High Tatras · Jakubkova lúka
Ski School Starý Smokovec Jakubkova lúka
A private ski school on the gentle learning slope beside Hotel Atrium: roughly 300 metres, a children's conveyor lift, and nobody coming past you at speed.
- From €44 / 60 min
- Children from age 3
- Helmet included
- Daily 8:00 – 21:00
Jakubkova lúka
Key information
Lesson prices
The price is per lesson, not per person. Helmet included.
- Private lesson
- €44 / 60 min, €77 / 120 min
- Hotel Atrium guests
- €37 / 60 min, €66 / 120 min
- Extra person on the lesson
- +€10 (60 min), +€15 (120 min)
Location and opening
- Address
- Hotel Atrium – Jakubkova lúka, 062 01 Starý Smokovec, Slovakia
- Phone
- +421 911 561 561
- Open
- daily 8:00–21:00 (in season)
- Season
- approximately December – April
- Slope
- gentle learning slope, about 300 m
- Lift
- children's conveyor lift
- Children from
- 3 years
- Helmet
- included in the lesson
- Languages
- Slovak, Czech, Polish, English
Learning slope
Why Jakubkova lúka is the place to learn
A gentle 300-metre slope
Jakubkova lúka is a gentle, open slope roughly 300 metres long with very little elevation gain. That is exactly what somebody standing on skis for the first time needs: nobody comes past you at speed, you can see the whole slope end to end, and a mistake costs very little.
Children's magic carpet
The slope has a children's conveyor lift, so the youngest do not have to wrestle with a T-bar or a chairlift. At the beginning that makes an enormous difference: the child concentrates on skiing rather than on getting back up the hill.
Who Smokovec suits
That is why we point families and complete beginners to Starý Smokovec, while Tatranská Lomnica suits skiers who already want longer and steeper runs.
Learning path
What you will learn at Jakubkova lúka
Jakubkova lúka is where the first steps happen. The table shows the three levels this slope can carry: the first two in full here, the third starting here and finishing in Tatranská Lomnica, which has a blue run and a cable car.
If you are unsure, pick the lower level. Moving up during the lesson is easier and more pleasant than the other way round.
| Level | What you can already do | What you will learn | Lessons | Terrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First time on skis | Nothing, you are standing on skis for the first time. |
| 1 to 2 | children's conveyor lift, Jakubkova lúka |
| Green | You can stop in a snowplough and make a first turn. |
| 2 to 3 | Jakubkova lúka, green runs |
| Blue | You ski the whole learning slope in a snowplough with confidence. |
| 3 to 4 | starts here, finishes in Tatranská Lomnica |
First time on skis
What you can already doNothing, you are standing on skis for the first time.
- •putting skis on and walking in them
- •getting up after a fall unaided
- •first glides
- •stopping in a snowplough
Green
What you can already doYou can stop in a snowplough and make a first turn.
- •snowplough turns
- •controlling speed
- •skiing the whole learning slope unaided
- •getting on and off the lift
Blue
What you can already doYou ski the whole learning slope in a snowplough with confidence.
- •bringing the skis parallel
- •skiing a blue run
- •riding the cable car safely
Dark blue and above: Tatranská Lomnica
Jakubkova lúka is a learning slope, and that is the whole point of it. Parallel turns of different radii, skiing over bumps and red runs need a longer hill, and we have one in Tatranská Lomnica: 12 km of pistes, a cable car and the rental shop on site. Same instructors, same way of booking.
Ski School Tatranská LomnicaPrivate lesson
How a private lesson works
We teach private lessons only. One instructor works with one person or one family, never a group of strangers. The pace follows you rather than the average of a group, which usually means a beginner progresses faster.
In Starý Smokovec you choose between 60 and 120 minutes. For children 60 minutes is often the sensible limit, that is about as long as attention and legs last. An adult beginner usually gets more out of the longer lesson, enough to move from first steps to linked turns.
We have more than thirty instructors and all of them are APUL certified. We have been running the school for over 20 years. We teach in Slovak, Czech, Polish and English, so the lesson runs in a language you understand. For multi-day tuition the price drops by 5% from 3 days and by 10% from 6 days.
Children from age 3
Skiing with children from age 3
We take children from the age of 3, and Jakubkova lúka is built for that age. The slope is about 300 metres long and the gradient is so slight that a child never picks up the sort of speed that frightens them. The conveyor lift takes them back up, and you stand at the bottom and watch the whole lesson from start to finish.
The helmet is included in the lesson price, so there is nothing to buy and no sizing to sort out in advance. Skis, boots and poles are rented in Tatranská Lomnica, a full set from €24 per day; there is no rental shop on site in Starý Smokovec.
If your family spans different levels, with one child already skiing and another just starting, two instructors can work at the same time on the same slope, so everybody still meets up for lunch.
Meeting point
Where exactly we meet
Jakubkova lúka, Starý Smokovec
Jakubkova lúka, 062 01 Starý Smokovec, next to Hotel Atrium
daily 8:00 to 21:00 in season
- Meet the instructor
- 10 minutes before the lesson
- Lesson starts
- at your booked time, on the slope
- First lesson of your stay
- come 20 minutes early for the helmet and sizing
Our wooden hut with the Premiere logo stands at the bottom of the slope, right by the round Hotel Atrium building. Instructors wear red suits with PREMIERE across them. If you are not sure, call from the car park and we will point you the right way.
+421 911 561 561
- Parking is by Hotel Atrium.
- Equipment rental is in Tatranská Lomnica; there is no rental shop on site in Starý Smokovec.
- The Tatra Electric Railway and buses both run to Starý Smokovec.
Getting here and parking
Getting to us
By train and bus
Starý Smokovec has the best transport links in the High Tatras. The Tatra Electric Railway and buses both serve it, so you can reach us without a car from Poprad and from the other Tatra villages.
By car and parking
If you drive, you can park by Hotel Atrium. From the car park to the school hut the walk is flat, which counts for more than it sounds with a small child and skis on your shoulder.
Price and gear
What the lesson price does and does not cover
Included in the lesson
- an APUL certified instructor for the whole lesson
- a helmet, children's sizes included
- the pace of one person or one family, not a group
- the lesson in Slovak, Czech, Polish or English
Not included
- skis, boots and poles: the rental shop is in Tatranská Lomnica, a full set from €24 per day
- a second person on the same lesson: +€10 for 60 minutes, +€15 for 120 minutes
- lift or cable car tickets
- clothing, gloves and goggles
- food and drink
What to bring
A short list worth reading before you head for the slope.
- warm waterproof clothing in layers
- one thin ski sock, not two thick ones
- gloves, or mittens for children under six
- a hat or a thin balaclava to wear under the helmet
- goggles or sunglasses
- sunscreen: snow reflects the sun and burns even in winter
- a small snack and water
- no need to think about a helmet, it comes with the lesson
The helmet is waiting for you here. Skis and boots are rented in Tatranská Lomnica, so sort those out before you come to Smokovec, or call us in advance.
Frequently asked questions
From what age do you teach children to ski?
From 3 years old. Jakubkova lúka in Starý Smokovec suits that age precisely because the slope is gentle, short and served by a children's conveyor lift.
How much does a lesson in Starý Smokovec cost?
A private lesson costs €44 for 60 minutes and €77 for 120 minutes. Guests of Hotel Atrium pay €37 and €66 respectively. The helmet is included.
Do you offer group lessons?
No. We teach private lessons only, one instructor per person or per family. You never pay for a group of strangers and never wait for one.
Can I rent equipment from you?
Yes, but the rental shop is in Tatranská Lomnica, not in Starý Smokovec. A complete set costs from €24 per day and we are an official Rossignol Test Center. The helmet for your lesson is handed to you here in Smokovec.
When are you open?
Daily from 8:00 to 21:00 during the ski season, which runs roughly from December to April depending on snow conditions. Outside the season we take bookings by phone.
Is there parking by the slope?
Yes, you can park by Hotel Atrium. Starý Smokovec is also easy to reach on the Tatra Electric Railway.
Booking
Book a lesson at Jakubkova lúka
The fastest way is to call. We are on the phone daily from 8:00 to 21:00 and speak Slovak, Czech, Polish and English.
Tatras · Slovakia
Location
Tatranská Lomnica
or Starý Smokovec
Lesson length
60 / 90 / 120 min
private, matched to your level
Price
from €44
helmet included
Booking
Online or by phone
confirmation by e-mail
Experience the Tatrasto the full
Certified instructors
30+ instructors with APUL certification
Two locations
Tatranská Lomnica and Starý Smokovec
Helmet included
With every lesson, no surcharge
Rossignol Test Centre
Try the newest models before buying