Kosice Travel Guide
From Wikitravel
Košice [1] (pronounced Ko-shi-tse) is the second largest city in Slovakia, with a population of over 250,000.
Contents |
Understand
The area around Košice has been inhabited since the 8th century, but it was in the 13th century that it developed into a town. It grew rich during the Middle Ages due to its strategic position as a trading center. Having briefly served as the capital of the liberated Czechoslovakia after World War II, it is now finding a new role as one of the easternmost cities of the new European Union. It has a beautiful historic city center, with an enormous cathedral and a stunningly rejuvenated central square.
Get in
By plane
Košice's small airport is served by Sky Europe [2] to Prague and Bratislava, with several European connections at Bratislava. CDA [3] also fly to Prague, while Austrian Airlines [4] fly to Vienna.
By train
Košice is a large train hub, with numerous services to Bratislava, Prague, east to Ukraine, north to Poland and south to Hungary.
By bus
Given the efficiency and value of the train system, you shouldn't need to use the bus system very much. Eurolines [5] coaches come to here from numerous European cities, and bus is the the most efficient way of reaching the nearby town of Levoca.
Get around
Košice has a small and compact city center, and is mostly navigable by foot. If you are staying the suburbs, the tram system is cheap and efficient.
See
Most of Košice's attractions are along the main pedestrianized square, known as Hlavná Ulica, Hlavné námestie, and Námestie slobody at various parts.
Do
Learn
Work
Buy
Eat
- The restaurant at Hotel REO in Sebastovce (see "Sleep") comes highly recommended, with good service and great local food and wines.
Budget
Mid-range
Splurge
Drink
- Khoi Khoi, Dominikanske namestie 35. The "Voice of different culture", it is an alternative hang-out, very close to similar bars.
Sleep
Budget
- Domov Mládeže, Medická 2 (Walk west along Poštová and Vojenská until the road turns sharply to the right. Straight ahead you'll see a flight of stairs. The hostel is the big, colorful, apartment-style building to the left.) This is a nice hostel to the west of town, Beds are only 150 Sk a night, or about 5 USD.
- Hotel REO, in Sebastovce, [6]. (3km from the center of town, next to the road from Košice to the border with Hungary) With its 10 rooms, including two apartments, you can have your bed from 1350 Skk per night and this price includes a "king breakfast" too.
