Most of what matters in Košice is on or immediately off Hlavná ulica, the long pedestrian promenade that runs through the old town. The dominant sight is St. Elisabeth Cathedral, the largest Gothic cathedral in Slovakia and a building of genuine grandeur. Adjacent to it stand the St. Michael Chapel and St. Urban Tower, forming a Gothic ensemble at the heart of the street. The State Theatre Košice faces them from across the promenade.
The East Slovak Museum is the most important museum, housing the famous Košice Gold Treasure — one of the largest medieval gold hoards in Europe. The Executioner's Bastion preserves a section of the medieval fortifications with a small café inside.
For those who want to venture further from the centre, the Museum of Aviation at Košice airport is worth the trip for aviation enthusiasts, and the Košice Zoo is a good half-day option for families.