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Voykit pocket guide · Slovakia
Pukanec
Half a day to see the black mulberry trees and wine cellars, or a full day if you hike the mining trail. Not a base: sleep in Banská Štiavnica or Levice.
Pukanec is a former free royal mining town on the southeastern slopes of the Štiavnické Mountains, between Banská Štiavnica and Levice. It is known for having over 700 black mulberry trees (the richest concentration in Europe), old wine cellars (ľochy) dug by miners, and a short educational trail about ore mining. Most visitors come for a few hours on the way between the two larger towns.
- Country
- Slovakia
- Best months
- May–Oct
- Avoid
- Nov–Mar (many cellars and trails less accessible; snow cover for skiing only at Uhliská)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR). Cards are widely accepted in towns.
- Daily spend
- Budget €30–50 excl. bed · Mid €50–80 excl. bed · High €80+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Orange, Telekom, O2 and 4ka sell prepaid SIMs; EU roaming covers EU SIMs.
- Emergency
- Police 158 · Fire 150 · Ambulance 155 · General emergency 112
- Plugs
- Types C, E, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Same as Czechia and Poland: type E sockets.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: Round up or about 10%.; Café or pub: Round up.; Mountain guide: €10–20 per person for a day.
- Water
- Tap water is safe. Ask for 'voda z vodovodu'.
- Toilets
- Paid toilets at stations (€0.30–0.50); restaurants for customers.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | €1.50–2.50 |
| Local wine (glass) | €2–4 |
| Trhance (local dish) | €6–10 |
| Slivovica (plum brandy, 0.05 L) | €1–2 |
| Bus from Levice to Pukanec | €2–3 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BTS · Bratislava Airport
- About 2 h by car or bus via Levice; check connections.
- KSC · Košice Airport
- About 3.5 h by car; not practical for a short visit.
Typical fares
- Bus Levice → Pukanec
- about €2–3, about 25 min (check)
- Taxi from Banská Štiavnica to Pukanec
- about €15–20 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The town is walkable. The educational mining trail starts from the centre. A car is useful for reaching Uhliská (skiing) or the surrounding vineyards.
See and do
Known for
- Black mulberry trees (over 700 specimens)
- Wine cellars (ľochy) with local white and red wines
- Educational mining trail
- St. Nicolas' church and city walls
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Banská Štiavnica | Car or bus (about 15 km (9.3 mi), 20 min by car; bus connections check)Car or bus (about 9.3 mi (15 km), 20 min by car; bus connections check) | About 30 min by car |
| Levice | Car or bus (about 20 km (12 mi), 25 min by car)Car or bus (about 12 mi (20 km), 25 min by car) | About 35 min by car |
| Spiš Castle | Car via Banská Bystrica, about 2 h | About 2.5 h |
Sleep
- Pukanec centre
- Private rooms only; limited availability. Book ahead.
- Banská Štiavnica
- About 15 km (9.3 mi) away; more hotels and hostels. Best base for the region.About 9.3 mi (15 km) away; more hotels and hostels. Best base for the region.
- Levice
- About 20 km (12 mi) south; more accommodation and transport links.About 12 mi (20 km) south; more accommodation and transport links.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Dobrý deňDO-bree den |
| Thank you | ĎakujemJAH-koo-yem |
| How much? | Koľko to stojí?KOL-ko to STO-yee? |
| Where is the wine cellar? | Kde je ľoch?GDE ye lyokh? |
| Goodbye | Dovideniado-vee-DEN-ya |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Dobrý deň and a handshake; avoid: First names with elders until invited
- Home visit: Shoes off; flowers or wine; avoid: Refusing all food and drink
- Trails: Greet other hikers with 'Ahoj' or 'Dobrý deň'; avoid: Leaving the marked trail
- History: Listen; avoid: Calling Slovaks 'Czechs' or Slovakia part of Czechoslovakia
Scams and watch-outs
- Private rooms in Pukanec are few: book in advance or stay in Banská Štiavnica.
- Wine cellars (ľochy) may have limited opening hours; ask locally or check with the tourist office.
- The educational trail is not always well marked after rain; wear sturdy shoes.
- Mulberry season is late June to August; outside that, the trees are still notable but without fruit.
Pukanec is a quiet, low-crime town. Standard precautions apply: watch your belongings in crowds, and avoid unlit streets at night. The main risk is uneven terrain on the mining trail.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Pukanec yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Black mulberry trees (over 700 specimens)
- Wine cellars (ľochy) with local white and red wines
- Educational mining trail
- St. Nicolas' church and city walls
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Pukanec, revision 5229679 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5229679
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/pukanec). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.