Things to do in Prešov and the best bars, according to locals

In my view, Prešov in eastern Slovakia is worth a visit, especially if you’re into history and culture. See the sights in the centre and the view over the city by day. In the evening, try the bars that Prešov locals recommended to me. The city isn’t overrun with tourists, so you can enjoy it in peace.

Quick factsby Milan Bez Mapy

View over the city

Kalvária hill in good weather, or the Water Tower (Vodárenská veža), an industrial heritage site on Moyzesova Street

Hlavná Street

St Nicholas Co-Cathedral, the Neptune Fountain and a selfie with the 49th parallel, which crosses the city

Rákóczi Palace

Check it’s open before you go; during the reconstruction the exhibitions moved to Hlavná 139

Bars recommended by readers

My readers most often recommended Christiania, Netopier, Dublin bar and Staré Mexiko

Day trips

Šariš Castle, the Zlá diera cave, the opal mines at Červenica, and further afield Levoča and Kežmarok

I wrote this article in 2020. Prices, opening hours and timetables may have changed since then, so check them before you travel.

What is there to see in Prešov? Prešov is the third-largest city in Slovakia, and thanks to its music scene it’s also known as the Slovak Seattle. Is it worth the trip? Yes, whether you come by train (with the legendary change at Kysak), by car through the Branisko tunnel from the west, or along the motorway from Košice. Here’s what to see in Prešov.

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.

Things to do in Prešov and day trips nearby

Prešov and the whole Šariš region have plenty to offer, especially if you’re interested in history and culture. Most of the places are little known, too. In this article we’ll go through the sights worth visiting in Prešov, plus a small bonus. I asked you on Instagram to recommend the best bars, pubs and places to go out in Prešov. So many of you replied that one thing is clear. Prešov has no shortage of places to ‘vypic’, as locals say when they mean having a drink.

Sights worth visiting in Prešov

The University of Prešov isn’t the only well-known place in the city. Prešov’s historic sights fall into two groups: religious and everything else. There are surprisingly many churches and other places of worship. Where better to start a tour of Prešov than in the centre? On Hlavná Street, right in the middle of the city, stands St Nicholas Co-Cathedral. This Gothic cathedral is the oldest building in Prešov, with a history going back to the 14th century.

A little further on rises Slovakia’s principal Orthodox church, the Church of St Alexander Nevsky. Fancy seeing Prešov from above rather than spending all your time in the centre? If the weather is good, head up to Kalvária, the Calvary hill.

Visiting Prešov: what to see on Hlavná Street and where to get the best view

Make sure you walk along Hlavná Street and take in the architecture. There are lots of ‘fajne’ (local for lovely) places close together. You’ll see the town hall, the old 15th-century school and the Neptune Fountain with its grand sculpture group. And you can take a selfie with the 49th parallel, which runs through Prešov. Then sit down somewhere for a coffee, for example at Dublin Café with its Irish pub atmosphere. Also worth knowing: the Región Šariš tourist information centre is at Hlavná 67. The staff give good advice and tips on what to see and do in Prešov.

Of the other historic sights, I definitely wouldn’t skip the Renaissance Rákóczi Palace from the late 16th and early 17th centuries. It houses the Tripolitana Regional Museum. The palace is temporarily closed for reconstruction and the exhibitions have moved to Hlavná 139, so check before you go. Also step inside the Lutheran College, one of the most important historic schools. Two big names of Slovak history, Hviezdoslav and Hodža, studied there.

The college’s great hall holds about 40,000 books. Want the best view of Prešov, but the cathedral tower happens to be closed? Climb the Water Tower (Vodárenská veža) on Moyzesova Street, an industrial heritage site. Or head to the Solivar district, where there’s an exhibition on the history of salt production in the city.

Where to go for coffee and a drink in Prešov, according to my readers

But we don’t travel just for the sights, do we? Prešov is known for turning out musicians, and there’s plenty of culture in the city generally. For coffee, a drink and alternative events, try the Wave and Christiania clubs. Christiania is right in the centre on Hlavná Street. Wave is now on Námestie Kráľovnej pokoja in the Sídlisko III housing estate. The PKO Čierny orol website lists more of what’s on in the city. You can also check what the local theatres are showing. Prešov is packed with cultural events and concerts, and there’s always something going on. Not bad for a city of only about 81,000 inhabitants (2025).

So where can you get something to eat in Prešov (and, of course, ‘vypic’)? Near Hlavná Street, U Richtára restaurant is fairly well known, but people also praise the pizza at Dal Maestro. Great coffee and food are close by at the Vinyl bistro and café. A bit further out is Steak House Preshow, famous among carnivores. Lokal bar also gets very good reviews.

The best bars, pubs and places to go out in Prešov

But forget Google. I asked you, my Bez Mapy readers, directly on Instagram. I got almost a hundred tips, and the places you mentioned most often were Christiania, Netopier, Dublin bar and Staré Mexiko. These are the 15 bars you rated the best in Prešov. Treat yourself to ‘the Prešov fifteen’ one Friday night and visit every bar on the list below.

1. Lokál
2. Christiania
3. Dobré časy
4. Stromoradie
5. Hviezda
6. Ponorka
7. Agát: ‘it’s a pub where you go to get hammered on the cheap before a party’
8. Bizzare (now closed)
9. Lanový park: ‘the pensioners here wash their coffee down with vodka’
10. Staré Mexiko
11. Aquabelly
12. Netopier
13. Dublin Café
14. Wave
15. Archa

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Bar tips in Prešov from my readers on Instagram

Here’s a selection of the tips you sent me on Instagram.

Day trips from Prešov

And if Prešov isn’t enough for you, there are loads of trips to make in the area. Think Šariš Castle (Šarišský hrad), the Zlá diera cave or the opal mines at Červenica. You’ll find all the tips for trips nearby on the city’s official website, imaginatively named gopresov.sk. It also covers transport and, sometimes, current events.

I also recommend a trip to Levoča and Kežmarok, two lovely towns only a short way from Prešov. Just hope the weather holds.

Prešov is a university city with plenty of cultural events, a pretty centre, a Cinemax cinema and the well-known Átrium guesthouse. With about 81,000 inhabitants, it’s neither big nor small. It never feels dead, and you won’t be squeezing through the lanes with crowds of other tourists either. Go and see for yourself.