Košice

Gothic Grandeur Meets Creative Energy

Kosice stands out as Slovakia’s second-largest city, known for its well-preserved medieval core and vibrant cultural scene. The Old Town features a striking Gothic cathedral with colorful tile roofs and a historic square where local markets often take place. Museums and galleries line the streets, showcasing both traditional crafts and contemporary art. Parks provide quiet spaces to relax away from busy squares. Kosice’s architecture reflects centuries of diverse influences while maintaining a strong sense of community through festivals and daily life.

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City in Slovakia

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 6.7

General Safety:	7
Health & medical:	6
Accessibility:	6
Tap water:	7

Read details

3/5

English is spoken in most hotels, restaurants, and tourist attractions, especially by younger locals. In smaller shops or with older residents, Slovak or Hungarian may be more useful, so a translation app helps.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Košice Summary

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‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

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Strong in historic architecture and city culture. Walk grand squares and Gothic streets, visit museums and galleries and enjoy cafés and cultural festivals.

Place score

6.6

Best at:

Walkable

Architecture

Historic sites

Large cities

Spotless

Personal score

Suited for

👶 6

Families

🧓 5

Seniors

🛡️ 7

Travel Beginners

❤️ 7

Couples

Slovakia – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type E Type C: Type E: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Euro (EUR) £1 ≈ €1.19
Cashless info:	Rating 4/5 Cashless payment is widely accepted, especially in urban areas, though small businesses may prefer cash. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is customary in Slovakia, with 10% being standard in restaurants. Small tips for taxi drivers and hotel staff are appreciated.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is generally not allowed, though it is tolerated in certain festival settings.
Public smoking:	Smoking is banned in indoor public spaces and transport, with designated outdoor areas available.

Slovak National Uprising Day (August)	Expect closures and commemorative events.
Christmas (December)	Festive markets and closures occur.
Easter (March/April)	Traditional celebrations and closures.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 112 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Bolt, HOPIN, Uber
Other:	Slovakia offers stunning natural landscapes, including the High Tatras, and a rich history with medieval towns and castles.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Košice, Slovakia

❄️

Jan

❄️

Feb

🌤️

Mar

🌤️

Apr

☀️

May

☀️

Jun

☀️

Jul

☀️

Aug

☀️

Sep

☀️

Oct

🌥️

Nov

❄️

Dec

High season:	May - Sep.
Shoulder season:	April, Oct., Dec.
Crowdedness:	7 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Košice Peace Marathon, the oldest marathon in Europe, takes place in early October

Christmas market runs from late November to late December

Don't miss

⛪ Explore the Gothic St. Elisabeth Cathedral and its crypt
🏘️ Walk through the historic Main Street and admire colorful facades
🏛️ Visit the East Slovak Museum to discover regional history
⛲ Climb the iconic Singing Fountain for panoramic city views
🍽️ Taste traditional Slovak dishes at a local tavern
🎵 Attend the annual Košice International Music Festival

You've been here?

Why travel to Košice?

Košice is a dream for lovers of history and architecture, with its pedestrian-friendly Old Town packed with Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque gems. Stroll down Hlavná Street to discover everything from the awe-inspiring St. Elisabeth Cathedral to quirky museums and vibrant street art. The city’s atmosphere is relaxed but never dull, with festivals, outdoor cafés and artisan workshops lining the cobbled lanes. It’s a compact, walkable city that rarely feels crowded, even in summer. Just keep in mind that English isn’t spoken everywhere and some attractions have limited information in other languages. Like any city, be mindful of pickpockets in busy areas and avoid poorly lit parks at night.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Marian statue
2 St. Urban Tower
3 Street Moda Plus
4 Saint Elisabeth Cathedral

🎡Places for activities

1 Kulturpark
2 Zoologická záhrada Košice

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 City Park
2 Hornád / Hernád
3 Botanical garden
4 Anička

🛍️Shopping

1 OD Dargov

🎈Events

Days of Košice (May)
White Night (Nuit Blanche) Art Festival
Košice Peace Marathon
Christmas Markets
Košice Music Spring
City Day Festival
Košice Jazz Festival
Summer in the Park Festival
Art Film Fest
Košice Wine Festival

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Stay near Hlavná ulica; most sights are steps away.
Climb St. Elisabeth Cathedral tower for sweeping Old Town views, especially in late afternoon.
Time your stroll for the Singing Fountain show near the State Theatre.
For a calmer detour, explore Crafts Lane and nearby side streets for local cafés and galleries.

How to travel to Košice

Košice International Airport offers flights to major European cities and is just 15 minutes from the center by taxi or bus. Direct trains and buses connect Košice with Bratislava, Budapest, Prague and other regional hubs. The main train and bus stations are close to the Old Town.

Access summary

From Košice Airport (KSC): Bus 23 or taxi, about 15–25 minutes.
From Bratislava: Direct trains or long-distance buses, usually around 5–6 hours.
From Budapest: Intercity trains or buses via Miskolc border area, roughly 4–5 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Košice

Košice offers a good mix of boutique hotels, modern apartments and budget hostels, mostly in or near the Old Town. Prices are reasonable for Europe, but book ahead during festivals. For a quieter stay, consider guesthouses in the leafy suburbs.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

DoubleTree by Hilton Kosice

9.0

Hotel Bankov Kosice

9.4

Boutique Hotel Bristol

City Residence Apartment Hotel

9.2

Golden Royal Boutique Hotel & Spa

8.0

Penzion Grand

6.9

Eco Friendly Hotel Dalia

7.8

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Košice

The city center is compact and best explored on foot – most sights are within easy walking distance. Trams and buses connect outlying districts, the train station and shopping centers. Bike rentals are available and the city is increasingly cycle-friendly. Public transport is efficient but less frequent late at night.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-34 %

Daily expenses in Košice are around 34% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend considerably less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-3 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to EUR) is 3% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£53	£118	£267
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£26	£64	£113
🍝 Food per day	£22	£48	£136
🚕 Transportation per day	£5	£6	£18

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£22
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£8.50
🍟 Fast food combo	£7.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£7.50
☕ Cappuccino	£2.70
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£2.20

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£1
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£11
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.40

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£8
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£28
🤧 Cold medication	£7
💇 Basic haircut	£13

Safety information overview

General safety

Košice is generally safe, with low violent crime. Pickpocketing can occur in crowded areas, markets and on public transport — keep an eye on your belongings. Avoid unlit parks and train stations at night.

Health & Medical

Medical care is good and accessible, with hospitals and pharmacies in the city. The main risks are minor injuries from walking or cycling; tap water is safe to drink. EU health insurance is accepted in public facilities.

Accessibility

Most main attractions and public transport are accessible, but cobblestone streets and some historic buildings may be challenging for those with limited mobility. The city is improving step-free access, especially in newer areas.

Tap water

Tap water is safe, clean and widely available. Bring a refillable bottle — public fountains are rare, but restaurants and hotels will provide water if asked.