Poprad, Slovakia

Poprad is a town of about 48,000 people at the foot of the High Tatras, and for most visitors it is the gateway to the mountains: mainline trains, the Tatra Electric Railway and Poprad-Tatry Airport all meet here. The town centre is compact and easy to explore on foot.

Its heart is Námestie svätého Egídia, a long pedestrian square lined with trees and cafés. In the middle stand the early Gothic Church of St. Giles from the late 13th century, with a Renaissance bell tower beside it, and the classicist Evangelical Church of the Holy Trinity from the 19th century. The square is about a 10-minute walk from the Poprad-Tatry railway and bus stations.

About 2 km north-east lies Spišská Sobota, a small medieval town that has been part of Poprad since 1945 and is protected as a heritage reserve; its Church of St. George holds a main altar from the workshop of Master Paul of Levoča. Between the two is AquaCity Poprad, a year-round water park with thermal pools. Many travellers also stay in Poprad because hotels are cheaper than in the mountain resorts: the Tatra Electric Railway takes 25–30 minutes to Starý Smokovec.

Key points:

• Main square: Námestie svätého Egídia, a pedestrian zone.
• Highlights: the Church of St. Giles (late 13th century) and its bell tower, the Evangelical Church.
• Nearby: Spišská Sobota (about 2 km), AquaCity Poprad.
• Getting there: about 10 minutes on foot from Poprad-Tatry station.
• Onward: Tatra Electric Railway to Starý Smokovec, Tatranská Lomnica and Štrbské Pleso.