Most travellers heading east default to Prague, Budapest, or Vienna—and pay capital-city prices for the privilege.
Tucked away in eastern Slovakia, Košice delivers a stunning pastel-painted historic Old Town, a lively café scene, and incredible local food at a fraction of the cost.
By booking direct and unbundling your flights and stay, you can get away for £82.50 per person (£165 total for two) for a full 3-day weekend trip.
The Cost Breakdown (Based on 2 Sharing)
| Item | Total Cost (2 People) | Cost Per Person | Notes |
| Return Direct Flights | £66.00 | £33.00 | London Stansted ➔ Košice with Ryanair |
| Old Town Apartment | £99.00 | £49.50 | 2 nights at Košice Central Apartments |
| Fixed Baseline Total | £165.00 | £82.50 | Flights + accommodation secured |
| Est. Daily Spending | ~£100.00 | ~£50.00 | Halušky dinners, craft beers, artisan coffee & local transit |
| Realistic Trip Total | ~£265.00 | ~£132.50 | All-in for 3 full days on the ground |
The Flights: London Stansted to Košice
- Airline: Ryanair
- Route: London Stansted (STN) ➔ Košice International (KSC)
- Price: £33 return per person (£66 total for two)
- Outbound: 06:00 (STN) ➔ 09:25 (KSC) – 2h 25m direct
- Inbound: 20:30 (KSC) ➔ 22:05 (STN) – 2h 35m direct
Why this flight timing is unbeatable: You touch down at 09:25 on day 1, and your return flight doesn’t leave until 20:30 on day 3. That gives you three complete days of exploring while only paying for two nights of accommodation.
Getting from Košice Airport to the Old Town
- Public Bus (Line 23): Departs directly outside the terminal and drops you at the central station (Staničné námestie) in 20 minutes for under €1.50.
- Bolt / Taxi: Readily available right outside for around €8–€12 straight to your apartment door.
The Stay: Košice Central Apartment
Skip small hotel rooms—this booking secures a full private one-bedroom apartment situated just steps from the historic centre.
- Property: Košice Central – One Bedroom Apartment Next to Old Town
- Location: Branisková 1, Košice Old Town (Rated 9.8 Exceptional on Booking.com)
- Total Cost: £99 for 2 nights (£49.50 per person based on 2 sharing)
- Layout: 431 sq ft private apartment featuring a separate bedroom with a double bed, living room with a sofa bed, private balcony, and city views.
- Amenities: Fully equipped private kitchen with microwave, stovetop, coffee machine, and dishwasher, plus air conditioning, washing machine, flat-screen TV, and free Wi-Fi (rated 10/10).
Having a proper kitchen means you can grab fresh bakery items, fruit, and snacks from nearby supermarkets (Billa / Tesco) for quick breakfasts before heading out.
Why Košice is Europe’s Best-Kept Weekend Secret
- Hlavná Ulica (Main Street): One of Central Europe’s longest pedestrianised thoroughfares, flanked by grand Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque townhouses, bubbling fountains, and lively street-side terraces.
- St. Elisabeth Cathedral: Slovakia’s largest church and Europe’s easternmost Gothic cathedral. Climbing the North Tower costs just a couple of euros and gives you panoramic views over the terracotta rooftops and surrounding hills.
- Incredible Food & Drink Value: Enjoy a massive steaming plate of Bryndzové halušky (potato dumplings smothered in sheep’s cheese and crispy smoked bacon) alongside a half-litre of local draft beer for around €8–€10. Specialty flat whites in third-wave cafés run about €2.20–€2.50.
- Winter Atmosphere: The city transforms with twinkling fairy lights, warm wooden chalets, hot spiced wine (varené víno), and roasted chestnuts along the pedestrian promenade.
Prices and availability are accurate at the time of publication and based on two sharing. Fares and rates fluctuate dynamically with third-party providers and can change at any time. We are an independent travel platform and do not sell tickets or process bookings directly.