Banská Bystrica

Slovakia

SNP square in Banska Bystrica

Banská Bystrica is a city in Central Slovakia.

Banská Bystrica is in central Slovakia between the national parks Great Fatra and Low Tatras (north of the city), the national park Poľana (east of the city), and the Štiavnické Vrchy (southwest of the city). Banská Bystrica is the capital of Banská Bystrica region (kraj) and the department(okres) of the same name. It has approximately 78,000 inhabitants.

Fountain at the Main Square Museum of Slovak National Uprising Urpín and 1552 Clock Tower Banská Bystrica has a beautiful position between the mountains. Therefore it's a popular summer and winter resort. The heart of the old city is the SNP square (Námestie SNP) which dates back to the 13th century. You can find a lot of renaissance and jugendstil buildings here. These sights include:

  • The Town Hall, SNP Square 1. This house belonged to a medieval miner who built this enormous house beside the town square. Now it hosts information centre of the city and it is also used for the representative purposes of the mayor.
  • Central Slovakia Museum, SNP Square 4. Set in a beautiful renovated renaissance house, it has its expositions in two other historical buildings in the city.
  • Marian`s Pillar. The baroque pillar was built in 1719 as a sign of gratitude to the Virgin Mary after the end of the plague.
  • The Black Obelisk. Monument in honour of soldiers of the Red Army and the Romanian Army.
  • St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, SNP Square. Baroque style Roman Catholic church, built in the early 18th century.
  • The Clock Tower. Built around 1552 as a part of the Town market. Entrance fee to the top is €2 (children go for free).
  • Barbakan. The main fortification complex and the dominant point with the Petermann bell – tower. It hosts a stylish restaurant.
  • Virgin Mary's Assumption Church, Štefan Moyses Square 1. Roman church built in the 13th century which was expanded in the gothic era.

Out of the main square:

  • Slovak National Uprising Memorial, Kapitulská 23. Museum of items and documents of the resistance in the Second World War. Wide stairs lead to a pious chamber with the symbolic grave of an unknown soldier, eternal fire and soil from the battlefields and burnt villages, tables dedicated to Holocaust victims and international involvement in the uprising. The museum is characteristic with its notable Soviet-era architecture. The full fare is €2, with various discounts.

The Town Hall, SNP Square 1. This house belonged to a medieval miner who built this enormous house beside the town square. Now it hosts information centre of the city and it is also used for the representative purposes of the mayor.

Central Slovakia Museum, SNP Square 4. Set in a beautiful renovated renaissance house, it has its expositions in two other historical buildings in the city.

Marian`s Pillar. The baroque pillar was built in 1719 as a sign of gratitude to the Virgin Mary after the end of the plague.

The Black Obelisk. Monument in honour of soldiers of the Red Army and the Romanian Army.

St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, SNP Square. Baroque style Roman Catholic church, built in the early 18th century.

The Clock Tower. Built around 1552 as a part of the Town market. Entrance fee to the top is €2 (children go for free).

Barbakan. The main fortification complex and the dominant point with the Petermann bell – tower. It hosts a stylish restaurant.

Virgin Mary's Assumption Church, Štefan Moyses Square 1. Roman church built in the 13th century which was expanded in the gothic era.

Slovak National Uprising Memorial, Kapitulská 23. Museum of items and documents of the resistance in the Second World War. Wide stairs lead to a pious chamber with the symbolic grave of an unknown soldier, eternal fire and soil from the battlefields and burnt villages, tables dedicated to Holocaust victims and international involvement in the uprising. The museum is characteristic with its notable Soviet-era architecture. The full fare is €2, with various discounts.

Two big parks for relaxation near city center are available:

  • At SNP museum.
  • Tajovského park.
  • Zahrada CNK. This park at a "center of independent culture" may be closed or used for different happenings.

Surrounding of Banská Bystrica is great for cycling sport (cross, mountain). You can do many cycling trips according to your preferences. Villages around the town are connected by asphalt roads. In the countryside and mountains there are many paved or gravel roads used for forestry in the past but now used mainly for trekking and cycling. Treks for cycling are not marked very well but the situation is improving as cycling is becoming very popular sport among locals. For more information visit cyklobb.sk There are very useful information about cycling treks including length, profile, directions, photos, eating opportunities. Unfortunately, page is available only in Slovak language but it is very intuitive and you can use google translator. During summer weekends and holidays there are also regular bus services for cyclists with bikes to 3 cycling destinations (Malý Šturec, Harmanecká jaskyňa, Donovaly).

At SNP museum.

Tajovského park.

Zahrada CNK. This park at a "center of independent culture" may be closed or used for different happenings.

Europa Shopping Center, Na Troskách 25. Large shopping mall offering wide range of stores. Joined with Europa Business Center (the tallest building in the city).

Tesco hypermarket.

Kaufland supermarket.

  • Healthy food, Kollarova 18. Vegetarian cafeteria with Slovak specialities

  • Slovenská reštaurácia, Horná 39, +421 48 415 50 36. Cheap restaurant with typical Slovak dishes. They have daily menus for €4-5 including soup.

Slovenská reštaurácia, Horná 39, +421 48 415 50 36. Cheap restaurant with typical Slovak dishes. They have daily menus for €4-5 including soup.

  • Cosmopolitan, Rudohorská 33, +421 48 417 40 20. Relatively cheap restaurant with international food including pizza, daily menu for €4-5. It is a bit off from the city centre.
  • Bernardov dvor, Dolná 36, +421 48 412 49 19. Pleasant restaurant not far from SNP square, they offer mainly European food including steaks and pizza. It also contains a beer bar with home-made beer.
  • Koliba u sv. Krištofa, Uľanská cesta 170, 97411 Banská Bystrica, +421 48 419 81 51. Nice traditional restaurant next to the road E77 direction to Donovaly. Unfortunately accessible only by own car but if you are driving around it is worth to visit. You can taste Slovak national meal called Halušky (Potato dumplings with Bryndza cheese) in traditional atmosphere.
  • Plzenská reštaurácia, Námestie SNP 20, +421 48 415 37 85. In the city centre, this restaurant offers traditional Slovak specialities and home-made beer as well.

Cosmopolitan, Rudohorská 33, +421 48 417 40 20. Relatively cheap restaurant with international food including pizza, daily menu for €4-5. It is a bit off from the city centre.

Bernardov dvor, Dolná 36, +421 48 412 49 19. Pleasant restaurant not far from SNP square, they offer mainly European food including steaks and pizza. It also contains a beer bar with home-made beer.

Koliba u sv. Krištofa, Uľanská cesta 170, 97411 Banská Bystrica, +421 48 419 81 51. Nice traditional restaurant next to the road E77 direction to Donovaly. Unfortunately accessible only by own car but if you are driving around it is worth to visit. You can taste Slovak national meal called Halušky (Potato dumplings with Bryndza cheese) in traditional atmosphere.

Plzenská reštaurácia, Námestie SNP 20, +421 48 415 37 85. In the city centre, this restaurant offers traditional Slovak specialities and home-made beer as well.

  • Frais, Dolná 42, +421 48 416 30 95. Centrally located elegant, modern restaurant with gourmet cuisine. They serve delicious coffee specialities and alcoholic drinks too.
  • New Angus, Horná 23, +421 48 416 30 90. Excellent restaurant close to SNP square with different types of food, they also have á la carte dishes and cocktails. During summer there is a covered terrace.

Frais, Dolná 42, +421 48 416 30 95. Centrally located elegant, modern restaurant with gourmet cuisine. They serve delicious coffee specialities and alcoholic drinks too.

New Angus, Horná 23, +421 48 416 30 90. Excellent restaurant close to SNP square with different types of food, they also have á la carte dishes and cocktails. During summer there is a covered terrace.

Healthy food, Kollarova 18. Vegetarian cafeteria with Slovak specialities

At the central square in the city several small bars serve beer and other drinks and dishes.

  • Capitol pub, Kapitulská 10, +421 48 415 26 71. It's the edge of SNP square, and is a good place to meet. Daily menu, several types of beer and other alcoholic drinks are available.
  • Bamboo cocktail bar, Dolná 52, +421 48 470 07 02. Stylish cocktail and coffee bar next to the SNP square with wide selection of drinks. They also serve beer and some dishes.
  • Čajovnička, Horná 65, +421 94 414 14 19. Very nice and relaxed tea house near the city centre with several types of tea. Coffee and shisha are available too.

Capitol pub, Kapitulská 10, +421 48 415 26 71. It's the edge of SNP square, and is a good place to meet. Daily menu, several types of beer and other alcoholic drinks are available.

Bamboo cocktail bar, Dolná 52, +421 48 470 07 02. Stylish cocktail and coffee bar next to the SNP square with wide selection of drinks. They also serve beer and some dishes.

Čajovnička, Horná 65, +421 94 414 14 19. Very nice and relaxed tea house near the city centre with several types of tea. Coffee and shisha are available too.

  • Urpín. A mountain on the left bank of Hron river, above the old town. The most popular trail "Serpentine Urpin" is moderately demanding, 3.6-km long trail with a total elevation 173 m (peak in 510 m). Walking time may very between 1-2 hours (allow more time with children). There is a chapel and an astronomical observatory ("Vartovka") at the top of Urpín.
  • Harmanecká Cave, Dolný Harmenec 976 03. The cave ranks among the most important caves in Slovakia by remarkable origin of cave spaces, mighty breakdown domes and number of wintering bats. It is located 15 km north from the city by road E77 and 65/14 (direction to Martin). It is possible to take regional bus no.601454 to "Horný Harmanec - jaskyňa" stop. From the bus stop, it is a 1.5-km long uphill hike (260 m in elevation) to the entrance. The full fare is €6 and there are discounts for children, students and seniors. Make sure to bring warm clothes even during summer as the average temperature of one hour cave tour is around 5-7°C.
  • Špania Dolina. A mountain sleepy village lying 728 m above the sea level, on the borderline of the Low Tatras and Great Fatra National Parks. Once famous all over Europe for the rich deposits of copper ore, nowadays a place of natural mountain beauty. It is 15 km north from the city by initially taking road E77 then turning off to a potholed hilly road. It can be reached by an infrequent regional bus no.601468.
  • Hronsek. The village is on the left bank of Hron river, 10 km south of Banská Bystrica. Its main attraction is the wooden articled church (UNESCO World Heritage). Hronsek can be reached by car from the main highway R1 heading to Zvolen or by a regional bus no.601455.
  • Suchý vrch. A hill creating south-west boundary of the city, lying on the edge of Kremnica Mountains. With its numerous easy and moderate trails, it is an ideal option for a family day trip. In spite of some facilities on the top (restaurant, horseback riding), the forest routes provide no facilities, so it is necessary to bring own supplies. It is best accessible from adjacent villages Tajov, Králiky and Malachov or from the city quarter Fončorda (trolleybus stop "Nad Tulskou").

Urpín. A mountain on the left bank of Hron river, above the old town. The most popular trail "Serpentine Urpin" is moderately demanding, 3.6-km long trail with a total elevation 173 m (peak in 510 m). Walking time may very between 1-2 hours (allow more time with children). There is a chapel and an astronomical observatory ("Vartovka") at the top of Urpín.

Harmanecká Cave, Dolný Harmenec 976 03. The cave ranks among the most important caves in Slovakia by remarkable origin of cave spaces, mighty breakdown domes and number of wintering bats. It is located 15 km north from the city by road E77 and 65/14 (direction to Martin). It is possible to take regional bus no.601454 to "Horný Harmanec - jaskyňa" stop. From the bus stop, it is a 1.5-km long uphill hike (260 m in elevation) to the entrance. The full fare is €6 and there are discounts for children, students and seniors. Make sure to bring warm clothes even during summer as the average temperature of one hour cave tour is around 5-7°C.

Špania Dolina. A mountain sleepy village lying 728 m above the sea level, on the borderline of the Low Tatras and Great Fatra National Parks. Once famous all over Europe for the rich deposits of copper ore, nowadays a place of natural mountain beauty. It is 15 km north from the city by initially taking road E77 then turning off to a potholed hilly road. It can be reached by an infrequent regional bus no.601468.

Hronsek. The village is on the left bank of Hron river, 10 km south of Banská Bystrica. Its main attraction is the wooden articled church (UNESCO World Heritage). Hronsek can be reached by car from the main highway R1 heading to Zvolen or by a regional bus no.601455.

Suchý vrch. A hill creating south-west boundary of the city, lying on the edge of Kremnica Mountains. With its numerous easy and moderate trails, it is an ideal option for a family day trip. In spite of some facilities on the top (restaurant, horseback riding), the forest routes provide no facilities, so it is necessary to bring own supplies. It is best accessible from adjacent villages Tajov, Králiky and Malachov or from the city quarter Fončorda (trolleybus stop "Nad Tulskou").

  • Liptov area is an hour-drive away.
  • Great Fatra and Low Tatras are very near.
  • Zvolen and Banská Štiavnica are similar cities.