The best time to visit Spiš Castle
The castle keeps predictable hours only in season; Žehra and some of Levoča's slots run on their own, narrower schedule.
- Best
- May–September
- The castle
- May–Sep: daily 9–19 (last entry 18:00)
- Žehra
- main season (Jul–Aug)
In Spiš Castle the season decides how much is actually open. May–September, and outside that window the castle is closed or weather-dependent. Žehra goes further: main season (Jul–Aug): Mon–Sat 9:00–17:00, Sun 13:00–17:00; outside season by arrangement only (phone/email), outside season only by arrangement.
Temperature is the mean over the whole day (not the daily high), and a rainy day has at least 1 mm of rain; averages for 2021–2024.
Spiš Castle sits inland, with no sea to soften the gap between seasons, so May–September brings both predictable castle hours and easier access to the rest of the loop.
Predictable only in season
Spišský hrad is open May–Sep: daily 9–19 (last entry 18:00); Oct: 9–17 (last entry 16:00), closed Nov–Mar (closed or weather-dependent). Outside that window a visit depends on the weather, so the date is worth checking before setting off from Poprad.
Two narrower schedules
The Church of the Holy Spirit in Žehra keeps full daily hours only main season (Jul–Aug): Mon–Sat 9:00–17:00, Sun 13:00–17:00; outside season by arrangement only (phone/email); outside that, a visit is possible outside season yes; in season no, by prior arrangement. St James's Basilica in Levoča runs on timed slots, timed entry: Mon 11:30–16:00; Tue–Sat 8:30–16:00; Sun 12:00–16:00 (spring season 1 Apr–30 Jun 2026) — services also affect the schedule, so entry isn't always possible whatever the month.
What runs regardless of season
Spišská Kapitula and Dreveník have no closed period: walking through the Chapter and the trail up Dreveník are open all year, whatever the date.
Before you go
Short answers to what people ask most before setting out.
When is the best time for Spiš Castle?
May–September, when the castle keeps predictable hours.
Is the castle open in winter?
It's closed Nov–Mar (closed or weather-dependent); outside season a visit depends on the weather.
Is Žehra open all year?
Full daily hours run only main season (Jul–Aug): Mon–Sat 9:00–17:00, Sun 13:00–17:00; outside season by arrangement only (phone/email); outside that a visit needs outside season yes; in season no arranged in advance.
Ready for Spiš Castle?
Where to next
Spiš Castle in 1 day
→A bus from Poprad, the castle and Dreveník before noon, Spišská Kapitula and Levoča after, then back on the…
The High Tatras · 42 km
→The TEŽ train from Starý Smokovec runs both ways across the region, to the lakes in the south and the cable cars in the north; a third direction climbs straight uphill, to the waterfalls.
How well does Spiš Castle suit you?
→Six questions: a score for this place and others like it.
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