A 760-millimetre gauge on the Čiernohronská železnica leads into a long history of engineering. In the published 2026 season, motor trains run to Vydrovo and steam trains run daily on the routes to Dobroč and Šánske. Construction of the railway began in 1908, and regular service started in 1909. Its network of branch lines eventually reached a total length of 132 kilometres. Today’s seasonal destinations thus sit alongside a network shaped by history. If you’re planning a ride, check the seasonal timetable in advance.
Discover the Geopark and its landscape
The Banská Bystrica Geopark offers different ways to explore nature and history: its 292 sites cover geological, mining, natural, cultural-historical and archaeological themes. Its network includes 16 educational trails and 30 hiking routes. The area overlaps with the Veľká Fatra and Nízke Tatry national parks and the Poľana Protected Landscape Area. The range extends from designated educational trails to hiking routes and sites with various areas of focus.
Caves, too, reveal distinctive aspects of the landscape. Harmanecká jaskyňa is known for its large collapse domes, an especially rich deposit of soft sinter and numerous hibernating bats. At Bystrianská jaskyňa, the entrance is about 120 metres from the car park and can be reached with only a slight change in elevation. As parking options may change, it’s best to check before your visit.
Long valleys, deep gorges and steep rock faces shape the landscape of Nízke Tatry National Park. It is home to healthy populations of bears, lynxes and wolves, as well as Tatra chamois and marmots. Muránska planina National Park is shaped by karst formations: it contains more than 300 caves and 15 abysses, as well as sinkholes, karren, gorges, rock towers and rock windows. Each description highlights a different aspect—wildlife, rocky terrain or the underground landscape.
Two rock formations in Hrochotská dolina can be distinguished by their dimensions. Bátovský balvan is a 14-metre-high natural monument rock with a diameter of 8 metres. Jánošíkova skala is a volcanic rock cliff approximately 30 metres high and 200 metres long. Kalamárka, meanwhile, combines natural and cultural history: the site is a natural monument and archaeological site, as well as a popular hiking destination and an attractive spot for sport climbers.
Mining history and regional culture
Water tells the story of mining history in several places, though in different ways. The UNESCO World Heritage property of the historic town of Banská Štiavnica and its technical monuments includes historic water reservoirs, ponds and collection ditches. They were built for mining and the town’s water supply. The Banská Bystrica Geopark also preserves an elaborate water supply system approximately 40 kilometres long, associated with the former copper mining industry.
The Barborská cesta leads to significant mining monuments and sights associated with the mining tradition of the former central Slovak mining towns. The route is approximately 190 kilometres long, follows marked hiking trails and is intended to take 8 to 9 days. You can start at any section; stretches between municipalities can be covered on foot or by bicycle. This makes it possible to explore either the longer route or just one section.
The Podpoľanie crosses offer further insight into regional traditions and are a distinctive form of wooden grave and wayside crosses. The cemetery in Detva has an exhibition of wooden grave crosses. The famous Špania Dolina lace is still made in Špania Dolina today. For a different way to experience Banská Bystrica, the Coffee Tour takes visitors through two local cafés and a local roastery, offering insights into specialty coffee. The Central Slovakia Museum’s “Nature of Central Slovakia” exhibition features 2,400 exhibits in eight sections and offers a comprehensive insight into the region’s natural environment and landscape.
Discover more destinations: Žarnovica, Detva District, Banská Štiavnica District, Brezno District, Poltár District, Revúca District, Veľký Krtíš District, Lučenec District, Zvolen, Žiar nad Hronom, Krupina District, Rimavská Sobota District, Banská Bystrica District.
View the main travel overview: Slovakia.
