Open-Air Mining Museum (SMM)
Open-Air Mining Museum (SMM)
Open-Air Mining Museum (SMM)
4.5
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
The Mining Open – Air Museum with 40 000 visitors a year is one of the most popular sites in the region. On the ground the exposition shows old mining buildings, equipment, machines and geological history. Millions years ago here was the biggest volcano in Middle Europe. The most interesting part is the mine. Equipped with helmet, mining coat and lamp, you will go 60 meters deep and during a 1,5 km walk learn about the hard work of miners from Middle Age until the end of the 20th century.
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4.5
133 reviews
Excellent
83
Very good
35
Average
7
Poor
4
Terrible
4
Christos T
Athens, Greece14 contributions
Aug 2023 • Solo
This place is very nice, I must say, especially the combination of nature and industrial feeling. Took the underground tour. You'd better prebook it, especially in the summer. You will be given a cloak, a helmet and a flashlight in order to go down the mine. Be aware that there are a lot of steps to get to the mine entrance and a lot to climb when you exit. In the mine, you always have to stay between the old train tracks. No English-speaking guide. I was wandering around a dark mine listening to safety instructions and information in Slovakian. There should be an English-speaking opportunity, because of the universal status of the attraction.
Written 5 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AnotherBunny
Europe10 contributions
Aug 2017 • Solo
I don't speak any Slowak, the tour is provided only in Slowak. I got a piece of paper with some explanations, however this does not equal a live tour guide at all and also, it is impossible to read anything while you are down in the mine. The tour guide will make a few stops to explain things, those things are probably not mentioned on the paper, and if they were, you wouldn't know which part of the text belonged to the particular stop.
If you are content with just walking inside a mine and stopping a few times in, to you, since you don't understand a thing, rather not so special spots, still join the tour (5 €).
Unfortunately not even the safety instructions were told in English. This is a shame, you should make sure all of your visitors know what to do and what not to do in such an environment.
On my tour, I was the only one purchasing the photo licence for an additional 2€ (which means I paid 7 € for a tour I didn't understand a word of). Everyone else was taking pictures, too, the guides don't care. The information about prices is displayed in English, by the way.
If you are content with just walking inside a mine and stopping a few times in, to you, since you don't understand a thing, rather not so special spots, still join the tour (5 €).
Unfortunately not even the safety instructions were told in English. This is a shame, you should make sure all of your visitors know what to do and what not to do in such an environment.
On my tour, I was the only one purchasing the photo licence for an additional 2€ (which means I paid 7 € for a tour I didn't understand a word of). Everyone else was taking pictures, too, the guides don't care. The information about prices is displayed in English, by the way.
Written 29 August 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SurreyGirl27
Addlestone, UK1,151 contributions
Sept 2014 • Friends
A great half day. After a short intro film, subtitled, off to get your wwaterproof, hat and lamp. Climb down lots of uneven steps and in through a horizontal shaft 50 metres down. A great trip then through the 'veins' accompanied by artifacts and photos. It is wet and slippery and cold, so wear decent shoes and long sleeves. Great traditional mining experience which opens your eyes to life underground.
Written 21 September 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Project2013
31 contributions
June 2013
We first visited the open air museum (at the same venue) and saw an old fire station, some old mining equipment and different base rocks. There are also a number of informative posters scattered around with descriptions in English.
We paid extra (9 euros flat rate) for an English speaking guide as suggested below. I would definitely recommend doing so unless you are familiar with mining history and equipment. A video with English subtitles was shown at the beginning of the tour then we proceeded down to the mines with a hard hat, waterproof shell and torch. We were part of a larger Slovak speaking group but that didn't bother us, our guide would speak to us first in English then address the larger group in Slovak. Overall it was well presented and worth a visit! Note: facilities include free bathroom, a kiosk/souvenir shop and WiFi at the ticket office. Temperature underground is 9 degrees celcius in all seasons ( confirmed by the guide) so don't forget to bring a light jacket in the summer months. We didn't have a car but the museum was an easy 15-20 minute walk from town.
We paid extra (9 euros flat rate) for an English speaking guide as suggested below. I would definitely recommend doing so unless you are familiar with mining history and equipment. A video with English subtitles was shown at the beginning of the tour then we proceeded down to the mines with a hard hat, waterproof shell and torch. We were part of a larger Slovak speaking group but that didn't bother us, our guide would speak to us first in English then address the larger group in Slovak. Overall it was well presented and worth a visit! Note: facilities include free bathroom, a kiosk/souvenir shop and WiFi at the ticket office. Temperature underground is 9 degrees celcius in all seasons ( confirmed by the guide) so don't forget to bring a light jacket in the summer months. We didn't have a car but the museum was an easy 15-20 minute walk from town.
Written 9 June 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lexyleksmono
Reading, UK117 contributions
Sept 2018 • Family
Banska Stiavnica itself is very pretty. It's a steep uphill walk to the museum if you park outside the city centre. Make sure you book it in advance as the ticket is time specific and if you want your tour in English as not many slot are provided. I learned a lot about mining and I found the whole thing fascinating
Written 19 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DavidT3766
Frinton-On-Sea, UK84 contributions
Aug 2018 • Family
As the whole region of this areas history is mining, we were told to visit the open air mining museum. It doses not sound that exciting but we book a private tour, with an English speaking guide and had a great trip.
You are given raincoats and hard hats which are needed as you are led through the twists and turns of the mine following the cart tracks.
The whole tour takes about 90 minutes, it was unlike anything we have done before.
Well worth the visit.
You are given raincoats and hard hats which are needed as you are led through the twists and turns of the mine following the cart tracks.
The whole tour takes about 90 minutes, it was unlike anything we have done before.
Well worth the visit.
Written 23 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
chinni20
Bern, Switzerland56 contributions
Oct 2017 • Couples
We liked the tour very much since Peter, our guide, went out of his way to keep everybody happy and on track. With bits of information in Slovak, Spanish and English everyone was cared for and looked after. He answered our questions thoughtfully and elaborately. Just the best! Greetings from over the rainbow :-)
Written 13 October 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alberto O
Olbia, Italy16 contributions
Sept 2017 • Couples
The guided visit of the mine was only in Slovak language anyway worth for a visit.. there is an initial video esplicative and then a tour of 1h inside the mine with all equipment provided.. for 5 euros definitely approved
Written 17 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jakhello147
Weymouth, UK186 contributions
Aug 2017 • Couples
Really cool experience to go down in a mine. You get a helmet, lamp and a waterproof coat to take in. We both really enjoyed it. But the biggest problem is the guide speaks in Slovak only. There are no optional tours either. There is no information sheet to tell you about it, no English safety instructions. Plus the guide seemed very bored had hands in his pocket and spoke Slovak like he didn't want to be there. So it made it hard to even try and pick up on body language what was being said. The fact it is a UNESCO world heritage site baffles me. Maybe a national one. But I would have thought it'd have had to had some more language options. There were Germans on the trip with us too. So for all anyone knew noone knew what the guide was saying! There is a information dvd at the beginning of the tour with English subtitles. But the subtitles are not great quality in that they are hard to read against the bright background. I think they should invest in either a guided audio tour app that can be downloaded in English, German, Spanish, French, Polish and say Chinese and that'd cover most of their audience and probably draw in more customers. I was close to not bothering to go due to the language barrier but I'm glad I did me and my wife loved it in the mine.
Also I have no idea how the parking system works. It said text to pay so I text off the code and my vehicle registration and got no reply. Then the lady on reception just said no parking so I guess it's free now? Well I didn't get clamped so guess that's a sign that it's perhaps a seasonal thing. There were no English instructions. I did us Google translation app but like I say no reply on the text so just be wary as not sure if parking is free or not.
Also I have no idea how the parking system works. It said text to pay so I text off the code and my vehicle registration and got no reply. Then the lady on reception just said no parking so I guess it's free now? Well I didn't get clamped so guess that's a sign that it's perhaps a seasonal thing. There were no English instructions. I did us Google translation app but like I say no reply on the text so just be wary as not sure if parking is free or not.
Written 15 August 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TinaQ
Moscow, Russia1,866 contributions
Feb 2015 • Friends
As we planned to visit the museum off season when it opens only for groups of 6 or more, we had the liberty to choose the exact time of our visit. It was a cold Sunday afternoon, but the experience brightened it up. The staff went out of their way to accomodate us and even allowed me to translate Slovak into English after each explanation of the guide. As our group was small, we made many stops and learned many interesting things. The museum itself is great, I've seen it several times and that's why we decided to bring our friends from France to see it as well. They've enjoyed it immensely. Our praises go to the wonderful staff of the museum, thank you very much for an unforgettable experience!
Written 25 March 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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