The Surprising Beauty of Banska Bystrica, Slovakia, Banska Bystrica, Slovakia

Before leaving on my last trip to Slovakia, I thought I knew about all of the country’s most beautiful cities and towns. The charm of Bratislava was already very familiar to me after repeat visits. I’d also heard good things about places like Kosice out east and am still waiting to see them myself. The mining town of Banska Stiavnica more than delivered and set a high bar for my next destination, Banska Bystrica. And what a surprise the city turned out to be!

Found north-ish of my previous stop, Banska Bystrica felt more like a default choice than a deliberate travel destination. And I have to say, I don’t think the photos I saw of Banska Bystrica before visiting did it justice. If they had, I would have been far more prepared for its beautiful historical centre. So you don’t go in blind like I did, here is why Banska Bystrica is worth visiting when in Slovakia.

Before we dig into the things to do in Banska Bystrica, it might help if I provide a little overview. Banská Bystrica is a moderately large city in central Slovakia, resting just on the edge of Low Tatras National Park. Today it’s the fifth largest city in Slovakia and is relatively modern, with just a small but gorgeous Old Town. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).