Štrbské Pleso - The beautiful mountain lake in the High Tatras

During our tour through Slovakia, we discovered many highlights. Every day, we were surprised anew by this country. After our hike through the Little Fatra, we set off for the beautiful Štrbské Pleso (German: “Trebské Pleso Lake”) in the High Tatras in the north of the country. We definitely didn’t want to miss this mountain lake. Most mountain lakes in the High Tatras can only be reached by hiking. But Trebské Lake is an exception. The trip to this beautiful spa town was worth it. We enjoyed the scenery to the fullest in the best weather and took a beautiful walk.

This might also interest you:

This might also interest you:
Getting to Štrbské Pleso
Parking around the lake
The beautiful Štrbské Pleso
The panoramic circular trail
Hikes in the region
Accommodation around Štrbské Pleso
Food and drink
Conclusion Štrbské Pleso

Getting to Štrbské Pleso

You can easily reach the mountain lake via the E18 and E50. We drove from Žilina in about 90 minutes. The last stretch takes you along the E538 in serpentines up to the mountain lake. The journey alone was amazing. We got closer and closer to the peaks of the High Tatras, and the view was simply fantastic. You also pass the Liptovská Reservoir. This area is also truly beautiful and worth seeing. Shortly after the reservoir, there is a turn-off to the right to the Demänovská Cave.

On the way to Štrbské Pleso in the High Tatras

If you want to travel from Bartislava, there are two options. You can either drive via Trenčin and Žilina (3:50 hours) or take the E58 via Nitra and the E77 via Banská Bystrica (3:40 hours). From Košice, it takes about 1:40 hours. It’s best to take the E50 road to the junction with the 538 to the mountain lake. Either way, all roads lead to Štrbské Pleso. The electric Tatra Railway even runs to the lake. It runs between Poprad and the lake. The cog railway also runs between Zubacka Strba and the lake. We haven’t been able to find out anything about bus service yet.

Parking around the lake

There is a large public parking lot (350 spaces) in front of the lake. It costs €1.30 per hour. You simply pay your ticket at the machine at the end, as usual. Parking at the shops costs €2 per hour. When you reach the spa town, there is a smaller parking lot with 45 spaces. Here, too, you pay €1.30 per hour.

Generally, there are three parking zones. The Green Zone is for the public. Payment is usually made at vending machines or in shops. The Red Zone is exclusively for guests who are also staying on site. The Orange Zone is for guests with and without accommodation.

The beautiful Štrbské Pleso

When we arrived and parked the car, we quickly noticed how touristy this place is. But we knew that was the case, as the lake is featured in every travel guide. But it’s also a really nice day trip destination. We didn’t let that bother us at all and set off straight away. Passing souvenir shops, restaurants, and cafés, we finally arrived at the lake. The entire spa town is, by the way, one of the highest spa towns in Central Europe. We were at an altitude of 1,346 meters.

The panoramic circular trail

The circuit around the lake only takes 45-60 minutes if you stroll leisurely. The scenery really couldn’t be more beautiful. The lake, the surrounding trees, and the peaks of the High Tatras in the background. Simply WOW! We stopped every minute to take photos and videos. We just couldn’t get enough of the view. We actually wanted to rent a rowboat and sail out onto the lake. But €18 for 40 minutes was just too much for us.

Along the way, we repeatedly passed several hotels and cafés. The weather was perfect; the colors couldn’t have been more beautiful. Around the lake, you’ll find information boards with truly interesting facts. For example, wolves, bears, and even lynx live in this area. Amazing, right? Of course, you hardly ever see these forest dwellers.

There are several ski lifts around the lake. The region is particularly popular in winter. Ski passes aren’t as expensive as in other countries (around €20). Cycling enthusiasts can also rent a mountain bike from the Tatry Motion sports shop. The cool thing is that you can then return the bike in Starý Smokovec or Tatranská Lomnica.

Hiking in the Region

Many different hiking trails await you here. Some trails even lead to the “smaller” peaks of the High Tatras. There are blue, yellow, red, and green hiking trails. A popular one is the hike from the lake up to Chata pod Soliskom. From the lake, it’s only about a 90-minute walk. From the hut, a red trail leads up to the summit of Predné Solisko at an altitude of 2,117 meters. This climb also takes about 90 minutes. You can find a great overview of all the hiking trails here on the hiking map.

The hike from Štrbské Pleso to Popradske Pleso is also very popular. However, you should plan on about four hours for this. The route is approximately 12 kilometers long and should be easy to manage with a normal level of fitness. This hike only gains 290 meters in elevation. Always pack plenty of water and small snacks on your hikes. We also recommend a jacket or sweater. The higher you climb, the cooler it gets.

Accommodations around Štrbské Pleso

There are several accommodations in the town and surrounding area. For example, there is the 4* Hotel Patria*. Rooms here start at around €110 per night. The hotel is located directly on the lake with a great view of the mountains and the lake. A double room at the 4* Hotel Solisko* costs around €140 per night. In the center of Štrbské Pleso is the tourist accommodation Bungalows FIS Economy*. A simple bungalow costs around €55 per night. A room at the 3-star Hotel Fis* costs around €80 per night.

You can also really treat yourself. For example, a night at the 5* Grand Hotel Kempinski High Tatras Hotel*. This luxury hotel is located directly on the lake. You’ll have to pay at least €200 per night for a room. We didn’t have any accommodation. That day, we drove further to Stara Lesná. Here we had a great room with a mountain view*. We only paid around €30 per night.

Food and Drink

Of course, there are also several restaurants and cafés. The Koliba Patria Restaurant, right on the lake, is very nice. Here you can find typical Slovak cuisine and other dishes. The Restaurant al lago is also located directly on the lake. Here, too, you can enjoy hearty Slovak dishes. Towards the parking lot and souvenir shops, you’ll find the largest selection of restaurants.

We went to the Reštaurácia Zubačka and ordered cappuccino, sweet potato fries, and warm apple strudel. We paid around €14 for everything. Next door, the Caffe Crepes serves, as the name suggests, delicious and hearty crepes. You can get inexpensive and hearty dishes at the Bufet HOREC stand. It’s the only snack bar there; you’ll find one.

Conclusion: Štrbské Pleso

We had a wonderful day at Lake Štrbské Pleso in the High Tatras. While it does get a bit busier at certain times of the year, the area around the lake is still a wonderful place to wander. The infrastructure is excellent: there are plenty of parking spaces, accommodations, small markets, restaurants, and shops. Parking costs are reasonable, and the food in the restaurants is typically expensive for a touristy region. All in all, it was a truly successful day trip.