SK
Košice
Slovakia’s second city, with a Gothic cathedral and one of Central Europe’s finest main streets
Slovakia’s second city, with a Gothic cathedral and one of Central Europe’s finest main streets
Slovakia’s largest church and the easternmost Gothic cathedral in Europe. You can climb the tower and visit the crypt.
Tower and crypt have separate small fees.
Photo: Adehertogh, CC BY-SA 3.0
The high vaulted nave holds a large Gothic winged altar. Beside the cathedral stand St Urban’s Tower and the Chapel of St Michael.
Photo: Maroš Mráz, CC BY-SA 3.0
This neo-Baroque theatre from 1899 hosts opera, ballet and drama. In front, the singing fountain plays to music in the warmer months.
Photo: Ingo Mehling, CC BY-SA 4.0
The main street is pedestrianised and full of terraces. Below it, the Lower Gate museum shows the remains of the medieval fortifications.
Photo: Bubamara, CC BY 2.5
Try bryndzové halušky (potato dumplings with sheep cheese), kapustnica (sauerkraut soup) and Tokaj wines from the nearby region.
Restaurants on and near Hlavná are good value.
Trains from Bratislava take about 5 hours. Košice airport has flights to several European cities.
The old town is compact and walkable; trams link the station and centre.
Slovakia uses the euro (€). Prices are lower than in Western Europe.
City and surroundings.
Visit the cathedral and tower, walk Hlavná and see the theatre and fountain.
Visit Spiš Castle, or caves in the Slovak Karst.
🛂 Entry rules: EES and ETIAS
Slovakia is in the Schengen area, which has two EU border systems for non-EU visitors.
EES (in force): since 10 April 2026 the EU’s Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors’ passport details, fingerprints and a photo the first time they enter the Schengen area, replacing passport stamps. Allow extra time at the border on your first trip; later crossings are quicker. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens are not registered.
ETIAS (not yet running): a €20 online travel authorisation for visitors who don’t need a visa, such as UK, US, Canadian and Australian citizens. It hasn’t started and no start date has been confirmed, so nobody can apply yet; ignore websites that offer to “pre-register” you for a fee.
Visa-free visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area, not per country.
Official information: EU: Travel to Europe (EES & ETIAS) · Reviewed September 2026
Tickets are cheap by Western standards.
The Slovak Tokaj region is nearby.
Buy tickets before boarding.
The Christmas market fills Hlavná in December.
Quick answers for planning time in Košice.
Its Gothic cathedral and long main street.
About 5 hours by train.
Yes, for a small fee.
Yes, in 2013.
May to September.
Planning a wider trip? Our Slovakia travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.