---
title: "Top 10 Things To Do in Košice, Slovakia | Wimup"
description: "The 10 best things to do in Košice: St Elisabeth Cathedral, Hlavná and the Singing Fountain, the Golden Treasure, the underground Lower Gate, Mikluš Prison and day trips to Spiš Castle."
url: https://wimup.com/city/kosice
type: City guide
updated: 2026-10-05
publisher: Wimup (https://wimup.com)
---

# Top 10 Things To Do in Košice

Košice, Slovakia · Europe · By Wimup Editorial, 11 min read

Slovakia's second city sits at the far eastern end of the country, closer to Hungary and Ukraine than to Bratislava. Its long, lens-shaped main street holds a Gothic cathedral, a theatre and a singing fountain, and the 2013 Capital of Culture year left barracks and a pool turned into arts venues.

## Quick answer

Košice is a walking city built along one street. Spend day one on Hlavná: climb the cathedral's north tower, go underground at the Lower Gate, see the Golden Treasure and catch the fountain show after dark. Day two is for Mikluš Prison, Jakab Palace and the Kunsthalle, or the children's railway at Čermeľ. Add a third day for Spiš Castle and Levoča.

## Quick facts

- **Best months:** May–Sep
- **Ideal length:** 2–3 days
- **Budget per day:** €50–100
- **Language:** Slovak, with Hungarian also heard
- **Getting around:** On foot in the Old Town, trams and buses beyond
- **Tourism board:** [↗ Website](https://visitkosice.org/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## The 10 best things to do in Košice

### 1. Climb the north tower of St Elisabeth Cathedral

Church · Hlavná, Staré Mesto

Slovakia's largest church anchors the main street. Inside, find the royal staircase, a rare Gothic double spiral, and the crypt where Francis II Rákóczi was reburied in 1906. The tower costs a few euros and looks straight down Hlavná.

- **Time:** 1 hr
- **Cost:** Church free, tower ticketed
- **Best at:** Morning
- **Tip:** Tower tickets are sold at the tower door

Links: [Website](https://visitkosice.org/en/vidiet-a-zazit/st-elisabeths-cathedral?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 2. Walk Hlavná and wait for the Singing Fountain

Landmark · Hlavná, Staré Mesto

The long pedestrian main street widens into a square around the cathedral and the theatre. The fountain between them plays music with its jets on the hour; the evening shows are lit. It does not run in winter.

- **Time:** 1–2 hrs
- **Cost:** Free
- **Best at:** Summer evenings
- **Tip:** Shows start on the hour

Links: [Website](https://visitkosice.org/en/vidiet-a-zazit/singing-fountain-chimes?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 3. See the Košice Golden Treasure

Museum · Hviezdoslavova 3, Staré Mesto

Builders found nearly 3,000 gold coins at Hlavná 68 in 1935, the richest coin hoard ever found in Slovakia. The East Slovak Museum shows it in its main building, a short walk north of the cathedral.

- **Time:** 1 hr
- **Cost:** Ticketed
- **Best at:** Weekday mornings
- **Tip:** Check opening days before you go

Links: [Website](https://www.vsmuzeum.sk/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 4. Go underground at the Lower Gate

Museum · Hlavná, Staré Mesto

Rebuilding Hlavná in the 1990s uncovered the medieval Lower Gate, its bastion and the old water channels, and the city roofed them over as a museum beneath the street. Low-key, and a good half hour.

- **Time:** 30 min
- **Cost:** Ticketed
- **Best at:** Any time
- **Tip:** Check it is open; repairs are planned

Links: [Website](https://k13.sk/kulturne-centra/dolna-brana/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 5. Step inside Mikluš Prison

Museum · Pri Miklušovej väznici 10, Staré Mesto

Two joined Gothic burgher houses served as the town jail for centuries. The East Slovak Museum now shows the cells and the story of the town’s justice; pair it with the Executioner’s Bastion around the corner.

- **Time:** 1 hr
- **Cost:** Ticketed
- **Best at:** Rainy afternoons
- **Tip:** Pair with the Executioner’s Bastion

Links: [Website](https://visitkosice.org/en/vidiet-a-zazit/miklus-prison?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 6. Spend a morning at the Slovak Technical Museum

Museum · Hlavná 88, Staré Mesto

The national technical museum, founded in 1947, fills a Hlavná townhouse with mining, metallurgy, clocks, cameras and early aircraft. It also runs a 42-seat planetarium with shows on the night sky.

- **Time:** 1–2 hrs
- **Cost:** Ticketed
- **Best at:** With kids
- **Tip:** Check the planetarium schedule

Links: [Website](https://visitkosice.org/en/vidiet-a-zazit/slovak-technical-museum?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 7. Find Jakab Palace

Landmark · Mlynská, Staré Mesto

Architect Peter Jakab built this neo-Gothic mini castle in 1899 from stone left over from the cathedral's restoration. President Beneš lived here briefly in 1945. It is a facade stop, not a museum, and photographs best from across the road.

- **Time:** 15 min
- **Cost:** Free
- **Best at:** Late afternoon
- **Tip:** Combine with the Kunsthalle walk

Links: [Website](https://www.kosice.sk/city/jacabs-palace?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 8. Swim through art at the Kunsthalle

Gallery · Rumanova 1, Staré Mesto

A 1960s indoor pool became Slovakia's first kunsthalle for the 2013 Capital of Culture year, and the pool mosaic and stepped forms survive. Shows are contemporary and change through the year, so look at the programme first.

- **Time:** 1 hr
- **Cost:** Varies by show
- **Best at:** Afternoon
- **Tip:** Check what is on before you go

Links: [Website](https://k13.sk/kulturne-centra/kunsthalle/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 9. Ride the children’s railway at Čermeľ

Outdoors · Čermeľ, Košice-Sever

A 4.2 km metre-gauge line through the Čermeľ valley, opened in 1955 as a pioneer railway and still running. The ride takes about 20 minutes and runs from late April to early November.

- **Time:** Half day
- **Cost:** Small fare
- **Best at:** Spring weekends
- **Tip:** Check the timetable before you go

Links: [Website](https://visitkosice.org/vidiet-a-zazit/detska-zeleznica-kosice?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

### 10. Spend a day at Zoo Košice

Outdoors · Kavečany, Košice

Slovakia's largest zoo covers 292 hectares of forested hills in Kavečany, at the city's northern edge. Walking trails link the enclosures, and a DinoPark of life-size dinosaur models sits beside them.

- **Time:** Half day
- **Cost:** Ticketed
- **Best at:** Weekday mornings
- **Tip:** Wear walking shoes; it is hilly

Links: [Website](https://zookosice.sk/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Best museums in Košice

Three collections beyond the top ten, all inside the Old Town.

1. **East Slovak Gallery** (Art · over 7,000 works · Hlavná 27): Slovakia's first regional gallery, founded 1951, on Hlavná. [Website](https://vsg.sk/en/visit/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
2. **Rodošto** (East Slovak Museum · Hrnčiarska): A copy of the Turkish house where Rákóczi lived in exile. [Website](https://www.vsmuzeum.sk/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
3. **Executioner’s Bastion** (Fortifications · Hrnčiarska 7): The town’s medieval walls and casemates, shown from inside. [Website](https://www.vsmuzeum.sk/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Best landmarks in Košice

Four monuments within a few minutes of the cathedral.

1. **Urban’s Tower** (Renaissance · Hlavná): The 16th-century bell tower; the 1557 bell was lost in a 1966 fire.
2. **St Michael’s Chapel** (Gothic · Hlavná): A 14th-century cemetery chapel just south of the cathedral.
3. **Immaculata** (Baroque · Hlavná): The 1723 plague column, raised after the epidemic of 1709 and 1710. [Website](https://visitkosice.org/en/vidiet-a-zazit/immaculata?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
4. **Levoča House** (15th century · Hlavná 65): The best-preserved Gothic townhouse in the city, now a brewpub. [Website](https://www.kosice.sk/mesto/levocsky-dom?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Best culture venues in Košice

Opera, orchestra and the arts centres the 2013 Capital of Culture year built.

1. **National Theatre Košice** (Three companies · Hlavná 58): Drama, opera and ballet in the grand theatre on Hlavná. [Website](https://www.sdke.sk/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
2. **Košice State Philharmonic** (Since 1968 · Moyzesova 66): The orchestra plays in the House of Arts, a former synagogue. [Website](https://www.sfk.sk/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
3. **Kasárne Kulturpark** (Capital of Culture 2013 · Kukučínova 2): Austro-Hungarian barracks rebuilt as concert and exhibition halls. [Website](https://visitkosice.org/vidiet-a-zazit/kasarne-kulturpark?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
4. **Tabačka Kulturfabrik** (Independent arts · Gorkého 2): An 1851 tobacco factory, now gigs, theatre and a cafe. [Website](https://www.tabacka.sk/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Best restaurants in Košice

Five kitchens on or just off Hlavná, from halušky to Hungarian-era grandeur.

1. **Med Malina** (Slovak and Polish · Hlavná 81): Slovak and Polish home cooking in a small, warm room. [Website](http://www.medmalina.sk/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
2. **Republika Východu** (Regional · Hlavná 31): Eastern Slovak dishes, on a menu that leans on the local dialect. [Website](https://www.republikavychodu.sk/kontakt/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
3. **Slávia** (Classic · Hlavná 63): Secession-era cafe and restaurant on the main street since about 1900. [Website](https://www.hotelslavia.sk/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
4. **Le Colonial** (European · Hlavná 8): A formal dining room on the main street for a long dinner. [Website](https://www.lecolonial.sk/sk/kontakt?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
5. **Pivovar Hostinec** (Brewpub · Levoča House, Hlavná 65): Brewpub food under Gothic vaults, with its own lager on tap. [Website](https://www.kosiceregion.com/en/poi/pivovar-hostinec/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Best cafes and bars in Košice

Specialty coffee by day, house-brewed beer by night.

1. **Nico Caffé** (Coffee · Kuzmányho 1): Specialty coffee on beans from The Barn in Berlin. [Website](https://www.nicokosice.sk/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
2. **Melody Fine Roastery** (Coffee · Zvonárska 12): The city’s own roaster, with a cafe on Zvonárska. [Website](https://www.melodyroastery.sk/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
3. **Bølge** (Coffee · Alvinczyho 16): Scandinavian-style cafe for filter coffee and a quiet laptop hour.
4. **Clematis** (Tea and coffee · Hlavná 45): Loose-leaf tea and coffee on the main street.
5. **Pivovar Golem** (Brewpub · Dominikánske námestie 15): The city’s first microbrewery, brewing Golem beer on site. [Website](http://www.pivovargolem.sk/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Best parks and outdoors in Košice

A city park, a large university garden and the hills for skiing and hiking.

1. **Botanical Garden UPJŠ** (Košice-Sever · Mánesova 23): About 30 hectares and 4,000 plant taxa, with tropical greenhouses. [Website](https://www.upjs.sk/pracoviska/botanicka-zahrada/en/who-we-are/history-present/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
2. **Mestský park** (Free · Staré Mesto): The largest park in the centre, between the station and Hlavná. [Website](https://www.kosice.sk/clanok/mestsky-park?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
3. **Jahodná** (14 km out · Volovské vrchy): Ski slopes in winter, hiking and cycling trails in summer. [Website](https://www.kosiceregion.com/en/poi/ski-jahodna/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Best day trips in Košice

Two UNESCO towns, a castle and the karst, all within two hours.

1. **Spiš Castle** (About 80 km · day · Spišské Podhradie): One of Central Europe’s largest castle complexes, on UNESCO’s list. [Website](https://slovakia.travel/en/places-to-go/the-best-of-slovakia/spis-castle?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
2. **Levoča** (About 90 km · day · Levoča): Master Paul’s 18.6 m altar, the tallest late-Gothic altar anywhere. [Website](https://slovakia.travel/en/levoca?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
3. **Bardejov** (About 2 hrs by bus · Bardejov): A UNESCO-listed Gothic and Renaissance market square. [Website](https://slovakia.travel/en/bardejov-town-monument-reserve?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
4. **Jasov Cave** (40 min by bus · Jasov): UNESCO-listed karst cave, open to visitors since 1846. [Website](https://www.ssj.sk/sk?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
5. **Herľany Geyser** (45 min by bus · Herľany): A cold-water geyser that erupts roughly every day and a half. [Website](https://www.kosiceregion.com/en/poi/geyser-of-herlany/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
6. **Turňa Castle** (Slovak Karst · Turňa nad Bodvou): Hilltop ruins over the Bodva valley, a short steep climb. [Website](https://slovakia.travel/en/the-turniansky-hrad-castle?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)

## Festivals & annual events in Košice (2026)

- **Košice Music Spring** (May–Jun): Slovakia’s oldest-running music festival, held since 1956.
- **City Day** (7 May): The 1369 coat-of-arms charter, marked with concerts on Hlavná.
- **Košice Peace Half Marathon** (May): The spring half marathon from the Peace Marathon organisers.
- **Art Film Fest** (Jun): The international film festival; 19 to 25 June in 2026.
- **Košice Peace Marathon** (First Sun Oct): Europe’s oldest marathon, first run in 1924.
- **Biela noc** (Oct): White Night: three evenings of contemporary art across the centre.
- **Christmas market** (Dec): Stalls along Hlavná from the Immaculata, with a lit tree.
- **Slovak Constitution Day** (1 Sep): A public holiday; expect shorter hours in some shops.

## Must-try dishes in Košice, Slovakia

- **Bryndzové halušky**: Potato dumplings in sheep cheese with bacon, the national dish.
- **Pirohy**: Half-moon dumplings filled with bryndza or potato.
- **Kapustnica**: Sauerkraut soup with sausage and mushrooms, a Christmas staple.
- **Lokše**: Thin potato flatbreads, rolled around goose fat or poppy seed.
- **Langoš**: Fried dough with garlic, cheese and sour cream.
- **Guláš**: Paprika beef stew, a legacy of the Hungarian centuries.
- **Tokaj**: Sweet golden wine from Slovakia’s share of the Tokaj region.
- **Parenica**: Spiral-rolled steamed sheep cheese, often lightly smoked.

## Košice transport & airports

- **Košice Airport** (KSC): Just south of the city, with scheduled flights across Europe. City bus 23 runs to the station in about 20 minutes. [Official website](https://www.airportkosice.sk/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- **Trains to Bratislava** (RAIL): ŽSSK runs direct trains to Bratislava in about five and a half hours; RegioJet runs the same line. [Official website](https://www.zssk.sk/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- **Trams and buses** (DPMK): The city transport company runs trams, buses and trolleybuses on one ticket. Buy before boarding or from the driver. [Official website](https://www.dpmk.sk/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- **Regional buses** (BUS): The bus station beside the railway station serves Jasov, Herľany, Spiš and Bardejov.

## Košice at a glance

- **Country:** Slovakia
- **Region:** Košice Region, on the Hornád river
- **Population:** 222,286 (2025)
- **Founded:** First written mention in 1230
- **Nickname:** The metropolis of the east
- **Language:** Slovak, with Hungarian also spoken
- **Currency:** Euro (€)
- **Time zone:** CET · UTC+1, CEST in summer
- **Calling code:** +421
- **Airports:** KSC, south of the city
- **Power:** 230V, Type E sockets
- **Emergency:** 112

## Interesting facts

- In 1369 Košice received the first coat-of-arms charter granted to a town in Europe.
- The Košice Peace Marathon, first run in 1924, is the oldest marathon in Europe.
- The Golden Treasure, nearly 3,000 gold coins, was found under Hlavná 68 in 1935.
- Košice was a European Capital of Culture in 2013, alongside Marseille.
- The Singing Fountain is said to be the oldest of its kind in former Czechoslovakia.

## Watch

[Best of Košice](https://wimup.com/watch/kosice.md), 21:13

## Košice travel FAQ

### Is Košice worth visiting?

Yes. It has Slovakia's largest church, one of the finest main streets in Central Europe, and the arts venues built for the 2013 Capital of Culture year. It is also cheaper and quieter than Bratislava, and the base for Spiš Castle and Levoča.

### How many days do you need in Košice?

Two days cover the city: one for Hlavná, the cathedral, the Golden Treasure and the Lower Gate, one for Mikluš Prison, the Kunsthalle and Čermeľ. A third day takes in Spiš Castle and Levoča.

### How do you get from Bratislava to Košice?

Direct ŽSSK and RegioJet trains take about five and a half hours across the country. Košice Airport is the faster option when a flight fits.

### When is the best time to visit Košice?

May to September, when the Singing Fountain runs, terraces fill Hlavná and the children’s railway operates. Early October brings the Peace Marathon and Biela noc; December has the Christmas market.

### How do you get around Košice?

On foot in the Old Town, where most sights are on or just off Hlavná. Trams and buses run by DPMK cover the rest, and bus 23 links the airport with the railway station.

## Nearby guides

- [Zakopane](https://wimup.com/city/zakopane.md): Poland · 10 picks
- [Debrecen](https://wimup.com/city/debrecen.md): Hungary · 10 picks
- [Katowice](https://wimup.com/city/katowice.md): Poland · 10 picks
- [All of Europe →](https://wimup.com/europe): 102 cities

Part of the [Slovakia guide](https://wimup.com/country/slovakia.md) · [Europe](https://wimup.com/europe.md)

## Sources

- [Košice tourism board](https://visitkosice.org/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Climb the north tower of St Elisabeth Cathedral (official site)](https://visitkosice.org/en/vidiet-a-zazit/st-elisabeths-cathedral?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Walk Hlavná and wait for the Singing Fountain (official site)](https://visitkosice.org/en/vidiet-a-zazit/singing-fountain-chimes?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [See the Košice Golden Treasure (official site)](https://www.vsmuzeum.sk/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Go underground at the Lower Gate (official site)](https://k13.sk/kulturne-centra/dolna-brana/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Step inside Mikluš Prison (official site)](https://visitkosice.org/en/vidiet-a-zazit/miklus-prison?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Spend a morning at the Slovak Technical Museum (official site)](https://visitkosice.org/en/vidiet-a-zazit/slovak-technical-museum?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Find Jakab Palace (official site)](https://www.kosice.sk/city/jacabs-palace?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Swim through art at the Kunsthalle (official site)](https://k13.sk/kulturne-centra/kunsthalle/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Ride the children’s railway at Čermeľ (official site)](https://visitkosice.org/vidiet-a-zazit/detska-zeleznica-kosice?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Spend a day at Zoo Košice (official site)](https://zookosice.sk/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [East Slovak Gallery (official site)](https://vsg.sk/en/visit/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Immaculata (official site)](https://visitkosice.org/en/vidiet-a-zazit/immaculata?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Levoča House (official site)](https://www.kosice.sk/mesto/levocsky-dom?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [National Theatre Košice (official site)](https://www.sdke.sk/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Košice State Philharmonic (official site)](https://www.sfk.sk/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Kasárne Kulturpark (official site)](https://visitkosice.org/vidiet-a-zazit/kasarne-kulturpark?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Tabačka Kulturfabrik (official site)](https://www.tabacka.sk/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Med Malina (official site)](http://www.medmalina.sk/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Republika Východu (official site)](https://www.republikavychodu.sk/kontakt/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Slávia (official site)](https://www.hotelslavia.sk/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Le Colonial (official site)](https://www.lecolonial.sk/sk/kontakt?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Pivovar Hostinec (official site)](https://www.kosiceregion.com/en/poi/pivovar-hostinec/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Nico Caffé (official site)](https://www.nicokosice.sk/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Melody Fine Roastery (official site)](https://www.melodyroastery.sk/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Pivovar Golem (official site)](http://www.pivovargolem.sk/en?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Botanical Garden UPJŠ (official site)](https://www.upjs.sk/pracoviska/botanicka-zahrada/en/who-we-are/history-present/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Mestský park (official site)](https://www.kosice.sk/clanok/mestsky-park?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Jahodná (official site)](https://www.kosiceregion.com/en/poi/ski-jahodna/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Spiš Castle (official site)](https://slovakia.travel/en/places-to-go/the-best-of-slovakia/spis-castle?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Levoča (official site)](https://slovakia.travel/en/levoca?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Bardejov (official site)](https://slovakia.travel/en/bardejov-town-monument-reserve?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Jasov Cave (official site)](https://www.ssj.sk/sk?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Herľany Geyser (official site)](https://www.kosiceregion.com/en/poi/geyser-of-herlany/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Turňa Castle (official site)](https://slovakia.travel/en/the-turniansky-hrad-castle?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Košice Airport (official site)](https://www.airportkosice.sk/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Trains to Bratislava (official site)](https://www.zssk.sk/en/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- [Trams and buses (official site)](https://www.dpmk.sk/?utm_source=wimup.com&utm_medium=referral)
- Rankings are Wimup editorial picks. Prices, durations and budgets are editorial estimates, not live quotes; check the official site before you go.