Košice Travel Guide: What to See and How to Get There

How to get to Košice

Košice has its own international airport with a handful of European routes, and many visitors fly in directly or via Bratislava or Vienna. If you are already in Slovakia, the train from Bratislava is the classic choice. Expect several hours on board, so a morning departure works best.

From the Tatras, the trip is shorter. The road from the High Tatras to Košice takes roughly 1.5 to 2 hours, and there is a rail link through Poprad. See Košice to the High Tatras for the full breakdown, and airports in Slovakia if you are choosing where to land.

What to see in the historic centre

The heart of Košice is Hlavná ulica, the main street, which is a wide pedestrian boulevard rather than a narrow lane. At its centre stands St. Elisabeth Cathedral, the largest church in Slovakia and the easternmost Gothic cathedral in Europe. Next to it is St. Michael's Chapel and the Urban Tower.

• The Singing Fountain in front of the State Theatre, which plays music and lights in the evening.
• The Plague Column and the streets around the Old Town Hall.
• The former city walls, partly visible near Hrnčiarska street.

Plan around half a day to see all of this at an easy pace, plus time for a coffee on the main street.

Day trips from Košice

The east of Slovakia has some of the country's best sights, and Košice puts many of them within reach. Spiš Castle and the towns of Levoča and Spišská Kapitula are the most famous, see Spiš Castle for the details. The Slovak Karst caves, including Gombasek and Domica, are the other popular choice, covered in caves in Slovakia.

Slovak Paradise national park is also in range, see Slovak Paradise. If you plan to do several trips, a rental car will save a lot of time, so compare car rental in Slovakia options early.

How long to stay and when to go

One night is enough to see the centre, and two nights give you time for a day trip. Košice works best from late spring to early autumn, when the terraces are open and the weather is mild. Winters are cold and can be grey, but the city is quiet and cheap, and the Tatras ski resorts are not far away.

For a broader view of seasons, see best time to visit Slovakia.

Practical tips

• Slovakia uses the euro, and cards are accepted in most restaurants and shops.
• Most of the sights are close together, so comfortable shoes matter more than a transport pass.
• Many Košice restaurants fill up on summer evenings, so a reservation is wise.
• Mobile data is useful for maps and booking. An eSIM can be set up before you land, see eSIM for Slovakia.

Food, drink and evenings

Košice has a lively cafe and restaurant scene along Hlavná street and the lanes around it. Menus lean on Slovak and Hungarian influences, so expect dishes such as goulash, dumplings with sheep cheese and pancakes. Many places offer a fixed lunch menu on weekdays, which is usually cheaper than ordering in the evening.

In the evening the Singing Fountain draws a crowd, and the squares fill with terrace seating from spring to autumn. The city also has a university population, so bars and cafes stay open late in term time. Check current opening times, as small venues change them often.