I may visit the Tatras mountain area in July, with teenagers who may not be in top condition. The goal is to be in the mountains, not in a valley below them. Is it feasible to fill about 5 to 6 days in the area, using only trains or busses? Are there places where you could take a ski lift/gondola up into the mountains and hike some easy trails back down, and possibly visit some huts along the way. If so, where are they. I understand that Poprad and Stary Smokovec may be good bases to start from, but would like to be in the mountains.

Additionally, are these mountains worthwile or the best option, or woudl we be better off going to Switzerland or Germany or Austria?

For that length of time, personally, I would go elsewhere. The Tatras are quite small.... We hiked above Stary Smokovic for 2 days. The trail where we hiked were extremely rocky (they killed my feet) and very limited in size and surprisingly hot due to their fairly low altitude.

I much preferred hiking above Lauterbrunnen..

Better go to the Alps.

We used the guidlines provided by the cruise line and then gave a bit extra in person to our cabin steward and the other staff we got to know. Some people we met on the cruise had decided to only give to the people they directly interacted with but in my opinion, this is unfair to the behind the scenes crew and their are a lot of them.

MrsWally, think you responded to the wrong thread.

My recollection (admittedly limited) is that the Tatras are more impressive from the Polish side (Zakopane) than the Slovak side. Zakopane may also be a more developed vacation area.

joannyc. thanks for the heads up.

Well, we haven't explored the Alps much. But we did enjoy a day trip from Krakow to Zakopane and the Tatra Mnts. Yes, not too large but quite nice. Zakopane is a resort like place. Anyway the Tatras would seem to not be a major destination such as the Alps but are lovely. I could say a little more about what is there.

Thanks. Does anyone have any opinions on going to the mountains of Slovenia versus the Tatras?

Hi B,

> Is it feasible to fill about 5 to 6 days in the area, using only trains or busses? <

Be careful about bussing teens who aren't your own kids.

The Tatras seen from Zakokpane :https://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca...57630700966746

Michael, I notice in your lovely photo of the Tatra Mnts. a small image on the right of one of those Zakopane style houses with sloping roofs. We enjoyed lunch at Ziebe's Ranger House (mushroom soup, veal, potatoes, shredded carrots, strawberries & cream) plus entertainment...and afterwards a horse drawn carriage ride down a road into the Tatra Nat'l Park.

Zakopane, Smokovec, Poprad, Zdiar....and be precise..it is High Tatras...nice from both sides plus you can add Low Tatras near Liptovsky Mikulas....hills, hiking, thermal water...for hikers...not for everyone