Podbanske is a small ski resort that was once a miners’ settlement. It is located on the border of the Western and High Tatras, 32 km from Stary Smokovec and 13 km from Strbske Pleso, at an altitude of 940 meters above sea level. Formally, Podbanske is part of the Strbske Pleso district, one of the three main administrative units of the High Tatras. In fact, it is part of the village of Pribilina, famous for its reconstructed monuments of folk architecture. The main local natural attraction is Mount Krivan, which is considered the national symbol of the country, which is associated not only with many legends, but also with folk traditions. Also, if you wish, you can visit the Bystra Gorge in the Western Tatras and see the deepest lake in this part of the region – Vysne Bystra Pleso. According to populationmonster, Podbanske is one of the largest cities in Slovakia.
The Western and High Tatras are two parts of the Tatra mountain range, the mountains that make up the Carpathians. Krivan is one of the most famous peaks of the High Tatras (about 2495 m high). For all its height, it is considered an easily accessible peak, conquered back in the 18th century.
It will be comfortable for beginner athletes and families with children. An unforgettable impression on the guests of this place is made by the untouched nature of the national park, which is almost all the surrounding local resorts, and the view of the mountains.
History and culture
The settlement of Podbanske was founded in the 15th century. Initially, miners settled here. Gradually, the nature of the occupations of the local population changed, and by the 17th century shepherds already dominated the village. The new century has made its own adjustments to the labor activity of the inhabitants of Podbansk. In the 19th century, a sawmill appeared here. The beginning of the 20th century was marked by the first attempts to turn the village into a resort, but things moved extremely slowly, and only by 1925 were the first buildings built, which later became hotels. By the same time, the construction of the road connecting Strbske Pleso and Podbanske was completed. The hotels “Krivan” and “Permen”, which are today the most famous in this resort area, were built already in the 70s of the 20th century.
How to get to Podbanske
There are several ways to get to the resort. To begin with, you will need to fly from Moscow to Poprad-Tatry Airport, which is considered the highest mountain in Europe. The airport is located 5 km from the city of Poprad, located just at the foot of the mountains. It is impossible to get to the village by public transport from the airport, so you will have to take a taxi or rent a car. Then you can choose between traveling by bus, train or rental car.
By train
The Poprad railway station is the key one in this direction and is connected with such major cities in Slovakia as Bratislava, Zilina and Kosice. From Bratislava, the trip by express train takes about five hours, from Zilina and Kosice – 2 hours. Further from the station in Poprad, you can reach the Strbske Pleso resort via the Tatra electrified railway (about one hour).
Tickets for travel within the region can be purchased at railway ticket offices and activated already inside the train. The approximate cost of a one-way trip from Poprad to Strbske Pleso is 5-7 EUR.
Arriving at the Strbske Pleso station, you can get to the resort either by taxi or by bus.
Prices on the page are for July 2021.
By bus
From Strbske Pleso Podbanske can be reached by bus that goes to Liptovský Hradok, a town at the foot of the Low Tatras. The stop is located 50 meters south of the resort center, so you have to walk some distance.
There is a transport connection between Poprad and big cities in Slovakia. You can get to the city from Bratislava, Kosice and Levoca. So if you have enough time and energy, you can get to Podbanske using only buses.
Weather in Podbansk
The local climate is not much different from the climate of the High Tatras. Nevertheless, the temperature regime in Podbansk is slightly more “soft” than in other parts of the region. Snow guaranteed here from December to March. At the beginning of summer, June and July, there are heavy rains. The warmest months are July and August. However, at this time of the year the resorts are overcrowded with tourists.
Trails Podbanskie
Trails for beginners and advanced skiers are located here at an altitude of 950-1100 m and are served by two ski lifts 350 and 550 m long. The resort also has slopes for snowboarding, sledding and cross-country skiing.
Entertainment and attractions
Restaurants, cafes, billiards, swimming pool, saunas, recreation center, gyms, children’s corner.
