Why Haven’t You Visited Košice Yet?

Traveling takes time and money, so you probably prefer to choose a famous location, a big city (maybe a capital) to fly there fast and mark the check-box on your travel list.

But if you are like me and sometimes want to experience the off-beaten path of the world and get the “real” feel of a nation, then it’s best to visit a less touristic location.

KOŠICE (a city of around 250 000 inhabitants situated in Eastern Slovakia, near the border with Hungary) is one of those hidden gems that many don’t consider visiting. It’s the second largest city in Slovakia and you can get there in 5-6 hours by train from Bratislava.

What you can do in Košice is to walk and admire the Main Street and eat traditional Slovak food (Halušky). There are shopping centers if you’re in the mood for shopping, the beer is good and if you want to visit the Zoo, there is one outside the city.

I admit I would have probably never traveled to Košice if I hadn’t known wonderful people that live there, Slovak people that I met during a beautiful summer spent in Ocean City, USA.

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 Stii si tu cum e: calatoritul necesita timp si bani, deci preferi o locatie faimoasa, un oras mare (probabil o capitala) unde poti zbura rapid si astfel bifezi un “vazut” pe lista ta de calatorii.

Dar daca esti ca mine si vrei sa te abati uneori de pe calea batuta a turistilor ca sa vezi locuri nemaivazute si nemaiauzite, atunci sigur o sa iti placa in KOŠICE – un oras de 240 000 de locuritori situat in Estul Slovaciei aproapte de granita cu Ungaria. Košice al doilea oras ca marime din Slovacia, primul fiind capitala Bratislava.

Ce poti sa faci in Košice e sa te plimbi pe Strada Principala si sa mananci mancare traditionala slovaca (Halušky). Sunt vreo 3 mall-uri daca ai chef de cumparaturi, berea e buna si daca ai chef te poti duce la Zoo, care e in afara orasului si e un fel de parc imens, iar animalele au destula libertate.

Recunosc, probabil nu as fi ajuns niciodata in Košice daca nu cunosteam oameni minunati de acolo, pe care i-am intalnit intr-o frumoasa vara din timpul facultatii petrecuta in Ocean City, SUA.

(Košice se pronunta Coșițe).

St Elizabeth Cathedral and St Michael Chapel / Catedrala Sf. Elisabeta si capela Sf. Mihail

 

MAIN STREET (HLAVNA ULICA) IN KOSICE

The city’s old historical center is situated along the Main Street (Hlavna Ulica) with well preserved buildings (in Renessaince, Baroque or Art Nouveau style), shops, cafes and restaurants, the State Theater and St. Elisabeth Cathedral.

The traffic is closed and the street is available only for pedestrians and bicycles (and dogs).

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Centrul istoric al orasul Kosice se intinde de-a lungul Strazii Principale (Hlavna Ulica), unde traficul e inchis si strada e accesibila doar pentru promenada. Aici gasim cladiri vechi bine intretinute, multe magazine, cafenele, restaurante, teatrul, si Catedrala Sfanta Elisabeta.

Andrassy Palace on the Main Street with Aida Cafe at the ground floor – great cakes and ice cream here!
Casa Andrassy pe Strada Principala. La parter: Cofetaria Aida – super prajituri si inghetata!

The Church of Holy Trinity / Biserica Sfintei Treimi

Old railways on the Main Street / Vechile sine de tramvai pe strada principala

 

State Theater Kosice (Štátne divadlo Košice)

The State Theater is situated in the center of the Main Street in Kosice, next to St. Elisabeth Cathedral. It’s built in Neo – Baroque Style and its construction finished in 1899.

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Teatrul de Stat din Kosice se afla pe Strada Principala, langa Catedrala Sf. Elisabeta. Cladirea e in stil Neo – Baroc si constructia sa a fost finalizata in 1899.

 

 

St. Elisabeth Cathedral (Dóm svätej Alžbety)

It’s situated on the Main Street in Kosice and is the biggest Gothic church in Slovakia. It dates from around 13th century and suffered several damages and restorations throughout time.

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Catedrala Sfanta Elisabeta se afla pe Strada Principala in Kosice si este cea mai mare biserica in stil gotic din Slovacia. Dateaza din secolul al XIII-lea si a suferit numeroase daune si restaurari de-a lungul timpului.

 

Food and drinks

On the Main Street there are restaurants, pubs and cafes. From sprig to autumn you can enjoy sitting outside in the sun.

I recommend you try Slovakia’s traditional food: Bryndzove Halusky. At first I did not like it at all, but it is now an acquired taste. I love it so much that I am drooling only thinking of it.

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 Pe Strada Principala sunt restaurante si cafenele, iar din primavara pana in toamna poti sta afara la soare savurand bunatatile oferite.

Va recomand Halushky cu branza si sunca prajita, mancarea slovaca traditionala. La inceput nu mi-a placut, dar acum a devenit un gust dobandit. Imi place atat de mult incat salivez numai gandindu-ma.

This beer is actually Czech / Asta e de fapt bere ceha

 

OTHER THINGS TO SEE IN KOSICE

Jakab’s Palace

This palace was built in the 19th century in Neo -Gothic style. No king lived here, just the normal Jakab family who constructed this building on the Mill Street (Mlynská Ulica).

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Castelul a fost construit in sec XIX. Aici nu a trait niciun rege, ci doar familia Jakab, care a si construit cladirea.

 

 

Hrnčiarska Ulica

It’s narrow, quiet and hidden street behind the Main Street. If you want some nice hand-made souvenirs, this is the place for you! And while you are here, why don’t you treat yourself to coffee?

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E o straduta inguta, linistita si ascunsa langa Strada Principala. Aici gasesti suveniruri lucrate manual, cateva restaurante si cafenele/ceainarii dragute! Si daca tot esti aici, de ce sa nu te rasfeti cu o cafea?

 

Buildings

 

Aupark mall, built a few years ago in the center of Kosice

Memorial of fallen heroes

Double Tree Hotel at the beginning of the Main Street

New apartment building / Bloc recent construit

 

See also:

• Bardejov, a small city in Slovakia
• Why not have a coffee break? In Kosice, Slovakia