The area around Ko?ice has been inhabited since the 8th century, but it was in the 13th century that it developed into a town. It grew rich during the Middle Ages due to its strategic position as a trading center. Having briefly served as the capital of the liberated Czechoslovakia after World War II, it is now finding a new role as one of the easternmost cities of the new European Union. It has a beautiful historic city center, with an enormous cathedral and a stunningly rejuvenated central square.
You can fly to Ko?ice from Bratislava, Vienna, Prague, Dublin, London (Luton airport) and since 30 June 2008 also from Manchester and Split. Ko?ice's small airport is served by SkyEurope Airlines [http://www.skyeurope.com/] directly to Dublin, London, Prague, Bratislava and to Manchester and Split (since 30 June 2008), besides, there is an opportunity to fly to several other European destinations through Bratislava. SkyEurope can be incredibly inexpensive. CSA [http://www.csa.cz/] also fly to Prague, while Austrian Airlines [http://www.aua.com/] fly to Vienna.
Ko?ice is a large train hub, with numerous services to Bratislava, Prague, east to Ukraine, north to Poland and south to Hungary.
Given the efficiency and value of the train system, you shouldn't need to use the bus system very much. Eurolines [http://www.eurolines.com/] coaches come to here from numerous European cities, and bus is the the most efficient way of reaching the nearby town of Levoca.
Ko?ice has a small and compact city center, and is mostly navigable by foot. If you are staying the suburbs, the tram system is cheap and efficient.
Most of Ko?ice's attractions are along the main pedestrianized street, known as '''Hlavna ulica''', '''Namestie Maratonu Mieru''', and '''Namestie Oslobodite?ov''' at various parts. Here you can also find the '''East Slovak Museum''', '''East Slovak Gallery''', '''Slovak Technical Museum''' and the '''Archeological Excavations'''. Other museums are the '''Aviation Museum''' and '''Loeffler Museum''' dedicated to Loeffler's own artistic works as well folk pottery.