Poprad District: Caves, cycling routes and culture

A cave tour with 860 steps, kilometres of paved cycling routes and traces of a medieval settlement show just how varied a stay in Poprad District can be. There are also museums, winter activities in Ždiar and water attractions in Poprad. When looking for a hotel, you can first choose a location based on the experiences you want to shape your travel plans.

Cave, national park and hiking trails

Belianska Cave lies in the Belianske Tatras National Nature Reserve, within Tatra National Park. Its visitor route is 1,370 metres long and includes 860 steps. To reach the cave from Tatranská Kotlina, a 1,000-metre educational trail climbs 122 metres in elevation; the ascent takes about 25 minutes. This time estimate is approximate, and local conditions may vary. When planning, you can treat the approach and the visitor route as separate sections.

In Tatra National Park, hiking is possible on hiking and educational trails outside built-up areas. Current visitor regulations apply. The cave and the educational trail therefore offer practical options for anyone who wants to combine an outing with a cave visit and an ascent.

Cycling routes and traces of early settlement

The Popradská cyklomagistrála is 25.4 kilometres long, paved and easy. It is flat and comfortable along its entire length, and suitable for road and trekking bikes. It is also recommended for families with children and recreational cyclists. Direct access is possible from Poprad city centre or from the car park by a Tesco supermarket. Its length, surface and suitable bike types give you practical criteria for including this route in your travel plans.

Near Štrba, on the edge of the village in the foothills of the Tatras, lie the remains of the medieval settlement of Šoldov. There are partly reconstructed settlement buildings, a monument, an information board and a small seating area. An 18-kilometre route runs from Štrbské Pleso railway station via Tatranská Štrba and Tatranský Lieskovec to Šoldov and back. These locations indicate the route; Šoldov can also be considered a destination along it.

Museums in Poprad and Ždiar

The Podtatranské Museum in Poprad displays the preserved wooden burial chamber, sarcophagus and grave goods of a Germanic prince dating from around the turn of the 4th and 5th centuries AD. Another exhibition presents guild vessels, guild signs, documents, seals and guild chests from numerous traditional crafts. Archaeological artefacts are thus displayed alongside objects associated with various crafts.

At the Múzeum Ždiarsky dom, a permanent exhibition is devoted to interiors, folk costumes and tools. As part of the museum experience, visitors can also experience a Ždiar wedding, try on folk costumes, take a horse-drawn carriage ride through Ždiar and the surrounding area, sample local specialities and listen to Gorals music. Check with the museum before your visit to confirm these additional activities.

Winter activities and water attractions

In Ždiar, BACHLEDKA Ski & Sun offers up to 10.8 kilometres of ski slopes of varying difficulty. The stated slope length may change over time. The cross-country ski trails cover 20 kilometres; their availability may vary by season. If you plan these activities for a particular travel period, check the information before your visit.

In Poprad, AquaCity’s Mayská pyramída has three stainless-steel pools, slides and water attractions such as a wild-water river, a water mushroom, a water hedgehog and water spouts. The facility’s features may change over time. A cave visit, cycling route, museum, winter sports and water attractions offer different ways to shape a stay.

Discover more destinations: Sunava, Gerlachov, Nová Lesná, Vernár, Batizovce, Mengusovce, Lucivna, Strba, Svit, Gánovce, Spišské Bystré, Hôrka, Hozelec, Vysoké Tatry, Spišský Štiavnik, Spišská Teplica, Velký Slavkov, Poprad, Stola, Zdiar, Liptovská Teplicka.

For the broader travel overview: Prešov.