Up to Hrebienok by funicular, down to the waterfalls on foot

The funicular hauls the whole family from Starý Smokovec up to Hrebienok in four minutes — and that's where the most rewarding family walk in the Tatras begins: down to the Studený Potok Waterfalls, mostly downhill.

From Vila Vlasta it's 1.2 km to the lower funicular station in Starý Smokovec, or two stops on the Tatra Electric Railway. The funicular runs at short intervals and within a few minutes you're up at Hrebienok, at 1,285 m. Children love the ride itself — the steep climb through the forest feels like a gentle rollercoaster.

From the upper station a wide, surfaced path leads to the Studený Potok Waterfalls. The Small and Large Waterfalls are 15–25 minutes of easy walking away and are manageable even with a larger-wheeled pushchair. Along the way you'll pass Bilíkova chata with its hot tea, and in winter the Tatra Ice Dome stands here too. To get back, simply take the funicular — or, if the children still have energy, walk down the Tatranská magistrála (the main Tatra ridge trail) to Smokovec.