Spis Castle
Spis Castle
4.5
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This imposing 12th-century fortress was one of the few castles that resisted the Mongol attacks of 1241, gradually enlarged over the centuries and destroyed by fire in 1780.
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4.5
608 reviews
Excellent
393
Very good
163
Average
36
Poor
12
Terrible
4
Jasper_Stefan
Copenhagen, Denmark87 contributions
Jun 2021 • Couples
The castle is unique and has a fascinating history, hence the 3 stars. However, it deserves better presentation. The app that was supposed to guide us around never managed to download its data so we (and many others) gave up after a number of attempts. The causeway leading up to the castle was so slippery that even sporty hikers like myself expected to fall anytime - elderly people or those carrying a baby must have been petrified. Finally, there must be endless stories to tell about the castle’s inhabitants through the centuries, but very little of this was apparent to the visitor. So, a wonderful site, but much work remains for the authorities to let the castle shine and truly appeal to the large number of people visiting.
Written 29 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
max
New York City, NY16 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
It's a very big castle with souvenir shops and a cafe. There is also a wall that overlooks the town of Spišské Podhradie. The castle was very nice inside but unfortunately some areas were closed due to construction but I would definitely return when construction finishes
Written 25 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Igor M
22 contributions
Aug 2021 • Solo
If you are a medieval history - or just castle - freak this is Must Be in Slovakia. If you only likes great views with space to rest and chillout on the grass - still it is Must Be ;) but... check The weather first. 8 euro enter for adult, 20 euro for Group of 4.
Written 26 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
patjaniak
Warsaw, Poland184 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
It is extraordunary place. During our stay we can't go inside a high castle (only lower) but event then IT was great area to see. Sad because Maine exhibition are on a high castle.
Walls even today make a great impression, epsecially from down.
Also inside there are gopher, od you sit and wait, they just come to you.
Walls even today make a great impression, epsecially from down.
Also inside there are gopher, od you sit and wait, they just come to you.
Written 26 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Charlotte12358
London, UK288 contributions
Aug 2019 • Solo
Great view of the castle. I walked around the town and drove to the other side to try and get views from each angle.
Written 29 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nic&Ade
Cardiff, UK263 contributions
Oct 2011 • Couples
We arrived at the castle and parked, as advised on their website, in Hodkovce - excerpt from website "NOTE: You can park your car at a parking place that is only about 10 minutes far from the castle gate (access from the village Hodkovce). From Spišské Podhradie it will take you about 1 hour to get to the castle on foot".
The view from the bottom of the road is stunning! It is so imposing set high up on the mountain. From the parking area it was a short, very steep walk uphill to the castle. On arrival at the top you pay your entrance fee, are given the option of audio accompaniment or a fact sheet detailing each area and pointed out where to start. We walked up another steep incline leading us to the inside of the castle but be warned, wear comfortable shoes as it is quite slippery on the stones. Once inside it was amazing and HUGE. Easily the biggest, and best, we have ever seen and we are from Wales with our own share of amazing castles!
We wandered from room to room, reading the fact sheet explaining each area and then walked up the tower. The stone steps inside curve quite steeply and are really narrow but well worth it to see the views from the top, especially the High Tatras.
There is a small coffee shop next to the entrance lodge which served lovely cafe macchiato :) and also (clean) toilets.
You can easily spend a couple of hours here but wear good walking shoes, take a good camera and wrap up warm if in the winter. Thoroughly recommended!
The view from the bottom of the road is stunning! It is so imposing set high up on the mountain. From the parking area it was a short, very steep walk uphill to the castle. On arrival at the top you pay your entrance fee, are given the option of audio accompaniment or a fact sheet detailing each area and pointed out where to start. We walked up another steep incline leading us to the inside of the castle but be warned, wear comfortable shoes as it is quite slippery on the stones. Once inside it was amazing and HUGE. Easily the biggest, and best, we have ever seen and we are from Wales with our own share of amazing castles!
We wandered from room to room, reading the fact sheet explaining each area and then walked up the tower. The stone steps inside curve quite steeply and are really narrow but well worth it to see the views from the top, especially the High Tatras.
There is a small coffee shop next to the entrance lodge which served lovely cafe macchiato :) and also (clean) toilets.
You can easily spend a couple of hours here but wear good walking shoes, take a good camera and wrap up warm if in the winter. Thoroughly recommended!
Written 20 October 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tiffanyvc123
Leuven, Belgium3 contributions
Jul 2018 • Couples
There are 2 parking spaces: closer to the top of the castle and at the bottom with a longer walk through the fields. DON'T PARK AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CASTLE!!! It is probably not an official parking and run by very sketchy people. Suddenly a woman came asking for money when the reception kiosk was clearly closed. This is a scam but we felt scared because a few men arrived too... A few other tourists had the same problem. We had no other option than to pay. We took the walk through the field up to the castle and we saw the 'parking people' looking into the cars! When we where near the castle, we saw that the official parking is actually much closer to the castle. Please park in that space if you don't want to be scammed. Sad experience for such a beautiful castle.
Written 26 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
philAt
London, England1,322 contributions
This is a must see castle, apparently it is the largest ruined castle in Europe. The view as you approach it is truly magnificent as it dominates the valley from where you approach it. The climb from the car park to the main entrance is very steep, tiring an there is no proper path. In the mud the climb will tire even the fittest people out. How we laughed when we got to the top and realised that there is another car park on the other side of the castle where it seems all the coaches park :) So, if you are old, unfit or have little kids make sure you find the second car park.
In the main courtyard there are souvenir stalls, cafe and a WC. Also in this area there is a stall where you can shoot a musket, cross bow, canon, pistol and long bow. I tried them all and it was a good laugh and very cheap (I think it all came to about 100Sk - about ã2.
Further up the castle there is a museum about the site and it's history.
You can go to the very top of the castle - the views are spectacular.
The visit from leaving the car and back again took us just over 2 hours. If you are in the area Spis Castle will not disappoint.
In the main courtyard there are souvenir stalls, cafe and a WC. Also in this area there is a stall where you can shoot a musket, cross bow, canon, pistol and long bow. I tried them all and it was a good laugh and very cheap (I think it all came to about 100Sk - about ã2.
Further up the castle there is a museum about the site and it's history.
You can go to the very top of the castle - the views are spectacular.
The visit from leaving the car and back again took us just over 2 hours. If you are in the area Spis Castle will not disappoint.
Written 5 September 2006
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Damjana J
Ptuj, Slovenia43 contributions
Aug 2014 • Family
Traveling around Slovakia was nice experience, but Spis castle was amazing. Climbing up to the walls and exploring what lies inside was great experience for whole family. Children enjoyed torture room and we actually tested few devices;) After exploring interior accompanied by English Audio guide (full of stories and interesting facts) and taking loads of photos, enjoyed amazing view on a clear sunny day, we walked around the great court and later around the whole castle. For full enjoyment reserve at least 3 hours to explore evrything.
Written 4 November 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MyskaHryzka
Poprad, Slovakia187 contributions
Aug 2011
Take a beautiful day to go, you will be surrounded with green grass and blue sky.. The place is huge, well maintained, there is also small museum where you can see how people lived in this castle back in the days - model of castle kitchen, torture chamber and so on. The view from the tower is just great, you can even see the summits of High Tatras. There is the buffet, you can have a snack or simple meal, drink. Audio or personal guides available. Susliks on the court are so cute!
Written 12 September 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi - Is it possible to do both Spis castle and the town of Levoca in one single day using public transportation? Thanks
Written 14 July 2019
Hello. sorry I have taken so long to answer. Yes you could do both places in one day, it would be a long day as just getting from bus stop to castle is a walk that takes 1/2 - 1 hour walk. But you it would depend on how long you plan to stay in both places and which direction you are coming from. We were staying in Poprad and the buses were not that frequent, so you would have to look up timetables to determine if they link up.
Written 17 August 2019
How long does it take to get to the castle by foot from Zehra?
Written 23 April 2019
שלום, מה שעות הפעילות במקום? מה עלות הכניסה?
Written 16 July 2017
Is the castle open for tours in April and where is parking available?
Written 7 April 2016
Plenty of parking available at the bottom of the castle hill. Open in april but i dont remember the exact date, probably on their website.
Written 8 April 2016
If we arrive at the castle after hours, can we still see and enjoy the outside of the castle?
(We will be driving from Krakow to Budapest in the afternoon)
Thanks!
Written 15 January 2016
petwe
Spisska Nova Ves, Slovakia
Hello
yes you can enjoy the outside as around is just land and meadow free to walk and not fenced. But please be carefull as terrain might be steep and in some places not accessible and even dangerous.
The inside of the castle is not accessible after hours.
Written 17 January 2016
Buon giorno, sapete dirmi se da Kosice c'è un treno per arrivare al castello? o qualsiasi mezzo.
Grazie
chiara
Written 23 December 2015
penso che la linea ferroviaria faccia un giro abbastanza lungo ma troverà sicuramente una linea di corriera che la porterà all cittadina di Spissky
Written 7 January 2016
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