Where to Stay in the Tatras
Sep 5th, 2007 | 10:09 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Sep 2006
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Where to Stay in the Tatras
We will be driving from Budapest to Krakow and would like to spend a night and day in the Tatras. We're not interested in hiking...would like a tram ride up to a mountain top...quaint villages...We need some suggestions as to where to stay....Zakopane? Stary Smokovec? These are two that I know of. Thanks!
Sep 5th, 2007 | 10:32 AM
#3
Joined: Jan 2003
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The quaintest village that I found was Zdiar - but the mountains there are less spectacular (you drive through to Zakopane, it's shortly before you reach the border to Poland).
Stary Smokovec was where I stayed - it's not bad, but not exactly a quaint village. It's most centrally located and a good location for hikes.
If you want to do a cable car ride up to a mountain then Tatranska Lomnica is the place - the cable car/gondola from there goes via Encian (change) up to Lomnicky stit - one of the highest summits of the High Tatras. The views are gorgeous on a clear day.
For anyone interested in a short hike - from Strbske Pleso the lake 'Popradske Pleso' is easily to reach - very beautiful, surrounded by mountains.
Ingo
(HI Ann!)
Stary Smokovec was where I stayed - it's not bad, but not exactly a quaint village. It's most centrally located and a good location for hikes.
If you want to do a cable car ride up to a mountain then Tatranska Lomnica is the place - the cable car/gondola from there goes via Encian (change) up to Lomnicky stit - one of the highest summits of the High Tatras. The views are gorgeous on a clear day.
For anyone interested in a short hike - from Strbske Pleso the lake 'Popradske Pleso' is easily to reach - very beautiful, surrounded by mountains.
Ingo
(HI Ann!)
Sep 5th, 2007 | 04:53 PM
#5
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 27,709
Likes: 1
Zakopane is super touristy. Stary Smokovec is a good base, but since a wind storm took out a lot of trees, not as pretty as it might be. I loved Levoca, not a base for hiking, but a very good-looking town, with excellent, cheap accommodation (check out www.uleva.sk/english.html). Might be a bit out of the way, though.
I did the Strbske Pleso to 'Popradske Pleso' hike, and whether you think it's short may depend on what shape you're in. Not particularly steep, and gorgeous scenery, but about 15 km round trip.
I did the Strbske Pleso to 'Popradske Pleso' hike, and whether you think it's short may depend on what shape you're in. Not particularly steep, and gorgeous scenery, but about 15 km round trip.
Sep 5th, 2007 | 07:52 PM
#6
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 754
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Hi
We visited the Tatras on our way to Krakow several years ago. We stayed in Stary Smokovec for a night at the Grand Hotel. It was a great early 1900's hotel. We went our that night and walked to the Restaurant Koliba, a great time don't remember what we ate but after a couple of pitchers didn't care. It was a good place to spend a day or two.
We visited the Tatras on our way to Krakow several years ago. We stayed in Stary Smokovec for a night at the Grand Hotel. It was a great early 1900's hotel. We went our that night and walked to the Restaurant Koliba, a great time don't remember what we ate but after a couple of pitchers didn't care. It was a good place to spend a day or two.
