Things to see in Banská Štiavnica
If you are wondering what to see in Banská Štiavnica, this historic mining town offers a remarkable variety of unique places. Banská Štiavnica – or simply Štiavnica, as locals often call it – was once rich in silver and gold. Today, it is rich in legends, fascinating places and cultural heritage. This gem in the heart of the mountains has been an exceptional place for centuries – and still is today.
Walls steeped in unusual stories, mine shafts and tunnels hiding forgotten secrets, and beautiful hills filled with memories of the town’s former glory. Let yourself be charmed by its fairytale streets and impressed by its remarkable cultural, technical and artistic heritage.
Top 10 places to see in Banská Štiavnica:
1. Calvary
The Calvary of Banská Štiavnica is a unique landmark whose scale and beauty make it exceptional even beyond Slovakia. It is an extensive Baroque religious complex of chapels and churches built on a distinctive conical hill called Ostrý vrch (German: Scharffenberg).
The Upper Church is one of the first landmarks of the town visible to visitors arriving in Banská Štiavnica. Three churches stand one below another along the same axis – the Upper Church, the Middle Church (Holy Stairs) and the Lower Church. Chapels are carefully arranged on both sides of the hill, creating a unique setting in perfect harmony with the surrounding landscape.
Begin your visit at the Calvary Information Centre, where you will find an exhibition and a souvenir shop. During the season, there is also a bistro offering refreshments. We recommend buying a ticket to the tower of the Upper Church, which offers beautiful views over Banská Štiavnica and the surrounding countryside.
📍 Pod Kalváriou 1
📞 +421 910 716 710
📧 kalvaria@kalvaria.org
🌐 www.kalvaria.org
Discover the Calvary with a guide
With a guide, you will see more than just the chapels and views – you will discover the story of the Calvary, the meaning of its individual stations, and the demanding restoration of this exceptional monument.
2. Starý zámok (Old Castle)
Starý zámok is the oldest monument in Banská Štiavnica and forms the historic core of the town. A Romanesque-Gothic church already stood here at the beginning of the 13th century. In 1442, it was burned and severely damaged by the troops of Simon Rozgonyi. The following year, it suffered further damage during a strong earthquake.
At the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries, the complex was rebuilt as an anti-Ottoman fortress, giving rise to the town castle. It was further fortified and expanded in the 16th and 18th centuries.
By the end of the 19th century, the castle began serving various purposes, including as an archive, library and even a gymnasium. Since 1 July 1900, Starý zámok has served as the town museum, and the complex has been a national cultural monument since 1950.
The museum offers several exhibitions, including a pipe-making workshop, a blacksmithing exhibition and a torture chamber. You can also see original wooden reliefs from the Calvary.
📍 Starozámocká 11
📞 +421 45 694 94 72
🌐 https://muzeumbs.sk/stary-zamok/
Accommodation below the Old Castle
Stay right beneath the walls of the Old Castle – an apartment, a family room, rooms for couples and pitches for tents.
3. Nový zámok (New Castle)
Nový zámok is one of the most important symbols of Banská Štiavnica. This simple yet striking fortress rises on a prominent hilltop and can be seen from almost anywhere in the town. It is also associated with several chilling legends dating back to the 16th century.
The castle was built in the 16th century as part of the town’s defence against Ottoman raids. Thanks in part to these fortifications, the Ottomans never captured Banská Štiavnica, although they burned several nearby villages. Today, the museum inside Nový zámok focuses on the anti-Ottoman wars. In addition to the exhibition, visitors can enjoy beautiful views over the town.
📍 Novozámocká 22
📞 +421 45 691 15 43, +421 918 990 451
🌐 https://muzeumbs.sk/novy-zamok
Guided tours of Banská Štiavnica
Discover the stories of the historic centre with a guide.
For groups of 8 or more people, we can also arrange an individual tour date.
Guided tours are available in Slovak, German and English.
4. Námestie Svätej Trojice (Holy Trinity Square)
Holy Trinity Square is the heart of the town. Its present form dates back to the Middle Ages, when Banská Štiavnica was experiencing extraordinary prosperity. The small, modest houses of miners were gradually rebuilt into large palaces and burgher houses. Even today, locals often refer to individual buildings by the names of their former owners, such as the Rubigall House, Žember House or Szitnyay House.
An interesting feature is that almost every house conceals a mining tunnel. After mining ceased, these tunnels were often used as wine cellars.
A monumental plague column stands in the centre of the square. At the top is a representation of the Holy Trinity, while several statues of saints are placed around its sides.
The Tourist Information Centre is located on the corner of the square in the so-called Žember House.
📍 Námestie sv. Trojice 1
📞 +421 45 694 96 53
📧 ic@banskastiavnica.sk
5. Trotuár
The best-known promenade in Banská Štiavnica is called Trotuár. The name comes from the French word trottoir, meaning pavement or walkway. What makes the Trotuár in Banská Štiavnica unusual is that it runs noticeably above the level of the road beside it.
Along the promenade, you will find cafés, small shops and historic residential buildings. Trotuár begins near the statue of Andrej Kmeť opposite the Kammerhof Museum and ends below Radničné námestie. In its lower section stands a statue of Nácko, a legendary cheerful mining character from Banská Štiavnica.
A leisurely walk along Trotuár should be part of any visit to the town. Stop for a coffee or simply enjoy the atmosphere of this historic place.
6. Botanical Garden
The Botanical Garden offers a peaceful place to relax right in the town centre. As you walk beneath the shade of exotic trees, you can also admire the impressive historic buildings constructed here at the beginning of the 20th century. They once housed the famous Mining Academy, founded by Empress Maria Theresa in 1762 as the world’s first technical university. A forestry faculty was later added to the academy.
Teachers and students contributed to the creation of the Botanical Garden, where exotic trees began to be planted from around the middle of the 19th century. Today, you can see species such as the Lebanese cedar, giant sequoia and many others.
After the establishment of Czechoslovakia, the academy moved to Sopron in Hungary in 1919. Today, the buildings are home to the Spojená škola Samuela Mikovíniho and the Stredná odborná škola lesnícka.
📍 Akademická street 16
7. Kammerhof
The buildings of the Kammerhof Museum are among the oldest in Banská Štiavnica. This large complex once had an important administrative role as the seat of the Chief Chamber Count, a senior royal official who headed the mining chamber and oversaw royal property and revenues from mining, especially the collection of the mining tax known as urbura on behalf of the monarch.
Today, Kammerhof houses the Slovak Mining Museum exhibition Mining in Slovakia. You will also find the museum information centre here, along with a shop selling souvenirs and minerals.
📍 Kammerhofská 2
📞 +421 45 694 94 18, +421 918 990 450
🌐 www.muzeumbs.sk
8. Historic mining reservoirs (tajchy)
The word tajch comes from the German Teich, meaning a pond, lake or artificial reservoir. These reservoirs can be found throughout the area around Banská Štiavnica. They were originally built to collect rainwater and formed part of an extensive system of channels that carried water both into the reservoirs and to the places where it was needed.
In mining, water from the tajchy was used to power various types of machinery, including equipment used to pump water out of underground mines. There were once around 60 reservoirs in the system; 24 have survived to the present day.
One of the oldest is Veľká Vodárenská, dating from around 1500. It lies above Holy Trinity Square and can be reached on foot in about 20 minutes. Another well-known and popular reservoir, Klinger, is about a 25-minute walk from the town centre along the red-marked hiking trail. The highest of the tajchy is Ottergrund at 801 metres above sea level, offering beautiful views over the town.
Today, the tajchy are mainly used for recreation. Many are popular for swimming, and some are also enjoyed by anglers.
9. Open-Air Mining Museum
As a town shaped by centuries of mining, Banská Štiavnica also offers visitors the chance to go underground. Just outside the town, the Open-Air Mining Museum features an exhibition of historic mining equipment and includes an underground tour of the Bartolomej adit. During the tour, guides explain interesting details about mining and what life was like for miners in the past.
We recommend booking your tour in advance, either online or by phone, as the number of visitors for each entry is limited. There is also a practical reason to book ahead: parking at the museum is available only in a paid car park, which is relatively expensive. It is best to park and pay only once your museum entry is confirmed.
📍 J. K. Hella 12
📞 +421 45 691 29 71
🌐 www.muzeumbs.sk/banske-muzeum-v-prirode
10. Mount Sitno (1,009 m)
This impressive and legendary mountain is the highest peak in the region and a popular destination for hikers. The easiest ascent starts at Lake Počúvadlo, which lies at the foot of the mountain. A marked hiking trail leads from the car park all the way to the summit. The climb takes approximately one hour. There are also other possible routes to the top; these are described on our Slovak hiking page, which we will add to the English version later.
At the summit stands Chata Andreja Kmeťa, where you can rest and buy refreshments. Next to the mountain hut is a lookout tower with a small nature exhibition, open during the main tourist season. From the summit, the ruins of Sitno Castle can be reached in about 30 minutes.
Map of sights in Banská Štiavnica
See the most important places in Banská Štiavnica on the map and plan your walking route through the town.