Kosice is a little visited city as most tourists prefer its bigger neighbour Bratislava. Break the mould and visit Kosice for it is a beautiful city with very friendly people. You can hire a car to visit delights such as the monumental St Elisabeth’s Cathedral or the other historical landmarks in the square popularly called ‘Main Street’.
The city’s cultural heritage has earned it a place as the European Capital of Culture in 2013 and if the buildings of Main Street don’t excite you then visit the ‘Singing Fountain’ in the city, one of very few musical fountains in Europe.
Kosice Airport Mini Guide
Can you Recommend a Visit to Kosice?
If you like Bratislava and Prague, then you’ll love Kosice. Far more remote than the two capitals, Kosice has a fabulous old town in a peaceful and timeless environment. Whilst these days an important commercial city, it is trying to develop tourism and with the sights it has to offer, it has often been described as the ‘New Prague’. The view from the country’s biggest cathedral, St Elizabeth’s is amazing and shows you the expanse of medieval buildings that populate the area including the High Street where most of the sights are found.
How can I get to Kosice?
Kosice has its own international airport which accepts mainly domestic or near domestic flights together with holiday flights to and from Egypt and Turkey. British travellers would be best suited to travelling to Vienna or Prague and catching a connecting flight from there. It’s very close to the city centre having been built in a suburb and has convenient transport connections to the centre.
What is the Airport Like?
It’s a bit dated and very Eastern European in look and feel. Despite much glass, the airport appears dark and gloomy in places.
What Can I Expect When I Arrive at Kosice?
The airport is just as ‘cold war’ as it looks with a walk to the terminal from the plane steps, fine in summer but a bit fresh in winter. The passport control checks are rigorous and sometimes a little grim in tone. The baggage carousel is prone to gremlins and just when you think no more bags are arriving, it will restart, belching out more luggage.
Once in the arrivals hall, the information desk does its best to be friendly and welcoming and can guide you through the airport facilities. There are no banks at the airport but there is an ATM should you need cash. The car hire companies are well represented and their desks are easy to find. Make sure you have all the necessary documentation as sometimes people have been known to be left without a car, despite having pre-booked. The public transport system is good with a regular bus running between the airport and the centre.
What About on my Return From Kosice?
The airport’s facilities are minimal as, although having a range of shops and restaurants, the choice is limited. After you’ve checked in you can visit the AirportDollyShop, a melange of goods displayed in a seventies style shop. Items there include what you’d expect in a duty free plus confectionery, newspapers and gifts. Be aware that airport prices in Slovakia are renowned for being more expensive than the high street. For a bite to eat at the airport you can visit the DollyBar which has hot and cold drinks accompanying baguettes or the restaurant called ‘Steward’ which promises ‘warm’ dishes and does a side line as the airport newsagents! The airport does have the modern convenience of free W-LAN connection across the site!
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