Getting there
- Flights to Poprad (TAT) 15 km from the start
- Flights to Balice (KRK) 110 km from the start
Treks / Slovakia
Tatranská magistrála
Slovakia · Nearest city: Poprad (also Bratislava, Košice)
TypeMulti-day trek
Days3–4
Distance≈ 45 km
Climbingvaries
Highest point2,000 m
A classic multi-day path along the southern slopes of the High Tatras, linking mountain lakes and chalets.
Fitness
Demanding
Best seasonMid-June to October
Watch out: Many high trails in the Tatras are closed from November to mid-June.
Why people choose it
It's a classic traverse of the High Tatras, Europe's smallest alpine range, with lakes and mountain chalets every day.
What makes it different
- Alpine scenery in a compact range
- Mountain chalets with hearty food
- Cheaper than the Alps
Before you go
Some of these are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. We only list services that fit this trek.
Phone and data
Phone plans from the EU and EEA roam here at home prices. Coming from the US, UK or elsewhere? A Europe data eSIM is usually far cheaper than roaming.
Expect long stretches with no signal on the trail. Download offline maps and our GPX before you start.
Insurance that covers this trek
Most travel insurance includes hiking at this height. Check that hiking is listed and that medical evacuation is covered.
Rescue is not the same as evacuation. Travel insurance usually pays to fly you to hospital, but not always for the search and rescue itself. Read the policy's "search and rescue" section.
True Traveller sells only to UK and EEA residents. Always check the altitude limit and your country of residence in the policy wording. Our trekking insurance guide explains what to look for.
Camping and where to sleep
Camping is not allowed in the Tatra National Park. Use the mountain chalets along the route.
Rules change and differ between parks. Check with the local park or tourist office before you pitch a tent.
Route map
Map layers load on the live site. Use the overview below meanwhile.
Trail from OpenStreetMap (50.2 km) Start / finish Stop on the way Nearest city
Switch between Topo, Satellite and Street layers with the layer button, and turn on the marked hiking trails overlay. The trail line is the OpenStreetMap hiking route and may differ from the variant you choose. Always carry a proper hiking map on the trail.
Stops: Štrbské Pleso → Popradské pleso → Hrebienok → Skalnaté pleso → Tatranská Lomnica
Simple overview map
Step by step
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Months before
Plan and book
- Book huts or accommodation as soon as reservations open, starting with the busiest nights.
- Best time to go: Mid-June to October.
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6–12 weeks before
Train and test your gear
- Take the readiness quiz to see how many weeks of training you need.
- Break in your boots and train with the pack you'll carry.
- Tick off the packing list to see what you still need.
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Getting there
Travel to the start
- Most people start from Poprad.
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On the trail
Walk it
- Start early each day, so you arrive before the afternoon weather and the rush for beds.
- In huts, boots stay in the boot room, dinner is served at a set time and lights go out around 10 pm.
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The finish
Get home
- It's a one-way route, so plan your transport back from the finish in advance.
How the season changes things
Best time: Mid-June to October
June to early July
Early season
Snow patches linger on north-facing slopes and high passes. Huts are just opening, meadows are full of flowers and paths are quieter.
Bring
- Microspikes or light crampons for snow patches
- Gaiters
- Warmer layers for cold mornings
Mid-July to August
Peak season
Most reliable weather, but also the busiest huts and frequent afternoon thunderstorms. Hot in the valleys.
Bring
- Sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- Rain jacket for storms
- Hut bookings made months ahead
September
Late season
Clear, stable days and fewer people, but shorter daylight, cold nights and some huts closing mid to late September.
Bring
- Down jacket for cold evenings
- Headlamp for early starts
- Check hut closing dates
Be ready for
Seasonal closures
High trails close for part of the year to protect wildlife and for safety. Check the opening dates before you plan.
Afternoon storms
Thunderstorms often build after midday in summer. Start early, cross passes and summits before noon, and never shelter under lone trees or on ridges.
What you'll see
8 photos taken on and around the route by Wikimedia Commons photographers. Tap one to see it bigger.
Gear for the Tatranská magistrála
Photo credits: Tatry Panorama01xxx by the author named on its Commons page, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Strbske pleso from Krivan by Krivan, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; Mengusovská dolina, Vysoké Tatry by Michal Klajban, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Red fox (Vulpes vulpes crucigera) Skalnate Pleso by Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Jastrabia veža from dolina Zeleného plesa by Marcin Białek, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Štrbské pleso, Štrba, Tatry by Fry72, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Waterfall - panoramio by BirdsEyeLV, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Batizovská dolina, Vysoké Tatry by Michal Klajban, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Photos resized for the web. Figures are approximate and vary with the variant you choose.
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