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Before you go
Your trip to Spišské Podhradie.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Spišské Podhradie – Prešov Destination Levoča and Spiš Castle
How to get there
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Letisko Poprad-Tatry (TAT) Poprad · 45 km
Approximate distances. Check flights and bus, train or boat schedules before you travel.
By car via the D1 highway, about 15 km from Levoča, 40 km from Poprad and 65 km from Košice. Buses connect the town with Levoča, Poprad and Prešov. From the center, the climb to the castle is on foot via a trail or by car from the Žehra side.
How many days
One day for Spiš Castle, Spišská Kapitula and Žehra church. If you have little time you can see the castle and the Kapitula in half a day.
When to go
From May to October, when the castle operates full hours. In summer, the unshaded hill gets hot and you should wear a hat and carry water. In winter, visits to the castle are limited or suspended, but the view of the ruins covered in snow is worth the stop.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Do you need a car?
Tip. The castle can be reached on foot from the town, but Žehra is about 5 km away and has few buses. By car you can park on the castle side facing Žehra, which shortens the ascent.
Suggested itinerary
An order that works
Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.
One day in Spišské Podhradie
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Morning
Spiš Castle
Go up to Spiš Castle early at opening, by the trail that starts in Spišské Podhradie or by car from the Žehra side. Walk the courtyards, the upper castle and the tower viewpoint, with views over the Kapitula and the valley.
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Afternoon
Spišská Kapitula and Žehra church
Descend and cross the town to Spišská Kapitula. Visit the Cathedral of St. Martin and walk the single street lined with canons’ houses. Finish in Žehra, about 5 km away, to see the frescoes in the Church of the Holy Spirit.
Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
How to climb to Spiš Castle?
On foot, via the trail that starts in Spišské Podhradie (about a 30-minute uphill walk); or by car to the parking area on the Žehra side, from where the walk is short.
What to do in Spišské Podhradie?
Visit Spiš Castle, the ecclesiastical town of Spišská Kapitula with the Cathedral of St. Martin, and the church in Žehra, about 5 km away.
Can you go from Levoča to Spiš Castle by bus?
Yes, there are buses between Levoča and Spišské Podhradie, about 20 minutes, but with few departures. Check the return times before you leave.
Is it worth spending the night in Spišské Podhradie?
If you want to see the castle early in the morning or lit at night, yes. The town has few accommodations; Levoča, 15 km away, has more options.