Often overlooked in favour of Bratislava, Košice is one of Europe’s hidden gems. It has a gorgeous old town, culture and history in spades and became famous as the European Capital of Culture in 2013.
I’ll level with you; there isn’t a ton of things to see in Košice. However, there is more than enough to occupy you for 24 hours.
So what are the best things to do in Košice in one day?
As I spent three nights here, this is where I can help. Hit the ground running with my guide to Slovakia’s second city.
Some articles on this website contain affiliate links. This means that I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through these links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read the full disclosure here.
LOCATION: Košice is the largest city in eastern Slovakia and is located close to the border with Hungary
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: Slovak. Many people speak English
CURRENCY: Euro (€)
POPULATION: 300,000
SOLO TRAVEL RATING: Safe
GETTING AROUND: Košice is very walkable
BEST MONTHS TO VISIT KOŠICE: May to September
WHERE TO STAY: Boutique Penzione Slovak
Is One Day in Košice Enough?
As most of Košice’s main sights are clustered around its historic centre, you can cover a lot of ground in one day.
I visited Košice as part of an Eastern and Central Europe itinerary and stayed for three nights. This allowed me to see the city’s highlights in a relaxed day, take a day trip to Bardejov and visit some of Košice’s excellent bars and restaurants.
What to Do in Košice in One Day
1. Sightsee along Hlavná ulica
Košice’s historic centre is a treasure trove of medieval bastions, Art Nouveau curves, Gothic towers and flamboyant Baroque sculptures. You’ll find many of Košice’s architectural showpieces in and around Main Street (Hlavná ulica).
Without stops, walking from one end of Hlavná to the other should take you no more than 15 minutes. From north to south, here are the sights you shouldn’t miss.
The Immaculata
The Baroque Immaculata sculpture, also known as the Plague Column, was created by Simon Grimming in 1723. It was erected as a symbol of gratitude to the Virgin Mary for Košice surviving numerous plagues and wars, notably an epidemic in 1709–10.
Hlavná nam
Many of Košice’s architectural delights are assembled along Hlavná nam, a delightful long, rectangular plaza with flower gardens, fountains and cafes. Although the famous musical fountain was undergoing restoration when I visited, the cherry blossom was in full bloom.
University Church of the Holy Trinity
Also known as the Premonstratensian Church or the Jesuit Church, this Baroque jewel was commissioned in 1641 by Princess Sofia Bathory of Transylvania in reparation for the execution of three Jesuit priests. Following the expulsion of the Jesuits from Košice in 1773, the Church of the Holy Trinity fell into the hands of the Premonstratensians.
Košice State Theatre
Designed by the architect Adolf Lang, the National Theatre hosted its first performance in 1899. Considered one of Europe’s most beautiful theatre buildings, its exterior has Neo-Baroque and Art Nouveau elements.
Urban’s Tower
Urban’s Tower was originally a Gothic city bell house but was rebuilt in 1628 in Renaissance style. It takes its name from the so-called Urban Bell, blessed by St. Urban, patron saint of winemakers. Now that’s my kind of saint.
St. Elisabeth’s Cathedral
This is the easternmost Gothic cathedral in Europe and Slovakia’s largest cathedral. More about this later.
St. Michael’s Chapel
This chapel, located close to St. Elisabeth’s Cathedral is an example of High Gothic style. It sits in a lovely park that was once a city cemetery (St. Michael is the patron saint of the dead).
The City Coat of Arms
You’ll find the oldest coat of arms in Europe in front of the city’s Lower Gate. It was awarded by King Louis the Great of Anjou in 1369 and this bronze sculpture features an angel holding the Košice coat-of-arms between its outstretched wings.
2. Admire the frescoes in St. Elisabeth’s Cathedral
If there’s one must-see attraction in Košice, it’s the 14th Century Cathedral of St. Elisabeth. It is famous for its beautiful main altar and a rare Gothic double spiral staircase.
I loved the carved stone pulpit and the stained glass windows wrapped around the main altar. Its expressive 15th-century frescoes were revealed during restoration of the cathedral in 1892.
If you’re game, you can scale the cathedral’s 60-meter-high northern tower for views over Košice’s historic centre (I didn’t).
3. Stop for coffee at Café Slaviá
You could easily spend the best part of your day in Košice café hopping. Locals and visitors have patronised the Art Nouveau Café Slaviá for over a century.
It’s a great spot for people-watching or to just watch the world go by.
4. Marvel at the architecture of Jakab Palace
This romantic city palace was built close to the train station in 1899 by Peter Jakab, a local brick baron. In 1945, it served as the residence of Edvard Beneš, the Czechoslovak president.
5. Check out Košice’s synagogues
Jews were allowed to settle in Košice from 1840 and in the era of the first republic of Czechoslovakia, every fifth inhabitant of the city was Jewish. The Moorish-style Orthodox Synagogue on Puškinova Street was built in 1929 to accommodate this expanding population.
The partially-restored Old Jewish Synagogue on Zvonárska Street dates from the late 19th Century and is used for cultural purposes.
6. Stroll along Košice’s Crafts Street
Although I was a little underwhelmed by Hrnčiarska, it is lined with art studios and traditional workshops, earning it the nickname Crafts Street. It’s close to the Executioner’s Bastion and the Mikluš Prison.
7. Snap a few shots of Košice’s Umbrella Alley
Nowadays, any Instagrammable city worth its salt needs an Umbrella Alley. Even though I’m not a fan of The Gram, this courtyard is very camera-worthy.
You’ll find it just off Hlavna (number 21).
8. Check out Košice’s street art
I was delighted to discover that Košice has a thriving street art scene.
This was the brainchild of Street Art Communication, which aimed to introduce street art to Košice. At the last count, there were 30 murals in the city.
9. Visit Košice’s marathon runner
The city’s status as the home of the oldest marathon in Europe – and the second oldest in the world – is celebrated by this statue of a runner by Arpád Račko, together with the names of the winners. If you fancy your chances, the Košice Marathon takes place on the first Sunday of October each year.
10. Sample the craft beer at Slovakia’s oldest restaurant
After a busy day in Košice, you’ll be ready for a slap-up meal and local brew.
Founded in 1542, Hostinec is Slovakia’s oldest restaurant and serves tasty local food washed down with their craft beer. For the record, I downed a pint of Košickí majstri.
Na zdravie!
Getting to Košice
Košice is easily accessible by train with direct services to Budapest (3 hours 45 minutes) and Bratislava (4 hours 40 minutes). The city’s train station is ten minutes on foot from the Old Town.
You can check train times and prices here.
Where to Stay in Košice
Boutique Penzione Slovak
I stayed at this beautifully designed guesthouse located above an Argentinian steakhouse. I loved the yummy breakfasts cooked to order and its location, a minute from Hlavná.
>>> CLICK HERE TO CHECK AVAILABILITY & RATES
City Residence Apartment Hotel
This highly-rated apartment hotel is in the heart of Košice and has attracted stellar reviews from other travellers. The largest apartment has a private sauna and there’s a roomy studio apartment that is perfect for solo travellers.
>>> CLICK HERE TO CHECK AVAILABILITY & RATES
Boutique Hotel Slávia
Do you fancy staying within spitting distance of the best coffee and cake in town? Then book a room above the landmark Café Slaviá.
Other travellers love this 4-star boutique hotel and you can’t get much more central.
>>> CLICK HERE TO CHECK AVAILABILITY & RATES
Thank you for reading my suggestions for what to do in Košice in 1 day
I hope that it helps you have the best day there. Košice is 100% worth visiting.
If you have found this guide helpful and are planning broader travel in Slovakia, take a look at my other guides:
- A Perfect One-Day Bratislava Itinerary
- Why I Loved Bratislava, Slovakia
- One Day in Bardejov, A UNESCO Gem in Slovakia
Happy travels!
About Bridget
Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.
Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.
To get in touch, email her at hello@theflashpacker.net or follow her on social media.