Slovak Paradise National Park
Hrabušice, Slovakia, Slovakia
Occupying the northern Slovak Ore Mountains, Slovak Paradise National Park is characterized by emeraldine forests, massive gorges, and lots of hiking trails. If you want to spend time in nature, it's an incredible place to visit. It offers ample opportunities for summer hiking and winter snow sports.
The basics
Slovak Paradise offers more than 180 miles (300 kilometers) of hiking trails and around 350 caves, although only one—the UNESCO-listed Dobsinska Ice Cave—is open to the public. Popular activities in the park include swimming, hiking, horseback riding, rock climbing, and cycling in the summer and skiing, snowboarding, and ice climbing in the winter. While many people visit independently, you can hire a guide to help you safely explore the park, particularly if you aren’t an experienced outdoors person.
Things to know before you go
Cabins and other accommodations abound in the region, and listings are available on the park's website.
There are tourist information centers in Ves, Cingov, Spišské Tomášovce, and Podlesok, as well as at the Dobsinska Ice Cave.
The park charges for parking and admission, with discounts for children and older adults. Children under 6 visit free.
How to get there
Slovak Paradise National Park is in the eastern part of Slovakia, about a 4-hour drive from Bratislava or about 90 minutes by car from Košice. The park has numerous gateway towns, including Dedinky, Cingoy, and Podlesok, but the main administrative center is in Spisska Nova Ves. The nearest airport is Poprad-Tatry Airport, about a 45-minute drive from the park.
When to get there
Slovak Paradise National Park is a year-round attraction, and when you visit will depend on what you plan to do. Summer is a great time to hike but get to the trails early to avoid the heat of the day. Winter snow sports depend on the weather conditions, while ice climbing season usually runs from the beginning of December through the middle of March.
Flora and fauna in the park
The park is dominated by forest and provides a refuge for more than 2,000 types of butterflies, plus dozens of mammals, including bears, wolves, and wildcats. Natural features include the Prielom Hornadu, a canyon measuring around 7.5 miles (12 kilometers), and Zavojovy Vodopad, a waterfall towering at around 230 feet (70 meters).
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