Every year, Slovakia is an attraction for many tourists who want to discover and get to know the natural beauty that Slovakia has to offer. There are 9 national parks here, each of them is something special and definitely worth visiting. I will introduce you to 2 locations that you should not miss during your possible visit to Slovakia.
High Tatras
The High Tatras are the highest mountains in Slovakia and are among the most attractive and visited tourist destinations. They offer more than 600 km of marked hiking trails, thanks to which you can explore peaks, valleys, Tatra huts and lakes. For regular tourists, there are 7 peaks that you can visit. Probably the most famous peak of the High Tatras is Kriváň, which is also considered a symbol of Slovakia. Another well-known peak is Rysy, which lies on the border with Poland. Both Kriváň and Rysy are challenging hikes and the ascent can take up to 4 hours, depending on your condition. Less demanding peaks include Predné Solisko, which takes around 2 and a half hours to climb.
In addition to the peaks, you can also visit a number of huts in the High Tatras, where you can refresh yourself and gather more strength for the hike. The most famous are Chata pri Popradskom plese, Chata pri zelenom plese, Chata pod Rysmi and Terýho chata. If you are looking for less demanding hiking or a walk, you can visit, for example, Popradské pleso, Štrbské pleso, Skok Waterfall or Studenovodské waterfalls. The parking fee in most places is 10 euros and there is no entrance fee.
Slovak Paradise
Together with the High Tatras, the Slovak Paradise is one of the most sought-after locations in Slovakia. This is mainly due to its beautiful nature, especially the gorges with waterfalls, which you climb using wooden and metal ladders and steps. A total of 9 gorges are accessible in Slovak Paradise. Most of them are located on the northern side of the Slovak Paradise. The most famous gorge is definitely the Suchá Belá gorge, which is one of the most beautiful and romantic gorges. Other well-known gorges are Kláštorská gorge, Veľký Sokol or Ferrata Kyseľ, which can be conquered with the help of a via ferrata set. The longest ladder is located in the Piecky gorge and measures 13 meters. The gorges are only accessible in one direction, upstream of the stream. After heavy rains, the water level in the gorges tends to be quite high, so we recommend wearing sturdy shoes and spare socks.
In addition to the gorges, the Slovak Paradise also offers beautiful views from which you can admire the surrounding nature. The Tomášovský view is considered to be the most beautiful view in the Slovak Paradise, which is easily accessible and even recreational tourists can handle it. In addition to it, the Matka Božia or Borovniak lookout on the south side of the national park is also worth mentioning.The most common places to start hiking are Podlesok and Čingov. In both places you can use paid parking, where the price is around 3-5 euros per day. The entrance fee to the national park is 1.5 euros per day.
