The High Tatras are Slovakia’s main natural attraction. This picturesque region is part of the Tatra Mountains, the highest part of the Carpathian Mountains. Every year, five million tourists from around the world come here to relax at the local ski resorts, enjoy mountaineering, and simply hike.

In addition to Slovakia’s highest peak, Gerlachovský štít (2,655 m), the High Tatras boast numerous waterfalls, the most famous of which are Studéné potok (Studený potok) waterfalls; glacial lakes, the deepest of which is Velké Hincovo pleso (53 m); and a rich flora and fauna.

The High Tatras are home to a national park with more than 300 mountain lakes and peaks. Twenty-six peaks are over 2,500 m above sea level. The most famous local resorts are Tatranská Lomnica (with the best selection of pistes), Štrbské Pleso (the highest resort in the country), Smokovec, and Podbanske. The High Tatras are an excellent destination for a relaxing family vacation with children.

History and Culture
The High Tatras region has a rich history. The first official mentions of the region date back to the 16th century, when explorers attempted to study the mountain peaks and the local flora and fauna. In 1615, a documented ascent of Kežmarský štít (2,556 m), one of the 15 highest peaks in the mountain range, was recorded.

Explorers of the Tatras faced many difficulties, which were later faced by those who developed the tourism industry. However, despite all the difficulties, progress was made, and in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the region became a favorite vacation spot for aristocrats and the wealthiest people of Hungary, Austria, and Germany. Traces of the golden age of the High Tatras have survived to this day in the form of two Grand Hotels in the resorts of Stary Smokovec and Tatranská Lomnica.