Žilina

Understand

First mentioned in 1208, it experienced an economic boom in the second half of the 19th century thanks to the arrival of new railway tracks. In 1918 and 1919 the city was briefly the seat of the new government of Slovakia, which was then a part of the larger Czechoslovak Republic. In 1938, Slovak autonomy within Czechoslovakia was declared here and the city subsequently became part of the Slovak State, a Nazi puppet state that existed from 1939 to 1945. The rapid growth continued especially after WW2 as part of big housing programmes realised by the communist government. With approximately 80,000 inhabitants, Žilina is today the fourth-largest town in Slovakia.

Economically speaking, Žilina established itself as an industrial hub thanks to many factories and businesses in the area. The arrival of the Korean Kia Motors Company was a major event for the city and it is today the largest employer in the region. Many Kia employees from Korea have moved to Žilina, so you can find specialized Korean food sections in some larger supermarkets and some Korean restaurants.

Žilina is also an important transport junction point linking the south (Bratislava, Vienna) with the north (Kraków, Warsaw) and the east (Košice, Ukraine) with the west (Ostrava, Prague).

See

thumb|Holy Trinity Cathedral The historical centre begins right in front of the train station. Walk down Národná street, which is the closest Žilina has to a shopping street, and you will reach Námestie Andreja Hlinku (Andrej Hlinka Square), the biggest square of the city where you can find the most famous look on Žilina — the two towers of the Holy Trinity Cathedral and its bell tower and the city theatre on a little balustrade. Next, walk up Farské schody, a wide staircase on the other side of the square, then go through one of the narrow alleys, and you will find yourself on Mariánske námestie (St. Mary Square), the main historic square with arcades under every house. This is roughly the itinerary that every tourist in Žilina should do as the first thing; afterwards, you can just venture out into the rest of the city and explore it a little more, because there are many interesting sights outside of this route as well. Especially the northwestern part of the historical centre around the intersection of J.M.Hurbana and Kuzmányho street is worth a visit, whether it is for the New Synagogue, the Rosenfeld Palace or the Catholic House.

Apart from older buildings, Žilina is a hotspot of functionalist architecture, which experienced a rapid growth during the years of the First Czechoslovak Republic in the first half of the 20th century. Most prominent examples of this style are the New Synagogue by Peter Behrens, the Lutheran Church by M. M. Harminc, the old market hall or the r…

Do

Football: MŠK Žilina play soccer in SuperLiga, the top tier. Their Štadión pod Dubňom (capacity 10,900) is just north of the railway station, "by the hill" as the name means.

Buy

Cheese: get local cheese from cheese shops, much better and fresher than from supermarkets, e.g. Syrmix on Narodna street or Kuzmanyho Street, shops close to market Fruit and vegetable market: during season good source of vegetable and fruits, sometime you can find here locals with only their things (not from big stores). Over corner of Kuzmanyho and Halkova street.

Eat

Cheap cheese typical for region: "bryndza" - soft cheese (great on fresh bread) "korbáčiky", "nite" - great snack "parenica" "oštiepok" - smoked sheep cheese, similar to Polish "oscypek"

Typical dishes: "kapustnica" - soup with sauerkraut and sausage "bryndzové halušky" - pasta dumplings with bryndza (soft sheep cheese) "strapačky" - pasta dumplings with sauer kraut

Every restaurant has non-smoking part (by law).

Drink

There are many pubs, restaurants and tearooms around town. Beer is especially cheap at just over €1 per half litre.

There are a few pubs and bars on the main square. There is an Irish bar, aptly named 'Guinness' and also a disco style bar called Royales.

Typical Slovak (and Czech) soft drink is Kofola. Kind of coke drink, not so sweet.

Connect

Free open wifi on Námestie A. Hlinku (lower square) and Marianské námestie (upper square), as well as in the central shopping malls Aupark and Mirage. Amazing photogallery of everything in Zilina including photos of hotels, shops, parks, hills, quarters, transport, schools, churches, industries, health centers.

Stay safe

Like any central European town, be practical. The railway station is not the greatest place to "have" to stop over in for any length of time based on experience. Suggest avoid waiting room, and stay near kiosks. Otherwise, Zilina is fine. Enjoy!

Go next

There are many great places close to Zilina.