Ždiar

View of Ždiar

Ždiar is a village and municipality in the Prešov Region of Eastern Slovakia. The village lies at an elevation of 896 metres and has a population of about 1,340 people.

Get in

Ždiar is easily accessible by bus on the Poprad to Łysa Polana bus line.

Get around

Ždiar is a small village in terms of population, but it is a few kilometres long, so the ideal way to get around is by bicycle.

See

Ždiar sits at the foot of the 1 Belianske Tatra range and so there are pretty amazing views. There is a nice 19th century Catholic church in the centre of town.

Do

Hiking and mountain biking are the main summer activities and skiing and snowboarding are the main winter ones.

• 1 Bachledka (Bachledová dolina). Large winter sport resort on two slopes. (updated Nov 2017)
  • 2 Kráľovstvo lesa (Forest Kingdom). Especially during summer there's various attractions, like the view tower, hiking in the treetops, various playgrounds etc. 

Buy

There is a petrol station, which has a small shop, along with several provision stores. The nearest major supermarket is in ...

Eat

• 1 Rustica Pizza and Pub, Ždiar 334. Makes good pizza and acts as the pub for the village. They do two sizes of pizza, normal (your average 8 slice pizza) and XXL, which is about 50 cm (20 inches) across and requires a healthy appetite to finish. Every little centimetre of the walls is covered in old photographs and interesting objects of all descriptions. It is a cozy little place with a great atmosphere. The beer, wine and spirit menu is extensive and very cheap. The pizzas are excellent. This little gem in the mountains also boasts excellent internet connections and an extensive map and guidebook section downstairs. 

Sleep

• 1 Privat U Milana, Zdiar 316 (300 m (4 minutes) from Zdiar-Strednica bus stop, see church ahead, make left, pass the church on right side and up on left about 200m), ☏ +421 52 4498024, umilana@privatumilana.com. Check-in: 1-8PM, check-out: 7-10AM. All rooms have double beds with the option to make into a triple. Balconies available in some rooms with Mountain view of Tatras, shared bathroom. Triple room with no balcony has own shower/bathroom. All rooms have wooden furniture and TV LCD. Kitchen for cooking/coffee. Free parking, and WiFi. Breakfasts €4 pp. Sauna €4 pp. Steps from ski and snowboard slopes. From €6.3 pppn. 
• 2 The Ginger Monkey, 294 High St (Head for the church and the hostel is the blue and red building just up the hill.), ☏ +421 52 449 8084, thegingermonkey@hotmail.co.uk. The Ginger Monkey is a small hostel in a traditional house and is run by a couple of experienced backpackers who call the hostel home. There is one free internet terminal, free wifi, a good lounge with a DVD player and Playstation, clean showers, a washing machine, a good kitchen with an honesty bar and a very friendly dog called Wally. Breakfast and bedding are included in the prices. Dorm Bed: €13, Twin Room: €32. 
• 3 Pension Vasko, Zdiar 631 (200 m (3 minutes) from Zdiar-Strednica bus stop), ☏ +421 905238841, info@pensionvasko.sk. Check-in: 02:00-11:55PM, check-out: 7-11AM. Double and triple rooms with mountain view, own bathroom, wooden furniture and TV LCD. Original dinning/living room. Free parking, billiards and WiFi. Rich breakfasts. Wooden gazebo. Just meters from ski and snowboard slopes. Maps and videos on own website. From €16 pppn B&B.