Poprad – a gate to the High Tatras and Slovak Paradise National Parks | Slovakia
Located in the Prešov region of eastern Slovakia, Poprad is a truly beautiful town. It is the 10th largest town in Slovakia and offers plenty in terms of economy, culture and tourism.
The town sits on the River Poprad and the area enjoys a mild climate. Poprad international airport is the highest-placed airport in Europe standing at 718 meters above sea level.
Poprad City
Within Poprad and its surrounding area, there are plenty of historical buildings and monuments. Worth visiting are the classic and Baroque houses, the church of St Egídia, the Church of St. Juraj and the church of St. Ján Krstitel.
Recently, a water park has been built in the city by the name of Aqua City Poprad. It’s a great destination in the summer for tourists – especially those with young children.
It boasts several indoor and outdoor pools, a sauna, water toboggans, a fitness centre and a playground for the kids. Once you’ve finished swimming, the complex offers a wide range of restaurants and bars in which you can relax.
Poprad is also a popular destination for keen cyclists as it has a network of bike paths connecting it with nearby Svit.
If you’re after a slightly more relaxing time, you can enjoy the many shops Poprad has to offer, browsing the clothes and souvenirs. Once you are in Poprad, do not miss visiting its part of Spišská Sobota, which also has very nice square and looks like another town. This part is often forgotten by tourists but I think it is more beautiful than Poprad itself.
For dining, you will find plenty of restaurants within Poprad serving traditional Slovak food. If you want some fun in the evenings, some of the hotspots include Gamma Ray Pub, Surprise Club, CafeRazy and Subway.
Poprad is also a gate to two most popular national parks in Slovakia – High Tatras National Park and Slovak Paradise National Park.
Related: Slovakia points of interest
I hear the High Tatras are beautiful but involve some serious climbing – be sure the trail is clear of snow or bring some crampons!
Right hiking boots are necessary when going on some tour in High Tatras and you should also have some insurance, because this is not covered by European basic health care system. It is possible to insure in High Tatras, and it does not cost a lot so it worth. Otherwise in bad cases you will need to pay for the emergency crew (sometimes with a helicopter).