The historic sights are concentrated on the route that runs along the pedestrianized Dolná, the large market square Námestie SNP, and Horná. The middle section of this area is occupied by Námestie Štefana Moyzesa – the central square, flanked by buildings of the old castle complex. Built in the 12th and 13th centuries, it consists of both religious and secular buildings. All that remains of the original town walls and the castle’s 18 bastions are three bastions and one long section of the wall within the castle area. The castle complex also includes the parish Church of Our Lady; the Church of the Holy Cross; the Matthias House; the barbican with a tower; and the town hall.

This aisleless, Late-Gothic church (Kostol Sväteho Kríža), dating from 1492, was once known as the “Slovak church”, since the majority of its congregation consisted of Slovaks. In 1782 a new entrance was added on the south side, with a carved date 1452, instead of 1492, on the portal. The interesting features of the interior include the 1652 stone font and the main altarpiece with statues of the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene, the work of Vavrinec Dunajský in 1834.

The astonishingly tall, six-storey Matthias House (Matejov dom) was built in 1479 for Beatrice, wife of the Hungarian King Matthias Corvinus. The south façade sports a Gothic portal, a stone balcony and the coats of arms of Matthias Corvinus and of the town, the latter dated 1479. Behind the Matthias House is the old cemetery.

In the 16th century the town was surrounded by mighty walls intended to protect it against Turkish invasion. Only some of the old fortifications have survived. Still standing are the Pisárska, Banicka and Fraska bastions. The former defence tower with a drawbridge and barbican is in Námestie Štefana Moyzesa. Hanging inside the tower are three bells; the heaviest weighs nearly 10 tonnes.

Construction of the church (Nanebovzatia Panny Márie) began in 1255. In the early 14th century the church was widened and given a Gothic sacristy. Two centuries later it acquired the presbytery, the oratory and the side chapels, and its famous altar of St Barbara. Following a great fire in 1761 the church was rebuilt in Baroque style; in 1770 its interior was given new, magnificent furnishings.

Adjacent to the Church of Our Lady is the Old Town Hall (Stará radnica), a plain white building with a small tower and an arcaded loggia. Built in about 1500, it was remodelled in Renaissance style, in the second half of the 16th century. Now it is the home of Banská Bystrica’s Municipal Gallery (Štátna galéria).

Thurzo House (Thurzov dom) is the most beautiful building in the market square. Its core consists of two Gothic houses, which at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries became the property of the Thurzo family. The building was given its present appearance in the second half of the 16th century, when its façade was decorated with Renaissance sgraffito . Since 1958 the palace has been the home of the Central Slovak Museum  (Stredoslovenské múzeum). Its collections illustrate the region’s history, from prehistoric times to the early 20th century.

The Renaissance clock tower  was built in 1552. In the past it served as an observation post, a prison and torture chamber. During reconstruction works carried out in 1762 and 1784 it was found that the tower was not vertical. Now its top is out of line by 68 cm (27 in). In the 19th century brass bands used to give concerts from the top-floor gallery. The place offers a magnificent view of the entire town and environs.

The 18th-century Jesuit church standing at the corner of the square, designed in Early-Baroque style, was modelled on the Il Gesú church in Rome. The resemblance is, however, far from obvious, particularly since in 1844 the church was given two square towers without cupolas.

The Baroque Marian column at one corner of the square dates from 1719. In the late 1960s it was decided to remove this from Námestie SNP and replace it with a granite obelisk honouring the Red Army. The column was moved to a position in front of the Church of Our Lady. It was returned to its original site in 1993.

At the extension of Námestie SNP are two streets with historic houses: Horná (Upper) and Dolná (Lower). Bethlenov dom  at No. 8 Dolná is where in 1620 the Hungarian parliament elected Gábor Bethlen, prince of Transylvania, as the king of Hungary. The Latin inscription on the façade reads: “The Lord’s blessing enriches the common people”. The tower at the side of the courtyard is an original medieval structure.

The Museum of the Slovak National Uprising is housed in a concrete building in two sections linked by a bridge. The building was erected in 1965, to a design by Dušan Kuzma. The extensive exhibits focus on the history of Slovakia in 1938–1945, with particular emphasis on the 1944 uprising against the Nazis, and on the fate of Slovak Jews. The surrounding park contains an exhibition of the weapons used by the insurgents, including tanks. Among its most interesting exhibits is an original Li-2 aircraft with full interior equipment, with visitor access.