in Slovakia at Peak Lomnicky, which is 2,634m high. There is a small botanic garden with 22 species of flowers.
- The European brown bear is the king of Tatras Mountains and still roams in the wild. While they might weigh up to 350kg and be more than two metres long, the chances of bumping into one are incredibly rare… unless you book onto a specialist tour.
- Dog-sledding excursions are another popular and long-held sporting tradition in Slovakia. Dog sledding in Slovakia is possible in Liptov region, as this destination usually has some of the best snow conditions.
This promotion is implemented with the financial support of the Ministry of Transport of the Slovak Republic
