Poprad sits in the Spiš region, one of the richest areas for historic towns and landscapes in Slovakia. Spišský Hrad (Spiš Castle), about 20 km east, is a ruined 13th-century castle complex on a dramatic hilltop — one of the largest castle ruins in central Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The adjacent small town of Spišské Podhradie and the 14th-century Spišská Kapitula (a walled ecclesiastical town) are also worth combining in a half-day excursion.
Levoča, 25 km east, is a beautifully preserved medieval town with a World Heritage designation of its own — the carved Gothic altarpiece by Master Paul in St. James's Church is the tallest Gothic altar in the world. The whole town centre is enclosed by medieval walls and remarkably intact. Both Spiš Castle and Levoča make easy half-day excursions from Poprad by car or local bus.
