An up and coming ski destination to put on your radar.
Slovakia has all the ingredients for a fantastic ski trip.
A snow-capped Tatras mountain, undiscovered gem.
Slovakia is not a country normally associated with skiing but that is starting to change thanks to the emergence of Jasná as a ski destination. The country has all the ingredients for a great time on the slopes being home to small, but modern resorts. They’re situated in the Tatras mountains (which also provide Poland with its resorts just to the north), it’s easy to get to and best of all for those on a budget, it offers great value for money.
For the same price of a self-catering option in the Alps, here you can kick back and stay in spa hotel with some style. With the airport of Poprad less than an hour away, it also works out for a weekend trip.
KEY INFORMATION
Good to Know
Currency
Euro
Language
Slovak
Travel Time (APPROX)
2 hours
Gatwick
Timezone
GMT+1
The best bits of skiing in Slovakia
Best family ski resorts in Slovakia
Jasná is home to three children’s ski areas which offer safe skiing and professional tuition without the risk of collisions with other skiers or boarders. (However you need to book a lesson to access). There’s also a Fun Zone with waves, a tunnel and easy obstacles and a burger bar to refuel afterwards. The resort of Donovaly is also family friendly, home to one of the largest children’s areas (there are 10 magic carpets), easy slopes and a flood-lit toboggan run and ice skating rink.
Best beginner ski resorts in Slovakia
Slovakia is perfect for beginner and intermediates who are happy cruising the blues – 17 out of its 35 runs are blue, 13 are red and just five are black. In total there are 50km of slopes on offer. Tatranská Lomnica is also beginner-friendly, with 46% of its slopes designated easy. The long and easy slopes are be found on the lower and middle sections of the resort, the upper sections are for more experienced.
Best high altitude/snow-sure resorts in Slovakia
In Jasná the skiing goes up to 2,000m. In Tatranská Lomnica you can ski down from almost 2,200m. With these kinds of altitudes, Slovakia’s resorts are as snow-sure as many others in the Alps. They have also invested heavily in artificial snow-making equipment. Jasná has 527 cannons covering almost 70% of slopes while 90% of Tatranská Lomnica’s slopes have some artificial cover.
Food and Drink in Slovakia
Slovakia offers an Eastern European twist on regular Alpine favourites and no trip is complete without sampling national favourite halusky (sheep-cheese gnocchi with lardons). Expect to sample lots of pork, cabbage, potatoes and both sheep and cow’s cheese. But western tastes are catered for – Jasná has a burger restaurant, which also serves pasta dishes. The local beer and wine are refreshingly inexpensive.
Best resorts for après ski in Slovakia
There are always a few bars at the bottom of the slopes in Slovakia but the best restaurants and bars are often to be found in town, away from the resorts. Jasná for example has a champagne bar at the bottom of the Grand Jet lift. When that closes it’s just a few steps to the Happy End, which boasts a disco on two floors. But the real entertainment is Liptovsky Mikulas, a 15 minutes drive, which is home to dozens of bars and restaurants.
Best resorts for off piste skiing in Slovakia
Jasná is a stop on the Freeride World Tour qualifier. If the powder is good enough for the world’s best, it can’t be too bad. There are several lift accessed free ride zones in the resort. Advanced skiers will most likely prefer the steep mountain couloirs on the north side, while more cautious riders will appreciate the powder plains on the south side. Either way, you can escape via a blue run if you don’t feel like committing.
Best resorts for skiing weekends and short breaks in Slovakia
Slovakia’s smaller resorts make for an ideal short or weekend hit. Wizz Air have direct flights to Poprad which is less than an hour away by car to Jasná – meaning you can be on the slopes with minimal fuss. Flights don’t run every day however. Other options include flying to Bratislava (three hour transfer) or Vienna (four).
Best time to ski in Slovakia
The ski season in Slovakia begins in December and lasts until April, depending on conditions. Some years have been better than others. Late January is a good bet – it’s still cold to ensure good snow conditions and it’s less busy than the half term holiday period in February. Go early or later in March for the best deals. Conditions can also be great then too.
Our favourite ski resorts in Slovakia
Here are just some of our top ski resorts. To find the perfect one for you, speak to one of our specialists.
Jasna
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All Resorts in slovakia
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Blogs about skiing in Slovakia
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