Where to go with children in Demänovská dolina
Whoever chose the Liptov region as their holiday destination did very well. This beautiful region offers many opportunities to actively spend your free time and enjoy nature in the truest sense of the word. Liptov is often sought after by families with children due to its diversity and wide range of activities. Those who like an active vacation and want to experience something different every day already know that they will come to their own here.
Perhaps the most visited valley in Liptov is Demänovská dolina. Everyone knows it mainly because of the Jasná ski resort, but you can also find many other interesting attractions here. And if you are already a family with children and have decided to spend a vacation or a trip in Demänovská dolina, we offer you tips on how your little ones can enjoy this place as much as possible, and you, of course, with them 😊
In the Low Tatras, the cable car to Chopok (2,024 m above sea level) runs daily throughout the summer. You get on at the boarding station on Biela Púti and you can comfortably take two cable cars in a row to the Rotunda pod Chopok. You can easily do it even with a stroller. And if you want to climb directly to the top of Chopok, we recommend waiting until your baby grows up and climbs this “hill” on his own later. Older children can easily manage a moderately difficult hike along the ridge of the Low Tatras – to the highest peak of the Ďumbiera (2,045.9 m above sea level). Or you can take the stone path to the opposite side towards Dereše (2,003.5 m above sea level), from where you will see beautiful views of Liptov and Horehronie.
On the way, don’t forget to stop at Priehyba, where during the summer you can find a rare breed of Valašiek sheep on the highest mountain pasture in Slovakia. It is an original species of sheep that was also found here in the past, because it was the only one able to graze grass even in difficult mountain terrains. As in any good country house, you will also find a shepherd and several dog guards. Priehyba is a great place where children can have fun and get to know the history and life on the farm in a playful way. In the information center or in the Funibare, they will receive a Valaška Sheep Travel Diary with tasks and a nice reward for filling out the form. The novelty of the summer of 2024 is a ball track, which will appeal not only to children, but also to adults. Just buy a ball at Funibare, throw it at the beginning of the wooden track and watch it overcome obstacles. The ball will remain as a souvenir later. If the children still don’t have enough, on the Biela Púta next to the information center, they can go crazy on various attractions such as tubing, bungee trampolines, an electric train or mini cars.
Demänovská dolina is far from exhausting the possibilities of spending free time. If you feel like going for a walk, don’t miss Vrbické pleso. It is a beautiful mountain lake in a pleasant, quiet environment. There is a hiking trail around the lake, where you will find benches, a children’s playground, feed the ducks by the water, or make a stop at the Mikulášská cottage, which offers a great playground for children and excellent cuisine. You can also walk around the pond with an all-terrain stroller.
In Demänovská dolina you can also find a lookout tower. You can see beautiful views of the valley from the wooden lookout point on Ostredek – Bencúrova veže. If you continue along the road, you will reach the symbolic cemetery, which is dedicated to the victims of the mountain disasters of the Low Tatras.
From Biela Púta to the Björnson cottage, you can follow an educational trail dedicated to the history of tourism and the ski resort called the Luton Promenade. It is a simple and short walk with nice stops where children will acquire new knowledge and interests. The local mountain river also gives energy to the valley. It was the river Demänovka that inspired the creation of the Story of Water educational trail. The trail starts at the entrance to the Demänovská valley and runs along the Demänovka river. It is designed for families with children and offers several stops and boards where you can learn interesting facts about the water element and its meaning.
The story of water will also take you to the Demänovská ice cave and the Demänovská freedom cave. The Demänovská cave of freedom has a beautiful drip decoration, which ranks it among the most beautiful caves in Europe, and the Demänovská valley itself is known for its huge cave system. It is said that a dragon called Damian lived in this area and his hideout was in the aforementioned caves. We recommend leaving the visit to the caves for a day when the weather is bad or as a way to cool down on hot days 😉
If you have children at home who love movement, they will surely be enchanted by Tarzania in the Záhradky location – a rope park full of obstacles suspended high in the trees. This activity is intended for older children, but Tarzánia at Záhradky in Jasná also thought of the smallest (up to 150 cm) and prepared a children’s circuit.
Right at the beginning of the Demänovská valley, in the direction of the Pavčina Lehota village, don’t miss Fun Park Žiarce. Get on the bobsleigh with your children and enjoy an adrenaline ride on the steepest bobsleigh track in Slovakia. In addition, you will find all-terrain quad bikes, a giant swing, a children’s fun zone and other attractions. If you take the dirt road above the fields, you will come across another lookout tower a short distance from the bobsleigh track and enjoy beautiful views of Liptov.
Still in the direction of Demänovská dolina, you will definitely spot a huge entertainment complex with accommodation – Demänová resort. The center is aimed at families with children and, in addition to the animation program during the day or various sports events for children and adults, they have a 3D maze, mini zipline, climbing wall, XXL trampolines and others. The center includes a bike park with almost 4.5 km of trails with a view of Liptov and, of course, a bicycle rental facility.
There are several bicycle and e-bike rental shops in the valley, thanks to which visitors can discover the beauty of Liptov. Due to its mountainous location, the Demänovská valley does not have officially accessible cycle routes suitable for children, so it is better to bike around Liptovský Mikuláš.
A holiday with children in Liptov inevitably includes water and swimming, and there is no shortage of those in the Demänovská dolina either. The beautiful water world attracts with its view of the Biela pút ski slope Wellnes Euphoria at Hotel SOREA SNP, but also Wellness at Hotel Strachan Family Jasná, which can be reached by car from Lúčky, for example. Some larger hotels in the valley offer their wellness services as part of the accommodation. It depends on you what kind of accommodation you choose – hotel, boarding house or private accommodation, a separate apartment or an apartment house, but also a tent or a caravan in the nearby Bystrina autocamping at the beginning of the valley.
The diverse range of activities in Demänovská dolina will make your vacation unforgettable. Loaded with experiences, you will spend a nice time with your family in nature, where you will certainly not be bored.