I think Košice is one of the most beautiful cities in Slovakia, and it’s well worth a weekend. I’d stroll the length of Hlavná Street and see St Elizabeth Cathedral. Then I’d take in the view of the city from the tower and fit in the zoo too. The rest of the time is best spent in cafés and restaurants, and the evening over a good glass of wine.
- From Bratislava by plane
- In 2026 Wizz Air flies to Košice, up to 13 flights a week
- For dessert
- Cukráreň Aida, with socialist-era cakes such as špice, rum punch slices and veterníky, and a turek (Turkish-style coffee in a glass)
- To eat
- Big Bowl, an Asian bistro; I liked the Pho Bo beef soup
- For wine
- Enoteca Centro wine bar right in the centre; they helped me choose and the prices were reasonable
- For a drink
- Lobby bar in Aupark; on request they mixed me a Long Island that wasn’t on the menu
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I wrote this article in 2018. Prices, opening hours and connections may have changed since then, so check them before you go.
What should you see in Košice? For me, it’s one of the most beautiful cities in Slovakia. Back when Danube Wings still flew from Bratislava to Košice at bargain prices, I popped over for the weekend a few times. I always came home with a proper headache (and an empty wallet). Košice is a lovely city, and I could see myself moving here. But what’s actually worth your time on a visit?
Tip from Milan I’d recommend booking your accommodation as early as you can, because rooms in a good location at a fair price go first. Here you’ll find accommodation offers in the area valid today.
What to see and do in Košice
One more thing about flying: once I even flew from Košice straight to an exam in Bratislava. We landed at Bratislava airport at nine, and by ten I was sitting the test. Those were the golden days of student life. I think that little stunt cost €55 return. In the SkyEurope days, which I don’t remember myself, a ticket to Košice could cost as little as €7 one way. When I wrote this article in 2018, a return ticket cost at least €130 and Czech Airlines flew the route. In 2026 Wizz Air flies from Bratislava to Košice up to 13 times a week, with fares from just under €19 one way.
Anyway, lots of airlines now fly from Košice to interesting places.
I won’t go on about the architecture of Košice. You can google that anywhere else. I’d rather focus on what you can do and taste here. For me, Košice is mostly about excellent food and even better bars. I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve got drunk here. Seriously. Košice is a city with taste: handsome architecture, and bars and restaurants of a high standard.
Things to see in Košice: my quick list
This is a list to run through quickly: a photo at every stop, then straight off to a good lunch.
- St Elizabeth Cathedral (Dóm svätej Alžbety)
- Hlavná Street and the singing fountain
- Spiš Castle (Spišský hrad), if you have more time
- East Slovak Museum (Východoslovenské múzeum)
- Urban’s Tower (Urbanova veža)
- Košice Zoo
- A trip to Levoča, with my tips on what to see in Levoča
The centre of Košice and St Elizabeth Cathedral look phenomenal, and I can’t explain why, but whenever I’m here I feel great. The thing to do is simply stroll along Hlavná Street, the main street, from one end to the other. There’s something in the air here, a laid-back feel. Last time I was here, I spent more time photographing all the flowers they’d planted than the sights around them. We in Bratislava could learn a thing or two from Košice here. Flowers give the city centre an atmosphere that nothing else can. On my last visit the whole city was literally in bloom, and my jaw dropped.
By the way, St Elizabeth Cathedral reminds me quite a lot of the cathedral in Palma de Mallorca. I haven’t checked whether the same architect built both, but at the very least, one was copying off the other.
Where to eat in Košice: my restaurant tips
When I looked online for tips on good restaurants in Košice, even I was surprised. There are quite a few, and to try them all I’d need at least a week in Košice. One that everyone recommended to me is Republika Východu. I didn’t get round to it, so that’s one for next time.
But whenever I fancy a dessert, I head to the Aida cake shop (Cukráreň Aida). I don’t think you’ll find anywhere more socialist in Slovakia these days. It’s entirely Aida’s fault that I can’t lose weight. Cukráreň Aida is unbeatable if you love those socialist-era cakes: špice (chocolate-coated cream cones), rum punch slices, cream slices and veterníky (choux buns with a caramel glaze). And of course a turek to go with them, Turkish-style coffee made in the glass. What I’d look out for most is the original interior of the whole place, and its even more original staff.
I also ate well at Big Bowl Košice, an Asian bistro. They make an excellent Pho Bo, a noodle soup with beef. So if I’m not in the mood for burgers or something hipster, Big Bowl Košice is the one I recommend. It’s simple Asian cooking at a fair price. Nothing fancy, just good food. Good restaurants in Košice that people have recommended but I haven’t tried yet include:
- Republika Východu
- Pán Ryba
- Dobré bistro (a bit further out from the centre)
Good bars in Košice
Ah, if you’re in Košice on a Friday night, you’re in for a good one. Here’s a round-up of the good bars in Košice I’ve tried myself. There are plenty more, but I didn’t make a note of them all.
Enoteca Centro wine bar
If you’re looking for a wine bar in Košice, Enoteca Centro is the place to go. When I told a friend that if I’m drinking wine, it’s white and dry, he burst out laughing. That, he said, is what everyone who knows nothing about wine says. Fair enough. I don’t know much about wine, but I know a dry white never lets me down. Then again, he said that if he poured me a properly dry wine, I’d pull a face at how tart it was.
At Enoteca Centro a lovely waitress ran us through what they had on offer at the moment. She recommended a great dry white, which I really enjoyed. If you’re after a wine bar in Košice that’s a cut above and has reasonable prices, I recommend Enoteca Centro. And it’s right in the centre.
Lobby bar in Aupark
Oh dear. I’ve been here several times, and every time I left seeing double. Lobby bar in Aupark, a shopping centre, is brilliant. The drinks are excellent and the prices are great. It’s the ideal next stop after the wine bar I mentioned above. On top of that, when I asked, they mixed me a Long Island to order, even though I couldn’t find it on the menu. I also really like that non-smokers get their own area here. The bar is very stylishly done out, with maybe a slight hint of disco. I’d sink into one of their armchairs and ask for the drinks menu. I tried the Mojito and the Long Island.
Košice is a city I’m always happy to come back to, whether for fun or for work. Do what I did. Tick off the things worth seeing, such as Hlavná Street, St Elizabeth Cathedral, the zoo and the view from the tower. Then spend the rest of your time over coffee, in restaurants and, in the evening, over good wine or a drink at Lobby bar in Aupark. Oh, finishing this article has genuinely made me want to take a trip to Košice.
A Slovak travel blogger who has been getting Slovaks out of their office chairs since 2013. Author of the book Influencer and founder of the Bez Mapy blog. "Bez Mapy" is Slovak for "without a map".
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