# Košice Things to Do: A Day Plan and Day Trips Source: https://taply.sk/kosice-things-to-do/ (Taply, updated 2026-10-12) The best way to see Košice is a self-guided walk along Hlavná street, with audio context from WeGoTrip, then an evening at the Singing Fountain. This page is a day plan. For an overview, see [our Košice guide](https://taply.sk/kosice/). Košice is the second-largest city in Slovakia, with a population of just over 220,000, and it shared the title of European Capital of Culture with Marseille in 2013. The old town is compact and mostly pedestrian, so one day covers the main sights, and a second day lets you add museums or a trip into the surrounding region. The city sits about 20 km from the Hungarian border, which makes it an easy stop on a route between Slovakia and Hungary. Some links are affiliate links. Taply may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. ## Key points - Hlavná ulica is the spine of the Old Town. - St. Elisabeth Cathedral is the largest church in Slovakia. - The Singing Fountain is best in the evening. - Add a day trip to Spiš Castle or the caves. - Check current opening hours. ## Quick facts - Population: about 222,000 - Capital of Culture: 2013 - Main street: Hlavná ulica - Stay: 1 to 2 nights ## Best ways to see Košice, ranked 1. **Audio walk with WeGoTrip** (best for Independent walkers): A self-guided audio route over Hlavná street. 2. **Tours on Klook** (best for No-car visitors): Compare guided excursions to castles and caves. 3. **Tickets on Tiqets** (best for Planners): Pre-book entries where available. 4. **Car hire with Qeeq** (best for Drivers): Compare cars for the eastern sights. 5. **Luggage storage with Radical Storage** (best for Stopovers): Store bags between train and flight. ## Morning: Hlavná street Start at the pedestrian boulevard and [St. Elisabeth Cathedral](https://taply.sk/kosice/), the largest church in Slovakia. See the Urban Tower and St. Michael's Chapel next to it. Allow about half a day with a coffee break. ## Afternoon: squares and walls See the Plague Column, the State Theatre and the remains of the city walls near Hrnčiarska street. Many places offer a fixed weekday lunch menu. ## Evening: Singing Fountain The Singing Fountain in front of the State Theatre plays music and lights in the evening. Terraces open in spring and autumn. ## Day trips Trip | Why go | Our page | Spiš Castle and Levoča | Castle and old town | [Spiš Castle](https://taply.sk/spis-castle/), [Levoča](https://taply.sk/levoca/) | Slovak Karst caves | Underground sights | [Caves in Slovakia](https://taply.sk/caves-in-slovakia/) | Slovak Paradise | Gorges and ladders | [Slovak Paradise](https://taply.sk/slovak-paradise/) | Bardejov | UNESCO old town | [Bardejov](https://taply.sk/bardejov/) | ## Getting there and around See [Košice Airport to the city centre](https://taply.sk/kosice-airport-to-city-centre/), [flights to Košice](https://taply.sk/flights-to-kosice/) and [Košice to the High Tatras](https://taply.sk/kosice-to-high-tatras/) if you plan to continue east to west. For cars: [car rental in Košice](https://taply.sk/car-rental-kosice/). Bag help: luggage storage in Košice. ## A timed one-day plan Time | Plan | Morning | Arrive, drop bags, coffee on Hlavná street | Late morning | Cathedral, Urban Tower, St. Michael's Chapel | Lunch | Weekday lunch menu near the main street | Afternoon | Plague Column, city walls, side streets | Evening | Dinner, then the Singing Fountain | Keep the pace easy. Everything sits within a short walk, so comfortable shoes matter more than tickets. ## Practical tips for your stay Most places accept cards, and a reservation helps on summer evenings. Check opening hours for each sight, because small venues change them often. Winter is cold and quiet but cheap. For timing, see [best time to visit Slovakia](https://taply.sk/best-time-to-visit-slovakia/). Cheap flights: [cheap flights to Slovakia](https://taply.sk/cheap-flights-to-slovakia/). If your trip continues west, the full route is in [Slovakia in 10 days](https://taply.sk/slovakia-itinerary-10-days/). ## Where to eat and drink Menus lean on Slovak and Hungarian influences: goulash, dumplings with sheep cheese and pancakes. Many places serve a weekday lunch menu. Cafes and bars along Hlavná street stay open late in term time because of the student population, but check opening hours. ## Rainy day and day-trip tips If it rains, spend the day in cafes, churches and museums, and move the outdoor walk to another day. For a day trip, start early and check how you will get back before you leave. Read [Spiš Castle](https://taply.sk/spis-castle/) and [Slovak Paradise](https://taply.sk/slovak-paradise/) before choosing, and compare [car rental in Slovakia](https://taply.sk/car-rental-slovakia/) if you want to combine several stops. Keep one spare hour for travel delays. ## Museums and sights beyond the main street Once you have walked the main boulevard, several indoor stops are worth a look, especially on a cold or wet day. The East Slovak Museum was founded in 1872 as the Upper Hungary Museum, and the East Slovak Gallery opened in 1951 as the first regional gallery in the east. The Slovak Technical Museum dates from 1947 and includes a planetarium. Kunsthalle Košice is a former swimming pool from the 1960s that now holds contemporary art. Architecture fans can look for Jakab's Palace, built in a historicist style, the Empire-style Pongrác-Forgács Palace and the Art Nouveau Slávia coffeehouse. Remains of the old fortifications survive too, including the Executioner's Bastion and the Mill Bastion. The Municipal Park lies between the historic centre and the main railway station, which makes it a pleasant way to start or end the day. Opening days differ by venue and many museums close on Mondays, so check before you go. ## How long to spend in Košice Time available | What fits | Best for | 2 to 3 hours | Hlavná street, cathedral, Singing Fountain | Stopover between trains or flights | One full day | The timed plan above plus one museum | Most first-time visitors | Two days | Day one in the centre, day two for museums, the park and a slow evening | Slower travellers and food lovers | Three days | Centre plus one or two day trips | Visitors using Košice as an eastern base | If you arrive by train, the station is close to the old town, so a short stopover is realistic. Hand over heavy bags first, then walk. ## Combining Košice with nearby towns The nearest town worth a visit is [Prešov](https://taply.sk/presov/), about 36 km to the north and an easy half day. To the west, the Spiš region has [Levoča](https://taply.sk/levoca/) and [Kežmarok](https://taply.sk/kezmarok/), which also work as stops on the way to the Tatras. The longer list, with transport tips and sample plans, is in [day trips from Košice](https://taply.sk/day-trips-from-kosice/). If you want to continue to the mountains, the High Tatras are the next big stop, and [Košice to the High Tatras](https://taply.sk/kosice-to-high-tatras/) compares the options. A night in Košice first and a night in the mountains afterwards is a sensible split for a short trip. ## When to visit and seasonal notes Late spring to early autumn is the easiest season, because terraces are open and long days leave time for evening walks. Winter is cold and quiet but cheap, and the museums become the main activity. The Košice Peace Marathon is held every year on the first Sunday of October, so hotels can fill up around that date and some streets may be closed for the race. Check the race dates if you plan a weekend stay at that time. Summer evenings are the busiest time for restaurants, so reserve ahead on Friday and Saturday. For a country-wide view, read [best time to visit Slovakia](https://taply.sk/best-time-to-visit-slovakia/). ## Families, accessibility and comfort The main street is a wide pedestrian zone and mostly flat, which suits prams and many wheelchair users, although older paving and cobbles can be bumpy in side streets. Towers, chapels and some historic buildings have stairs, so ask at the venue about access before you plan around one. Children usually enjoy the fountain in the evening, and the city zoo lies in the Kavečany district northwest of the centre, which needs a bus or taxi. Carry a light jacket even in summer evenings, and wear shoes you can walk in for several hours. ## Common mistakes - Trying to fit the old town and a long day trip into the same day. Keep the castle or cave trip for its own day. - Arriving at the fountain too early. It is best after dark, so plan dinner first. - Assuming everything is open on Monday. Many museums are closed that day. - Booking a trip back to Košice without checking the last train or bus. - Leaving the hotel booking late for the October marathon weekend. ## FAQ **How long should I stay in Košice?** One night is enough for the centre, two for a day trip. **What is Košice known for?** St. Elisabeth Cathedral, Hlavná street and the Singing Fountain. **Is Košice walkable?** Yes, the centre is compact. **What are the best day trips?** Spiš Castle, caves and Slovak Paradise. **Is it worth visiting?** Yes, it was European Capital of Culture in 2013. **Can I visit Košice as a day trip from the High Tatras?** It is possible, but the journey takes a large part of the day each way. A night in Košice is more relaxed, and the route is covered in our Košice to the High Tatras guide. **When is the Košice Peace Marathon?** It is held each year on the first Sunday of October. Expect busy hotels and some closed streets, and check the official race site for the exact dates.