Tucked away at 1,542 m above sea level in the High Tatras of Slovakia, the Green Lake — known locally as Zelené pleso — is the largest lake in the Kežmarok Valley and one of the most striking natural gems in the entire mountain range. Its vivid emerald colour and dramatic rocky surroundings make it a destination that genuinely lives up to the hype.

Three towering ridges frame the lake on almost every side: Kozí vrch to the north, Jastrabá veža to the west, and Malý Kežmarský štít to the south. The scenery shifts beautifully with the seasons — snow-streaked peaks above fresh green meadows in early summer, fiery dwarf pine hues in autumn, and a hushed, ice-blue stillness in winter. A mountain hut, Chata pri Zelenom Plese, sits right on the north-eastern shore, offering warm shelter and a welcome rest stop for hikers.

• Freedom Road (Cesta slobody), between Kežmarské žľaby and Tatranská Kotlina — yellow trail, approx. 3 h 15 min up / 2 h 55 min down, moderate — the path follows the Biela voda Kežmarská stream through Rzeżuchowa Polana meadow.
• From Skalnaté pleso — Tatra Magistrale red trail, via Rakúsky priechod, approx. 2 h 05 min, moderate.

• The lake lies within TANAP — stay on marked trails and observe national park regulations at all times.
• The mountain hut at the lake is a junction point for the Tatra Magistrale and the yellow trail to Jahňací štít (approx. 2 h 15 min from the hut).
• A peat bog near the shore hosts a rich variety of mosses and liverworts — worth a look around.

Local legend says the lake owes its colour to a carbuncle — a precious ruby — that tumbled from the summit of Jastrabá veža, with the son of Count Tököly leaping in after it. The real explanation is almost as magical: turquoise patches visible on the lake bed mark spots where underground springs push up under pressure, giving the water its extraordinary hue.