Experience the best of Poprad

Poprad lies in the Spiš region, in the broad valley of the Poprad river at the foot of the High Tatras, the tallest mountains in the Carpathians. The town itself is modern, but its historic district of Spišská Sobota, with a square of Renaissance houses and a Gothic church of St George, keeps the feel of a village. The airport, Poprad-Tatry, is the nearest to the mountains.

From the town, narrow-gauge electric trams climb to the resorts of Starý Smokovec and Štrbské Pleso, where lakes, trails and cable cars lead into the high peaks, among them Gerlach, which rises to 2,655 metres. Levoča, a walled town with the tallest Gothic wooden altar in the world, and the huge ruins of Spiš Castle lie to the east.

Mountain-hut menus and town restaurants serve bryndzové halušky, sheep's cheese dumplings, smoked oštiepok cheese, venison and hot cabbage soup after a day outdoors. Winter brings snow and skiing to the Tatras, while summer is for hiking, with the best weather in July and August. The mountains are visible from almost every street.