The Tatra National Park on the Slovak side of the Tatras is one of Central Europe's most spectacular wild places — a landscape of granite peaks, glacier-carved valleys and crystal-clear mountain lakes that will leave you speechless. Established in 1949 (the oldest national park in Slovakia), it has been a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1993 and covers an impressive 738 km². With over 600 km of marked hiking trails, it offers adventures for everyone from casual walkers to seasoned mountaineers.

The park encompasses the High Tatras, Western Tatras and Belianske Tatras. In summer, the trails buzz with hikers heading towards iconic summits and turquoise lakes, while autumn transforms the slopes with golden hues of dwarf pine and stone pine. Winter blankets the park from November to May, turning it into a cross-country skiing paradise. The atmosphere shifts beautifully with the seasons — wild and rugged in the high alpine zone, peaceful and forested in the valleys below.

• Štrbské Pleso — accessible by rack railway or car, starting point for trails towards Rysy and Popradské Lake, moderate difficulty
• Tatranská Lomnica — base for routes into the Cold Valleys and cable car to Lomnický Peak, moderate to demanding
• Podbanské — entry point to Tichá and Koprova valleys, full-day moderate hikes in a quieter part of the park

• The park is zoned — some trails are seasonally closed to protect wildlife and ecosystems
• The only publicly accessible cave is Belianska Cave (Belianska jaskyňa)
• Brown bear, Tatra chamois and marmot live here — keep a safe distance at all times
• At peak summer season up to 60,000 visitors enter the park in a single day — start early to beat the crowds

The highest peak in the entire Carpathian range, Gerlachovský štít (2,654 m), rises within the park, along with the beloved Slovak national symbol Kriváň (2,495 m). The deepest Tatra lake, Veľké Hincovo pleso, plunges over 53 metres — a breathtaking spot that rewards every effort to reach it.