What to see in Žilina: 11 tips from Milan Bez Mapy

In my opinion, Žilina is worth a visit in its own right, not just as a place to change trains, and you can walk around the whole centre. Don’t miss Mariánske Square, Budatín Castle, Burian Tower, the New Synagogue and the catacombs. At the train station, look out for the stained glass in the waiting room, and if you have time, head out to Bytča or the Malá Fatra mountains.

Quick factsby Milan Bez Mapy

Getting around

You can walk around the centre; for the castle, use BikeKIA shared bikes – the first 15 minutes of every rental are free

Catacombs

Tours are limited, usually on Fridays at 16:00 and 17:00 – check with the tourist information office

Burian Tower

90 steps to a balcony 40 metres up, with a view of the whole town

My tip

There's a great café in the New Synagogue complex

Food

Tomato soup and pizza at Olivia's restaurant; I had a good chicken sauté at Blackdog

What to see in Žilina? I’ve passed through this town in north-western Slovakia by train about a million times, but only recently did I manage to explore Žilina properly, this time as a tourist. And I liked what I saw 🙂 In this article you’ll find a summary of my tips on what to see in Žilina: which sights not to miss, and where to go for lunch, coffee, a swim or a day trip.

• Tip: If you arrive in Žilina by train, look out for the stained-glass windows in the station’s waiting room. They’re a national cultural monument.

Getting to and around Žilina

The centre of Žilina is compact, and most of the places I mention in this article are within walking distance. For Budatín Castle or a trip into nature, though, you’ll need public transport or a shared bike. That’s no problem in this town – here’s how to get around Žilina a bit more sustainably.

BikeKIA in Žilina

Rent a shared bike. Bike sharing is fairly new in Žilina, but locals love it – a bit like e-scooters in Košice. I’ve also written about what to see in Košice. BikeKIA is run by ARRIVA Slovakia with support from the City of Žilina and the Kia Slovakia Foundation.

In 2023, during the season between March and November, people in Žilina took shared bikes as many as 200,000 times, saving 40 tonnes of CO2 compared with driving. All you need to do is download the app and register. The first 15 minutes of EVERY rental are free.

Public transport in Žilina

For getting around by public transport, I recommend the Google Maps app, which plans your route from A to B, or the UBIAN app, where you can also buy a ticket once you’ve topped up your credit.

Tip from Milan Coming from the UK? You can compare flights from London to Bratislava on Omio. For trips around Žilina, for example to Bytča or the Malá Fatra mountains, a car comes in handy – rental cars can be compared on Discover Cars.

What to see in Žilina: sights worth visiting

The Žilina catacombs, or Gothic cellars

What’s hidden under the surface? The catacombs in Žilina are part of an extensive network of underground passages and cellars. These catacombs, or Gothic cellars, are historically significant and date back to the Middle Ages. They were used for various purposes, mainly for storage and as a hiding place for Jews during the Second World War. In 1831 the town was hit by a severe cholera epidemic, which left many orphans in Žilina. The catacombs also served as a field hospital with 40 beds, but at one point there were as many as 79 soldiers down here.

When you walk across the square above the catacombs, notice the ventilation shafts that bring fresh air underground. The cellars are the ground floors of Gothic houses that burned down in 1521 – you can still see soot-blackened walls in some parts of the catacombs. Look out for the only Gothic portal in Žilina, the original entrance to a burgher’s house. Tours are fairly limited, usually on Fridays at 16:00 and 17:00, but always check the website of the Tourist Information Office.

Mariánske Square and its fountain

Look a little higher than Žilina’s underground and you’ll see Mariánske Square (Mariánske námestie), surrounded by beautiful historic buildings, restaurants, cafés and shops, which makes it a favourite spot not only for locals but also for visitors. Like me 🙂 The fountain is one of the square’s most striking features.

The square often hosts cultural and social events such as markets, festivals and concerts, so there’s always something going on. I really like how Žilina takes care of its looks – the tulips in bloom get me every time. In summer I saw loads of cafés and terraces where locals were enjoying their days off.

Budatín Castle

Budatín Castle (Budatínsky hrad) is one of the most important historic sights in Žilina. It’s known for its location right by the Váh river, and it’s one of the few castles in Slovakia that isn’t on a hill. Besides the castle, I recommend the park around it, which is nice for a walk or a run.

Budatín Castle dates back to the 13th century and was built for defence. Over the centuries it was rebuilt and altered several times, so its architecture mixes features of different periods. Today it’s open to the public as a museum, and it often hosts cultural events, exhibitions and festivals too, so it matters not only for Žilina’s history but also for its culture today.

Burian Tower

Burian Tower (Burianova veža) is a historic building right in the centre of Žilina. It stands next to the Holy Trinity Cathedral and, besides being a bell tower, it also served as a watchtower. Its most striking feature is the large clock on its façade. It’s a free-standing Renaissance bell tower with exactly 90 steps, and its balcony is 40 metres up.

Today Burian Tower is a protected monument and a popular sight. From its viewing platform you get a panoramic view of Žilina and the surrounding area. If you want to see the whole town, run up the stairs.

Rosenfeld Palace

I’d walked past it so many times that I finally went in 😀 This elegant Art Nouveau palace was built in 1907 as the home of the prominent Jewish Rosenfeld family. It’s considered an important part of the town’s historical and cultural heritage, so it’s a protected monument. Some parts may be open to the public, while others are privately owned. I especially recommend the puppet exhibition in the attic.

The New Synagogue in Žilina

The New Synagogue is a short walk from Rosenfeld Palace and is one of the most important monuments of Jewish culture in Slovakia. This striking modernist building went up between 1928 and 1931 to a design by the German architect Peter Behrens.

The synagogue stands in the centre of Žilina and is an important symbol of the rich cultural and religious heritage that the Jewish community brought to the town. With its architecture, it draws Jewish visitors from all over the world.

• Tip: There’s a great café in the synagogue complex. I love it when historic buildings are turned into places today’s generation can actually use. It’s a great way to bring culture to people who, let’s say, only came for a coffee.

The Vrba and Wetzler Memorial Room

So that we don’t forget important history, I couldn’t skip this place either, which played an important role during the Holocaust. The Vrba and Wetzler Memorial Room is dedicated to the memory of two Slovak Jewish prisoners, Rudolf Vrba and Alfred Wetzler, who escaped from the Auschwitz concentration camp during the Second World War. Their story matters enormously, not only for Slovak history but for the worldwide fight against Nazism.

The memorial room keeps and shares the memory of Vrba and Wetzler. You can see exhibits, documents and photographs about their lives and their escape from Auschwitz. It’s an important part of Holocaust remembrance and serves as an educational centre that aims to keep the memory of the Holocaust victims alive and to warn against the dangers of hatred and racism.

In this room, Vrba and Wetzler wrote a multi-page report about what was really happening in Auschwitz, which until then had been a secret the Germans had managed to cover up. For this report they received a special honour from the City of Žilina.

Žilina Town Theatre

The theatre has a long history – its roots go back to the 19th century. Since it was founded, it has hosted all kinds of performances: plays, operas, ballets, concerts and other cultural events. Žilina Town Theatre (Mestské divadlo Žilina) is known not only for its rich programme but also for its architecture. The modern theatre building dates from the second half of the 20th century.

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Where to go for nature in and around Žilina

• Ľudovít Štúr Park, which architects named the most beautiful city park in Slovakia in 2020
• The lookout tower on Dubeň with views of the area – it’s a bit of a hike from town, but a nice trip in good weather
• Žilina Reservoir (Vodné dielo Žilina), especially for water sports in summer

If you fancy a swim, Žilina’s municipal swimming pool has a 50-metre pool, which was the first indoor Olympic-size pool in Czechoslovakia. Construction started back in 1959 and it’s still in use today.

• Tip: A blog reader, Martin, recommended the area around Žilina in a Facebook comment: „Near Žilina you should also mention the attractive surroundings: Lietava Castle, Strečno and Starhrad, Terchová and the Vrátna valley, Jánošík’s Holes (Jánošíkove diery)… And for hiking lovers I definitely recommend the walk up to Chata pod Suchým, a mountain hut where you can have a great lunch of local home cooking.“

Where to go for lunch, coffee and ice cream in Žilina

• Blackdog – a good restaurant, I had a tasty chicken sauté here
• SCOOP Gelato – probably the best ice cream in the centre, there are always really long queues
• Spago – nice breakfast on a sunny terrace
• Olivia’s restaurant – a great Italian restaurant, I recommend their tomato soup and any pizza

Other places you recommended to me that I didn’t manage to try include Žilinská Kozlovna, Porkbelly Gastrohouse, Pancha Skybar and Monkey House.

A day trip from Žilina to Bytča

If you have a day to spare, I recommend a trip to Bytča, a town just a short way from Žilina. Bytča has a rich history, and you can see it in its monuments. The main one is Bytča Chateau (Bytčiansky zámok), one of the most important castle complexes in Slovakia. There’s also the Church of All Saints, originally a Gothic church from the 14th century that was rebuilt later, and a synagogue.

This article was written in collaboration with the City of Žilina.

Happy travels,
Milan Bez Mapy