Mountain Chalets

Accommodation and refreshments in the heart of the Tatras

Welcome to the Tatra Chalets

High-mountain chalets offer shelter, refreshments and an unforgettable atmosphere – most of them are open all year round

Booking: Mountain chalets have limited capacity. We recommend booking accommodation in advance, especially at weekends and in the main season (July–September). In the high-mountain chalets you mostly sleep in shared rooms; the mountain hotels (Sliezsky dom, Popradské pleso) also offer hotel rooms.

Main Chalets

Téryho chata

2,015 m a.s.l. ~3 h from Hrebienok Year-round

The highest mountain chalet in the High Tatras open all year round. Téryho chata is located in Malá Studená Valley near the Five Spiš Tarns. It bears the name of Edmund Téry (1856–1917), a physician, mountaineer and official of the Hungarian Carpathian Association, which built the chalet on his initiative. It has served hikers since 1899.

Location: The chalet lies at an altitude of 2,015 m by five beautiful mountain tarns. It offers an excellent view of Malý Ľadový štít, Prostredný hrot and the whole high-mountain landscape around it.

Access: Most hikers come from Starý Smokovec via Hrebienok and Zamkovského chata – about 3 hours from Hrebienok. Alternatively, you can take the cable car from Tatranská Lomnica to Skalnaté pleso, walk along the Tatranská magistrála to Zamkovského chata and continue up the valley from there. The route is moderately difficult, with an elevation gain of about 730 m from Hrebienok.

Accommodation: 24 beds in three rooms – two six-bed rooms and one twelve-bed dormitory. A sleeping bag and blanket come with the bed, but for hygiene reasons you need your own sleeping-bag liner (liners can be rented or bought at the chalet). The chalet offers hot meals, drinks and the chance to restock supplies.

Points of interest: Around the chalet lie the Five Spiš Tarns, the largest of which is Veľké Spišské pleso. On clear nights the surrounding peaks are beautifully mirrored on the surface of the tarns. Demanding trails lead from the chalet over Priečne sedlo to Zbojnícka chata and over Sedielko into Javorová Valley; they are closed during the winter closure period. Peaks without a marked trail, such as Baranie rohy or Malý Ľadový štít, may only be climbed with a mountain guide.

Zbojnícka chata

1,960 m a.s.l. 2–2.5 h from Hrebienok Year-round

Gateway to the most beautiful valley in the Tatras. Zbojnícka chata is located in Veľká Studená Valley at an altitude of 1,960 m. The valley is exceptional in that it holds as many as 26 tarns – more than any other Tatra valley.

History: The first building was put up here in 1907 as a hunting lodge and has served hikers since 1910. It has been called Zbojnícka chata since the 1920s, probably after the Zbojnícke plesá tarns in the valley. In June 1998 the chalet was destroyed by fire; the new chalet was completed in 2001.

Access: The most common route leads from Starý Smokovec via Hrebienok and Rainerova chata, then along the blue-marked trail up Veľká Studená Valley (2–2.5 hours from Hrebienok). The trail passes the Studený potok waterfalls and gradually climbs into the valley. The elevation gain from Hrebienok is about 675 m.

Accommodation and services: The chalet is a simple hikers’ hostel – you sleep on bunk beds in a shared dormitory for 16 people. Breakfast and dinner are available, and hikers can use a small kitchen. The toilet is outside behind the chalet, and payment is cash only. In winter the chalet is popular with ski mountaineers.

Tarns nearby: Around the chalet lie the Zbojnícke plesá, Dlhé pleso, Vareškové pleso, Starolesnianske pleso, the Sivé plesá and others. Walks to the tarns are easy and offer fine views of the surrounding peaks.

Zamkovského chata

1,475 m a.s.l. 1–1.5 h from Hrebienok Year-round

An ideal destination for families with children. Zamkovského chata is one of the most easily accessible high-mountain chalets in the High Tatras. It is located in Malá Studená Valley at an altitude of 1,475 m, so even less experienced hikers and families with children can manage it.

Named after a mountaineer: The chalet bears the name of Štefan Zamkovský, a trained photographer from Levoča who started out in the Tatras as a porter for Téryho and Zbojnícka chata and became a renowned mountaineer and mountain guide. He had the chalet built in 1943 and ran it himself as its warden.

Access: From Hrebienok you can reach the chalet in about an hour on the red-marked trail (Tatranská magistrála) towards Skalnaté pleso. The trail is easy, climbing gently along a comfortable path through the forest. The elevation gain is only about 200 m, so it is accessible to practically everyone.

Accommodation: The chalet has 24 beds in double and six-bed rooms and a hikers’ dormitory. Thanks to its low altitude and easy access, it is popular with hikers of all ages.

Surroundings: The chalet is an excellent starting point for further hikes – up the valley to Téryho chata, to Obrovský Waterfall or along the magistrála to Skalnaté pleso. Rich Tatra vegetation grows around the chalet.

Other Mountain Chalets

Sliezsky dom

1,670 m 2 h

A mountain hotel in Velická Valley by Velické pleso, about a 2-hour walk from Tatranská Polianka. The first Sliezsky dom was built here by the Silesian section of the Hungarian Carpathian Association in 1895; the present building dates from 1968. Besides hotel rooms, it also has a hikers’ hostel.

Chata pri Zelenom plese

1,550 m 2.5 h

A cozy chalet (also called Brnčalova chata) by one of the most beautiful Tatra tarns, about 2.5 hours from Biela voda near Tatranská Lomnica. Ideal for families and less demanding hikes. Excellent home cooking and beautiful surroundings.

Bilíkova chata

1,255 m 0.5 h

A chalet at Hrebienok above Starý Smokovec, reached by the funicular. Suitable as a first destination or a place to rest on longer hikes. Restaurant with a view.

Chata pod Rysmi

2,250 m ~4 h

The highest chalet in Slovakia. A base for the ascent of Rysy. Open only in the summer season (June–October); accommodation in a shared dormitory, booking is essential.

Horský hotel Popradské pleso

1,494 m 1–1.5 h

A mountain hotel by Popradské pleso in Mengusovská Valley, about 1–1.5 hours from Štrbské Pleso. It offers hotel rooms as well as cheaper hikers’ beds and is a starting point for Rysy, Ostrva and Kôprovský štít.

Skalnatá chata

1,725 m Cable car

Accessible by cable car from Tatranská Lomnica via Štart. It stands by Skalnaté pleso, offers refreshments and is an excellent starting point for Lomnické sedlo and the surrounding peaks.

Overview of Main Chalets

Chalet	Altitude	Time from Trailhead	Capacity	Operation
Chata pod Rysmi	2,250 m	~4 h (Štrbské Pleso)	14 beds	June–October
Téryho chata	2,015 m	~3 h (Hrebienok)	24 beds	Year-round
Zbojnícka chata	1,960 m	2–2.5 h (Hrebienok)	16 places	Year-round
Skalnatá chata	1,725 m	Cable car	Refreshments	Year-round
Sliezsky dom	1,670 m	2 h (Tatranská Polianka)	Hotel (44 rooms) + hostel (12 beds)	Year-round
Chata pri Zelenom plese	1,550 m	2.5 h (Biela voda)	56 beds	Year-round
Zamkovského chata	1,475 m	1–1.5 h (Hrebienok)	24 beds	Year-round

Practical Information

Reservation and accommodation: We recommend booking at least a week in advance, and even earlier for weekends and the summer season. In the high-mountain chalets you mostly sleep in shared rooms. Bedding varies: at Téryho chata a sleeping bag and blanket come with the bed, but you need your own sleeping-bag liner; Chata pod Rysmi provides blankets and clean liners. Check the conditions on the chalet’s website before you go.

Prices: In 2026 an overnight stay costs roughly €27–50 per person, depending on the chalet and bed type (e.g. Téryho chata €47–49, Zbojnícka chata €44, a hikers’ bed at Horský hotel Popradské pleso €27). A local tax of €3.50 per night is added; members of mountaineering clubs often get a discount. Breakfast costs about €7–10, dinner €12–18. Some chalets (e.g. Zbojnícka) accept cash only. Current prices are on each chalet’s website.

What to bring: A sleeping-bag liner (or a sleeping bag if the chalet does not provide one), basic toiletries, a flashlight, slippers, cash, your own water and food (although food is also available at the chalet). In winter also warm clothing and spare socks.

Communication: At many chalets the mobile signal is weak or non-existent. Book in advance by phone or e-mail before you set off.

Sanitary facilities: Showers are not a given in the high-mountain chalets, and in some places the toilet is outside the building – for example a dry toilet about 100 m from Chata pod Rysmi or the toilet behind Zbojnícka chata. Water in mountain chalets is a precious resource, so use it sparingly.

Accessibility: Most high-mountain chalets are not barrier-free. They can only be reached on foot via mountain trails. Exceptions are Skalnatá chata, accessible by cable car, and some lower-lying chalets with an access road.

Mountain Chalet Etiquette

How to Behave in a Mountain Chalet

Quiet hours: Keep quiet from 22:00 to 6:00
Footwear: Always change your shoes at the entrance and leave muddy boots outside
Tidiness: Keep your space and common areas tidy
Energy: Save electricity and water – they are precious here
Waste: Take all your waste back down with you, including organic waste
Respect: Respect other guests and chalet staff
Noise: Limit loud phone calls and use of speakers
Smoking: Smoking is allowed only in designated outdoor areas