New Year’s Eve in the Tatras

On December 30, 2026 (Wednesday), we depart from Szeged in the early morning from the car park at Szeged Plaza. After travelling continuously, we arrive in Starý Smokovec, where we board the funicular and ascend to Hrebienok, situated at an altitude of 1,285 metres and one of the most important tourist destinations and ski centres in the area. Here, we visit the famous Ice Cathedral, an extraordinary attraction recreated every year by ice sculptors using thousands of blocks of ice. After exploring this magnificent icy palace, we have some free time, with the opportunity to enjoy a meal. We then return to our coach and continue to Stará Ľubovňa, where a delicious dinner awaits us.

After breakfast, we visit Kežmarok, a charming town situated on the banks of the Poprad River. We explore the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Evangelical wooden church, which acquired its present form in 1717 and is an outstanding example of Baroque folk architecture. Next to the wooden church stands the New Evangelical Church, where Imre Thököly (1657–1705), Prince of Transylvania and the uncrowned King of Upper Hungary, is laid to rest. During our walk through the historic town centre, we also visit Kežmarok Castle. After some free time, we continue to Slovakia’s largest whisky distillery. At Nestville Park, we gain an insight into the whisky-making process and have the opportunity to taste four of the distillery’s distinctive products. In the afternoon, we return to our accommodation in Stará Ľubovňa to prepare for the evening’s celebrations. A festive gala dinner, a midnight buffet and a spectacular New Year’s Eve party await us, with unlimited drinks throughout the celebrations until the early hours of the morning.

After a late breakfast, we begin our journey home. Along the way, we stop in Košice, Slovakia’s second-largest city, which has numerous connections to Hungarian history. It was here that Gábor Bethlen, Prince of Transylvania, celebrated his splendid wedding to Catherine of Brandenburg. Košice is also the final resting place of Francis II Rákóczi, whose remains were brought here from Rodosto. The city is also the birthplace of Sándor Márai, the renowned Hungarian writer from Upper Hungary. In the early afternoon, we explore Košice’s historic city centre, visiting St. Elisabeth Cathedral, one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in Upper Hungary, as well as St. Michael’s Chapel, St. Urban’s Tower and the impressive Neo-Baroque building of the Slovak National Theatre. After some free time, we continue our journey to Szeged, where we expect to arrive in the evening.