Poprad

Poprad is one of the largest towns in northern Slovakia and the main gateway to the High Tatras. Set in the scenic Poprad basin on the river Poprad, at the very foot of the mountain range, it serves as the transport and tourism centre of the whole Tatra region.

The town in general

Poprad lies at an altitude of about 670 metres above sea level, with the snow-covered peaks of the High Tatras rising above it, including nearby Lomnický štít. The population is around 50,000. Visitors set out from here for the ski resorts and the trekking routes, so Poprad stays busy and convenient as a base all year round. The town is compact: the historic centre, the modern districts and the railway station are all close to one another, which makes it a good starting point for travelling around Slovakia.

The history of Poprad

The first written references to a settlement here date from the 13th century, when these lands were colonised by German settlers. For a long time Poprad was one of the Spiš towns, a trading and craft league uniting the communities of the historic Spiš region. Its heyday came in the late Middle Ages, when trade routes ran through the region. In the 19th century the building of the railway and the fashion for mountain tourism turned the town into a convenient junction for reaching the Tatras. In 1946 several neighbouring settlements were merged into a single Poprad, among them medieval Spišská Sobota.

Getting to Poprad

Poprad is an important transport hub with its own airport, Poprad–Tatry, one of the highest-altitude airports in Central Europe.

From Bratislava

From the capital the easiest way is by train or bus: direct fast trains run along the main line through Žilina, and the journey takes about four hours.

From Banská Bystrica

From central Slovakia you can travel by bus or car through the mountain districts; the trip takes several hours along scenic roads.

Sights

The square and the Church of St Giles

The heart of the town is the elongated main square named after St Giles, with a 13th-century Gothic church that has kept its medieval frescoes and a free-standing Renaissance bell tower.

Spišská Sobota

Formerly a town in its own right and now a district of Poprad, this is a beautifully preserved historic ensemble with a square, the Church of St George and wooden burgher houses; it is one of the most atmospheric places in the region.

The Tatra Gallery and the Sub-Tatra Museum

The Tatra Gallery presents art connected with the mountain region, while the Sub-Tatra Museum covers the history, nature and archaeology of Spiš.

AquaCity

The main family attraction is the AquaCity Poprad thermal water park, which runs on geothermal water. There are outdoor and indoor pools, saunas and spa areas with views of the Tatras, which makes it popular at any time of year.

Accommodation in Poprad

The town has a wide choice of hotels, apart-hotels and guesthouses — from budget options by the station to comfortable hotels at the water park. Poprad is convenient as a base: from here the Tatra Electric Railway makes it easy to travel up to the resorts of Štrbské Pleso and Tatranská Lomnica.

Local food

The region's cooking is hearty mountain fare: bryndzové halušky (potato dumplings with sheep's cheese), potato pancakes, thick soups, smoked meats and baking. The cafés and restaurants in the centre serve traditional Slovak dishes and local beer.

Advice for your trip

Three days are enough to see the centre and Spišská Sobota, relax at AquaCity and make at least one excursion into the High Tatras — to the mountain lakes, the cable cars or the hiking trails.