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The Tatra Mountains area is the fastest growing tourist region in Slovakia and is easily accessible by air, rail or the new motorway along the Vah River.

The High Tatra National Park is the pride of Slovakia. The mighty granite peaks rise proudly on the border between Slovakia and Poland, their faces often covered by a misty veil of clouds. Deep valleys, formed by prehistoric glaciers, are alive with alpine flora and fauna, and glacial water has been retained in picturesque mountain lakes. Here towers the highest peak of the country – Gerlachovsky stit, which rises 2655 meters above sea level. Nearby Mt. Krivan is a national symbol.

The Tatra resorts on the southern side of the mountains developed in the second half of the 19th century, when railway connections reached the area and city dwellers began to flock here for summer holidays. Today, the Tatra region boasts a wide range of accommodation to suit all tastes, from elegant fin-de-siecle grand hotels to simple mountain chalets and camp sites. There are twelve remarkable mountain cottages scattered amid the magnificent Tatra landscape. The modern Tatra Railway, a local rail line, links all main mountain centers, so visitors can leave their cars parked at their hotels. The region offers hiking possibilities for all comers − from easy family walks on well-marked forest trails to extreme rock climbing and mountaineering.

The western part of the Tatra region, spread out on either side of the Vah River, is one of the most beautiful parts of Slovakia. The area, called Liptov, is renowned for its wealth of wooden folk architecture. The village of Vlkolinec, with its many wonderful wooden buildings, is a unique architectural enclave recognized by UNESCO as a site of World Cultural Heritage.

The Low Tatra National Park is a wonderful area for summer hiking and walking tours. You can reach the heights on foot or by funicular and then follow clearly marked trails that lead to the region’s two highest peaks, Dumbier and Chopok, both of which rise to more than 2000 meters above sea level. From here you have breathtaking views of the High and Western Tatra massifs on the other side of the valley. In the winter, the slopes of the Low Tatras become a paradise for skiers. Ski resorts in Donovaly, Tale and Jasna/Demanovska Valley provide a wide choice of ski areas suitable for all levels of skiers.

The main town in the region, Liptovsky Mikulas, is a centuries-old city featuring a beautifully reconstructed town square. The highwayman Juraj Janosik − the Slovak counterpart of Robin Hood − was hanged here in 1713. A nearby man-made lake, Liptovska Mara, is a popular summer sports resort, and there are marvelous caves in the Demanovska Valley − one of them an ice cave.