What to do in the Tatras when it rains?
If you were looking forward to a mountain hike, rainy weather can be an unpleasant complication. However, when planning activities in the Tatras, it is important to adapt to unforeseen situations, stay safe and not expose yourself to unnecessary risks. There are many activities to choose from, thanks to which you can enjoy your vacation even if it rains. We bring you some proven tips.
1. Visit to the museum, exhibition and historical monuments
Tatras inside - experience tour of the Tatras in Stary Smokovec presents the unique features of the Tatras, views and places that you cannot visit in person due to bad weather. Tatry atmosphere guaranteed.
TANAPu Museum in Tatranská Lomnica presents nature, the history of nature conservation, but also ethnography and the history of settlement of the Tatras in four parts.
Source: TANAP Museum: Tatry.sk
Múzeum Ždiarsky dom in Ždiar - built according to the models of wooden houses from 1911 and 1914. You will find a permanent exhibition of the interior, costumes, work tools. The museum also organizes interesting accompanying events, such as a horse-drawn carriage ride around the area, a Ždiar wedding, or a tasting of local specialties.
Source: Museum Ždiarsky dom: Tatry.sk
Museum of the Orava village can be found 4 km from the center of Zuberec in the direction of Zverovka. It is an open-air museum of 50 buildings of folk architecture, so you will also be able to move outside. It is therefore not the most suitable place in the case of heavy rains, but it will come in handy in the case of mild adverse weather. The museum also organizes events in accordance with the calendar issued for each year.
Slovak Museum of Nature Conservation and Caving in Liptovský Mikuláš. If you are close to Liptov, choose the museum in Liptovský Mikuláš, where you will find 2 exhibitions on four floors with a total area of 1400 m². The exhibition Karst and caves of Slovakia will present karst in context. The second exhibition is focused on people and nature protection. Smaller ones will be amused by the bear den or the cave crawler.
J.M. Petzval Museum in Spišská Bela. If, on the other hand, you are drawn to Instead, go to a museum focused on devices and aids in the field of optics or photographic technology. J. M. Petzval was an inventor, the founder of modern optics and photography.
A tour of historical monuments. In the surroundings of the Tatras you will also find many historical monuments and interesting places. Wooden articulate churches can be found in Kežmark, Istebno and Svät Kríž, and are worth seeing.
If you would like to see castles, castles and mansions, we recommend a tour of Oravský or Kežmarský castle or Strážky mansion.
2. Relax in the thermal springs and have fun in the water
The bad weather is perfect for swimming in the thermal water and having fun in the water parks. Water attractions, toboggans, but also saunas and whirlpools will distract you and warm you up. You can find several of them near the Tatras: right in Poprad you can find Aquacity, not far from Zuberec you can find the all-thermal Aquapark Oravice and about 20 minutes by car from Trstena you can reach the largest Polish aquapark Chochołowskie Termy.
In the direction of Liptov, you can visit the popular Tatralandia or Bešeňová. Geothermal Vrbov is a swimming pool, so it has no indoor pools. You can enjoy hot thermal water here even in winter or cold weather, but in case of significant rain and storms, we recommend water interiors.
Photo source: Drazen Zigic on Freepik.com
3. Caves
The Važec cave can be found near Važec in northern Liptov. The route is relatively short, only about a little more than 200 m, but it will certainly impress you with its rich decoration and finds of cave bear bones.
Brestovská jaskyňa is one of the most famous caves of the Western Tatras and Orava. You can find it near the village of Zuberec and get ready for a 2 km long walk. However, if you have children of preschool and younger age, wait until you visit. Entry is allowed only to children over 6 years old. The cave impresses with its rare fauna and the morphology of the spaces.
Stanišovská cave is a year-round cave in Liptov. Upon entry, you will receive a headlamp that will enhance your experience of the roughly one-hour tour. There is also a thematic accompanying program in the cave, for example Dušičky or MDD.
Don't be caught off guard by bad weather
Adverse weather can put your plans in jeopardy, but with clothing from the Northkit line, you don't have to worry about rain or wind. Thanks to its waterproof, windproof properties and breathable construction, it will keep you dry and comfortable, even if you are surprised by a cloudburst in the mountains. In addition, its ultra-light construction and packability into its own pocket make it a great emergency solution for traveling.
Belian Cave ranks among the most visited open caves in Slovakia and is also the only cave directly in the Tatra National Park open to the public. The good news is that there is no minimum age limit for access (as is the case with some other caves). Here you will find interesting rock formations of bizarre shapes. During the tour, you will also experience an impressive musical performance that will demonstrate the acoustic properties of the Gallery.
Source: Dušičky in Stanišovská Cavesi
4. Indoor activities: Climbing, fitness and interactive galleries
If you don't want to be without sports even during the rain, we recommend climbing walls. You can find one in Poprad (sports club WoodRock) and one in Tatranská Lomnica (Rock Café). However, the opening hours of the latter are limited, we recommend that you inform yourself in advance about the current way of functioning. And if there is a great need for sports and it won't stop raining outside, try looking at hotel fitness centers.
If you are looking for indoor activities right in the Tatras, in addition to the mentioned museums, we also recommend Tricklandia in Stary Smokovec, Poliankovo (digital gallery) in Tatranská Polianka or the interactive light gallery Kvantárium (educational and entertainment center) in Hrebienk.
5. Experiences, cruises and the railway, or when it doesn't rain so much
Orava Dam - boat trip. You can sail along the Orava Dam by boat from May to October. You will enjoy the beauty of the Orava Reservoir, views of the mountains and also look at Slanický Island of Art.
Oravská Forest Railway. The train will take you to the top station Sedlo Beskýd at an altitude of 935 m, where you can enjoy wonderful views, and then it will bring you back. The entire tour lasts a little over an hour and you will travel in a motor train or panoramic carriages.
Morské oko on the Polish side. This is the largest lake in the Tatras as a whole. You can also take a horse-drawn carriage (it has a slight canopy) to it, so you can make this trip even in bad weather. If you are interested in more, we recommend Radka Ščurková's well-edited blog on MTHiker: Morské oko - a gem of the Polish Tatras.
Related Articles
Northfinder chosen by Slovak outdoor enthusiasts: We received the Superbrands award
We are proud to announce that the Northfinder brand has won the prestigious Slovak Superbrands Award in the outdoor clothing category. This title is a recognition of the trust that our customers show us every year, and at the same time a confirmation that our brand is among the best that the Slovak market has to offer.
MERU and MAKALU: shoes that have crossed the world
Not long ago, we agreed with our tester, climber and adventurer Honzo Špiček on an important task - testing shoes from our new collection. Together with his wife Alča, they live in Peru and test Northfinder shoes on treks and expeditions in the Peruvian Andes. This time we sent them low hiking shoes MERU and low approach MAKALU. How did the days full of beautiful views in the Peruvian Andes and in Colombia turn out? And did our shoes handle such terrain? We bring you an authentic review by Honz himself.
Draci and Dracia Jacket: Your new favorite shelter from the rain
The term "bad weather" almost loses its meaning in these jackets.
Spring hiking: When you breathe deeply, your clothes should, too
Dressing for hiking is about finding a compromise between your body and the weather. You should pay attention to your clothes' breathability and ventilation options before taking out your wallet.
Spring one-day trips in the hills: Lightweight does not mean carefree
Take to the hills well-equipped, without unnecessary burdens.