Zdiar combines a distinctive cultural heritage with excursions in the Belianske Tatry and winter activities. Travelers choosing a destination for its culture, landscape or sports will find several different highlights here: a folk architecture reserve, the Monkova dolina educational trail, and opportunities for ski cross and cross-country skiing. Gorals’ culture is also reflected in traditional costumes and an annual folklore festival.

Folk Architecture and Gorals’ Culture

Zdiar is one of only ten folk architecture reserves in Slovakia. The reserve includes 236 protected heritage structures in four groups of folk buildings. This means the focus is on a collection made up of several groups of buildings, not just a single house. If you are interested in architecture and regional culture, this ensemble offers a concrete reason to consider Zdiar as a travel destination.

Traditional costumes are also part of the cultural character of the place: they feature plant and animal motifs from the Belianske Tatry and the area around Zdiar. The Goralské folklórne slávnosti (Goral Folklore Festival) is held annually. Since specific event dates matter, check them when planning your trip. At Ždiarsky dom, visitors can take part in a staged Ždiar wedding; before your trip, check whether this museum program is offered on your travel dates.

Monkova dolina and the Belianske Tatry

Zdiar is a starting point for excursions in the Belianske Tatry. One named route is the Monkova dolina educational trail: it starts in Zdiar and runs for six kilometers to Kopské sedlo. The educational trail runs for six kilometers from Zdiar to Kopské sedlo.

Monkova dolina was formed by glacial activity; remnants of lateral moraines have been preserved on its slopes. The valley also has a 140-meter-high rock step with cascades of waterfalls. Monkova dolina thus combines traces of its glacial origins with a striking rock step and cascades of waterfalls.

Winter Activities

At Ski Centre Strachan, ski cross is available on a 550-meter-long run with jumps, rollers and banked turns. The course’s seasonal configuration may change; check before your trip which version is offered. The Zdiar–Strednica ski area has six ski lifts and a 550-meter-long quad chairlift. There are also four kilometers of groomed cross-country ski trails.

There are different winter activities to choose from: ski cross, with its features on the run, and cross-country skiing on groomed trails offer different experiences. Information about the chairlift and ski lifts adds details about the ski area’s infrastructure. When weighing up the activities, you can first decide which type of winter sport you want your trip to focus on.

You can then factor your personal accommodation requirements into your choice.

Discover more destinations: Poprad, Svit, Lucivna, Vernár, Batizovce, Spišská Teplica, Spišský Štiavnik, Hozelec.

Return to the regional travel overview: Okres Poprad.