15 Outdoor Fun Things to Do in Kosice Slovakia | Slovakia Scenery

Outdoor Adventures in Kosice City and Around

I was never a big fan of cities and the life in the so-called ‘concrete jungle’. So when I came over to Slovakia this summer – into a city surrounded by a beautiful nature backdrop and easily access to adventure activities, I fell in love with it. And that is what Kosice is.

After the cloud cleared, we could finally see the stunning High Tatras Mountains | Slovakia Scenery

Kosice City (Košice in Slovakian) is a quaint little city in Slovakia with its cobbled streets, little bars and restaurants with amazing Slovakian food and wine to chill out at. However beyond that, just on the outskirts of the city centre, they also have a huge array of outdoor activities and action sport for people to experience.

Lisa and I were in Kosice and Spis Region for 5 full days after I came over by bus from Gdansk in Poland, and am here to recommend some of the best things to do in Kosice Slovakia in our limited summertime there:

Top Outdoor Things to Do in Kosice Slovakia

1. Go Crazy Bob Sledding

For those who have never tried it before, bobsledding like a big long slide on a hill for adults, using a special ‘vehicle’ to go real fast. I have tried something similar called the luge in both Singapore and New Zealand, but this would be my 1st time bobsledding, and it was immensely fun.

Things to Do in Kosice | Bob Sledding in Kosice

Your sled will first be pulled up the hill by a pulley system/ belt like those of waterslides/ ski lifts before you start your little adventure whizzing down the steel slide at high speed. We had 2 attempts to experience it, and on the 1st time, I was more cautious and used the handbrake on a bit more, but on my 2nd time attempting, I was going much faster and learned to use my body to help make the vehicle more streamline and faster.

Lisa and I were really lucky to have the entire bobsled ride in Bobovka exclusive ALL TO OURSELVES given it was the low season when we went ( May it is)! So given there is no crowds/ people to even begin with, I could go as fast as I like, and for Lisa, ‘slow’, steady and relaxing the way she likes it.;)

2. Conquer the High Tatras Mountains

These stunning majestic mountains are part of the Carpathian mountain chain in eastern Europe and are shared between Slovakia and Poland, though the highest peak is located only over at the Slovakia side. They looked truly magnificent in the distance and if you look harder at the bottom picture with the beavers, you can see the famous ski jumping structure where they host the Ski Jumping World Cup competition every year here.

We had a half day walk exploring around the High Tatras mountains with Erik from Adventoura Slovakia, who was a really chatty and humorous guide who kept us entertained the whole day despite the little rain and cold we experienced. We started off the hike at the beautiful glass-like Koliba Patria lake. It has a beautiful view of the fir trees, mountains, surrounding cabin resorts and small restaurants (where we had our really delicious lunch stop in the cosy ambience of the cabin). It was a bit cloudy and drizzling the day we hiked in the High Tatras, so if you want to do a good hike, it is always good to come prepared with waterproof and windproof jacket and shoes.

(Animals one can spot here in the High Tatras include the Tatras’ endemic goat-antelope and almost endangered species, the Tatra chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra tatrica). Interesting sightings which I would love to spot will be predators like the Eurasian brown bear, Eurasian lynx, marten, wolf and fox. My favourite, the adorable fluffy alpine marmot which I saw in the Pyrenees in Spain is also commonly spotted in the range.)

There are some really great lookout spots along the way if you choose to opt to drive up the mountain area instead of hiking. We stopped by the Museum of Sherpas/ Sherpa Caffe for some warmth/ tea and to watch a documentary about the Sherpas of Slovakia, where we got to find out that they are the only last surviving Sherpas in Slovakia, and they still want to continue to hold on/ preserve the tradition of Sherpa work even up to this day and age. Sherpas here are similar to those in Nepal, incredibly strong and resilient people who are both physically and mentally strong in all weather conditions when they work on their tasks climbing the High Tatras to deliver items. The nature of their work is quite solo, they only specialise and focus on delivering goods/ items to the mountain huts, and not serve as porters too carrying bags for tourists wanting to hike in the Tatras.

Museum of Sherpas/ Sherpa Caffe for some warmth/ tea and to watch a documentary about the Sherpas of Slovakia | In the heart of the Slovakian Mountains
Museum of Sherpas/ Sherpa Caffe for some warmth/ tea and to watch a documentary about the Sherpas of Slovakia | In the heart of the Slovakian Mountains

 

If you love hiking and mountains, there are plenty to explore in Europe, from Monteneggro to Slovenia. Check them out too!

3. Acrobatic Aeroplane Scenic Ride in Spisska Nova Ves

Me and my own plane - Scenic Flight Experience with Compact SkyDive here in Spišská Nová Ves | Top Outdoor Things to Do in Kosice Slovakia
Me and my own plane – Scenic Flight Experience with Compact SkyDive here in Spišská Nová Ves

And no..this is not just a marketing gimmick, I truly got the privilege to control a plane when I was up in the air.

We made our way over to Compact Skydive in Spišská Nová Vesin at the later part of the afternoon after our horseriding experience and met Peter/ Olga and their fantastic team. They enthusiastically showed us around their shop, the planes, equipment, gear and training room for the students that come to do skydiving/ heli-dive ( jump off from a helicopter instead!).

After a little break and some snacks,  without further ado, we were given a quick short briefing, incredibly cool red pilot jackets and hosted off to fly our plane!

Peter was the main pilot and I was the co-pilot, with Lisa sitting at the back enjoying the view.

We got to pull the little red plane out of the garage, prepare it for takeoff, put on our headphones and learn the basics of how to operate the little plane.

All ready to do some real acrobatic flying in Kosice
All ready to do some real acrobatic flying in Kosice

Some of the incredible sights we saw during the flight were Spiš Castle(UNSECO World Heritage Site), the town of Spišská Kapitula, Mariánska hora catholic church ( where the monks still wear the brown robes) and the small town of Levoča.

Really nice aerial view experience, not forgetting the crazy acrobatic plane tricks we were doing between the locations, falling at gravitational speed and sharp g-force turns that I will strongly encourage all not to eat before taking off to get the best out of your scenic flight. All in all, it was an incredible experience and I would encourage every adrenaline junkie crazy enough like me to try this once in their lifetime!

Aerial View of Spis Castle from the scenic plane ride with Compact Skydive | Top Outdoor Things to Do in Kosice Slovakia
Aerial View of Spis Castle from the scenic plane ride with Compact Skydive
Final Shot with me and my plane I just flew through the skies of Kosice. One of the highlights of my trip and incredible memories.
Final Shot with me and my plane I just flew through the skies of Kosice. One of the highlights of my trip and incredible memories.

A fan of castles like the Spis Castle? Why not got on a full ancient castle tour in Ireland?

4. Smooth Kayaking at Hornad River

I was expecting some river rapids here at Hornad River, but was pleasantly surprised by the calming and tranquil experience we had eventually. The kayak experience was done with adventure company called Eden Slovakia who also plan other activities like jeep riding to see the sunrise from incredible lookout points in Kosice.

Peaceful kayaking down Hornád River with Eden Slovakia
Peaceful kayaking down Hornád River with Eden Slovakia

A fan of kayaking? Why not experience it in the region of Costa Brava in Spain during summer!

During the kayaking, you will get to enjoy the peaceful calm of the water with the flowers/ pollen flying gently in the air. There will be some nice metal bridges you will go under, and if you are lucky, the trains will go past on top of the bridge while you are under, and it is a super exciting feeling to hear the rumble and deafening sound!

Before going on your next travel adventure, consider booking Affordable Travel Insurance from US$14 onwards for that peace of mind! 🙂

So hence concludes the huge array of incredible activities we did here in Kosice City. But the list doesn’t end here…

5. Immerse in a Full List of Outdoor Things to Do:

City tour of Kosice City

Explore the City of Kosice
Explore the City of Kosice
  • Chill out and see the city of Kosice
  • Have a beer and some delicious local Slovak food

Spa and Wellness

  • Indulge and relax your muscles/ body at one of the best spa places in Europe – AquaCity in Poprad 
  • Come again in Winter time. It is even more amazing to do this after a long day of fun outdoor winter activities.

UNESCO Sites and National Parks

Wind and Land Outdoor Activities

  • Keep fit and lose weight from Rock Climbing / Abseiling at the highest indoor gym in Europe, WoodRock ( Poprad)
  • Parasailing at the High Tatras/ Tatra ( Something that I wanted to do badly too!)
  • Mountain Carting at the High Tatras

If you love rock climbing, why not check out the full list of best rock climbing spots in Europe like Kalymnos ( Greece) or Siurana (Spain).

For more information about what other incredible sights and how to enjoy the best of Slovakia Scenery, visit Kosice Region and Visit Kosice for more interesting options. Always come prepared for your trip with comfy shoes, waterproof jacket and a trusty and safe backpack that can carry all your needs ( laptop for me!)

How to get to Kosice

Flights to Kosice –  Daily evening flight with Turkish Airlines from Istanbul Airport.

Alternative options involve bus rides from cities in Poland (like Krakow) or other flights from within Europe.

15 Outdoor Action Packed Things to Do in Kosice City | Scenic Slovakia

So how do you find Kosice so far? Worth the visit??

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20 Comments

  • Avatar of Rosemarie
    Reply
    Rosemarie
    June 20, 2018 at 8:29 pm

    Wow bob sledding looks like so much fun! It’s definitely on my to-do list!

    • Avatar of Lydia Yang
      Reply
      Lydia Yang
      June 21, 2018 at 8:35 am

      It is indeed very fun and I warmly recommend it to everyone, Rosemarie!

  • Avatar of Miriam
    Reply
    Miriam
    June 21, 2018 at 1:24 pm

    You really made the most out of your stay & the gorgeous nature there. It is definitely on my list of places to visit in the future! Have a wonderful weekend ahead!

    Miriam xx

    • Avatar of Lydia Yang
      Reply
      Lydia Yang
      June 22, 2018 at 9:52 am

      Hey Miriam! I really hope you’ll get to cross it off your bucket list soon. Have a great weekend, too! 🙂

  • Avatar of Mabel Kwong
    Reply
    Mabel Kwong
    June 24, 2018 at 9:48 am

    Looks like so much outdoor activities to do in Kosice city! Up in the air, along the water, land adventures…just so many things to choose from to have fun 🙂

    • Avatar of Lydia Yang
      Reply
      Lydia Yang
      June 25, 2018 at 9:45 am

      Yes, indeed! Kosice City is a great place to explore, especially for the adventure junkies, Mabel! 🙂

  • Avatar of Indah
    Reply
    Indah
    June 27, 2018 at 2:12 pm

    That looks so much fun! I am soo curious about the Acrobatic Aeroplane 😀 Would love to try it someday!

    • Avatar of Lydia Yang
      Reply
      Lydia Yang
      June 28, 2018 at 11:01 am

      Hey, Indah! It was extremely fun and an unforgettable experience! I warmly recommend you try a ride in an acrobatic aeroplane! 🙂

  • Avatar of Christopher OKeefe
    Reply
    Christopher OKeefe
    June 27, 2018 at 3:16 pm

    Wow! It looks like you have some grand adventures there. I’d like to try them all. The bobsledding looks especially fun. Cheers!

    • Avatar of Lydia Yang
      Reply
      Lydia Yang
      June 28, 2018 at 11:02 am

      Yes, Christopher. My stay in Kosice was full of adventures and bobsledding was indeed fun and exceptional experience. 🙂

  • Avatar of Emily
    Reply
    Emily
    July 5, 2018 at 6:53 pm

    While I love the concrete jungle, I’ve always wanted to visit Slovakia! It looks so magical! It sounds like you had an amazing time. Cannot believe these amazing photos you got. They just blow me away.

    • Avatar of Lydia Yang
      Reply
      Lydia Yang
      July 5, 2018 at 7:11 pm

      Slovakia is indeed magical, Emily! It’s extremely easy to take good photos when you have such a picturesque nature!

  • Avatar of Lady Fi
    Reply
    Lady Fi
    July 12, 2018 at 9:58 am

    Looks so beautiful!

    • Avatar of Lydia Yang
      Reply
      Lydia Yang
      July 17, 2018 at 5:16 am

      It sure is Lady Fi. Remember to visit Slovakia some day!

  • Avatar of Agra
    Reply
    Agra
    July 26, 2018 at 7:00 am

    Hey, Lydia, you have shared an amazing post with stunning photographs. Thanks for sharing your tour exp. of Kosice city. I read your post. I really appreciate for that.

    • Avatar of Lydia Yang
      Reply
      Lydia Yang
      July 30, 2018 at 8:23 am

      Thanks a lot, Agra! Your comment means the world to me. 🙂

  • Avatar of Jai
    Reply
    Jai
    July 28, 2018 at 1:10 pm

    I have read your full post and I want to say that this is a very nice post. Thank you so much for sharing your fantastic photos and wonderful experience with us keep posting.

    • Avatar of Lydia Yang
      Reply
      Lydia Yang
      July 30, 2018 at 8:23 am

      Thanks for the kind words, Jai! Glad you liked the post. 🙂

  • Avatar of Aparna verma
    Reply
    Aparna verma
    February 8, 2019 at 2:58 pm

    Looks like you had great fun. Amazing images you have shared, your post made me feel like going there too.
    Thanks for sharing. Cheers!!

    • Avatar of Lydia Yang
      Reply
      Lydia Yang
      February 8, 2019 at 3:34 pm

      Thanks Aparna. Yes, I do miss Kosice City in Slovakia too! Great memories and adventures there.:D

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