Stand at the north end of Hlavná ulica on Námestie Maratónu mieru and the street opens in front of you as one long, flat pedestrian spine, rimmed with palaces, churches and burgher houses. This is the centre of Košice, and almost everything worth your time sits on it or a few steps off it.
The city suits travellers who like to cover a place on foot, who are happy to alternate a Gothic cathedral with a small regional gallery, and who prefer a compact historic core to a sprawl of separate districts. The preserved historical centre is the largest among Slovak towns, and it rewards a slow day rather than a checklist.
This guide covers the sights along and around Hlavná ulica, the museums and galleries that cluster near it, and the churches that stand within the old walls. It ends with a single-day plan that strings the best of them together.
Top things to do in Košice
1. St Elizabeth's Cathedral
This remarkable medieval monument was built in the High Gothic style on a site formerly occupied by a parish church, destroyed by fire around 1370. Construction began approximately in 1378. One of the highlights inside is the helical double staircase.
Climb the northern tower for a view over the surrounding historical centre; it holds 160 stairs. The tower is open all year between 10:00 and 17:00. Entrance to the cathedral is €2 (€1 for children), or €6 (€4 for children) for a ticket including the tower and monuments. Buy tickets at the cathedral entrance. St Michael's Chapel next door is charged separately.
2. Hlavná ulica
With its unique atmosphere, Hlavná ulica creates the heart of the town. It used to be a medieval square, and the whole town started to grow from this point. The ground is flat now, but in the past it was hilly and even a stream flowed there. All traffic is excluded, so it is a very pleasant pedestrian site.
Walk it end to end and you pass the cathedral, St Michael's Chapel, the Urban tower, the State Theater, the singing fountain and many stylish original bourgeois houses. Treat it as the spine of your day rather than a single stop: most of the places below open directly off it.
3. St. Michael's Chapel
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, on the island of the Čermeľský potok, in the place of the present park in Hlavná ulica.
The outer decoration is Gothic and the turret is fitted into the roof structure. Inside there is a stone tabernacle, the ornamental sculpture "Ecce Homo" and remains of wall paintings from the Middle Ages. The oldest coat-of-arms of Košice is above the door leading to the vestry. It sits directly beside the cathedral, so combine the two.
4. East Slovak Museum
Established in 1872, this is one of the oldest and most significant museums in Slovakia, and from an architectural point of view its buildings are interesting historical sights in themselves. Permanent expositions include 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.
There are always temporary events and expositions as well. It is at Námestie Maratónu mieru 2, at the north end of Hlavná ulica, and opens Tue–Sat 09:00–17:00 and Sun 14:00–18:00. A ticket of €8 covers four exhibitions including Mikluš's Prison, the house of Franz II Rakoczy and the pharmacy museum; a further €8 covers two more exhibitions.
5. Mikluš's Prison
Built as two Gothic houses, this later became a prison and is today named after its executioner. The exhibition is focused on the history of the city and forms part of the East Slovak Museum.
It is one of the exhibitions included in the €8 East Slovak Museum ticket, so pair it with the main museum rather than treating it as a separate visit.
6. Executioner's bastion and Rodosto
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 lived in exile at the Ottoman city of Rodosto; he was the leader of a failed revolt against the Habsburgs. The building was put up in 1943, during the wartime annexation of the city by Hungary, and there is a statue of Francis II Rákóczy in the courtyard.
The area is part of the East Slovak Museum and is found at Hrnčiarska 7, a short step off the main street.
7. Archeological museum Lower gate
This is the newly reconstructed archaeological basement of the main street at the lower gate of the 13th-century fortifications of the city. Parts of the fortification can still be found in other places around the city centre.
All videos and text in the museum have English, Hungarian and Slovak descriptions. It is at Námestie slobody: at the southern end of the square, look for stairs to descend below ground. Opening hours are Mon–Tue and Thu–Sat 10:00–18:00, Wed and Sun 10:00–22:00; adults €4.
8. Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (Dominican church)
This is the oldest building in Košice. The frescoes inside create the illusion that the building has no roof, and there is a monastery adjacent to the church.
It stands on Dominikánske námestie, a short walk off Hlavná ulica. Entry is free, which makes it an easy addition to a walk between the main street sights.
9. Church of the Holy Trinity
Constructed in 1681 on the place where the Protestant prince George I Rákóczi tortured three Jesuits – Marek Križin, Melicher Grodecký and Štefan Pongrác – who are known as the holy martyrs of Košice.
It is one of several churches within the compact centre, so fold it into a single walking loop rather than making a separate trip.
10. Cathedral of the Nativity of the Mother of God
A 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.
You will find it at Moyzesova 40, within reach of the main street and worth a look if you are interested in the city's range of church architecture.
11. Holy Spirit Church
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. It was built between 1730 and 1733 and has a tall tower, used for spotting enemy troops – particularly important because it stood outside the city walls and was as such unprotected.
The main attraction is its fresco depicting the city in the 18th century. It is on Južná trieda, close to the historical centre.
12. Slovak Technical Museum
The museum presents a collection of objects describing the history of techniques from the eighteenth century, particularly in the field of metal work, mining extraction, watchmaking, physics and chemistry.
It opens Tue–Fri 09:00–17:00 and Sat–Sun 12:00–17:00, and admission is €8. A good counterpart to the art and history collections if you want a change of subject.
13. East Slovak Gallery
A regional art gallery at Hlavná 27, including rotating temporary art exhibitions. It opens Tue–Fri 10:00–18:00 and Sat–Sun 13:00–18:00, with tickets at €7 for adults and €5.5 for students.
Because it sits directly on Hlavná ulica, it works well as a short indoor stop in the middle of a walking day.
14. Vojtech Loffler Museum
At Alzbetina 20, this is likely to interest the more art-inclined traveller after seeing the usual government-sponsored touristy sights. It opens Tue–Fri 10:00–18:00 and Sat–Sun 13:00–17:00, and admission is €4.
It is small and close to the main street, so it fits easily into an afternoon rather than requiring its own half-day.
15. Craftsmen's house
A museum presenting the different crafts practised in the region in the Middle Ages, which also contributed to their development. It is at Hrnčiarska 11.
Hrnčiarska is the same short street as the Executioner's bastion and Rodosto, so the two can be visited together in one detour from Hlavná ulica.
If you only have one day
Morning. Start at the north end of Hlavná ulica on Námestie Maratónu mieru and give the East Slovak Museum its opening hours, taking in Mikluš's Prison on the same ticket. Then walk south down Hlavná ulica, the pedestrian heart of the town, towards St Elizabeth's Cathedral.
Afternoon. Visit St Elizabeth's Cathedral and climb the northern tower for the view, then step next door into St. Michael's Chapel. Continue along the main street to the East Slovak Gallery at Hlavná 27, and detour onto Hrnčiarska for the Executioner's bastion and Rodosto and the Craftsmen's house. Finish the afternoon at the Archeological museum Lower gate on Námestie slobody, where you descend below ground into the 13th-century fortifications.
Evening. Walk back up Hlavná ulica past the singing fountain and the State Theater as the street settles into its evening mood, then take the short walk to Dominikánske námestie for the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the oldest building in Košice.
Frequently asked questions
Where are most of Košice's attractions?
Most of them are along the main pedestrianised street, Hlavná ulica, at Námestie Maratónu mieru at its north end, and at Námestie osloboditeľov at its southern end.
Can I visit St Elizabeth's Cathedral and St. Michael's Chapel on one ticket?
No. You buy cathedral tickets at the cathedral entrance, and St Michael's Chapel next door is charged separately. A ticket including the tower and monuments costs €6, or €4 for children.
Which museums are included in the East Slovak Museum ticket?
The €8 ticket covers four exhibitions, including Mikluš's Prison, the house of Franz II Rakoczy and the pharmacy museum. A further €8 covers two more exhibitions.
Is the archaeological museum accessible in English?
Yes. All videos and text in the Archeological museum Lower gate have English, Hungarian and Slovak descriptions.
Use these names as your shortlist, check the opening hours against the days you will be in the city, and start building your route along Hlavná ulica.