Košice
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At a glance
- Country
- Slovakia
- Region
- Košice Region
- Population
- 230,000
- Best time to go
- May to September
- Main airport
- Košice International (KSC)
- Coordinates
- 48.72°N, 21.26°E
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Overview
Košice is Slovakia's second city and the capital of the east. Its long, lens-shaped main street, Hlavná, is lined with Baroque and Art Nouveau façades and has Europe's easternmost Gothic cathedral at its heart.
It has a lively student population and plenty of cafés, but feels far less visited than Bratislava. The city also makes a good base for the castles, caves and gorges of eastern Slovakia.
Things to see
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Photo: Ingo Mehling, CC BY-SA 3.0 St Elisabeth Cathedral
The largest church in Slovakia, a soaring Gothic building whose tower you can climb for views over the rooftops.
Tickets and tours -
Photo: Ingo Mehling, CC BY-SA 4.0 Hlavná Street
The city's grand main street, mostly pedestrianised, with the State Theatre and a musical fountain halfway along.
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Photo: Lynx1211, CC BY-SA 4.0 State Theatre
A Neo-Baroque theatre at the centre of Hlavná with a richly decorated interior; catch an opera or ballet if you can.
Tickets and tours -
Photo: Unknown photographer, CC BY-SA 3.0 Urban's Tower
A Renaissance bell tower standing alone beside the cathedral, its walls lined with old gravestones.
Things to do
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Photo: Abrget47j, CC BY-SA 3.0 Day trip to Spiš Castle
One of the largest castle complexes in Central Europe, a vast white ruin on a hilltop about an hour west.
Find tours -
Photo: Unknown photographer, CC BY-SA 3.0 Hike in Slovak Paradise
Climb ladders and chains through narrow wooded gorges in this national park, best on a dry day from late spring.
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Photo: ZemplinTemplar, CC BY-SA 4.0 Café hopping on Hlavná
Settle into a terrace on the main street for coffee and cake, and watch the evening crowds stroll.
Where to stay
Old Town
Ideal for most visitors, with hotels and apartments on and just off Hlavná.
Hotels in Old TownNear the railway station
Practical for day trips, a short walk through the park from the historic centre.
Hotels in Near the railway station
Getting around
The centre is easily walked. Trams run along the edge of the Old Town and out to the suburbs and airport area.
The airport is a short bus or taxi ride south of the centre, and direct trains from Bratislava take around five hours.
When to go
Late spring to early autumn is warm and sunny, ideal for hiking in the nearby hills. Winters are cold, though December brings a Christmas market to Hlavná.
Plan your trip to Košice
Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.