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The Low Tatras (Nízke Tatry) are a long mountain ridge right in the middle of Slovakia, almost 100 km from east to west, with the highest peak Ďumbier at 2,043 m. They are lower and greener than the High Tatras and much less crowded. And you can visit the same places in summer and in winter, each time for something completely different: hiking, caves and cycling in summer, skiing and ski touring in winter.
In a nutshell: The Low Tatras are Slovakia’s largest national park and its biggest ski area. In summer, take the cable car to Chopok and walk the ridge to Ďumbier, visit the Demänovská caves, the quiet south side around Tále and ride the new road up Kráľova Hoľa. In winter, ski in Jasná – the largest resort in Slovakia – and relax in the thermal parks of Liptov. Plan 3–5 days, or 5 days just for the ridge hike.
If you want to buy Slovak gifts or useful Slovak products, you can find them by clicking here (Amazon link).
Here is a list of the best things to do in the Low Tatras, sorted by season:
| # | Place / activity | Season | Where | Time needed | Adult ticket | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vrbické Pleso | Summer | Jasná (north) | 30–45 min | free | Vrbické Pleso |
| 2 | Chmarošský Viaduct in Telgárt | All year | Telgárt (east) | 30–60 min | free | Chmarošský Viaduct | Depo Café |
| 3 | Bystrianska Cave on the South Side | January–October | Bystrá (south) | 45 min | €10 | Bystrianska Cave |
| 4 | Demänovská Cave of Liberty (and the Ice Cave) | All year | Demänovská Valley (north) | 1–2 h | €15 | Cave of Liberty | Ice Cave |
| 5 | Tále, Krpáčovo and the Quiet South Side | Summer | Bystrá Valley (south) | half a day | rope park €8–16 | Tále swimming lake | Krpáčovo reservoir |
| 6 | Chopok by Cable Car and the Ridge Walk to Ďumbier | Summer | Jasná / Krupová | half a day – whole day | cable car €35 return | Chopok | Kamenná Chalet | Ďumbier |
| 7 | Cave of Dead Bats – an Adventure Tour | March–December | near the Štefánik Chalet (south) | whole day | €20 | Cave of Dead Bats |
| 8 | Ďumbier from Trangoška via the Štefánik Chalet | Summer | Trangoška (south) | whole day | free | Trangoška | Štefánik Chalet | Ďumbier |
| 9 | Vajskovský Waterfall | Summer | Vajskovská Valley (south) | whole day | free | Vajskovský Waterfall |
| 10 | Kráľova Hoľa by Bike | Summer | Šumiac (east) | whole day | free | Šumiac | Kráľova Hoľa |
| 11 | The Low Tatras Ridge Hike (Donovaly – Telgárt) | Summer | whole ridge | 5 days | free; huts paid | Kráľova Hoľa | Chopok |
| 12 | Skiing in Jasná – the Largest Ski Resort in Slovakia | Winter | Jasná / Chopok (north and south) | 1 day – 1 week | €47–67 per day | Biela Púť | Kosodrevina |
| 13 | Ski Touring in Jasná | Winter | Jasná / Krupová | 2–4 h | €7–9 per day | Biela Púť | Kosodrevina |
| 14 | Wellness after Skiing: Jasná, Tatralandia and Bešeňová | Winter (open all year) | Jasná / Liptov | half a day | depends on the place | – |
| 15 | Skiing and Cross-Country Skiing in Tále | Winter | Bystrá Valley (south) | whole day | see tale.sk (2026/27 not yet published) | Ski Tále |
| 16 | Skiing in Mýto pod Ďumbierom | Winter | Mýto pod Ďumbierom (south) | whole day | €41 | Mýto pod Ďumbierom |
| 17 | Ski Touring on Kráľova Hoľa | Winter | Šumiac / Telgárt (east) | whole day | free | Šumiac | Kráľova Hoľa |
Facts and History of the Low Tatras
The Low Tatras are the second highest mountain range in Slovakia after the High Tatras. The main ridge runs from Donovaly in the west to Telgárt in the east, and its highest peaks – Ďumbier and Chopok – rise above 2,000 metres. To the north lies the Liptov region with Liptovský Mikuláš, to the south the Horehronie region along the Hron River with Brezno.
The Low Tatras National Park (NAPANT) was established in 1978. It is the largest national park in Slovakia and, after an extension in July 2026, covers about 788 km². While the area around Chopok and Jasná has been built up with hotels and lifts, the eastern part between Čertovica and Kráľova Hoľa is still covered with deep forests where wolves, lynx and many brown bears live.
In 1944, the mountains were one of the main areas of the Slovak National Uprising; on Prašivá and around Ďumbier you can still find memorials of the fighting.
Useful websites: Low Tatras National Park | Jasná Nízke Tatry | Mountain Rescue Service (HZS)
Are the Low Tatras Worth Visiting and Are They Safe?
Yes, 100 %. In one region you get Slovakia’s biggest ski resort, its most famous cave, a ridge with views of the High Tatras and quiet valleys where you meet more deer than people. Thanks to the cable cars on Chopok, you can get above 2,000 metres even without any hiking experience.
The Low Tatras are a safe destination, but they are real mountains. Keep these three things in mind:
- Mountain rescue in Slovakia is paid. If the Mountain Rescue Service (Horská záchranná služba, HZS) has to search for you or rescue you, you pay the costs, so get insurance that covers mountain rescue before you go. In ski resorts where the Mountain Rescue Service runs the ski patrol – Jasná is one of them – insurance is included in the price of the skipass. But it applies only to skiing on the marked slopes of that resort, and not every resort has it, so always ask at your hotel or at the cash desk of the ski resort. For freeride, ski touring or hiking outside the resort you need your own mountain insurance. Emergency number: 18 300 (or 112); the free HZS app has an SOS button and shares your location.
- Bears. The Low Tatras have one of the largest bear populations in Slovakia. Make noise on the trail, do not hike at dusk, stay on marked trails and never leave food outside. Read more in All about bears in Slovakia.
- Weather on the ridge. Above the tree line there is no shelter. In summer, storms often come in the afternoon, so start early.
Walk the highlights: The most popular walk in the Low Tatras is the ridge from Chopok to Ďumbier. Take the cable car to Chopok and follow the main ridge east to the highest peak of the Low Tatras – about 4.5 km, roughly 1.5 hours one way by the signposts (1 h 45 min according to Mapy.com) – plan about 3.5 hours there and back. Open the route in Mapy.com
Route: Chopok (upper cable car station) → Kamenná Chalet → Demänovské sedlo → Krúpovo sedlo → Ďumbier
TIP: Check out my list of recommended Slovak products. They are perfect as gifts, or you will use them during your visit to Slovakia (Amazon links)
- Slovakia Flag
- The book about Slovak History
- Slovak Travel Guide
- Slovakia Adventure Map (by National Geographic)
- T-shirt with Slovakia Flag
- Slovakia Shot Glass
- Legendary Horalky Biscuit (Original)
What to Do in the Low Tatras in Summer
From June to October, the Low Tatras are all about hiking, caves, lakes and cycling. The places below go from short stops to the five-day ridge hike. At the start of each one, you will find a short overview of practical information.
1. Vrbické Pleso
| Season | May–October (frozen and snowy in winter) |
| Time needed | 30–45 minutes incl. the walk from the car park |
| Physical difficulty | easy, flat path |
| Suitable for | everyone, including families with small children |
| Admission | free |
| Map | Vrbické Pleso |
Vrbické Pleso lies right in the Jasná resort, at an altitude of 1,113 m, about a 15-minute walk from the car park at the Grand Hotel. It is the largest natural lake in the Low Tatras – a small glacial lake (115 × 62 m) dammed by a moraine, up to 8 metres deep and protected as a natural monument since 1975.
A path with information boards goes around the lake and you can walk it in about 10 minutes. It is the shortest stop in this article and a nice warm-up before you take the cable car to Chopok (number 6 on this list). For more lakes, see our list of the most beautiful lakes in Slovakia.
2. Chmarošský Viaduct in Telgárt
| Season | all year |
| Time needed | 30–60 minutes |
| Physical difficulty | easy |
| Suitable for | everyone |
| Admission | free |
| Map | Chmarošský Viaduct | Depo Café |
In the eastern corner of the Low Tatras, below Kráľova Hoľa, the railway from Brezno to Červená Skala climbs up through the famous Telgárt loop. Its most photographed part is the Chmarošský Viaduct, a curved stone railway bridge from the 1930s. It is about 18 metres high, has nine arches and trains still run over it.
From Depo Café on the edge of Telgárt, it is about 600 metres (approx. 12 minutes) on foot to the viaduct. If you are heading to Kráľova Hoľa (number 10), combine both in one day. The viaduct is worth a stop in winter too – under snow it is just as photogenic, and the main road to Telgárt is open all year.
| My Personal Experience |
|---|
| Before or after the walk, stop at Depo Café in Telgárt – a café in an old railway carriage with a view of the viaduct. And one tip from me: the viaduct looks better from a little distance than from right under it. From further away you can see the whole bridge with all its arches in the valley, and only then does it really stand out. |
3. Bystrianska Cave on the South Side
| Season | 2 January–31 October (closed in November and December) |
| Time needed | 45 minutes |
| Physical difficulty | easy |
| Suitable for | everyone |
| Admission | €10 (adult, 2026) |
| Temperature inside | 6–7 °C |
| Map | Bystrianska Cave |
On the southern side of the Low Tatras, in the village of Bystrá near Brezno, lies the Bystrianska Cave. It is smaller and much calmer than the Demänovská caves, which makes it a good choice if you stay on the south side around Tále (number 5).
| My Personal Experience |
|---|
| The caves are not only beautiful – the cool, clean cave air is good for your airways too, and some Slovak caves, like this one, are even used for speleotherapy. But be careful in summer: the temperature inside stays low all year round, so bring a warm layer even if it is 30 °C outside. And if someone in your group does not cope well with sudden changes of temperature, or has problems with breathing or the heart, keep that in mind – you go from summer heat to cellar cold and back within an hour. |
4. Demänovská Cave of Liberty (and the Ice Cave)
| Season | all year (2 January–15 November and 27–31 December) – check the calendar on ssj.sk |
| Time needed | 60 minutes (traditional tour), 100 minutes (long tour) |
| Physical difficulty | easy to moderate, 913 steps |
| Suitable for | everyone |
| Admission | €15 traditional tour, €24 long tour (adult, 2026) |
| Temperature inside | 6–7 °C |
| Map | Cave of Liberty | Ice Cave |
The Demänovská Cave of Liberty (Demänovská jaskyňa slobody) is one of the most visited caves in Slovakia and the main reason many people stop in the Demänovská Valley on the way to Jasná. It was discovered in 1921 and is known for its dripstones in many colours, underground lakes and the Demänovka stream flowing through it.
The traditional tour is about 1,150 metres long with 913 steps; the long tour takes you deeper into the cave, to its largest underground dome. Tours start at fixed times and cannot be reserved, so in high season come early. The current calendar is on ssj.sk.
A few kilometres further down the valley lies the Demänovská Ice Cave (open only from 15 May to 30 September, adult €12, 45 minutes). Be aware that, according to the Slovak Caves Administration, the cave has lost its ice – so if you only have time for one cave, choose the Cave of Liberty.
5. Tále, Krpáčovo and the Quiet South Side
| Season | June–September |
| Time needed | half a day |
| Physical difficulty | easy |
| Suitable for | families, anyone looking for peace |
| Admission | Tarzania rope park €16 / €12 / €8 for children (2026, cash only) |
| Map | Tále swimming lake | Krpáčovo reservoir |
The resort of Tále in the Bystrá Valley is the centre of the southern side of the Low Tatras. In summer you can swim in a small natural swimming lake, play golf or climb in the Tarzania rope park, which has an easier route for small children (a second Tarzania park is in Jasná, at Záhradky).
A few minutes away by car lies the Krpáčovo water reservoir, a quiet place for a walk or a picnic; people swim here too, and the water quality is monitored by the public health authority in summer. It makes a good half-day programme together with the Bystrianska Cave (number 3).
| My Personal Experience |
|---|
| Tále and the whole southern side of the Low Tatras are much calmer than Jasná. On the other hand, there is less to do here than in Jasná – mostly hiking (or skiing in winter). But if peace and quiet is what you are looking for, the south side is made for you. |
6. Chopok by Cable Car and the Ridge Walk to Ďumbier
| Season | summer and winter; in spring and autumn often only at weekends – check jasna.sk |
| Time needed | half a day; with the walk to Ďumbier a whole day |
| Physical difficulty | easy at the top; ridge walk to Ďumbier moderate |
| Suitable for | everyone; the ridge walk for anyone with basic fitness |
| Admission | return ticket on the cable cars €35 adult (€33 online, autumn 2026) |
| Map | Chopok | Kamenná Chalet | Ďumbier |
Chopok (2,024 m) is the most famous peak of the Low Tatras and the easiest way to get high into the mountains: cable cars go to the top from both sides – from Biela Púť in Jasná via Priehyba in the north, and from Krupová via Kosodrevina in the south. Just below the summit stands the Kamenná Chalet (Kamenná chata pod Chopkom, 1,985 m), originally a shelter for the workers who built the cable car and today the third highest mountain chalet in Slovakia – a good place for soup and tea with a view.
From Chopok, the main ridge continues east to Ďumbier (2,043 m), the highest peak of the Low Tatras. The marked trail stays high on the open ridge: it is about 4.5 km and roughly 1.5 hours each way by the signposts (1 h 45 min according to Mapy.com), so plan about 3.5 hours there and back and keep an eye on the time of the last cable car down. Open the route in Mapy.com. Check the weather before you go – there is no shelter on the ridge and storms come quickly on summer afternoons.
| My Personal Experience |
|---|
| The hike from Jasná up to Chopok is physically quite demanding, so I recommend taking the cable car. Once you are up there, do not just turn around – walk along the ridge to Ďumbier, the highest peak of the Low Tatras. It is not a difficult hike, the path stays high on the ridge the whole time and the views are fantastic. |
7. Cave of Dead Bats – an Adventure Tour
| Season | closed in January and February; weekends March–June and September–December; July–August daily except Mondays |
| Time needed | whole day (approx. 1.5–2-hour hike from Trangoška + 1 h 20 min tour) |
| Physical difficulty | demanding – mountain hike and a wild cave |
| Suitable for | adventurous visitors aged 8+ |
| Admission | basic tour €20 adult / €15 children; speleo-treks €55–65 (18+); booking by phone or e-mail required |
| Temperature inside | approx. 3.5 °C |
| Map | Cave of Dead Bats |
High on the southern side of the main ridge, at about 1,750 m near the Štefánik Chalet, lies the Cave of Dead Bats (Jaskyňa mŕtvych netopierov). It got its name from the remains of thousands of bats found inside, and it is one of the largest high-altitude caves in Slovakia. It is not a show cave with lights and concrete paths: tours are led by cavers, you get a helmet and a headlamp, and the basic tour is about 1 km long.
The cave can only be reached on foot – about 1.5–2 hours from the car park at Trangoška – so it fits with the hike to the Štefánik Chalet and Ďumbier (the next stop on this list). Combined with Ďumbier, though, it makes a very long day, so plan your hike around the time of your tour. Book your tour in advance by phone or e-mail – contacts are on jmn.sk (in Slovak).
8. Ďumbier from Trangoška via the Štefánik Chalet
| Season | June–October |
| Time needed | whole day |
| Physical difficulty | moderate to demanding |
| Suitable for | hikers with good fitness |
| Admission | free |
| Map | Trangoška | Štefánik Chalet | Ďumbier |
If you want to earn the summit on foot, start at Trangoška on the southern side. The trail climbs through the forest and dwarf pine to the General M. R. Štefánik Chalet (Chata M. R. Štefánika, 1,740 m), opened in 1928, and then on to the summit of Ďumbier. The ascent is about 6.3 km and takes roughly 3–3.5 hours (2 hours to the chalet, then about 1 h 20 min to the summit).
Strong hikers can make a loop of it: from Ďumbier along the ridge to Chopok and down past the Kosodrevina cable car station back to Trangoška – about 15.5 km and 7 h 15 min of walking according to Mapy.com. Open the loop in Mapy.com. If your legs give up at Chopok, take the cable car from Kosodrevina down to Krupová.
| My Personal Experience |
|---|
| This is my favourite summer hike. From Trangoška I walk up to the Štefánik Chalet and on to Ďumbier. If you still have plenty of energy at the top, continue along the ridge to Chopok and go down past Kosodrevina back to Trangoška. One more thing: if you carry a piece of firewood up to the chalet, you get a free tea – and praise from the other hikers. |
9. Vajskovský Waterfall
| Season | May–October |
| Time needed | whole day (approx. 20 km there and back) |
| Physical difficulty | moderate – 7 km and 580 m of climbing one way |
| Suitable for | anyone who likes long walks |
| Admission | free |
| Map | Vajskovský Waterfall |
The Low Tatras do not have as many waterfalls as the High Tatras, but the Vajskovský Waterfall at the end of the Vajskovská Valley is worth the walk exactly because few people know it. The walk starts in Dolná Lehota (the Črmné bus stop): from there, a forest road closed to cars leads about 2.8 km to the Dve vody hunting lodge, and then the green trail follows the stream for about 7 km (approx. 3 hours, 580 m of climbing) to the waterfall, where the path ends. Expect a long, quiet day – peace, forest and water.
10. Kráľova Hoľa by Bike
| Season | summer (the road is not cleared of snow) |
| Time needed | whole day |
| Physical difficulty | demanding – about 13 km and 1,060 m of climbing from Šumiac, gradients up to 12 % |
| Suitable for | fit cyclists (road bike or e-bike) |
| Admission | free |
| Map | Šumiac | Kráľova Hoľa |
Kráľova Hoľa (1,946 m) dominates the eastern Low Tatras and is one of the symbolic mountains of Slovakia – it appears in many folk songs. Its summit with the big transmitter can be seen from far away.
Since 2026 it has also been a new paradise for cyclists: a new, good-quality asphalt road leads from Šumiac to just below the summit. The first part (about 6 km to Predné sedlo) opened in June 2025, the second part (about 5.4 km) was finished in 2026. From the centre of Šumiac it is about 13 km and 1,060 m of climbing to the top according to Mapy.com, with gradients of up to 12 %.
The road is not open to private cars – you share it only with service vehicles and other cyclists, and the speed limit is 30 km/h (15 km/h in the marmot zones). In September 2026, the Tour of Slovakia (Okolo Slovenska) stage finished on the summit. Open the route in Mapy.com
11. The Low Tatras Ridge Hike (Donovaly – Telgárt)
| Season | summer and early autumn |
| Time needed | 5 days |
| Physical difficulty | hard |
| Suitable for | experienced hikers |
| Admission | free; chalets and huts paid |
| Map | Kráľova Hoľa | Chopok |
The ridge hike across the Low Tatras is one of the most beautiful long-distance hikes in Slovakia. It runs almost entirely along the main ridge, roughly 100 km from Donovaly over Veľká Chochuľa, Chopok, Ďumbier, Čertovica and Kráľova Hoľa to Telgárt. The eastern part between Čertovica and Kráľova Hoľa is the wildest and loneliest section, with real forests – and bears. The guide on slovakia.travel divides the hike into five day stages:
- Day 1: Donovaly → Veľká Chochuľa → Ďurková hut (approx. 10.5 h – the hardest day)
- Day 2: Ďurková → Chabenec → Chopok → Ďumbier → Štefánik Chalet (approx. 18.6 km, 7 h according to Mapy.com)
- Day 3: Štefánik Chalet → Čertovica → Ramža hut (approx. 5 h)
- Day 4: Ramža → Priehyba → Andrejcová hut (approx. 7.5 h)
- Day 5: Andrejcová → Kráľova Hoľa → Telgárt (approx. 5.25 h)
You sleep in mountain chalets and simple huts along the ridge. From west to east, the national park lists official overnight spots at Hiadeľské sedlo, Ďurková, Magurka, Čertovica, Ramža, Priehyba, Andrejcová and Predné sedlo; bookable rooms are at the Kamenná Chalet, the Štefánik Chalet and Čertovica. The huts are basic – at Ďurková, Ramža and Andrejcová you need your own sleeping bag. In July and August, book the chalets well in advance, and remember that in the national park you may only hike on marked trails, from one hour after sunrise to one hour before sunset.
What to Do in the Low Tatras in Winter
From December to April, the same mountains turn into Slovakia’s biggest ski area. We start with Jasná – the main reason people come here in winter – followed by ski touring, wellness, the smaller resorts on the south side and ski touring on Kráľova Hoľa. Two of the caves from the summer part are open in winter too: the Cave of Liberty (except mid-November to Christmas) and the Bystrianska Cave (from January).
12. Skiing in Jasná – the Largest Ski Resort in Slovakia
| Season | winter (usually from late November / December to April) |
| Time needed | 1 day to 1 week |
| Physical difficulty | all levels |
| Suitable for | everyone from beginners to freeriders |
| Admission | 1-day skipass €67 at the cash desk, from €47 online (adult, 2026/27, price depends on the date) |
| Map | Biela Púť | Kosodrevina |
Jasná Nízke Tatry is the largest ski resort in Slovakia, with 40 slopes, about 52 km of pistes, 19 lifts and 12 freeride zones on both sides of Chopok, connected over the top. The northern side (Biela Púť, Záhradky, Lúčky) has more and steeper slopes and the best freeride terrain in the country; the southern side (Krupová, Srdiečko, Kosodrevina) is sunnier and usually quieter.
Buy your skipass online in advance – it is much cheaper than at the cash desk. In the evening you can ski on 5.7 km of floodlit slopes at Biela Púť on the northern side (€35 at the cash desk, €31 online, 2026/27) – the southern side of Jasná has no lights. Before you go off-piste, read the safety part above about insurance and mountain rescue.
| My Personal Experience |
|---|
| You can ski on both the northern and the southern side of Chopok. The northern side has more slopes, including the harder ones. Still, I prefer the southern side – it is sunny, and on sunny days it feels pleasantly “warm” compared to the northern side. From my experience: if you can, ski in Jasná on weekdays. At weekends it gets really crowded – you wait a long time even at the lifts and you do not enjoy the skiing as much. The worst time is from Christmas to Epiphany (6 January), so avoid it if you can. On the other hand, if you want to experience one of the most magical ski mornings in Slovakia, book the Fresh Track: skiing on freshly groomed slopes just after sunrise, before the lifts open to the public, with coffee and breakfast included (7:15–9:30 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, breakfast at the Rotunda restaurant at 2,004 m; for skilled skiers). |
13. Ski Touring in Jasná
| Season | winter, during the opening hours of the resort |
| Time needed | 2–4 hours |
| Physical difficulty | moderate to demanding |
| Suitable for | skiers trying ski touring, ski tourers |
| Admission | €7 online / €9 at the cash desk per day; free with a valid skipass (2025/26) |
| Map | Biela Púť | Kosodrevina |
Ski touring is booming in Slovakia, and Jasná is the easiest place to try it safely. The resort has designated ski-touring routes that start at Lúčky, Biela Púť, Krupová and Srdiečko and may be used only during the opening hours of the resort. The ski-touring ticket includes mountain rescue insurance for these routes – outside them, you need your own.
14. Wellness after Skiing: Jasná, Tatralandia and Bešeňová
| Season | all year |
| Time needed | half a day |
| Physical difficulty | easy |
| Suitable for | everyone |
| Admission | depends on the hotel or aquapark |
| Map | – |
Warm water is the best way to finish a ski day. Several hotels in Jasná have their own wellness centres, and the two big thermal aquaparks of Liptov are less than half an hour away by car: Tatralandia near Liptovský Mikuláš (about 20 km, 26 minutes) and Bešeňová (about 31 km, 29 minutes). More tips in our guide to the best thermal parks and hot springs in Slovakia.
| My Personal Experience |
|---|
| People sometimes recommend the natural thermal spring Kaďa in the Jánska Valley after skiing, but I find it rather weak. After a day on the slopes, I would rather go to one of the wellness hotels in Jasná, or to Tatralandia or Bešeňová. |
15. Skiing and Cross-Country Skiing in Tále
| Season | winter |
| Time needed | whole day |
| Physical difficulty | easy to moderate slopes |
| Suitable for | beginners, families, cross-country skiers |
| Admission | skipass prices for 2026/27 not yet published – see tale.sk |
| Map | Ski Tále |
SKI Tále on the southern side is a small, calm resort with 6 drag lifts and about 2.8 km of slopes between 660 and 870 m. It is a good choice for families and beginners who do not need the size (and the crowds) of Jasná – and it is right next to the summer places of number 5.
Tále is also a place for cross-country skiing: according to the resort’s map, there are four groomed loops of different difficulty, from an easy 500-metre training loop to a 3 km loop of medium difficulty, and the 1 km pink loop is floodlit on Friday and Saturday evenings (6–9 pm).
| My Personal Experience |
|---|
| The car park in Tále is right below the lifts, which is ideal. |
16. Skiing in Mýto pod Ďumbierom
| Season | winter (season 2026/27 planned from 19 December) |
| Time needed | whole day |
| Physical difficulty | moderate |
| Suitable for | intermediate skiers, families, evening skiers |
| Admission | 1-day skipass €41 adult (€39 online, 2026/27) |
| Map | Mýto pod Ďumbierom |
Mýto pod Ďumbierom lies on the southern side, right on the main road between Banská Bystrica and Brezno. It has 4.6 km of slopes with 300 metres of vertical drop, one four-seat chairlift and five drag lifts – enough for a good day of skiing for €41 (compared with €67 at the cash desk in Jasná).
Mýto also offers evening skiing on both of its floodlit slopes (3.9 km, served by the lit chairlift) – the only evening skiing on the southern side of the Low Tatras (Jasná has floodlit slopes only on its northern side, see number 12). More at kopeczabavy.sk.
17. Ski Touring on Kráľova Hoľa
| Season | winter, depending on snow |
| Time needed | whole day |
| Physical difficulty | demanding |
| Suitable for | experienced ski tourers |
| Admission | free |
| Map | Šumiac | Kráľova Hoľa |
In winter, the wide, treeless summit of Kráľova Hoľa is one of the best ski-touring areas in Slovakia – the national park even has a designated ski-touring area here. You climb through the forest above Šumiac or Telgárt to the open, snowy slopes below the transmitter and ski down the same way.
Go only with proper equipment (avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe), check the avalanche forecast of the Avalanche Prevention Centre at laviny.sk and remember that outside a ski resort you need your own mountain rescue insurance.
Places to Visit Around the Low Tatras
The Low Tatras are surrounded by towns that make good bases or day trips:
- Liptovský Mikuláš – the main town on the northern side, about 20 minutes from Jasná, with the Tatralandia aquapark and the Liptovská Mara reservoir.
- Brezno – the main town of the southern side (Horehronie), a quiet base for Tále, Mýto and the Bystrianska Cave.
- Donovaly – the mountain resort at the western end of the ridge, popular with families in summer and winter.
- Banská Bystrica – a historic mining city south-west of the Low Tatras, about 30 km from Donovaly.
Best Time to Visit the Low Tatras and Events
There are two main seasons. The best time for hiking, cycling and the ridge is July–September; for skiing, January–March. Spring and late autumn are the quietest – but some cable cars and chalets then run only at weekends or close for maintenance, so check before you go.
| Season | What to expect | Events |
|---|---|---|
| Spring (April–May) | Snow stays on the ridge into May; quiet valleys; some lifts and chalets closed for maintenance | Green Chopok clean-up day in May |
| Summer (June–September) | Hiking, the ridge hike, caves, swimming in Tále and Krpáčovo, cycling up Kráľova Hoľa | Cycling events on Kráľova Hoľa |
| Autumn (October–November) | Colourful forests, empty trails; cable cars often only at weekends | – |
| Winter (December–March) | Skiing in Jasná, Tále and Mýto; ski touring | Start of the ski season in December |
The Low Tatras do not have one big festival. Sports fans can follow the road cycling: since 2025, the new road up Kráľova Hoľa has hosted a time trial, and in September 2026 a stage of the Tour of Slovakia finished on its summit.
How Many Days to Spend in the Low Tatras
With 1 day you can take the cable car to Chopok and visit the Cave of Liberty. With 3–5 days you can add the walk to Ďumbier, the south side around Tále, the Cave of Dead Bats and the trip to Telgárt and Kráľova Hoľa. The full ridge hike from Donovaly to Telgárt takes 5 days on its own, and for a ski holiday in Jasná most people stay a week.
How to Get to the Low Tatras
By car: from Bratislava to Jasná it is about 290 km (approx. 2 h 50 min on the D1 motorway, an e-vignette is required); from Košice about 180 km (approx. 1 h 50 min). For the southern side (Tále, Mýto, Bystrá), drive via Banská Bystrica and Brezno.
By train and bus: trains from Bratislava to Liptovský Mikuláš run every hour and take about 3.5 hours. From the bus station in Liptovský Mikuláš, buses go to Jasná in about 35–40 minutes; in the ski season the free SKI & AQUA BUS runs for holders of a skipass or the Liptov Region Card. The southern side is reached by train via Banská Bystrica to Brezno (about 5 h 20 min from Bratislava) and then by bus. Plan your connections on cp.sk.
The nearest airports are Poprad-Tatry, Bratislava and Košice – see Airports in Slovakia.
FAQ about the Low Tatras
Here are quick answers to the questions visitors ask most often about the Low Tatras.
Are the Low Tatras worth visiting?
Yes. They have Slovakia’s largest ski resort, its most famous cave, a ridge above 2,000 metres you can reach by cable car and much quieter valleys than the High Tatras.
What is the highest peak of the Low Tatras?
Ďumbier (2,043 m). From the top of the Chopok cable car you can walk to it along the ridge in about 1.5 hours one way.
Can you go up Chopok without hiking?
Yes. Cable cars go to the top of Chopok from Jasná (Biela Púť) in the north and from Krupová in the south. A return ticket costs €35 (autumn 2026). In spring and autumn the cable cars often run only at weekends.
Do I need insurance for hiking in the Low Tatras?
Yes. Mountain rescue in Slovakia is paid by the person who is rescued, so for hiking you need your own insurance that covers mountain rescue (search and rescue by the Mountain Rescue Service). The insurance included in some skipasses does not apply to hiking – only to skiing on the marked slopes of that resort.
Are there bears in the Low Tatras?
Yes, the Low Tatras have a large bear population. Attacks are rare, but make noise on the trail, avoid hiking at dusk and never leave food outside.
Is there still ice in the Demänovská Ice Cave?
According to the Slovak Caves Administration, the cave has lost its ice. It is still open from mid-May to September, but for dripstones and underground lakes, the Cave of Liberty is the better choice.
Low Tatras or High Tatras?
The High Tatras are more dramatic and rocky, the Low Tatras greener, gentler and less crowded. For skiing, Jasná in the Low Tatras is the bigger resort; for alpine hiking, the High Tatras are the classic choice.
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Photo credits
- Chopok and the Kamenná Chalet: Pudelek (Marcin Szala) / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
- Vrbické Pleso in Jasná: Lure / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)
- The Chmarošský Viaduct in Telgárt: Ing.Mgr.Jozef Kotulič / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)
- The Bystrianska Cave: Pe3kZA / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (resized)
- The Demänovská Cave of Liberty: Cezary Ogórkowski / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)
- The Krpáčovo reservoir: Pe3kZA / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)
- The main ridge near Chopok (Dereše): Daniel Baránek / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (resized)
- The Štefánik Chalet below Ďumbier: Milan Bališin / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)
- Kráľova Hoľa with the transmitter on its summit: Lestat (Jan Mehlich) / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (resized)
- The eastern part of the main ridge: Daniel Baránek / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (resized)
- The Kosodrevina – Chopok gondola in Jasná: Pudelek (Marcin Szala) / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (resized)
- Chopok and the Kamenná Chalet in winter: Pudelek (Marcin Szala) / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (resized)
- Kráľova Hoľa in winter: Ján Púpava / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (resized)
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