Hikes from Hrebienok: 5 trails for every fitness level
Hrebienok (1,285 m) is the gateway to the Studená dolina valleys — and from Villa Severka you're at the funicular in 7 minutes. We've picked five trails that are worth it.
Tatiana Tursunovová · 6 July 2026
The funicular has been carrying visitors from Starý Smokovec up to Hrebienok since 1908, and it's still the most comfortable way into the high mountains. For us it's easy: the lower station is a 7-minute walk from our apartments (see exactly how on the Location & access page). From Hrebienok, trails fan out into the Malá and Veľká Studená dolina valleys and along the Tatra Magistrale — here are five routes, ordered from the easiest.
The funicular ride itself takes care of the climb in a few minutes, gaining over 200 metres of altitude — it does the “hard work” at the start for you. For each trail below we give a rough time and difficulty: easy suits anyone in comfortable shoes, moderate calls for sturdier footwear, and fairly demanding assumes a full-day trip and decent fitness. Times are one-way, without longer breaks.
1 · Studený potok waterfalls and Rainer's hut
easy · loop 1–1.5 h · year-round
The perfect first contact with the Tatras. A comfortable path brings you in twenty minutes to the roaring cascades (the mightiest is Obrovský vodopád, the “Giant Waterfall”) and to Rainer's hut from 1863 — the oldest in the Tatras. Children manage it easily, and in winter it turns into a fairy-tale ice gallery.
2 · Zamkovský hut (Zamkovského chata)
moderate · 45–60 min from Hrebienok · year-round
From the waterfalls, continue to the mouth of the Malá Studená dolina valley. The Zamkovský hut (1,475 m) is a cosy stop with a legendary strudel — a perfect goal for easy-goers, a springboard higher up for everyone else.
3 · Téry hut (Téryho chata)
fairly demanding · 2.5–3 h from Hrebienok · year-round
Up the stone path through Malá Studená dolina to the highest hut open year-round (2,015 m). The reward is the amphitheatre of the Five Spiš Lakes (Päť Spišských plies) — scenery you won't forget. Solid footwear is a must.
4 · Zbojnícka hut (Zbojnícka chata)
fairly demanding · about 3 h from Hrebienok · year-round
The quieter sister of the Téry hut, in the Veľká Studená dolina valley (1,960 m). A longer but steadier route along the Studený potok stream — fewer people, more room to go at your own pace.
5 · Skalnaté pleso via the Magistrale
fairly demanding · 2–2.5 h · scenic
The Tatra Magistrale traverses from Hrebienok above Tatranská Lesná to Skalnaté pleso (1,751 m) below Lomnický štít. Ride the cable car down to Tatranská Lomnica and take the electric railway back to Smokovec — a perfect car-free loop.
Which trail is right for you?
If it's your first time in the Tatras or you're hiking with children, start with the Studený potok waterfalls — short, safe and with a big “wow” effect. Only got half a day? The Zamkovský hut combines the waterfalls with a strudel stop, and you're comfortably back for lunch. Craving a real high-mountain feeling? Head for the Téry hut and the Five Spiš Lakes — it's tougher, but the reward is extraordinary. If you're after silence and your own pace, you'll appreciate the Zbojnícka hut in Veľká Studená dolina. And if you'd rather make a grand scenic loop than return the same way, choose the Magistrale to Skalnaté pleso and ride the cable car down — a whole day in the mountains without a single kilometre by car.
A little orientation help to start with: the trails are waymarked with coloured stripes on rocks and trees, and every junction signpost shows the direction and a rough time. The legendary Tatra Magistrale (red markings) links the resorts below the main ridge — our fifth trail follows it. Stick to the markings, don't cut corners through the dwarf pine, and respect that you're in a national park. And remember — there's no shame in turning back at the first stop and saving the rest for next time.
When to go and what to bring
- The high-alpine crossings and saddles are closed from 1 November to 15 June; the trails to the huts (all routes above) are open year-round.
- Start in the morning — the views are at their best and the trails at their freest before noon.
- Solid footwear, layers, water and a rain jacket. The weather can turn within an hour.
- Mountain Rescue Service: 18 300. Before higher hikes, check the forecast and (in winter) the avalanche situation.
- You'll find a complete overview of Tatra hiking in our hiking guide.
Hikes from Hrebienok — FAQ
Which hike from Hrebienok is the easiest?
Without question the Studený potok waterfalls and Rainer's hut — a comfortable one-to-one-and-a-half-hour loop on a wide path. Children manage it in ordinary trainers, and it rewards you right away with roaring cascades and the oldest hut in the Tatras (1863). The perfect first contact with the mountains.
Can these hikes be done in winter too?
Yes. All five routes lead to huts that are accessible year-round — unlike the high-alpine saddles and crossings, which are closed from 1 November to 15 June. In winter, expect snow, shorter days (bring a headlamp) and possibly microspikes; before higher hikes always check the forecast and the avalanche situation.
Are the huts open, and can you get food there?
Rainer's hut and the Zamkovský, Téry and Zbojnícka huts usually operate year-round, offering hot tea, soup and the legendary strudels. Opening hours change with the season and weather, though, and payment is usually cash only — so bring some change.
How do I get to Hrebienok?
By the funicular from Starý Smokovec, running since 1908. From Villa Severka you're at the lower station in a 7-minute walk, or you can ride one stop on the electric railway (details on the Location & access page). The fit can also walk up to Hrebienok on the forest trail.
Do I need a mountain guide for the hut hikes?
No. All five routes follow marked trails that you can manage on your own in normal summer weather. A mountain guide is recommended — and in parts of the Tatras required — only for summit climbs and off the marked trails.
Can I manage any of the trails with a pram?
The terrain of the Studená dolina valleys is rocky and unsuitable for prams. You can, however, comfortably walk the flat stretch right at Hrebienok and to the lower part of the waterfalls; for the trails higher up we recommend a child carrier. We've gathered more family tips in the article High Tatras with kids.
Sleep 7 minutes from the funicular
On the trail before the crowds — from Villa Severka you're at Hrebienok while the others are still parking.