National park · Slovakia
Poloniny National ParkNárodný park Poloniny
Enter Poloniny National Park: pay €3‑5 per adult (check), drive to the Stakčín gate (≈30 km (19 mi) from Snina), and hike the Kremenec ridge in June–September for the best conditions.Enter Poloniny National Park: pay €3‑5 per adult (check), drive to the Stakčín gate (≈19 mi (30 km) from Snina), and hike the Kremenec ridge in June–September for the best conditions.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
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Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
298 km² (115 sq mi)115 sq mi (298 km²)
approximate
Established
1997
Best months
Jun–Sep
UNESCO
World Heritage
Rules in force · 7Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Central Europe ↗Six of the nine countries here — Austria, Switzerland, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia — charge a time-based motorway vignette, mostly digital and linked to the number plate; buy it before the first motorway past the border, because cameras, not toll booths, do the checking.
- Central Europe ↗Temporary police checks at internal Schengen borders are common in this region in 2026 (Germany, Austria, Poland, Slovenia among others — check): keep your passport on you on every cross-border train, bus and road even though there is no fixed control post.
- Slovakia ↗Slovakia is in the EU and the Schengen area: check entry rules, the EU Entry/Exit System and any travel authorisation requirement for your passport on official sources.
- Slovakia ↗Motorways and expressways need an electronic vignette bought before you drive on them.
- Slovakia ↗Many high trails in Tatra National Park close seasonally (roughly November to mid-June); check the park's current closures before planning a hike.
At a glance
- Country
- Slovakia
- Area
- 298 km² (115 sq mi)115 sq mi (298 km²)
- Official area 298.05 km² (check).
- Established
- 1997
- Best months
- Jun–Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
Poloniny National Park is the easternmost and most sparsely populated park in Slovakia, covering the Bukovské vrchy mountains along the Polish and Ukrainian borders. It protects three primeval beech forests inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, alpine meadows (poloniny) above the treeline, and a reintroduced bison herd. The park is accessed via a single road through the Starina dam reservoir, and most visitors come for the ridge hike to Kremenec summit (1221 m), the triple border point, or for the network of 18th‑century wooden churches in the surrounding villages.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO World Heritage · 2007Part of Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians.
Size and age
298 km² (115 sq mi)115 sq mi (298 km²) · national park since 1997
Official area 298.05 km² (check).
Why go
- Explore remote Carpathian forests and alpine meadows (poloniny) with few visitors.
- Reach the triple border summit Kremenec (1221 m) where Slovakia, Poland and Ukraine meet.
When to go
- JanCaution
- FebCaution
- MarGo
- AprGo
- MayGo
- JunBest
- JulBest
- AugBest
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovCaution
- DecCaution
- JanCold, snow cover; limited trail access.
- FebCold, possible snow.
- MarSnow melting, early spring hikes possible.
- AprMild temperatures, blooming meadows.
- MayLong daylight, wildflowers.
- JunWarm, dry, full trail network open.
- JulPeak summer, good weather.
- AugWarm, stable conditions.
- SepLate summer, fewer crowds.
- OctCooler, early snow possible at high points.
- NovIncreasing snow, limited access.
- DecWinter conditions, many trails closed.
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown bearAll year · Keep noise, store food securely. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| WolfApr–Oct | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Eurasian lynxMay–Sep | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| European bison (reintroduced)Jun–Sep · Small herd near Stužica. | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Snina
Drive road 74 → 558 to the Stakčín entrance (≈30 km (19 mi)).Drive road 74 → 558 to the Stakčín entrance (≈19 mi (30 km)).
30–45 min
From Humenné
Train to Stakčín rail station, then short walk to the gate.
1–1.5 h
From Košice
Long‑distance train to Humenné, then bus to Snina or direct bus to Stakčín.
3–4 h
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Stakčín gate | Visitor centre, ticket office, trailheads to Kremenec and Ďurkovec. | Open year‑round with ticket. |
| Kremenec ridge | Highest summit, border point, panoramic views. | Guided or self‑guided from gate (trail marked). |
| Stužica reserve | Primeval beech forest, UNESCO site. | Footpath from gate; no vehicle access. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
5 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates are approximate centre points for orientation.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry (adult) | EUR 3–5 (≈ US$4–6) | person | Check official site for current price. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Park rules
- Drones
- Not allowed without special permission (check).check
- Pets
- Dogs must be on a leash; off‑trail roaming prohibited.
- Camping
- Only in designated shelters or guest houses; wild camping forbidden.
- Fire
- Open fires not allowed; use designated grills where available.
- Litter
- Carry out all waste.
Where to stay
Near the park
Hotel Armales (Stakčín)
Comfortable rooms, restaurant, sauna; ~30 km (19 mi) from gate.Comfortable rooms, restaurant, sauna; ~19 mi (30 km) from gate.
Near the park
Penzión Kremenec (Nová Sedlica)
Dormitory and private rooms, close to Kremenec trailhead.
Safety
Bear encounter medium
Sudden weather change in high meadows medium
Getting lost on remote trails high
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Gate area reachable by car; short walks are manageable.
- Longer ridge hikes involve steep, uneven terrain; not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Stay in local guest houses; food purchases support village economies.
- Follow marked trails to protect fragile beech forests.
- Avoid unofficial “langur” or “bison” tours that disturb wildlife.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Poloniny?
The official entry fee is €3‑5 per adult (check the park’s website for the current rate).
What are the best hikes in Poloniny?
Top trails are the Kremenec summit ridge (moderate, 3–4 h) and the Ďurkovec ridge (moderate, 4–5 h); the Stužica primeval forest walk is an easy option.
When is the best time to visit Poloniny?
June through September offers warm, dry weather and full trail access; spring and early autumn are also possible but may have snow at higher points.
Do I need a guide for any trails?
Guides are required for off‑track routes and for safety in bear‑habitat areas; the main ridge hikes are well marked and can be done independently.
Are there accommodations inside the park?
There are guest houses in Nová Sedlica and hotels in Stakčín nearby; wild camping is only allowed in designated shelters.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Sources
Ask about Poloniny National Park
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