Things to do with kids in Košice

15 family-friendly places in Košice: zoos, aquariums, playgrounds and more.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

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Andrassy Palace
Andrášiho palác
A three floor Neo-Baroque building constructed in 1899, with the blazon of the family on the façade. Nowadays the building houses a tea house and a restaurant.
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Anicka
pronounced as [ahnjiczka]
A popular park area and easily approachable weekend hangout for many locals. Tennis, playgrounds for children, summer swimming pool, pubs and lovely evening walks by the river. Take bus 71/72/29 north from the city center to 'Mier' stop and ask for directions.
See
Botanical Garden
Botanicka zahrada
Different local trees growing outdoors, and a greenhouse with tropical trees and plants. There are regular themed exhibitions related to for instance butterflies, fossils or cacti.
children €2, adults €3
Do
Children's Heritage Railway
Detska historicka zeleznica
3-km-long railway line in the forest. Three locomotives, Katka-named vapor locomotive, Danka and Janka diesel locomotives operating from the end of the suburbs to the recreational area of Alpinka.
children: one way €3/roundtrip €4, adults: one way €5/roundtrip €6
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City Park
Mestsky park
Main city park created in the 1860s and renovated in 2013. There are very beautiful trees, a kiosk with from time to time a concert, a fountain and lake, a small bridge, a children's playground and fitness facilities.
Mon-Sun 06:00-22:00
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Csáky-Dezőfi palace
Čákiho-Dezőfiho palác
Count Antal Csáky had this palace built in 1807. Count Abaúj-Torna, the county governor, resided here in the 1840s, then the Dezőfi family. One of the most pompous buildings in the city, it has hosted many important guests including Russian Tsars. In 1965 the palace was turned into an art gallery, and from 1993 to 2007 the Constitutional Court of Slovakia functioned here. Nowadays it's a major library.
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Forgács Palace
Forgács palác
An Empire style building from the early 19th century with the blazons of the Forgács and Pongrá families on the façade, now a library. In the 1940s, when a bank functioned here, a glass roof was installed, this part is now accessible to the public.
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Hike from Košice-Čermeľ to Vysoký Vrch
Departure at Zlatá Idka, accessible by bus as above. It's a hike of 25.5 km with both an ascent and descent of 907 m, and it commonly takes a little more than 7 hours. Departing from the Children's railway (240 m ASL) (see listing above), follow the signs with red stripes to Nad Kavečanmi (580 m ASL) and on to Sedlo Repy (805 m ASL) next to Vysoký Vrch. Then follow the signs with blue strips to return to Košice-Čermeľ.
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Košice castle
Košický hrad
A ruined castle on a forested hill. There's a viewing tower providing amazing views of the city to the south and to the valleys to the north. An association arranges medieval events on the site regularly, including a reconstruction of a medieval military camp each summer. There are several wooden statues and a small playground for kids.
free
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Museum of Aviation
Muzeum letectva Košice
Museum of Aviation is giving an overview of the technical evolution of aircraft, aircraft engines, equipment and aviation information. We owe the museum's creation to former Slovak President Rudolf Schuster who by his international initiatives and personal contribution helped to build a collection of aircraft from European countries, the United States and China, unique not only in Slovakia, but also in Europe. The museum is divided into five parts: debut of aviation until 1945, aviation since 1945, aircraft engines, the aircraft of the presidential gallery and road transport consisting mainly of old Czechoslovak cars and motorcycles.
Tue-Fri 09:00-16:00, Sat Sun 10:00-17:00Adults €8, family €17, child under 3 free
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Singing fountain
Spievajúca fontána
You may find it difficult not to find the 'singing fountain' in front of the theater enjoyable on warm afternoons or evenings. Calm music tunes and accompanying water salvos provide lovely vibes for couples enjoying their ice cream and serve as a hilarious entertainment for the kids. The music "feature" of the fountain is mostly active hourly on public holidays and/or in the evenings. It was inaugurated on May 1, 1986, it is the oldest fountain of this type of former Czechoslovakia.
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St Elizabeth's Cathedral
Dóm sv. Alžbety
This remarkable medieval monument was built in the High Gothic style. The present cathedral stands on a site formerly occupied by a parish church, which was destroyed by fire around year 1370. The patrons of the church included St. Elizabeth. The construction of St. Elizabeth's Cathedral began approximately in 1378. One of the highlights is the helical double staircase. There is also a possibility to visit the northern tower of the cathedral, which gives you a stunning view of the surrounding historical centre. The height of this tower is 59.7 m and contains 160 stairs in the staircase.
06:000-19:00. The tower is open all year long between 10:00 and 17:00Entrance to the cathedral is €2 (€1 for children), or a ticket including the tower and monuments is €6 (€4 for children). St Michael's Chapel (next door) is extra. You can buy the tickets at the entrance to the cathedral
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Summer toboggan track
Letna bobova draha
800 m long summer toboggan track with 9 extreme twists and 3 tunnels.
Daily 09:00-19:00children (up to 12 years old) one ride €1.50, adults one ride €3
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Zoo
One of the largest zoos in Europe by its area. In the area there is also DinoPark with life sized prehistoric dinosaur models.
Daily 08:00-19:00children €5, adults €8 (including DinoPark)
Do Not mapped
City Days
Dni mesta Košice
Cultural program for a week celebrating May 7 1369, the day when the city received its first coat of arms. Craft displays on the main street, medieval fights, opening of the summer season of the Children's Heritage Railway and Zoo.
takes place in May

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Košice (CC BY-SA 4.0).