Košice

A museum presenting the different crafts that were practiced in the region in the Middle Ages, that also contributed to theur development.

This remarkable medieval monument was built in the High Gothic style. The present cathedral stands on a site formerly occupied by a parish church, which was destroyed by fire around year 1370. The patrons of the church included St. Elizabeth. The construction of St. Elizabeth's Cathedral began approximately in 1378. One of the highlights is the helical double staircase. There is also a possibility to visit the northern tower of the cathedral, which gives you a stunning view of the surrounding historical centre. The height of this tower is 59.7 m and contains 160 stairs in the staircase.

The chapel probably dates from the first half of the 14th century and had always been a part of the parish church. It was built as a cemetery chapel in the centre of a cemetery inside the city walls stretching from the Cathedral to the south on the island of the Čermeľský potok (Čermeľ brook) in the place of the present park in the Hlavná ulica (Main street). The outer decoration is Gothic, the turret is fitted in the roof structure. The patron of the dead, the Archangel Michael, vanquishing the Satan as dragon is shown on the altar. There are Archangels Rafael and Gabriel on his sides. In the interior, there is a nice stone tabernacle, the ornamental sculpture "Ecce Homo" and remains of wall paintings from Middle Ages. The oldest coat-of-arms of Košice is above the door leading to the vestry.

Constructed in 1681 on the place where Protestant Prince George I Rákóczi tortured three Jesuits - Marek Križin, Melicher Grodecký and Štefan Pongrác. They're known as the holy martyrs of Košice.

The oldest building in Košice. The frescoes inside create the illusion that the building has no roof. There's a monastery adjacent to the church.

Greek-Catholic church in Neo-Romanesque style built between 1882 and 1898. The iconostasis and chair were installed in 1901, and the church was elevated to cathedral status in 2008.

The oldest building in the southern part of the city, built on the site of a medieval hospice that was demolished in the early 18th century. Built between 1730 and 1733, it has a tall tower - used for spotting enemy troops which was particularly important because it was outside the city walls and as such unprotected. The main attraction is its fresco depicting the city in the 18th century.

Lutheran church built in 1816 after a design by design of Georg Kitzling, a court architect from Vienna. The main attraction is its imposant oval cupola.

Built in 1805-11, with a very simple interior composed of only a pulpit. The metal rooster on the spire is much older, made in 1589.

Constructed in 1776, renovated in the 1970s after degradation, nowadays a venue for private parties but you can look at it from the outside.

The oldest house in the city. It houses a restaurant, where Gothic vaults are visible.

A late Baroque palace built between 1779 and 1790. In the late 1920s it was converted into a cinemand and a library, though in 1996 it was renovated and the city council returned to the building. Part of it is open to the public.

A three floor Neo-Baroque building constructed in 1899, with the blazon of the family on the façade. Nowadays the building houses a tea house and a restaurant.

The archbishop of Eger was exiled in Košice for a long time in the 17th century, but in 1804 the city got its own bishop and four houses next to the cathedral was transformed into a bishop's residence. It burned down in 1841 and was rebuilt in its current form, later the library and left wing was added. The house was empty for much of the Communist Era, but returned to its former use afterwards. In 1995 the pope promoted the office of the bishop of Košice to the status of archbishop, so the building is the residence of an archbishop.

Count Antal Csáky had this palace built in 1807. Count Abaúj-Torna, the county governor, resided here in the 1840s, then the Dezőfi family. One of the most pompous buildings in the city, it has hosted many important guests including Russian Tsars. In 1965 the palace was turned into an art gallery, and from 1993 to 2007 the Constitutional Court of Slovakia functioned here. Nowadays it's a major library.

An Empire style building from the early 19th century with the blazons of the Forgács and Pongrá families on the façade, now a library. In the 1940s, when a bank functioned here, a glass roof was installed, this part is now accessible to the public.

For an interesting story you may look up the Beggar's House which is one of the historical houses on Hlavna (on the right between the Theater and Immaculata when walking up north). On forefront, at top of the house you will see a statue of a guy with a hat thanking/begging for alms. The story says the career beggar who had no other income had over years used generosity of rich Košice dwellers to build the house at what was then a very 'high-end' medieval (a.k.a. Hlavna Street) part of Košice. This kind of largess may seem to be perceived a bit strange by today's beggars rarely appreciating Košice inhabitants, but it still makes up for a good narrative.

Erected in 1899 by entrepreneur Arpád Jakab in the pseudo-Gothic style constructed from discarded stones from the Kosice St. Elizabeth's Cathedral. At the end of WWII it was the residence for Czechoslovak president Edvard Beneš. Most of the inhabitants of Košice would choose this building as one of the most beautiful ones.

Childhood home of writer Sándor Márai (1900-89), part of which has been turned into a museum.

Baroque building from the 18th century, this palace too hosts a library.

The Immaculata Statue is the most beautiful Baroque-style sculptured monument in the city. It commemorates the plague from the years 1710‑1711 and is dated from 1720‑1723. It is a 14-m-high column on the stone base with sculptures of Josef, Sebastian and Ladislav. On the top is the sculpture of Virgin Mary. On the pillars of the fence there are sculptures of St. Gabriel, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, St. Margita, St. Michael the archangel and St. Barbora.

You may find it difficult not to find the 'singing fountain' in front of the theater enjoyable on warm afternoons or evenings. Calm music tunes and accompanying water salvos provide lovely vibes for couples enjoying their ice cream and serve as a hilarious entertainment for the kids. The music "feature" of the fountain is mostly active hourly on public holidays and/or in the evenings. It was inaugurated on May 1, 1986, it is the oldest fountain of this type of former Czechoslovakia.

A statue of the Hungarian writer born in 1900 in Košice, sitting on a chair facing an empty chair and a pedestal behind him.

A ruined castle on a forested hill. There's a viewing tower providing amazing views of the city to the south and to the valleys to the north. An association arranges medieval events on the site regularly, including a reconstruction of a medieval military camp each summer. There are several wooden statues and a small playground for kids.

The largest cemetery in the city. A part of it is dedicated to the Jewish community and features a Holocaust memorial. The Star of David on the memorial used to be mounted on the present-day House of Arts that was a synagogue until WWII.

The final resting place for many important and wealthy personalities in the city, and many tombstones are quite impressive.

Synagogue built in 1926-1927, it was renovated in 2007. The synagogue is still active although very little used, the Jewish community of the city having greatly reduced. On the walls, pencil inscriptions dating from May 1944 were retained.

Built in 1883 in Moorish style, as of 2018 renovations were underway to make it a cultural center. It's the heart of the Jewish cultural community in Košice nowadays. It has a prayer room, a mikveh and a kosher café.

Used from 1844 to 1889, it has been poorly maintained.

Main city park created in the 1860s and renovated in 2013. There are very beautiful trees, a kiosk with from time to time a concert, a fountain and lake, a small bridge, a children's playground and fitness facilities.

Different local trees growing outdoors, and a greenhouse with tropical trees and plants. There are regular themed exhibitions related to for instance butterflies, fossils or cacti.

A popular park area and easily approachable weekend hangout for many locals. Tennis, playgrounds for children, summer swimming pool, pubs and lovely evening walks by the river. Take bus 71/72/29 north from the city center to 'Mier' stop and ask for directions.

A nice park, 7 hectares in size in the suburb of Barca. It has a pond, a statue of pope John Paul II (at the tram stop) and is lined by two manors.

A Gothic prismatic campanile with a pyramidal roof that dates back to the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries. The bell, which was installed in the tower (its weight equals to 7 tones), was dedicated to St. Urban, the patron of wine-prowers, which was cast in a mould by the bell founder Frantisek Illenfeld of Olomouc in 1557. 36 tombstones dating from the 14th century (one of these tombstones is Roman dating from the 4th century) to the 17th century were put into the outer walls of the Tower. In 1966 the tower was damaged by fire, which destroyed the roofing and the bells. In 1967-1971 the tower was restored and renovated.

The theatre was built in a new-baroque style during the years 1879-1899, according to the projects of A. Lang and A. Steinhardt, where a former theatre building, built in 1788 - 1790, was situated. Before that, a town-hall building was standing here. The interior of theatre is richly decorated with plaster ornaments, the stage is lyre-shaped. The ceiling of the theatre's building is decorated with paintings by the Viennese painter P. Gatseb with scenes from Shakespeare's tragedies Othello, Romeo and Juliet, King Lear and Midsummer Night's Dream. On the main facade of the building a memorial plaque can be found, dedicated to the first director of the theatre after World War II, the national artist Janko Borodac.

The best thing to do on a short trip or shortly after arriving is to walk the compact and lovely historic centre.

3-km-long railway line in the forest. Three locomotives, Katka-named vapor locomotive, Danka and Janka diesel locomotives operating from the end of the suburbs to the recreational area of Alpinka.

One of the largest zoos in Europe by its area. In the area there is also DinoPark with life sized prehistoric dinosaur models.

The State Theater, already mentioned in the See section, proposes a classic program that includes operas and ballets for in Slovak language for quite low prices. It is also a way to visit the interior of the building. It is possible to purchase tickets for performances on F 09:00 - 12:30 and 13:00 - 17:30PM, Sa 09:00-13:00 at the cash register on the west facade of the building or an hour before the performances in the vestibule at the main entrance.

Cultural Center in old barracks completely renovated in 2013 including the park that surrounds it. Offers concerts, exhibitions and conferences.

Alternative cultural center including concerts and movies. The bar is a trendy place and cooking is good.

Temporary exposures of contemporary art. This cultural center is located in the building of the old indoor pool built in the 1930s abandoned in the 1980s and renovated in 2013.

The home of the State Philharmonic Orchestra of Košice and a venue for other classical music events too. The building was constructed in the 1920s as a synagogue, and became a concert hall after WWII.

The oldest music festival in Košice, classical music.

Cultural program for a week celebrating May 7 1369, the day when the city received its first coat of arms. Craft displays on the main street, medieval fights, opening of the summer season of the Children's Heritage Railway and Zoo.

Non-traditional art festival which intends to use the slightest cranny of the whole city.

Only one common ticket for Košice museums allows you to enter everywhere. Events lasts just for one evening.

International film festival.

Traditional folk dance festival, with performances on two stages. The one on the main street has free shows, the indoor one requires you to buy a ticket.

The first Jewish cultural festival in the country, with concerts, an exhibition and conferences.

The White Night is an annual cultural event taking place over a night in which many animations take place in the street or in public spaces and squares. The concept initiated in France has been taken up in Košice since 2010, the latest editions were a popular and received mass success.

Annual jazz festival, arranged since 1995. It takes place at the GES club, where there are concerts around the year.

Jazz festival taking place each year since 1990.

Festival of sacred art, taking place since 1990. There are concerts and song events at the cathedral and the House of Arts as well as art expos.

Christmas market with gift and medovina (hot mead) and warm wine vendors, and a stage with concerts and dance performances.

The oldest marathon in Europe and second oldest in the world after the Boston Marathon.

In Slovakia, the national sport is ice hockey. The local club, the HC Košice evolves in national division and has repeatedly been champion of former Czechoslovakia and present Slovakia. The games take place in season at Steel Arena, one of the two world rinks of the World Championships hosted in 2011 and 2019.

A pool 50 m in length with eight lanes and another 25 m in length with four lanes. Sometimes they're reserved for swimming clubs, in that case you can ask if there's a free lane.

Completely renovated in 2013.

Three heated outdoor pools, there's also an eatery.

Ski resort with three alpine pistes and 2-5 km of cross country skiing tracks. There are 7 lifts with a total capacity of 7432 people per hour. Equipment rental, restaurant both at the base of the pistes and the summit.

Small winter sports station in the middle of the forest. Alpine ski rental. Public transport access is a little less easy than for the Kavečany station because of the sporadic schedule of bus number 14.

Shop where you can rent or buy ski equipment.

800 m long summer toboggan track with 9 extreme twists and 3 tunnels.

Bowling, billiards and slot machines.

Bowling hall with a restaurant.

A beautiful day hike, 33.5 km in length. Take a bus from the bus station to Zlatá Idka and start walking from there. The hike has an ascent of 1036 m, and a descent of 1471 m and commonly takes a little more than 9 hours.

Departure at Zlatá Idka, accessible by bus as above. It's a hike of 25.5 km with both an ascent and descent of 907 m, and it commonly takes a little more than 7 hours. Departing from the Children's railway (240 m ASL) (see listing above), follow the signs with red stripes to Nad Kavečanmi (580 m ASL) and on to Sedlo Repy (805 m ASL) next to Vysoký Vrch. Then follow the signs with blue strips to return to Košice-Čermeľ.