Žilina is a city located in north-western Slovakia, situated approximately 170 kilometres (110 mi) from the capital, Bratislava. It is positioned near the borders of both the Czech Republic and Poland and serves as the seat of a kraj and an okres. The city is notably the largest urban center on the Váh river.
As the fourth largest city in Slovakia, Žilina has a population of approximately 80,000 residents. It functions as an important industrial hub for the region and is categorized as part of the Upper Váh region for tourism purposes.