The main square, Námestie SNP, is the natural centre of any visit — one of the finest Renaissance town squares in Slovakia, surrounded by pastel-coloured townhouses and anchored by the Old Town Hall. The square and its surroundings have been a UNESCO Creative City of Media Arts since 2019.
The Slovak National Uprising Museum just south of the old town is the other essential stop, covering one of the most significant acts of armed resistance against Nazi occupation in Europe. The city and the Uprising are inseparable — the name of the main square honours it, and the region was liberated partly because of it.
For outdoor activity, the forested hill of Urpín rises just south of the city centre and makes for a quick escape with good views. More ambitious hiking in the Low Tatras and Veľká Fatra is within easy reach.