Welcome to the official tourist portal of Žilina
Do you know the feeling when you arrive at a completely foreign place? Around you everything is foreign - streets, buildings, people, and you do not know which way to go? We assure you that this will not happen to you in Žilina, if your partner is Tourist Information Office. On this website, you will find plenty of information that will help you during your stay here. In addition to information about our town, we also provide suggestions for side trips.
Whether you arrive by train, bus, car or plane, in winter or in summer, you are welcome in our town and we hope you will feel as if you were just a few steps from home.
Historical documents and insignia
ŽILINA is the centre of northwest Slovakia and the fourth largest town of the Slovak Republic (Bratislava, Košice, Prešov, Žilina). It is situated at the confluence of three rivers Váh, Kysuca and Rajčianka. The town is a seat of administration of the Žilina self-gouverning region and a gate (entrance) to the Upper Váh (Horné Považie) Region.
Žilina has seen a rapid growth in recent years, after the South Korean car maker KIA Motors Slovakia opened a major car plant. The town is not only a centre of the automotive industry, but together with the Upper Váh (Horné Považie) Region is an interesting tourist destination. Interesting cultural events organised in Žilina contribute to developement of travel industry. The town is also a seat of the University of Žilina and since 2008 a seat of the diocese of Žilina. Žilina has recently become popular as a centre of seminars and conferences.
In 1208, the district of today’s Žilina was first mentioned in a bill of the head of Nitra county, Thomas, under the name "terra de Selinan" (Land Žiliňany). The oldest architectural relic in the territory of the town and the oldest building of its type in north-western Slovakia, the Church of St. Stephen the King, is located in the district Dolné Rudiny. Its beginnings go back to the 13th century. 2008 was a year of celebrations of the 800th anniversary of the first written mention of the district of today´s Žilina.
St. Mary’s Square, an Urban Protected Area since 1987, represents a historical heart of Žilina. Because of its square shape of about 100 x 100 m and arcades, it creates an inimitable atmosphere, unique in Slovakia. There exist many legends about St. Mary´s Square. One of them tells of secret underground spaces connecting the buildings on the square. An unofficial logo of the town is the view from the Andrej Hlinka Square at the Church of the Holy Trinity (Cathedral) with balustrades.
The centre of the town is one of the longest and most beautiful pedestrian zones in Slovakia with a number of restaurants and stylish cafés.
Cultural, sporting and social events take place in Žilina throughout the whole year, e.g Carnival Slovakia Žilina, Downtown Celebrations, Žilina Cultural Summer, Jašidielňa, Day of Health, Žilina Literary Festival, Seniors Festival, Medieval Day, Christmas Run and more.
Žilina is an important transport junction. Already in the past, the town was an important crossroads of trade routes. You can get to Žilina conveniently by car, by bus, by train or by plane ...
Dopravný podnik mesta Žiliny (DPMŽ - Žilina public transport company) provides the public transport for 24 hours a day. Transport on suburban routes is provided by the company Slovenská autobusová doprava (SAD - Slovak Bus Transport) Žilina.
The Municipal police deals with driving violations. Penalties for offenses are imposed fines to be paid on the spot. If the driver refuses to pay a fine, the offense is forwarded to the Regional Inspectorate of Transportation in Žilina.
