Košice Old Town
The largest Gothic cathedral in Slovakia on a long spindle-shaped promenade, at the centre of the eastern metropolis.
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Košice grew as a trading city on the route north from Hungary, and its centre is a single very long square that widens in the middle, with St Elisabeth's cathedral standing in it: the largest church in Slovakia and the easternmost Gothic cathedral of its type in Europe, begun around 1380. Around it are St Michael's chapel, the Urban tower, a singing fountain and a run of burgher houses. Košice was granted the first European coat of arms given to a town, in 1369.
What you actually see
- St Elisabeth's cathedral - the largest Gothic church in Slovakia, begun around 1380.
- The long square - a spindle-shaped promenade the whole centre is built around.
- The Urban tower - the freestanding bell tower beside the cathedral.
- The Lower Gate - excavated medieval fortifications shown underground.
When to go
April to October is the most comfortable, with the fountain and terraces running. Summer brings festivals to the square. Winter markets fill it in December.
Honest expectations
The cathedral's tower and crypt keep separate limited hours and close on some days. The city outside the centre is workaday. Parking near the old town is difficult.
Nearby
Jasov is west, and the Slovak Karst is southwest.
What to pack for Košice Old Town
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
