Košice sits in a basin, above 200 m above sea level, where the Hungarian plains meet the Carpathian mountains. A few suburbs have been built on the mountainsides, though not much higher than the rest of the city. Towards the south, along the Hornád river the plains open up; but unlike what one might expect of a city and a river, it passes through the suburbs of Košice rather than going right through the core. A landmark south of the city is a massive steel plant, the U. S. Steel Košice, employing over 10000 people.

Speaking of the core of the city, it's centered around the St. Elisabeth cathedral and is the largest protected historical downtown in Slovakia. There you can find much of the city's attractions, restaurants and bars. The periphery of the city is mostly made up of apartment blocks from the Communist times and have little to offer the average visitors aside from a few cheap places to sleep.

The mountains surrounding Košice, especially on the western side, and their forests are excellent places for hiking which is a popular pastime with locals. Outdoor areas such as Kavečany, Jahodná, Bankov et Čermeľská dolina can be accessed by public transport.

The region has been inhabited since the Stone Age. Celtic peoples settled in the region around 300 BC, Slavic people in the 5th century AD. In the 9th and 10th century it was part of Great Moravia, the first Slavic kingdom to be established in Central Europe. Towards the 11th century the region was Christianized, became part of the Hungarian Kingdom and got the name Abov. During Hungarian rule, a city started growing here, fortified during the rule of King Emeric (ruling 1196–1204) and first described as Villa Cassa in 1230.

A few years later the Mongols invaded the region, and in 1241 a battle was fought in Jasov 22 km from Košice. After they were expelled, the region was repopulated with German settlers invited by king Béla IV. In 1250 the Dominicans had a church built, which is the oldest standing building in the city, and the order still occupies the adjacent convent. The fortifications were strengthened throughout the 13th century and in 1290 Košice was granted city status. With the death of king Andrew III in 1301, the House of Árpád went extinct and this resulted in a war of succession where Košice supported different kings, with a major battle fought in Rozhanovce just east of the city in 1312. Eventually peace returned and Košice got the status of a royal city in 1347. In the 15th century the city grew both in population and importance, among other things the cathedral was built and Košice had around 10,000 inhabitants in 1480s – a lot for a city during the Late Middle Ages.

Košice saw troubles again during the following centuries. In 1526 Hungarians fleeing the Turkish invasion sought refuge in the city. A fire ravaged the city in 1556. And in 1597 the Catholic bishop of Eger, fleeing the Turkish advance, settled in Košice which was Protestant stronghold. He wanted to make the cathedral to a Catholic house of worship, and made a coup in the city in 1603 to further his goals with the support of the Austrian emperor. This led to a series of uprisings against the Habsburgs over the following century, ending in the Peace of Satu Mare (Szatmár in Hungarian) in 1711.

This was followed by two centuries of peace and prosperity. Hungarian aristocracy made the city a home, and many grand buildings were built during the 18th and 19th centuries. The Industrial Revolution reached Košice in 1791 when a hat factory was built, in 1860 the first train services arrived and horse-pulled trams started serving the city in 1891 (they were electrified in 1914). After the Austro-Hungarian compromise of 1867, when Hungary regained some of the privileges that had been taken away by Austria after the uprising of 1848, authorities made the formerly trilingual (Slovak-Hungarian-German) and -cultural city a more Hungarian one. In that, the cathedral was renovated, the State Theatre was built, and the remains of Francis II Rákóczi (leader of the 1703 rebellion against Austria) were brought to the city.

Having been part of the Hungarian kingdom for almost a thousand years, Košice became part of Czechoslovakia which was formed after WWI. The city briefly became Hungarian again in 1938 when annexed by Hungary, and during WWII Hungary was occupied by Germany. Jews made up about 20% of the city's population before the war, and they were deported to concentration camps in 1944. In January 1945 Košice was liberated, was reinstated as part of Czechoslovakia and even served as the temporary capital of the country as Prague was still occupied.

After the war the city grew in size and population, many suburbs were built, and in the 1960s a large metal plant in Šaca south of the city. Like Prague and other places in Czechoslovakia, Warsaw Pact troops invaded Košice in 1968 after the Prague Spring. The Velvet Revolution in late 1989 saw a strike at the university followed by tens of thousands of people demonstrating on the streets. After the fall of Communism, also the Czechoslovakia separated into two separate countries in 1993, and Košice went from being the fifth largest city in the former country to the second largest in Slovakia.

In the 21st century the city is finding its new role as one of the easternmost centers of the new European Union. It provides a look into the not-that-long-gone way of living in an eastern European country while also serving as a lovely example of a booming and rapidly changing place with rich ancient history best served by its stunning historic city center, with an impressive cathedral quickening the hear-beat of every picture hunting traveller.

Košice has a continental climate with hot and relatively humid summers and cold winters. Summer (July–August) temperatures may rise up to 30 °C with stretches of rainy weeks and maximums of 15 °C, while winter (December–February) weather is mainly freezing with stretches of weeks with significant snowfall and temperatures of -10 °C, interspersed with weeks of positive temperatures during the day.

The city receives relatively a lot of sunshine hours with winter months being the most gloomy. Winds and humidity may make the winter time rather uncomfortable, but temperatures usually stay above those in areas of hilly country north of the city and most of Slovakia. Snow and skiing forecast may vary unpredictably within a week ahead. The best season to visit may be the blooming and lovely spring of late April/May, though damp weather may occur unforeseeably for a week or two regardless of a season. Autumn can also be a good time to visit with warm rather than hot temperatures and precipitation as rain rather than rainstorms, and beautiful fall foliage in October.

• Official tourism website
• 48.7216221.258181 Official city of Košice Visitor Centre, Hlavná 59, ☏ +421 55 625 8888, [email protected]. M-F 10:00-18:00; Sa 10:00-17:00; Su 10:00-16:00. It provides complex information on the city as a destination, tourism packages in the city and where to explore the region, and also official city guides in various languages. With helpful staff it will help you to make your stay in Košice easier, fun and memorable. (updated Jul 2021)
• 48.72036821.2574772 Municipality information centre (MiC Košice), Hlavná 32, ☏ +421 911 567 423, [email protected]. M-F 10:00-18:00; Sa 10:00-15:00. Provides information on the city and official guides for Košice and the nearby region. English, German, Hungarian, French, Russian, Spanish, Polish and Italian speakers available. (updated Jul 2021)

• 48.7226521.268494 Košice Railway Station (Železničná stanica), Staničné námestie 11. Košice train station is a 10-minute walk from the city centre and is the terminus for many bus and tram lines. It is one of the most advanced railway stations in Slovakia. Area of 30 000 ft² provides many shops, cafes, restaurants and supermarket. (updated Sep 2024)

Many trains run between Bratislava and Košice. Several connections from Prague are operated daily by night and day trains, which takes about 8 hours. There are anywhere between 4 and 8 daily trains to Budapest, which takes 3 hours 30 minutes, though delays are not uncommon.

A ticket to Bratislava costs just over €20. InterCity trains are a little more expensive and require reservations. Sometimes they are full especially on the eve of long weekends, Christmas, Easter, etc. For Budapest the ticket costs €20 round trip. This is a promotional ticket valid only on the two direct daily trains between the two cities. The one-way ticket is more expensive than the round trip, so you won't even be offered a one-way ticket. There is also a small reduction on the round trip to Prague.

A daily personal car transport service exists between Prague and Košice, 1 train during the day and one train at night. The prices are not too high and the trip is much more relaxing than by road. If it's full from Košice, ask if there is still room from Poprad at 1 hour 30 drive. Book well in advance, especially around Christmas and Easter.

• Prague
  • 7 hr 48 min, SuperCity Pendolino Košičan
  • There are more daytime connections with a change at Puchov.
  • EN 442, 9½ hr (night train)
  • RegioJet: 8½ hr, 3 trains a day
  • LeoExpress: 8¼ hr, 2 trains a day
• Bratislava
  • R trains every 2 hr, taking 5 hr 50 min and costing ~€20
  • 4 InterCity trains a day taking a little less than 5 hr, for also around €20
  • Night train Gemeran Poľana (7 hr) costing €25-50 depending on the berth type (triple/double/single)

Be aware that some of the R trains follows a different and slower path, via rural central Slovakia, and the journey lasts for 7½ hr. But it also offers fairly spectacular nature scenes especially at section between Brezno and Margecany. Journeys on many Slovakian trains may be interrupted after 100 km off the starting point while you remain within your ticket validity dates.

• Budapest: 3½ hr, 2 IC trains a day
• Vienna: 6¼ hr, one IC train a day
• Mukachevo: 4 hr, 2 RR trains a day

From Poland, you would need to travel to Bratislava and change trains to get to Košice. Leo Express has trains from Krakow to Ostrava, and from Ostrava to Košice though on their website they need to be searched for and booked separately as of January 2022.

• 48.7213621.267555 Košice Bus Station (Autobusová stanica), Staničné námestie 11. The bus station doesn't have as many services as the adjacent railway station; there's a newsstand, an eatery, ticket sales and an information desk. (updated Sep 2024)

Given the efficiency and value of the train system, you shouldn't need to use the bus system very much. Eurolines, Interbus and Eurobus coaches come to here from numerous European cities, and bus is the most efficient way of reaching the nearby towns. There are also several companies linking Košice with Prague, usually with several stops on the route, including Brno.

Flixbus has direct buses to Kosice from Kraków (€18-34, 4.5 hours), Vienna (€25-30, 7.5 hours) and Prague (€36-58, 12 hours). LeoExpress has direct buses from Mukachevo and Lviv.

The city forms a crossroads between the north, Poland and the north of Slovakia via Prešov. In the east, the road to Ukraine leads to the main frontier post between these two countries, in the south, it leads to the east of Hungary and Budapest. Towards the west, it is heading to south Slovakia and Bratislava.

The main roads to the city are:

• 1. class road no. 16 towards Zvolen (E58, E571) — expressway R2 in construction; the way in from Bratislava (450 km), Vienna, Brno and Prague.
• 1. class road no. 17 towards Milhosť, border (E71) — expressway R4; the way in from Budapest (300 km), eastern Hungary and Romania.
• 1. class road no. 19 towards Vyšné Nemecké, border (E50, E58) — motorway D1 up to Bidovce; the way in from Ukraine.
• 1. class road no. 20 towards Prešov; the way in from Poland, Ostrava and Prague
• 2. class road no. 552 towards Slovenské Nové Mesto; from easternmost Hungary.
• 2. class road no. 547 towards Spišská Nová Ves; a scenic sidetrip from the road from Ostrava.
• 2. class road no. 548 towards Gelnica; from central Slovakia.

Public transport is operated by DPMK. English information on their website is limited, the route planner is more informative. Services usually run from 5:00 in the morning to 23:00 in the evening, with a few bus services running during the night.

By tram

[edit]

Trams are numbered 2–9 run and during most of the day, every 10–20 minutes. There are also trams numbered R1-R8 connecting different parts of the city to the huge steel plant, though their schedules are irregular and routes of little use to visitors.

Not all trams are accessible to mobility impaired passengers. In the schedule there's a wheelchair symbol next to departures where trains with a lower floor (ie. wheelchair accessible) are used.

Some taxi companies have a flat fare for rides in the city. Going to or from the airport will cost at least €10.

There are always taxis waiting along the main street, at the railway station and airport terminal when flights arrive. Usually ordering a taxi is cheaper than hailing one on the street. You can also order a taxi with Bolt app.

• CTC taxi, ☏ +421 55 6 333 333, +421 905 955 955 (mobile phone). (updated Feb 2018)
• Easy taxi, ☏ +421 919 333 333, +421 907 234 263 (mobile phone). (updated Feb 2018)
• Maxi taxi, ☏ +421 55 16 555, +421 905 357 555 (mobile phone). (updated Feb 2018)
• VIP taxi, ☏ +421 55 16500, +421 907 556677 (mobile phone), [email protected]. (updated Feb 2018)

Getting around by car is usually hassle-free, unless there are road works or accidents you will rarely encounter traffic jams. You can rent a car at the airport, most global rental companies have counters there.

Parking in Košice downtown costs on weekdays during the day (07:30–18:00) and on Saturday morning to early afternoon (07:30–13:00). Pay in parking machines or if you have a Slovakian SIM card, by phone.

There are some biking lanes in the north-south direction along the main streets, and you can bike along the river bank too even though there's no dedicated bike lane there. In the east-west direction there's not really any infrastructure specifically for bikes. In pedestrian zones and parks there's a 10 km/h speed limit for bikes.

• 48.7206321.260586 LBike - cyklocentrum, Mlynská,19, 04 001 Košice (the shop is at the back of the courtyard), ☏ +421 55 625 1123. Bike store and repair shop. (updated Mar 2018)

In the old town, walking is the only practical way to get around as there's no public transport and many streets are pedestrianized.

• 48.7272721.2533211 East Slovak Museum (Vychodoslovenske muzeum), Námestie Maratónu mieru 2, ☏ +421 55 622 0309, [email protected]. Tu-Sa 09:00-17:00, Su 14:00-18:00. Museum was established in 1872 and it is one of the oldest and most significant museums in Slovakia. From the architectonic point of view, the buildings of the museum itself are very interesting historical sights. In this museum, the following permanent expositions can be found: the nature of Carpathia, Hundreds of years of art, "Rodosto" – the memorial house of Franz II. Rakoczy, Artistic metal founding in Eastern Slovakia and Centuries of Košice – Mikluš's Prison. Except these expositions, there are always some temporary events and expositions. price depends on exposicion. (updated Jul 2021)
• 48.72412521.2559132 Slovak Technical Museum (Slovenské technické múzeum), ☏ + 421 55 622 4035, [email protected]. Tu-F 09:00-17:00, Sa Su 12:00-17:00. The museum presents a collection of objects that describe the history of techniques from the eighteenth century, particularly in the field of metal work, mining extraction, watchmaking, physics and chemistry. 8€. (updated Aug 2024)
• 48.71896521.2589943 Archeological museum Lower gate (Archeologické múzeum Dolná brána), Námestie slobody (At the southern end of Námestie slobody, look for stairs to descend below ground). M-Tu Th-Sa 10:00-18:00, W Su 10:00-22:00. Newly reconstructed archaeological basement of the main street at the lower gate of the 13th century fortifications of the city. Additionally you can still find parts of fortification in other places around the city center. All videos and text in the museum has English, Hungarian and Slovak description. Adults €4. (updated Sep 2024)

• 48.72279621.2597474 Mikluš's Prison (Miklušova väznica). Exhibition focused on the history of the city, it's part of the East Slovak Museum. (updated Jul 2021)
• 48.72286921.260465 Executioner's bastion and Rodosto (Katova bašta a Rodošto), Hrnčiarska 7. Katova Bašta is the only remaining part of the city walls. Rodošto is the name of a replica of the house where Francis II Rákóczy (1720–1735) lived in exile at the Ottoman city of Rodosto. He was the leader of a failed revolt against the Habsburg. The building was built in 1943 during the WWII annexation of the city by Hungary. In the courtyard there is a statue of Francis II Rákóczy. The area is part of the East Slovak Museum. (updated Jul 2021)
• 48.66825321.2356436 Museum of Aviation (Muzeum letectva Košice) (near Košice International Airport), ☏ +421 903 747 595. Tu-F 09:00-16:00, Sa Su 10:00-17:00. Museum of Aviation is giving an overview of the technical evolution of aircraft, aircraft engines, equipment and aviation information. We owe the museum's creation to former Slovak President Rudolf Schuster who by his international initiatives and personal contribution helped to build a collection of aircraft from European countries, the United States and China, unique not only in Slovakia, but also in Europe. The museum is divided into five parts: debut of aviation until 1945, aviation since 1945, aircraft engines, the aircraft of the presidential gallery and road transport consisting mainly of old Czechoslovak cars and motorcycles. Adults €8, family €17, child under 3 free. (updated Sep 2024)
• 48.71968121.2555827 Vojtech Loffler Museum (Muzeum Vojtecha Lofflera), Alzbetina 20, ☏ +421 55 622 3234, [email protected]. Tu-F 10:00-18:00, Sa Su 13:00-17:00. Likely interesting for the more art inclined traveler after seeing the usual government sponsored touristy stuff. €4. (updated Jul 2021)
• 48.7199221.258988 East Slovak Gallery (Vychodoslovenska galeria), Hlavna 27, ☏ +421 55 681 7511, [email protected]. Tu-F 10:00-18:00, Sa Su 13:00-18:00. Regional art gallery. Includes rotating temporary art exhibitions. Student €5.5, adult €7. (updated Sep 2024)
• 48.7232621.25979 Craftsmen's house (Dom remesiel), Hrnčiarska 11. A museum presenting the different crafts that were practiced in the region in the Middle Ages, that also contributed to theur development. (updated Mar 2019)

• 48.7202621.2581110 St Elizabeth's Cathedral (Dóm sv. Alžbety). 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. The entrance to the cathedral is for free anytime during the day. 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. It is open all year long between 10:00 and 17:00. You can buy the tickets at the entrance to the cathedral. €3 for the church tower. (updated May 2023)
• 48.7199221.2584311 St. Michael's Chapel (Kostol svätého Michala). 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. (updated Jul 2021)

• 48.7222821.2577212 Church of the Holy Trinity (Kostol Najsvätejšej Trojice). 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. (updated Feb 2018)
• 48.7240921.2568713 Church of Saint Anthony of Padua (Kostol svätého Antona Paduánskeho). Originally built for the Franciscan order, the church retains some original Gothic elements in stone. It burned in 1333 and 1556, and after the second fire the building was used as a military warehouse. Its sanctuary served as the seat of the Bishop of Eger in exile from the Turks from 1597 to 1671. One of the bishops is buried in the crypt right below the altar. After that the Franciscans returned to the church, it was renovated little by little and consecrated to Saint Anthony of Padua. The interior is mostly baroque, the wooden furniture is from the 1760s and 1770s, and the altarpiece depicts Virgin Mary with Saint Anthony. The cupola features a statue of Saint-Charles Borromeo, patron of the seminary. (updated Feb 2018)

• 48.7207921.254914 Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary/Dominican church (Dominikánsky kostol), Dominikánske námestie. 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. Entrée libre. (updated Feb 2018)

• 48.7205221.2528115 Cathedral of the Nativity of the Mother of God (Chrám Narodenia presvätej Bohorodičky), Moyzesova 40. 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. (updated Feb 2018)
• 48.7150121.2616516 Holy Spirit Church (Kostol Svätého Ducha), Južná trieda (à proximité immédiate du centre historique.). 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. (updated Feb 2018)
• 48.7210421.2610517 Evangelical church (Evanjelický kostol), Mlynská. 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. (updated Feb 2018)
• 48.7229221.259918 Calvinist church (Kalvínsky kostol), Hrnčiarska. 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. (updated Feb 2018)

• 48.6361321.1640719 Šaca manor, Šemšianska 4 (Bus: 20 or 26, bus stop « Šaca námestie »). Constructed in 1776, renovated in the 1970s after degradation, nowadays a venue for private parties but you can look at it from the outside. (updated Feb 2018)

• 48.7220821.2578820 Levoča House (Levočský Dom), Hlavná, 65. The oldest house in the city. It houses a restaurant, where Gothic vaults are visible. (updated Feb 2018)

• 48.72166721.25798921 Old city hall (Radnica), Hlavná 59. 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. (updated Feb 2018)

• 48.7233921.2571622 Andrassy Palace (Andrášiho palác), Hlavná 81. 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. (updated Feb 2018)

• 48.7198621.2576523 Bishop's Palace (Biskupský Palác), Hlavná 28. 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. (updated Feb 2018)

• 48.7230421.2561724 Csáky-Dezőfi palace (Čákiho-Dezőfiho palác). 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. (updated Feb 2018)

• 48.7184321.258625 Forgács Palace (Forgács palác). 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. (updated Feb 2018)

• 48.72277421.25726426 Beggar's House (Zobrakov dom), Hlavná 71. 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. (updated Jul 2021)

• 48.7219621.2627227 Jakab Palace, Mlynská. 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. (updated Feb 2018)

• 48.7236321.2544528 Sándor Márai house, Mäsiarska 35, ☏ +421 55 625 8888. Childhood home of writer Sándor Márai (1900-89), part of which has been turned into a museum. (updated Feb 2018)

• 48.7211121.2564829 Hadik - Barkoczy Palace, Hlavná 71. Baroque building from the 18th century, this palace too hosts a library. (updated Jan 2023)

• 48.722821.256830 Immaculata (Plague Column). 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. (updated Jul 2021)

• 48.72116721.25773231 Singing fountain (Spievajúca fontána). 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. (updated Jul 2021)

• 48.7246821.2537832 Sándor Márai Memorial, Námestie Sándora Máraiho. A statue of the Hungarian writer born in 1900 in Košice, sitting on a chair facing an empty chair and a pedestal behind him. (updated Feb 2018)

• 48.7615121.2371233 Košice castle (Košický hrad) (bus 29 towards Kavečany, to bus stop « Vyhliadková veža », from there a gravel path leads to the castle). 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. free. (updated Mar 2018)

• 48.6945721.260234 Public cemetery (Verejný cintorín), Rastislavová (Trams 3, 4, bus 12, stop: Verejný cintorín.). 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. (updated Feb 2018)

• 48.7322321.2336535 Cemetery Rozália. The final resting place for many important and wealthy personalities in the city, and many tombstones are quite impressive. (updated Feb 2018)

Jews were allowed to settle in Košice in 1840 and in a century the city developed into and important center of Jewish culture. In 1938, about one in five of the city's inhabitants were Jewish, but in 1944 the ruling fascist Arrow Cross party had them deported to Auschwitz to be killed. Today a small Jewish community lives in the Košice, but there are still a couple of monuments from the time before; the old and new synagogues, the House of Arts that formerly was a synagogue, and a cemetery from the 19th century. There's also a Holocaust memorial and a Jewish section at the main cemetery (see above).

• 48.72031521.26190136 New orthodox synagogue (Nová ortodoxná synagóga), Puskinova, [email protected]. 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. (updated Jul 2021)

• 48.7190221.2602137 Old orthodox synagogue, Zvonarská 7. 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. (updated Feb 2018)

• 48.7240921.2416838 Jewish cemetery, Tatranská. Used from 1844 to 1889, it has been poorly maintained. (updated Feb 2018)

• 48.72372221.2642739 City Park (Mestsky park), ☏ +421 55 622 1400. M-Su 06:00-22:00. 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. (updated Jul 2021)
• 48.73559821.23849340 Botanical Garden (Botanicka zahrada), Manesova 23, ☏ +421 55 633 1556, [email protected]. 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. children €2, adults €3. (updated Jul 2021)
• 48.75080321.25338641 Anicka (pronounced as [ahnjiczka]). 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. (updated Jul 2021)

• 48.6780821.26742 Barca Park (Barčiansky Park) (tram 4, terminus of the line.). 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. (updated Feb 2018)

• 48.72065921.2581743 Saint Urban's tower (Urbanova veža). 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. (updated Jul 2021)

• 48.7217321.2573344 The State Theatre (Štátne divadlo). 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 forcade 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. (updated Jul 2021)

• 48.74969321.2283262 Children's Heritage Railway (Detska historicka zeleznica), ☏ +421 905 496 426, [email protected]. 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. children: one way €3/roundtrip €4, adults: one way €5/roundtrip €6. (updated Jul 2021)
• 48.78354221.2039523 Zoo, ☏ +421 55 796 8011, [email protected]. Daily 08:00-19:00. One of the largest zoos in Europe by its area. In the area there is also DinoPark with life sized prehistoric dinosaur models. children €5, adults €8 (including DinoPark). (updated Jul 2021)

• 48.721721.25734 The State Theatre (Štátne divadlo). 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. (updated Jul 2021)
• 48.7139421.256485 Kasárne Kulturpark, Kukucinova 2, ☏ +421 55 685 4299, [email protected]. Cultural Center in old barracks completely renovated in 2013 including the park that surrounds it. Offers concerts, exhibitions and conferences. (updated Jul 2021)
• 48.7291221.255876 Tabačka Kulturfabrik, Gorkeho 2, ☏ +421 907 548 586, [email protected]. Alternative cultural center including concerts and movies. The bar is a trendy place and cooking is good. (updated Jul 2021)
• 48.7247221.261067 Kunsthalle, Rumanova 1, ☏ +421 55 308 0289, [email protected]. 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. (updated Jul 2021)

• 48.7170621.254018 House of Arts (Dom umenia), Moyzesova 66, ☏ +421 55 622 45 09, fax: +421 55 2453 119. 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. (updated Feb 2018)