Railways made Štrbské Pleso, and they are still the best way to arrive. The rack railway from Štrba opened in 1896, closed in 1932 and was rebuilt for the 1970 World Championships; the Tatra Electric Railway (Tatranská elektrická železnica, TEŽ) reached the resort in 1912.
Both are metre-gauge lines run by the national operator ZSSK with modern low-floor units. Together they let you tour the whole Slovak side of the High Tatras without a car.
What to see and do: Tatra Electric Railway & Rack Railway
Ride the rack railway
The “zubačka” climbs about 450 m in under five kilometres from Štrba station (on the Bratislava–Košice main line) to Štrbské Pleso, with gradients of up to 15 %. The trip takes around 15–18 minutes. New panoramic units entered service after a full rebuild of the line in 2020–21; the photograph here shows the classic railcars they replaced.
Travel the TEŽ main line
From Štrbské Pleso the electric trains run east below the peaks via Popradské Pleso, Vyšné Hágy and Tatranská Polianka to Starý Smokovec (about 40 minutes) and down to Poprad-Tatry (about 70 minutes). Trains run roughly hourly, more often in high season.
Branch to Tatranská Lomnica
Change at Starý Smokovec for the short branch to Tatranská Lomnica and the cable cars. Allow about an hour in total from Štrbské Pleso.
Use it as a hiking shuttle
The request stop “Popradské Pleso” is the start of the easiest route to Popradské pleso and Rysy. Many classic walks along the Tatranská magistrála start at one station and finish at another.
How to get to Tatra Electric Railway & Rack Railway
- Štrbské Pleso station is the terminus of both lines, ten minutes’ walk below the lake.
- Tickets are sold at stations, from machines, on the ZSSK website and app. One- and multi-day network tickets for the Tatra lines are usually available — check current fares.
- Some request stops require you to press the button on board or signal on the platform.
Insider tips
- Sit on the left-hand side leaving Štrbské Pleso towards Smokovec for mountain views; the right-hand side looks over the basin.
- Trains carry skis and a limited number of bicycles.
- After the last evening train, a taxi is the only option — check the timetable before a long hike.
- Slovak railways grant free or discounted travel to some groups (children, students, seniors) after registration; conditions for foreign visitors vary, so check with ZSSK.
Tours that fit: Tatra Electric Railway & Rack Railway
These GetYourGuide experiences pair well with Tatra Electric Railway & Rack Railway:
Small-group day trip from €99 From Košice: Prešov, Spiš Castle, Levoča & Štrbské Pleso Tour
Eastern Slovakia’s greatest hits in one line on the map: the old centre of Prešov, the vast ruin of Spiš Castle, medieval Levoča and finally the High Tatras for a walk around the lake. Well reviewed, small group, with pickup in Košice.
- Spiš Castle, one of the largest castle complexes in Central Europe
- The walled UNESCO town of Levoča
- A scenic walk around Štrbské pleso
Private tour from €79 per group From Poprad: Levoča & Spiš Castle Private Tour
The only product here that starts at the foot of the Tatras: a private run from Poprad to Levoča, with Spiš Castle named in the description. It is a new listing with almost no reviews, so read the inclusions carefully — but the per-group price is attractive for two or three people.
- Private car and driver from Poprad
- Historic centre and town walls of Levoča
- Priced per group, not per person
