On a trip to Slovakia’s Tatra Mountains you can visit thermal baths, waterparks, spa centres and medieval towns, go hiking, mountain biking, snowboarding or skiing. Phew!
Read on for our top five things to do around Slovakia’s Tatra Mountains
1) Visit AquaCity waterpark and spa centre
Located at the foot of the Tatra Mountains, AquaCity is open all year round. The cavernous resort is home to outdoor and indoor thermal baths, an Olympic-sized pool, swim-up bar, snow cave, scented saunas, waterslides and two hotels.
The futuristic-style resort has been lauded for its green credentials. It is self-powered by solar and geothermal energy drawn from lakes beneath the plains of northern Slovakia.
2) Have a cryotherapy treatment
If you’re extra daring/ crazy you can try a cutting edge cryotherapy treatment. It involves being shut in a box-sized room chilled to an inconceivable -121˚C and is said to help conditions such as arthritis, lower-back disorders and osteoporosis.
The sense of euphoria it induces is also believed to aid people suffering from depression.
3) Explore the villages around Poprad
Soak up some history and culture in the nearby Slovakian towns. Within spitting distance of AquaCity is the timbered village of Spisska Sobota, and the medieval walled town of Levoca.
4) Hike and mountain bike in the Tatras
The Tatras offer more than 400 miles of trails past some incredible scenery, with pine forests, jagged outcrops, plunging valleys, stunning lakes and waterfalls.
Hiking and mountain biking are popular here during the warm summer months.
5) Skiing and snowboarding in Slovakia
During the winter, the Tatra Mountains boast great value skiing and snowboarding, with lift passes up to a third cheaper than other European resorts. Also on offer are tobogganing, snow tubing (below), and snow-shoe walking.
Essential information
WHEN TO GO: AquaCity is open year-round. There are things to do in every season in Slovakia.
GETTING THERE: Ryanair flies to Bratislava from London, fly Bratislava to Poprad with Danube Wings.
GETTING AROUND: Poprad is well connected by train and bus to ski resorts, Bratislava and neighbouring Poland.
VISAS: South Africans require a Schengen visa.
CURRENCY: Euro. 1 GBP = 1.17 EUR.
LANGUAGE: Slovakian, but English is widely spoken.
GOING OUT: A beer is €1.
ACCOMMODATION: Double rooms cost about €60.
FOR MORE INFO: aquacityresort.com
Related posts:
The Real Slovakia
Visiting the spa town of Piestany, Slovakia
Sleeping around – Bratislava, Slovakia
