Košice, Slovakia’s second-largest city, offers a compelling blend of history, culture and gastronomy. As you enter Košice, the industrial outskirts quickly give way to a charming old town. Among the cobbled streets, quirky coffee shops mingle with impressive museums and enticing eateries.
If you are travelling through Slovakia, it is well worth spending a day or two in Košice and soaking up everything the city has to offer. From a rich café culture to one of Slovakia’s most opulent cathedrals, the city has plenty to delight and surprise visitors.
Moreover, the price of accommodation, food and activities in Košice is substantially lower than in Bratislava. It makes for an excellent alternative to Slovakia’s famous capital city.
We visited Košice in May 2023, stopping over for one night. We found the city centre perfectly safe, easy to navigate and packed with great places to eat and drink. If you have 24 hours or less to explore, here are our suggestions for ten fantastic things to do in one day in Košice.
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1. Marvel at the beauty of St. Elisabeth’s Cathedral
A masterpiece of Gothic architecture, St. Elisabeth’s Cathedral is the largest church in Slovakia. Over 5,000 worshippers can squeeze among the cathedral’s storied walls, whose history stretches back to the end of the 14th century.
Occupying a prime position on Hlavná, the city’s main street, the cathedral is a striking focal point. The gold-coated Sigismund’s Tower rises high above the copper roofing, whose intricate patterns are instantly eye-catching when viewed against a bright blue sky.
Inside, sunlight streams through impressive stained-glass windows, and a blanket of stillness muffles any sound from the outside. If you are lucky enough to visit when the organ is playing, its powerful sound is a goosebump-inducing experience.
2. Learn about the history of science and technology in Slovakia at the Slovak Technical Museum
Self-billed as the ‘most important technical museum in Slovakia’, the Slovak Technical Museum has been open to the public since 1948.
The museum, which offers a ‘comprehensive view of the history and traditions of science and technology,’ charts the contributions of Slovakia to the world. Every discipline imaginable is represented among the museum’s 36,300 items, from mining to cartography.
The museum occupies a striking Baroque-style building on Hlavná, making it a perfect addition to any day trip to Košice.
3. Enjoy Košice’s vibrant coffee culture
For anyone who spends more than a couple of minutes strolling the cobbled streets of central Košice, it should come as little surprise that Slovakia’s second city boasts dozens upon dozens of charming cafés and coffee shops.
When exploring the city centre, you cannot help but notice the hundreds of tables that adorn the pavements. From dawn to dusk, Košice locals flock to these outdoor spots to enjoy an espresso and catch up with friends.
Top tip: We stayed just around the corner from Steam Coffee, a quirky bar and cafe that provides a great alternative to the al-fresco spots on Hlavná.
4. Get a bird’s eye view of Košice from the Hradová observation tower
Standing tall above the forested hills on the northern fringes of Košice, the Hradová observation tower is a 21.5-metre steel structure offering a spectacular view of the city and its surroundings.
Built in the 1980s, the tower is a pleasant 20-minute walk from the nearest car park. Once you reach the site, 99 steps lead to the viewing platform. On a sunny summer day, the combination of a gentle stroll and stunning views is a delightful way to spend a couple of hours in Košice.
Entrance to the Hradová observation tower costs €1.50 for adults.
5. Sample the best of the goods at Košice’s farmer’s market
What Košice’s humble farmer’s market lacks in size, it makes up for in authenticity. Each table is typically occupied by an individual selling home-grown fruit and vegetables.
Tomatoes are piled up high. Flowers sprawl over the sides of wicker baskets and wooden crates. Dozens upon dozens of honey jars line the wooden tables, arranged haphazardly.
Top tip: We recommend arriving early if you want to visit the market. The market is at its best in the morning, with some stalls starting to pack up by lunchtime.
6. Check out Košice’s botanical garden
A short walk north from the city centre, the botanical garden makes for a colourful afternoon. The humid greenhouses are packed with impressive collections of exotic plant species. Meanwhile, short nature trails lead visitors through woodland on the adjacent university campus.
When we visited, our host described the butterfly exhibition with great enthusiasm – a family-favourite activity. Tickets for the botanical gardens in Košice cost €4 per adult.
Note: Whilst the greenhouses of the botanical gardens offer a beautiful array of flowers, we cannot recommend the on-site petting zoo. The rabbits appear to be kept in cages that are not a suitable size – improvements are needed.
Read next: Exploring Copenhagen on a 2-hour walking route through the Danish city.
7. Stroll down Hlavná street
The beating hub of Košice, Hlavná is the city’s main thoroughfare, stretching over a kilometre through the heart of the historic old town.
Home to dozens of cafés, bars and restaurants, Hlavná’s cobbles are a hive of activity at all times of the day. Locals gather here before work for a morning espresso before returning in the evening to catch up over a beer and a bite to eat.
When we visited, the street was packed with hundreds of classic cars. Petrol heads descend on the city for the annual Cassovia Classic, which sees an impressive array of cars embarking on an epic road trip between Bratislava and Košice. As the participants gathered, Hlavná was transformed into a festival of perfectly-polished vehicles.
8. Admire the architecture of Jakab’s Palace
Standing at the intersection of Mlynská Street and Štefánikova Street, the intricate design of Jakab’s Palace instantly catches the eye. The palace was built in 1899 by Arpad Jakab in a pseudo-Gothic style, using unwanted stones taken from the nearby St. Elisabeth’s Cathedral.
Despite its grand appearance, Jakab’s Palace has played only a minor role in the history of Košice. In 1945, it was used as the seat of the president of Czechoslovakia. However, its aura has since waned, and today it stands empty, unused and unopen to the public.
Top Tip: If you want to photograph the palace without any people, arrive early in the morning and pack a wide-angle lens. Jakab’s Palace stands opposite a coffee shop on a busy road, so there isn’t much room to move back. The palace is also a five-minute walk from the train station. Its prime location ensures a steady stream of people and vehicles going past the entrance.
9. Discover Košice’s underground history at the Dolná brána museum
Head back to Hlavná and make your way to Dolná brána, an impressive museum just a stone’s throw from St. Elisabeth’s Cathedral.
Here, hidden under the busy city streets, a humble museum brings the history of Košice to life. The underground complex guides visitors through narrow tunnels and catacombs, with small displays and projections telling the story of the city.
Tickets for the Dolná brána museum cost €4 for adults.
10. Take a day trip to Spiš Castle from Košice
Just a 45-minute drive from Košice, the UNESCO-listed Spiš Castle is one of Slovakia’s most popular historic sites. Built in the 12th century on the site of an existing fortress, the castle evolved and expanded over the generations before eventually falling into decline and disrepair following a devastating fire in 1780.
After a partial reconstruction in the 1900s, Spiš Castle now welcomes thousands of visitors each year to its museum and grounds. Given the castle’s striking hilltop position and classic architecture, it is little surprise that it has also featured in several blockbuster movies – from Dragonheart to Kull the Conqueror.
Read next: An afternoon in Bratislava, Slovakia’s charming capital city.
Košice: how we did it
- WizzAir flies between Košice and London Luton. Tickets from 20 Euros.
- We stayed at STUDIO ELA Centre. This charming studio is a two-minute walk from the cathedral and is run by the lovely Ela, who is a brilliant host. We paid £42 for one night – excellent value.
- We caught the train from Poprad. The fast train took 1 hour and 15 minutes, and a 2nd Class ticket cost €6.30. You can buy tickets online via the ZSSK website.