# National Parks in Slovakia: All Nine, Compared Source: https://taply.sk/national-parks-in-slovakia/ (Taply, updated 2026-10-13) Slovakia has nine national parks, and the best way to reach most of them is by rental car, with GetRentacar one option for comparing offers. The Tatra National Park, founded in 1949, is the oldest and the best known, home to the High Tatras. Most parks are in the Carpathian mountains, and rules such as marked trails and seasonal closures apply. This page compares them and points to the guides for the main ones. For first hikes, see [hiking for beginners](https://taply.sk/hiking-in-slovakia-for-beginners/). ## Key points - Slovakia has nine national parks, from Tatra (1949) to Slovak Karst and Veľká Fatra (2002). - The Low Tatras are the largest, at 728 km2. - Parks have marked trails, and seasonal closures can apply, so check before you hike. - Four parks have dedicated guides on this site. ## Quick facts - Number of parks: 9 - Oldest: Tatra, 1949 - Largest: Low Tatras, 728 km2 - Smallest: Pieniny, 37.5 km2 ## Best ways to explore Slovakia's national parks, ranked 1. **Rental car with GetRentacar** (best for Hikers and road trippers): The parks are spread across the country and trailheads are often outside towns. GetRentacar is a car hire comparison site, so check the deposit, insurance cover and mileage before you book. 2. **Rental car on QEEQ** (best for Price comparers): QEEQ is another broker. Compare offers for your dates and pickup location. 3. **Guided tours with Klook** (best for Visitors who prefer a guide): Klook lists tours and day trips across Europe. Check what is available near the park you want, since availability varies. 4. **Hiking insurance with EKTA** (best for Hikers): If you plan mountain hikes, sort out insurance before you travel. Compare which activities EKTA covers. 5. **Regional trains and buses (ZSSK)** (best for Budget travellers): Public transport reaches the main park gateways such as Poprad and Žilina. Smaller parks need more planning. ## The nine parks Park | Founded | Area | Tatra | 1949 | 703 km2 | Pieniny | 1967 | 37.5 km2 | Low Tatras | 1978 | 728 km2 | Malá Fatra | 1988 | 226.3 km2 | Slovak Paradise | 1988 | 197.63 km2 | Poloniny | 1997 | 298.05 km2 | Muránska planina | 1998 | 203.18 km2 | Slovak Karst | 2002 | 346.11 km2 | Veľká Fatra | 2002 | 403.71 km2 | Figures from official lists of Slovak national parks. ## Which parks suit which trip - Alpine scenery: Tatra, see [High Tatras](https://taply.sk/high-tatras/) and [best hikes](https://taply.sk/best-hikes-in-the-high-tatras/). - Ravines and ladders: [Slovak Paradise](https://taply.sk/slovak-paradise/). - Rafting and gorges: [Pieniny](https://taply.sk/pieniny-rafting/). - Ridge walks and castles: [Malá Fatra](https://taply.sk/mala-fatra/), near [Strečno](https://taply.sk/strecno-castle/). - Ski and hiking: Low Tatras, see [Jasná](https://taply.sk/jasna-low-tatras/). - Caves: Slovak Karst, see [caves in Slovakia](https://taply.sk/caves-in-slovakia/). Choose by activity rather than by name. A first-time visitor with a few days is best served by one or two parks done properly, not a rushed tour of all nine. Families should look at the shorter, well marked paths first, and experienced walkers can add ridge routes once the weather is settled. ## Less visited parks Poloniny in the far east, Muránska planina and Veľká Fatra in the centre have no dedicated guide here yet and are far less visited than the Tatras. Public transport is thinner and facilities are simpler, so plan routes, water and return transport before you start. The official park websites are the best source for trail status. If you want quiet trails, pick a weekday and an early start. Bring a paper or offline map, since mobile signal can drop in valleys. Local guesthouses in the villages around these parks are usually the best source of current route advice, and they can often tell you which huts and forest roads are open. Check the official park websites for any entry rules or fees before you set off. ## Rules and safety National park rules generally mean staying on marked trails, with some areas closed at certain times of year to protect wildlife. Mountain weather changes fast, and the High Tatras have seasonal closures on higher trails, so check current conditions. Read [hiking insurance](https://taply.sk/hiking-insurance-high-tatras/) before a mountain trip. Bring sturdy shoes with grip, a rain layer, water, a charged phone with an offline map and some cash. Weather in the mountains changes quickly even in summer, and higher paths can hold snow into early summer. If you are new to mountain walking, start with a short loop and read [hiking in Slovakia for beginners](https://taply.sk/hiking-in-slovakia-for-beginners/). ## Best time to go Summer and early autumn are the usual hiking season. Some trails and facilities close in winter or in spring thaw. See [best time to visit Slovakia](https://taply.sk/best-time-to-visit-slovakia/) and [Slovakia in summer](https://taply.sk/slovakia-in-summer/). A simple loop is Malá Fatra, Low Tatras, High Tatras and Slovak Paradise, which are all within a day's drive of each other. Spread them over at least a week, with a rest day in between. [Slovakia road trip](https://taply.sk/slovakia-road-trip/) shows one way to link them, and [10 day itinerary](https://taply.sk/slovakia-itinerary-10-days/) adds towns and castles. ## Getting to the park gateways The main gateways are Poprad and Štrbské Pleso for the High Tatras, Žilina for Malá Fatra, Spišská Nová Ves for Slovak Paradise, and Liptovský Mikuláš for the Low Tatras. See [Poprad airport to the High Tatras](https://taply.sk/poprad-airport-to-high-tatras/), [Liptovský Mikuláš](https://taply.sk/liptovsky-mikulas/) and [Žilina](https://taply.sk/zilina/) for transport details. Parking at popular trailheads can fill early on summer weekends, so start early. ## Park by park: what each one is like Park | Character | Good for | Guide | Tatra | High granite peaks and lakes, the highest in Slovakia | Serious views, day hikes, mountain huts | [High Tatras](https://taply.sk/high-tatras/) | Low Tatras | Rounded ridges, the highest summit Ďumbier at 2,043 m | Long ridge walks, caves, skiing | [Chopok](https://taply.sk/chopok-low-tatras/) | Slovak Paradise | Forested plateau cut by gorges, with ladders and chains on many trails | Adventurous walks, waterfalls | [Slovak Paradise](https://taply.sk/slovak-paradise/) | Malá Fatra | Rocky ridges and gorges | Ridge walks, castle at Strečno | [Malá Fatra](https://taply.sk/mala-fatra/) | Pieniny | Small park on the Polish border | Rafting, gentle gorge walks | [Pieniny](https://taply.sk/pieniny-rafting/) | Slovak Karst | Limestone plateaus and caves | Cave visits, quiet walking | [Caves](https://taply.sk/caves-in-slovakia/) | Poloniny, Muránska planina and Veľká Fatra are the quiet three, better for self-sufficient walkers than for a short first trip. ## Slovak Paradise in more detail Slovak Paradise has roughly 300 km of marked trails, and many of them use ladders, chains and bridges to climb through gorges. The longest canyon is Prielom Hornádu, 11.7 km, and a marked path of about 15 km runs between Čingov and Podlesok. Suchá Belá gorge and the Dobšinská Ice Cave are the most visited places. The cave is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the only cave open to visitors in the park. Highest point: Predná hoľa at 1,545 m. Wet metal rungs and wet rock are slippery, so wear shoes with grip and be ready to queue on busy days. Some gorge routes are one-way or closed in winter, so check the park’s official site before you go. See [Suchá Belá gorge](https://taply.sk/sucha-bela-gorge/) and [Dobšinská Ice Cave](https://taply.sk/dobsinska-ice-cave/) for detail. ## Without a car You can reach the Tatra park by train and local transport. The High Tatras have a tram-style mountain railway and cable cars that cut out the climbing, see [Tatra electric railway](https://taply.sk/tatra-electric-railway/), [High Tatras cable cars](https://taply.sk/high-tatras-cable-cars/) and [Hrebienok](https://taply.sk/hrebienok/). For the Low Tatras, [Chopok](https://taply.sk/chopok-low-tatras/) is the easiest high point. Other parks need buses to trailheads, with fewer departures at weekends and in the off season, so check timetables before you commit. A car makes Slovak Paradise, Malá Fatra and Poloniny much easier. Compare rentals in [car rental in Slovakia](https://taply.sk/car-rental-slovakia/), and read [driving in Slovakia](https://taply.sk/driving-in-slovakia/) if you will drive. ## Wildlife and safety The Carpathians are home to large animals, including brown bears. Encounters are rare, but follow the usual rules: keep to marked trails, make normal noise on forest paths, never approach or feed an animal, and carry out your food waste. Do not hike at dusk in forested areas. Mountain weather is a bigger daily risk than animals, so turn back if clouds build. Travel insurance that covers hiking is sensible, see [hiking insurance](https://taply.sk/hiking-insurance-high-tatras/) and [is Slovakia safe](https://taply.sk/is-slovakia-safe/). ## UNESCO and the parks Two park areas appear on UNESCO lists: the caves of the Slovak Karst, part of the Caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst, and the beech forests of the Carpathians that include areas in Poloniny. The Dobšinská Ice Cave in Slovak Paradise is listed too. See [UNESCO sites in Slovakia](https://taply.sk/unesco-sites-in-slovakia/) for the full set of places. ## Common mistakes - Packing for the valley temperature. Mountain tops are far colder, and snow can remain on higher trails into early summer. - Starting a long route after midday in summer, when afternoon storms are common. - Planning four parks in four days. Distances are long and mountain roads are slow. - Relying on a phone with no offline map. - Ignoring seasonal trail closures, which are marked on official park sites. ## FAQ **How many national parks does Slovakia have?** Nine: Tatra, Pieniny, Low Tatras, Malá Fatra, Slovak Paradise, Poloniny, Muránska planina, Slovak Karst and Veľká Fatra. **Which is the oldest national park in Slovakia?** Tatra National Park, founded in 1949. **Which park is the biggest?** The Low Tatras, at 728 km2, slightly larger than Tatra at 703 km2. **Which park is best for a first visit?** Most visitors start with the High Tatras or Slovak Paradise because of transport and trail infrastructure. **Do I need a permit to hike?** Rules vary by park and area. Check the official park website for closures and any fees. **Are there bears in Slovak national parks?** Brown bears live in the Carpathian forests. Sightings are uncommon, and the safest approach is to stay on marked trails, avoid hiking at dusk and never feed wildlife. **Which park has the best scenery?** The Tatra National Park has the most dramatic mountains, while Slovak Paradise is the best for gorges and ladders. Choose by activity rather than by rank.