Planning Brezno to Muránska Planina hikes is one of the best ways to enjoy central Slovakia’s peaceful nature. This stretch offers quiet roads, mountain air, and trails that suit all levels. You’ll pass small towns, forests, and hilltop viewpoints perfect for short stops. To fully enjoy the area, consider renting a car in Slovakia. The route is ideal for summer hiking, thanks to its cool temperatures, light traffic, and quiet surroundings. Our guide will help you discover the best trails and travel tips between Brezno and Muránska Planina.
Driving between Brezno and Muránska Planina gives you a calm and scenic hiking experience in central Slovakia. Brezno sits at about 500 meters above sea level, while trails in Muránska Planina National Park rise between 800 and 1,400 meters, with some peaks like Kľak reaching 1,408 meters. This elevation keeps the air fresh and cool, even during the hottest summer months.
Along the way, you’ll pass through villages like Čierny Balog, Hronec, and Muráň. Traditional houses, local cafés, and forest paths welcome you in without much planning. Many of the best trails begin right near the edge of these towns, making the drive itself part of the hiking experience.
The best time to go is from June to August. Days are long, the weather stays stable, and nature is at its peak. Trails are dry and walkable, wildflowers bloom, and birdsong fills the air. If you’re lucky, you might spot deer moving through the trees or butterflies resting in sunlit clearings.
It is necessary to have your car to truly enjoy the hikes between Brezno and Muránska Planina. This region is peaceful and remote, with limited public transport. Many trailheads are located outside villages, often along forest edges or narrow backroads that buses don’t reach. Without a car, you’ll lose time and miss some of the area’s most rewarding hikes.
You can rent a car in Bratislava, which is about 2 hours and 28 minutes away from Brezno. While that may seem like a long way from your hiking destination, Bratislava is still the best starting point. The city has well-known rental agencies, modern vehicles, and clear rental terms. Many travelers also arrive through Bratislava’s airport or train station, so it makes sense to rent your car there before starting your adventure.
It’s also a great idea to spend a day or two in Bratislava before heading to the mountains. The capital is full of charming spots like Bratislava Castle, Michael’s Gate, and the Old Town, where you can relax, walk by the river, and enjoy local cafés. This lets you ease into your trip, stock up on supplies, and enjoy some city comfort before heading into quieter nature areas.
Most visitors go for a compact or mid-size car, perfect for narrow village roads and small parking lots near trailheads. To rent, you’ll need a valid EU or international driving license, your passport or national ID, and a credit card. A small security deposit is usually held during your trip. Basic insurance is included, with the option to add more coverage if you plan to explore off the main roads.
Before reaching the deeper parts of Muránska Planina, you’ll find several rewarding hikes close to Brezno.
The most popular route in Čierny Balog is the Educational Trail, a 3.7-kilometer loop that usually takes about one hour to walk. It begins at the Forest Open-Air Museum in the Vydrovská Valley, where you’ll find carved statues, wooden exhibits, and information panels that tell the story of forestry in Slovakia. The trail is flat and made of gravel and compact earth, making it ideal for beginners, families, and older hikers. Since it’s a loop trail, it returns to the starting point.
This trail is more immersive, taking you from Vydrovo-Koliba to the forest cemetery known as Lesnícky Symbolický Cintorín. The hike is also 3.7 kilometers long and takes under an hour to complete. However, it includes an incline through a dense pine forest. Along the way, you’ll walk across small bridges and follow a marked path with signs about the trees and wildlife you’ll see around you. This hike is a good next step if you’ve already done the Educational Trail and want something slightly more challenging.
The trail from Čierny Balog to Ungrovo Valley is a great option for hikers who want to spend a little more time outdoors. This route is around 6.4 kilometers and takes approximately 2 hours to finish. The path leads through open fields, soft woodland paths, and parts of the forest that feel much more remote. The terrain is easy to follow but uneven in spots, so wear proper walking shoes or lightweight hiking boots. You might spot deer near the forest edge or birds flying low over the clearings. Because this trail is less visited, it’s usually very quiet.
Muránska Planina is one of the least crowded but most rewarding national parks in Slovakia. Located just beyond the villages of Tisovec and Muráň, this park covers more than 200 square kilometers of high plateaus, deep valleys, limestone cliffs, and quiet forests. It is known for its biodiversity, its population of wild horses, and its dramatic views. Unlike the High Tatras, Muránska Planina offers hikers more privacy with nature. The trails are quiet even in the summer, and the overall hiking experience is less commercial and more authentic.
The park can be accessed from several entry points. The most common starting areas are in the villages of Muráň, Závadka nad Hronom, Tisovec, and Červená Skala. These towns are located near regional roads and offer small guesthouses, grocery stores, and local cafés where you can prepare before your hike.
Trailheads are marked with colored symbols painted on trees and stones. Red indicates long-distance trails, blue marks mid-length routes, and yellow or green trails are used for shorter hikes or connecting paths. At most junctions, you’ll find wooden signs with trail names, estimated hiking times, and altitude details.
Hiking conditions in Muránska Planina are ideal for summer trips. Trails are usually dry from June through September, and the terrain ranges from the forest floor to rocky paths. The park includes well-kept trails suitable for day hikes, and some more remote tracks that can take up to six or eight hours to complete. You’ll need strong shoes, plenty of water, and a basic understanding of the park’s layout if you want to venture beyond the main routes. Though you’ll likely pass other hikers near Muráň Castle or Veľká Stožka, many paths remain empty for long stretches.
Natural springs are rare in summer. Shops are only found at the entry villages, and there are no cafés, cabins, or official rest stops inside the national park. Sometimes you may come across wooden huts or shepherd shelters, but these are not always active and may not be open to visitors. Fires and wild camping are not allowed, and staying on marked paths is required to protect the land. Trash bins are also not common, so you’ll need to pack out all your waste.
Muránska Planina offers a wide range of hiking options, from short forest walks to long ridge trails that take you deep into the park. If you start early in the day, you’ll have cooler air, fewer bugs, and more chances to see wildlife. Here are three of the most popular and rewarding trails to try.
The hike to Muráň Castle begins in the village of Muráň and follows either a red or blue trail marker. Both paths lead through the forest up to Muráň Castle's ruins, which sit about 935 meters above sea level. The hike is 4 kilometers roundtrip and takes about two hours, including time spent at the top. The climb is steady but not too steep, which suits most walkers with basic fitness. The final reward is a view from the ruins, looking over the plateau and nearby valleys. On clear days, the visibility stretches for miles in all directions.
The Veľká Stožka trail is a more advanced route that begins near the Červená Skala train station and heads deep into the national park. The goal is the ridge of Veľká Stožka, which rises to about 1,293 meters above sea level. The trail is about 11 kilometers long and takes 4 to 5 hours as a roundtrip. The path starts through dense forest before opening to ridge meadows with stunning views. Some sections are steep, and the terrain is mixed, with rocky stretches and open grassy slopes. This trail is best for experienced hikers.
Hrdzavá Dolina, also known as the Rusted Valley, is one of the most striking and peaceful natural sites in Muránska Planina. The trail begins in the village of Muráň and follows a yellow-marked route through an 8-kilometer-long canyon valley shaped by centuries of erosion from the Rusty Creek. This deep limestone valley rises from the village toward the Nižná Kľaková saddle. Most of the trail follows an old asphalt forest road. The full hike is about 8 kilometers one way, which takes between three and four hours.
Along the path, you’ll see tall limestone cliffs wrapped in dense conifers and karst formations like natural caves, rock windows, and towers. One of the highlights is Rozštiepená skala, a split cliff that towers over the trail, and nearby stands Ťureň, a freestanding rock spire rising 76 meters. The area has been declared a national nature reserve due to its rare plant life, animal habitats, and untouched forest environment.
Now that you’ve seen what summer hiking in Muránska Planina is like, it’s time to plan your own trip. The trails between Brezno and the park are peaceful, full of fresh air, and perfect for all levels. Whether you're after short walks or longer climbs, this road trip is a great way to enjoy nature in Slovakia.
Final Rentals is a trusted car rental platform with instant online booking, flexible pick-up locations, and a wide range of vehicle options for mountain roads and rural drives. You can reserve your car in advance, pick it up in Bratislava, and drive directly to remote trailheads.
