I will be hiking in the high Tatras at the end of July, probably on both the Polish and Slovakian side. I read that it might be busy, and that camping and bivying is strictly forbidden. Last time, in October I did see people setting up a tent late.

How big is the chance the huts will be completey full/overrun? Can you camp next to the huts?Shall I still take my sleeping pad and tarptent, and risk bivying, or not? Not that I want to break any rules, but if the huts are all supposedly so full, where should I sleep?

Thanks!

Yes, very forbidden. People occasionally do bivouac however, but not in random places, hidden spots high. There are also rocky shelters locally called "Kolibe", but their location are rarely published on the web for obvious reasons... Which country do you plan to do it ? (Rather Slovakia...)
Instqll yourself at dusk and get it packed at dawn. No light, no noise, etc... (ban the headlamp)

First and foremost, if you really have to go in peak season, avoid the last week of June/July (and the beginning of Jul/Aug) as heavy rains are highly likely. Second, when I was able to hike all day (and often half the night) I preferred staying at a guesthouse at the foot of the Tatras and going fast-n-lite.

Thanks for the replies!
Ive postponed the trip because of the bad weather, and will probably go at the end of August, start from the Slovak side and then cross to the Polish side. From reading other fora, I've decided to stay at the mountain huts in the area. I'll see if it is possible to stay there, and get there early enough etc.

ncst wrote:will probably go at the end of August

In the last week of August, the weather often turns bad too. It seems to me the 3rd week of August (2nd decade?) is usually the sunniest but I can't back this up with any statistical data.