Štrbské Pleso lake

Mountain lake beside its namesake resort; the stop is on the south shore, not in the water.

This glacial lake became the centre of a resort landscape. The local educational trail also covers the surroundings and Nové Štrbské Pleso: its full 5 km is not the same as a short shoreline section.

It reveals the relationship between mountain terrain, water and resort development.

Use an accessible shore path, never lake ice or a shortcut across water. The proposed walk uses only part of the shore, not a complete circuit or the entire educational trail. Snow and ice may require a change of plan.

Jazierka lásky

Small ponds beside a woodland path east of the main lake.

Formerly known as the Štrba ponds, they were used for trout farming under Jozef Szentiványi. They are not miniature natural glacial twins of the main lake.

They add a history of practical water use to the lake scenery.

Follow marked pedestrian paths, keep away from the water edge and do not feed wildlife. The return to the main lake is not included in the one-way walk.

Immaculate Conception Church, Starý Smokovec

Small timber-framed church beside the Grandhotel.

Gedeon Majunke designed this 1888 church in an Alpine neo-Gothic spirit. The regional guide records refurbishment in 2025: older photographs may not show its present finishes.

It shows the intimate scale of an early mountain resort.

View it from the public path. Observe parish rules for entry and interior photography; services are not part of a sightseeing walk.

Grandhotel Starý Smokovec

Historic resort hotel with early twentieth-century facades.

The hotel opened on 30 June 1904. Its appearance belongs to the Art Nouveau era and the development of longer resort stays; it is a working hotel, not an open museum.

It complements the church with early twentieth-century resort architecture.

View the facade from public paths. Rooms, restaurants and wellness facilities are not included and do not imply unrestricted access; do not obstruct guests or the entrance.

TANAP Museum

Museum of Tatra nature and cultural history in Tatranská Lomnica.

Founded on 1 April 1957, the museum moved to the Széchenyi villa in 1959 and into the research-station building in 1968. Its founding date is not the date of the present building.

It helps explain mountain conservation and the region’s human history.

The walking stop is an exterior view. Allow extra time and check tickets, breaks and holiday closures for the exhibition. The gallery has stairs: do not assume the whole museum is step-free.

Lutheran Church, Tatranská Lomnica

Small church on the northwestern side of the resort settlement.

Designed by Gedeon Majunke, the Holy Trinity church was consecrated on 3 August 1902. Its interior changed after a 1981 fire; not all present finishes date from the original construction.

It introduces the resort’s religious history beyond the main museum complex.

The walk allows an exterior stop. Check parish opening and photography permission; use permitted paths and crossings towards the park.

Botanical Garden — Tatra Nature Exhibition

Seasonal living collection of mountain plants near the museum district.

Work began on 19 May 1987 and the garden opened on 15 July 1992. It introduces Tatra flora and conserves plants; it is not permission to collect rare species in the wild.

It complements the museum with living plants in a designed setting.

According to the operator checked on 3 October 2026, the garden is closed from 16 September 2026 through 7 May 2027, with reopening announced for 8 May 2027. Recheck dates and tickets before travel. This is an optional separate visit, not part of the three walks.

Štrbské Pleso shore and small ponds

One-way walk from the main lake’s south shore along an accessible southeastern shore section and marked village paths to Jazierka lásky. This is not a full lake circuit or the entire 5 km educational trail. Do not shortcut across water or ice. Return and travel to Smokovec are separate.

1.1 km · 90 min

1. Štrbské Pleso lake · 20 min at stop
2. Jazierka lásky · 20 min at stop

Smokovec church and historic hotel

Short walk on public paths between the church and Grandhotel facade in Starý Smokovec. Do not enter hotel service areas or cross funicular tracks. This exterior-view route excludes interiors, ascent to Hrebienok and travel to another settlement.

0.3 km · 60 min

1. Immaculate Conception Church, Starý Smokovec · 20 min at stop
2. Grandhotel Starý Smokovec · 20 min at stop

Lomnica church, park and museum district

From the Lutheran church through accessible resort-park paths to TANAP Museum. Use marked road crossings; this is not a straight line across traffic. Stops are exterior views, with museum time separate. The seasonal botanical garden is not on the route. Return and travel to Štrbské Pleso are separate.

1.4 km · 90 min

1. Lutheran Church, Tatranská Lomnica · 20 min at stop
2. TANAP Museum · 20 min at stop

Bryndzové halušky

Potato dumplings with sheep cheese, often topped with bacon; a widespread Slovak pastoral dish.

Check milk, wheat flour and the meat topping. Removing bacon does not necessarily remove animal fat.

Bryndzové pirohy

Boiled dough parcels filled with potato and sheep cheese.

Ask about wheat, egg, milk, sour cream and bacon toppings; the name does not guarantee vegetarian ingredients.

Kapustové strapačky

Small potato dumplings with cabbage, distinct from cheese-topped halušky.

Check flour, fat and meat additions. Cabbage does not make the dish automatically vegan or gluten-free.

Demikát

Sheep-cheese soup with potato and onion, known in Slovak cuisine beyond the Tatras.

Ask about milk, cream, fat and accompanying bread; discuss all ingredients with the kitchen for allergies.

Fruit-filled potato dumplings

Boiled sweet dumplings with fruit filling; toppings may include poppy seeds, nuts or curd cheese.

Check wheat, egg, milk, butter and nuts; seasonal filling and recipe vary by kitchen.

Euro and payment

Slovakia uses the euro, EUR, not the Slovak koruna. Check amount, currency and fees before confirming payment. Ask about card acceptance beforehand; some cash is useful for small purchases.

Tipping

Tipping is voluntary. You may round up for good service; first check whether a service charge is included. Ask separately about tipping through a terminal.

Getting around

TEŽ links Poprad-Tatry with Starý Smokovec and Štrbské Pleso; a branch links Smokovec with Tatranská Lomnica. The OŽ rack railway connects Štrba to Štrbské Pleso. Buy through ZSSK or its Ideme vlakom app; check your service and ticket activation instructions before boarding. Mountain cableways and the Hrebienok funicular are separate services. TATRY Card variants may include or exclude transport: check yours. Travel between settlements is not part of the walks.

Emergency and mountain assistance

112 is general emergency assistance; 18 300 is HZS Mountain Rescue; 155 is emergency medical assistance; 158 is police. Give your location and coordinates, incident and number of injured people. An offline pack cannot create mobile signal. Check search-and-rescue insurance before a mountain outing. Official sources: hzs.sk and mod.gov.sk/important-numbers/.

Electricity

Supply is 230 V / 50 Hz; sockets have an earthing pin. Check plug compatibility and device voltage. A plug adapter does not convert voltage.

Connectivity and offline use

Check Slovakia in your SIM/eSIM plan. EU roaming applies to eligible plans with fair-use limits, not free use of every foreign SIM. Save the pack, accommodation and tickets beforehand; do not rely on continuous signal in the mountains.