Our round trip through Slovakia took us from Košice to the oldest mining town in the country, Banska Stiavnica (German: Schmenitz). In 1993, the town was even declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here in central Slovakia, an idyllic and pretty town awaited us, nestled in the Štiavnické Vrchy Mountains. After a varied, winding drive, we reached the mining town in perfect weather, parked the car, and explored the surrounding area on foot. We’ll tell you what sights await you in Banska Stiavnica in today’s article. Enjoy browsing!
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- More impressions from Banska Stiavnica
Sights in Banska Stiavnica
Before we get to some travel tips, we’ll start with the top sights in Banska Stiavnica so you can get a first impression of the city. You can easily explore these highlights in one day, as Banska Stiavnica is a relatively small, manageable city, and the most important highlights are concentrated in the city center.
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1. The Historic Old Town
One of the top sights in Banska Stiavnica is certainly the historic town center with its charming buildings from bygone times. Here you’ll find, among others, the New and Old Castles, the Kammerhof, the Town Hall and Town Hall Square, Holy Trinity Square, St. Catherine’s Church, the Parish Church of the Assumption of Mary, the Piargska Gate, and the Knocking Tower. It’s best to get a map from the tourist information office (address: Radničné námestie 14) and just let yourself drift through the streets.
2. Great views of the city
Unfortunately, we can’t remember exactly where we parked our car back then. What is certain, however, is that it was on Andreja Sládkovica Street in front of the New Castle, as from there we caught a beautiful view over the rooftops of the city. We could even spot the beautiful Calvary Hill in the distance. In Banska Stiavnica, the road goes up and down, so you’ll always find beautiful viewpoints.
3. Old and New Castle
In the heart of the city is the Old Castle, which is located on the slope of Mount Paradajs at approximately 630 m and surrounded by a wall. Today, the Slovak Mining Museum and other exhibitions are located here. Cultural programs and theater performances also take place here in the summer. The New Castle, on the other hand, is located southwest of the center on Frauenberg and is more of a watchtower with four floors. Today, the fortress houses the Museum of the Battles against the Turks (Múzeum protitureckých bojov).
4. The Reservoirs around Banska Stiavnica
At the beginning of our exploration tour, we first visited the so-called Štiavnica Reservoirs (Tajch). It is said that miners once built 60 reservoirs to supply the mines with sufficient energy. Water power replaced the labor of many people and horses and powered the underwater pumps, other machines, and mills. Today, there are said to be only 24 of these reservoirs left (list here), which are ideal for picnics, fishing, swimming, sunbathing, and even ice skating in the winter, especially in good weather. We visited the small, idyllic Veľká vodárenská reservoir, which is just 15 minutes from the city center.
5. Calvary Hill (Kalvária)
We highly recommend taking a trip to Calvary Hill. You can see this mountain, with its Holy Stairs, two churches, and 24 chapels, from several vantage points in the city. A path leads you through the 25 stations to the very top, each depicting the life and suffering of Jesus Christ and his mother, Mary. Stations 1 to 17 run uphill from west to east, while stations 18 to 25 run downhill on the southern side.
The view from the very top over the hilly landscape and Banska Stiavnica is truly worth seeing. Between April and December, the Calvary is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; from January to March, it is only open on Saturdays and Sundays at the same time. Parking is available directly in front of the information center at the foot of the hill.
6. The Botanical Garden
This town also boasts a small green oasis, namely the Botanical Garden, which is part of the Mining Academy founded in 1762. The idea behind it was that forestry students in the 19th century could learn more about foreign and native plants and also care for them. Today, you can expect a quiet, idyllic, and above all, clean oasis in the middle of the city. The sequoia and cedar trees are a particular eye-catcher.
7. Mining, Tunnels, and Museum
The town became famous primarily for its mining industry, which was first mentioned in a document in 1156. As early as the 18th century, Banska Stiavnica was considered the largest center for the mining of precious metals such as silver and gold. More and more mining schools and mines were established, and by the end of the 18th century, Banska Stiavnica was the third-largest town in Hungary with almost 23,000 inhabitants. The Mining Academy was even founded here, the first of its kind in the world. At the end of the 19th century, mining gradually declined, and the last mine in the city closed in 2001. Even today, you can learn more about mining from that time in the streets of the city. More on that later.
While you’re in the city, you should also delve into its historical background and take a trip to the Slovak Mining Museum. This open-air museum was established in 1964 and primarily illustrates Slovakia’s mining history. The museum is only about 1.5 km from the city center; plan at least 1.5 hours to visit.
Right next to the tourist information office in the center, you’ll also find the short Michael Mine (štôlňa Michal) tunnel, which you can visit for €1. You’ll be given a flashlight and can explore on your own (duration: 10 minutes). You can also visit the Glanzenberg Mine, which is located right in town. You can learn more about mining in Slovakia during an exhibition in the Kammerhof.
8. Bethlehem in Banska Stiavnica
Would you like to learn more about the development, history, and traditions of this historic mining town? Then take a trip to the “Selmecbányai betlehem” (Selmecbányai Bethlehem). This is the largest movable wooden nativity scene in Slovakia and displays the development, history, and traditions of Banská Štiavnica in carved form. Everything was carved and designed by hand – a true masterpiece with incredible details. For only €1.50 you can view the wood carvings. Current opening hours can be found on the website: Opening Hours.
9. Love Bank
In the heart of the city, there’s something very special. In the “Bank of Love” you can not only marvel at the longest love poem in the world with 291 stanzas and 2,900 verses, but also store symbols and objects of your love in one of the many lockers. Every letter, every character, and every space from the poem “Marina” by Andrej Sladkovic is assigned to a locker.
And so, even on your locker, you’ll find a small piece of the handwritten poem from 1846. In front of the building, there’s also a bench with countless love locks; you won’t miss it. The interactive museum is open Sunday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Admission: €12 for adults. More about this here: Bank of Love.
Hotels in Banska Stiavnica
If you don’t just want to come to Banska Stiavnica for a day trip, we recommend staying overnight in one of the hotels. There are many lovely hotels, guesthouses, and private rooms in the city. If you’re traveling during peak season, we recommend booking your room in advance if possible. We booked a great Airbnb in Banská Bystrica because we wanted to visit other places in the area. For us, the trip to Banska Stiavnica was just a day trip.
Book a tent here*
9 kilometers outside of Banska Stiavnica, you’ll find wonderful “glamping accommodations” (large tents) surrounded by nature, with Wi-Fi, air conditioning, a sleeping area, a living area, a bathroom, a garden, and a terrace. If you’re looking for a secluded, quiet, natural setting, this facility is perfect!
4.5 out of 5 points* on Tripadvisor
Strieborný dvor Holiday Apartment
Book an apartment here*
Just 100 meters from the New Castle, you’ll find the Strieborný dvor accommodation with various rooms and apartments. All rooms are beautifully furnished with great attention to detail. The entire house is a real eye-catcher and you’re sure to love it, as there’s something to discover everywhere. Take a look at the online pictures yourself!
5 out of 5 points* on Tripadvisor
Book a room here*
Want a little more luxury? The Divná pani Luxury Gallery Rooms (which, by the way, belong to the Divná Pani Café) are located in the city center, just 100 meters from the New Palace. The rooms are individually and originally furnished and await you with many great details. A garden, terrace, bar, kids’ club, Wi-Fi, and parking are also included. Previous guests particularly praise the delicious à la carte breakfast.
5 out of 5 points* on Tripadvisor
Book a room here*
The Hotel Barcadam is also located right in the city center and awaits you with beautiful, stylishly furnished rooms, a shared lounge, a garden, and a lovely sun terrace. Previous guests particularly praise the location and the staff.
5 out of 5 points* on Tripadvisor
Feasting and Strolling
In Banska Stiavnica, you’ll find some really cool restaurants and cafés. We can recommend, among others, the RUINbar, located on “Námestie svätej Trojice” Street. Here you can enjoy a leisurely coffee and take a closer look at the walls of the over 500-year-old building. With great attention to detail, a ruin has been transformed into a beautiful restaurant with many different seating areas. We then went to the Divná Pani Caffé on Andreja Kmeťa Street. The colorfully decorated rooms are an absolute eye-catcher, and the food was also delicious (we ordered fresh paninis).
Along the main street, Andreja Kmeťa, you’ll find more restaurants, cafés, and shops. Also, keep an eye out for the pretty house facades, which are truly photogenic. Delicious coffee, fresh waffles, and ice cream creations are available at BUDDY’S Coffee and Drinks. Archanjel on “Radničné námestie” Street is also very cozy, or next door at COBURG coffee & burger, where you can get fantastic burgers. If you turn onto “Námestie svätej Trojice” Street, you’ll pass the second-hand bookstore “Antikvariatik.” You can also get old maps and antiques here.
Arrival in Banska Stiavnica
Our accommodation was in Banska Bystrica, as we wanted to visit a few other places in the area. We drove about 45 minutes in our rental car* to Banska Stiavnica, up into the mountains. Once you exit the E58, the road only goes through a green hilly landscape, with several switchbacks. Nevertheless, the arrival by car is, of course, very comfortable and relaxing.
Traveling by bus and train is somewhat time-consuming and requires some planning (more on that here). In most cases, you’ll have to change buses one or more times. From Bratislava, for example, the bus first goes to Žarnovica, where you then have to change to the next bus (journey time: approx. 3 hours).
Cash & Withdrawing Money
In the Old Town, you’ll find many ATMs and banks where you can withdraw cash with your credit card. It’s usually not a problem to pay with this card in restaurants or cafés, too. We always travel with our credit cards, as it’s the most convenient and cheapest way for us. Since you normally pay with the euro in Slovakia, you don’t need to visit an exchange office or anything similar. But always make sure that you don’t let your credit cards and wallet out of your sight. You can find more on the topic of security here: Safe use of credit cards when traveling.
More impressions from Banska Stiavnica
