Kremnica
Kremnica is a town in Western Slovakia.
Understand
Mining in the nearby mountains goes back more than a millennium, and the town of Kremnica has been the centre of it since the middle ages. For centuries it has been the centre of gold mining under the Kingdom of Hungary, the Austro-Hungarian empire, and later Czechoslovakia. The mine closed down in 1970 but tourism has taken over, and many old buildings dating back to medieval times have been preserved.
1 Tourist Information Centre, Štefánikovo námestie 35/44, ☏ +421 456742856, infocentrum@kremnica.sk. Daily 08:00-16:00.
Get in
By bus
1 Kremnica Bus Station (Autobusová stanica) (Kutnohorská Ulica).
There is an almost hourly connection to/from Žiar nad Hronom, which in turn has regular connections to Bratislava, Banská Bystrica and Košice. You can find an exact schedule at cp.sk.
By train
2 Kremnica Train Station. Ticket window open daily 04:00-22:00.
From Vrutký and Martin three trains daily run to Kremnica. The journey takes about one hour. From Zvolen you can catch four trains a day, taking around 45 minutes. It's a scenic ride, but you probably need to take a bus for at least one leg if you want to visit as a daytrip, because the early train is very early and the last train not so late at all.
By car
Kremnica lies on a minor north-south corridor. From the south take R1 regional highway, then take the exit Žiar nad Hronom-Východ and just head north. From the north take the D1 motorway, then take the exit Martin, and follow signs for Turčianske Teplice, after which you should keep a right and follow the signs to Kremnica.
Get around
The town is small enough to explore on foot. While theoretically you can use the medium-distance buses to travel between stops in Kremnica, it is not a very practical option.
In winter season a yellow minibus operates on weekends between Kremnica Bus Station and the nearby Skalka mountain and ski resort. In summer season this same bus operates as a cyklobus, so you can take you bicycle on the bus and cruise all the way back down. The fare is €1.
See
- 1 Town Castle Kremnica (Mestský hrad), Zámocké námestie 568/1, ☏ +421 456743968. Tu-Sa 09:00-16:30, in summer also on Sundays. Closed during lunchtime. The main feature of the town, the Saint Catherine's Church, built in the 13th century, with double fortifications added later in the 15th century. The watchtower has an exhibition and view of the surroundings, while the church is still being used for religious services, regular concerts and events. €3 adult, €1.50 for kids, students and elderly.
- 2 Museum of Coins and Medals, Štefánikovo námestie 10/19, ☏ +421 456780308. Tu-Sa 09:00-16:30, in summer also on Sundays. Closed during lunchtime.. Featuring an exhibition about the history of money in Slovakia as well as the history of Kremnica and the Mint. €3 adult, €1.50 for kids, students and elderly.
- 3 Mincovňa Kremnica (Kremnica Mint), Štefánikovo nám. 25/24, ☏ +421 456787875. M-F 08:30-16:00, in summer season also on weekends. This is where money has been minted for the state since the 15th century. Even today, the Slovak euro coins are made here. You can visit both the old and new minting rooms to learn more about the process. Guided tours are available. €2.70 adult, €1.50 for kids, students and elderly.
- 4 Mining Museum, Banská cesta 803/27 (Ludovika mineshaft), ☏ +421 456743144, info@banske-muzeum.sk. Tours M-F 09:00, 11:00, 13:00 & 15:00, Sa and Su 13:00 & 15:00. A mineshaft built quite recently in 1982, turned museum in 2008. You will get a tour of part of the mine and a bright yellow hardhat. Wear a coat against the cold. €4 adult, €2 for kids, students and elderly.
- 5 Kalvária, Vrch Šturc. Early 18th century chapel, and a viewpoint overlooking Kremnica and the valley. The trail from the centre of Kremnica takes about 50 minutes and climbs 160m over 1.5km. Free.
Do
- 1 Akropola Kremnica, P. Križku 393/10, ☏ +421 455572384, zdeno@1115.sk. The main cultural hub of the town, with a surprisingly diverse program of theater, film screenings and concerts. Check their website for current events.
- 2 Skalka ski center. Skiing, ski running and hiking.
Buy
Score some commemorative and special edition coins (or regular Slovak Euros) at the aforementioned mint. The main pedestrian street Dolná has a bank, clothing shops, a phone shop, and multiple pharmacies.
- 1 Coop Jednota Supermarket, P. Križku 381/1, ☏ +421 456743209. M-F 5:30-19:00, Sa 5:30-16:00, Su 07:00-16:00. Has all the things you can expect from a regular supermarket.
Eat
- 1 [dead link] Poľovnícka reštaurácia Silvanus, Stefanikovo namestie 33/40, ☏ +421 905821405. Daily 11:00-22:00, Fri-Sat until midnight. Typical central European cuisine, warm lunch menu from €5.
- 2 [dead link] Rozvoz Modrý Kocúr, Dolná 70/8, ☏ +421 918299744, info@rozvozmk.sk. M-F 11:00-21:00, Sa 11:00-22:00, Su 12:00-21:00. Pizza, pasta, and Slovak food. Daily menus as well as a la carte. Daily specials for €3.80.
Drink
- 1 Cafe Tereza, Kutnohorská 8, ☏ +421 456743904. M-Sa 12:00-20:00. Coffee and beer.
- 2 N Caffe, Námestie SNP 36/1. Café with billiards.
- 3 [dead link] Korzo Cafe, Štefánikovo námestie 13/25, ☏ +421 918381825, korzocafe@korzocafe.sk. Su-Th until 22:00, Fr-Sat until 23:00. Coffee and cocktails, and a terrace overlooking the square in summer.
Sleep
- 1 Hotel Centrál, Dolná 40, ☏ +421 456790954, info@hotel-central.sk. Certainly a centrally located hotel. They have a sauna, and a restaurant with a large pizza menu. €45 double, €35 single.
- 2 Penzion Kremnica, Jula Horvátha 919/68, ☏ +421 902833335, info@penzion-kremnica.sk. Homey budget accommodation in a typical rural style Slovak house, yet close to the centre. €22 double, €12 single.
- 3 Caravan camping, Dolná, ☏ +421 456742857. 3-person cottages available as well as toilets, shower and electricity. €3 tent + €2.50 per person.
Connect
- 2 Post Office (Slovenská Pošta), Zechenterova 326/1, ☏ +421 456743590. M-F 08:00-16:00, Sa 07:30-09:30.
Go next
Go to Banská Bystrica and Martin, or visit the equally interesting mining town of Banská Štiavnica.