Car Rental in Kosice

Why rent a car in Kosice?

Kosice is a great city to visit. The capital of the historical region of Eastern Slovakia, it is home to unique culture, interesting museums, and impressive architecture. The region is famous for its beautiful High Tatra mountains and deep cave systems that can be easily reached from Kosice. With a rental car, you might even want to take a trip over the border to Budapest in Hungary or Krakow in Poland. 

Top ways to enter Kosice

• Kosice Airport: The second-busiest in the country and by far the largest in Eastern Slovakia, Kosice Airport handled 540,000 inhabitants in 2018. The airport has flights by eight different airlines, including low-cost carriers like Eurowings and Wizz Air. Located some 9 km (5 miles) southwest of the city center, the airport can be reached in about ten minutes.
• Poprad Airport: Also known as Poprad-Tatry, this tiny international airport only has flights to and from Luton (near London) in the United Kingdom as well as seasonal connections with Kyiv in Ukraine and Riga in Latvia. At an elevation of 718 m (2,356 ft), Poprad Airport is also among the highest airports in Europe. Located 117 km (73 miles) northwest of Kosice, Poprad Airport can be reached in about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
• Bratislava Airport: The busiest airport in the country and primarily serving the capital city, Bratislava M.R. Štefanik Airport handled 2.2 million travelers in 2018, an 18% increase from the year before. The airport has flights by nine different airlines, although some are only active seasonally. Located 395 km (242 miles) west of Kosice, Bratislava Airport can be reached in 4 hours and 20 minutes.
• Budapest Airport: Serving the capital of neighboring Hungary, Budapest Ferenc Liszt Airport handled nearly 15 million travelers in 2018. This makes it one of the busiest airports in former socialist Europe. Budapest Airport is a large hub for the low-cost carrier Wizz Air and also has flights by around 30 other airlines. Located 265 km (165 miles) southwest of Kosice, Budapest Airport can be reached in just under three hours. To travel from Budapest to Kosice (or vice versa), you’ll have to cross an international border, so ask your rental car provider in advance if they permit it.
• Krakow Airport: Krakow John Paul II Airport is the second-busiest in Poland. It has been growing steadily over the last ten years and handled 6.7 million travelers in 2018. The airport is very popular with low-cost airlines like Ryanair, Wizz Air, and easyJet, and also has flights by around 15 other companies. Located 265 km (165 miles) from Kosice, Krakow Airport can be reached in about 3 hours and 30 minutes; if you take this route, you’ll cross the Tatra Mountains along the way. Like with Budapest Airport, ask your rental car provider in advance if they permit you crossing the border.

City facts

• Kosice has a humid continental climate with warm summers, cold winters, and four distinct seasons. The average high temperature is 25°C  (77°F) in July and August, the warmest months, and 1°C  (33°F) in January, the coldest. Both in winter and summer, temperatures are significantly lower in the nearby mountains. Kosice experiences quite a lot of rainfall from May to August and a significant amount of snow in the winter months.
• The area of Kosice has been inhabited since at least the Stone Age but only received town rights in the late 13th century when it was part of the Kingdom of Hungary. During the following centuries, Kosice was also ruled by the Ottoman-backed Hajduk rebels, the Principality of Transylvania, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Kosice was a part of Czechoslovakia from 1918 to 1938 and then again from 1945 to 1992 and has been the second-largest city of independent Slovakia ever since. In 2013, Kosice was the European Capital of Culture, a title it shared with Marseille in France.

Top sights and activities

• St Elizabeth Cathedral. Built in the High Gothic style, Dóm svätej Alžbety is Slovakia’s largest church and arguably one of the most impressive religious buildings in Central Europe. The first stone of the cathedral was laid in the late 14th century and it took about 130 years to finish. Nowadays, it is the main symbol and the most visited place in Kosice. Entry in the cathedral is free of charge and for a small fee, you can also climb its impressive, nearly-60m (197 ft) tall tower.
• East Slovak Museum. Although Slovakia is a rather small country - it has 5.4 million residents and its territory is smaller than all but nine U.S. states - there are considerable differences between the eastern and western parts of the country. Since Kosice is the capital of the former, it is no wonder that it hosts this unique museum and its exhibitions on East Slovak culture, history, cuisine, and nature.
• Saint Urban’s Tower. Another masterpiece of Gothic architecture (though with some later, Baroque-inspired renovations), Saint Urban’s Tower was built in the 14th century and dedicated to Pope Urban I. Over the following centuries, the tower suffered during wars and from fires, but was always rebuilt to its original glory. Nowadays, it houses the Kosice Wax Museum.
• State Theater. Dating back to the late 19th century, the imposing structure is one of the most interesting buildings in the city. A fine example of the Neo-Baroque style, it is known not just for its exterior and the surrounding gardens, but also its painted ceiling that includes scenes from famous Shakespeare plays.

Traffic and parking

• Slovakia drives on the right-hand side of the road.
• Unless specifically indicated otherwise, the speed limits in Slovakia are 130 km/h (80 mph) on highways, 90 km/h (54 mph) on all other inter-city roads, and 50 km/h (31 mph) inside cities and built-up areas. 
• The legal alcohol limit is 0.00% for both experienced and novice drivers.
• Slovakia is a mountainous country and while most roads are in good condition, it is nevertheless important to exercise extra caution when driving in the mountains, especially during the wintertime.
• Slovakia gets a lot of snow in winter, so using snow chains might be required when driving in some highland areas. Ask your rental car provider about the availability of snow chains in advance if you are visiting in winter.
• Children that are 11 years old or younger need to have a special child seat. Ask your rental car provider about the availability of one if you plan to travel with a young child.
• Proof of insurance and the car’s documentation needs to be in the car whenever you’re driving.
• When driving, you need to have your passport or ID card with you at all times.
• The emergency number in Poland, like elsewhere in the EU, is 112.

Toll roads

To drive on certain highways in Slovakia, a car must be equipped with a highway vignette (or nalepka in Slovak). The highway vignette can be purchased for periods of 10 days (for 10 EUR), one month (14 EUR) and one year (50 EUR). 

Many rental cars will come pre-equipped with a vignette. Your rental car provider might charge an additional fee for providing service. Ask your rental car provider in advance about the highway vignette in Slovakia.

If your rental car provider doesn’t provide a highway vignette or if you’re traveling to Slovakia with a rental car that was picked up in a neighboring country, you need to purchase the vignette yourself. You can buy the vignette in gas stations, post offices, and many shops as well as online (you can switch the language to English on the top-right corner of the website). The vignette comes in the form of an electric sticker and needs to be attached to the front window of your car.

Learn more about the electronic vignette system on the Slovak official vignette website and the European toll road website. 

Ideas for day trips

• Slovak Karst National Park. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the national park is best known for its underground labyrinth which is made up of more than 700 caves. Many of the caves have impressive karst formations that give the park its name. Located some 55 km (34 miles) west of Kosice, the national park can be reached in about 45 minutes. After returning from the subterranean tunnels, check out the cozy nearby town of Roznava.
• Tatra National Park. Arguably the number one attraction in Slovakia, the Tatras are an impressive mountain range in the central part of the country. During summer, the area is perfect for hiking, camping, and white water rafting, while during the colder months of the year, it turns into a winter sports paradise. Located 135 km (84 miles) northwest of Kosice, the national park can be reached in under two hours.
• Poprad. The largest city in the foothills of the Tatras, Poprad can serve as a perfect base for exploring the mountains. the city is also a fine destination in its own right - attractions include the Tatra Gallery located in a former power plant, a number of beautiful churches, and the Tatra Museum which has an impressive exhibition on the Neanderthals that lived in the area thousands of years ago.
• Prešov. Located just a 30-minute drive north of Košice, the provincial city of Prešov is one of the most popular destinations for a day trip in the area. Prešov is best known for its many Renaissance buildings, the Regional Observatory and Planetarium, a science park affiliated with the local university, and the Museum of Ruthenian Culture. The salt mines in Solivar, one of Prešov’s suburbs, have been turned into a heritage site and museum.

Most popular cars

The most popular rental car in Kosice is the Dacia Sandero, followed by the Ford Focus and the Skoda Fabia. The most popular rental car types are economy, compact, and mini.

Further destinations

• Slovak Paradise National Park. Located in the region known as Slovak Paradise, the national park is made up of impressive caves, deep ravines, fast streams, and steep waterfalls. The protected area is also home to wildlife species like the brown bear, European wildcat, and saker falcon. The park is also home to the ruins of the Carthusian Monastery. The perfect place to escape the city and enjoy the outdoors, the Paradise National Park is 107 km (66 miles) northwest of Kosice and can be reached in about 1 hour and 15 minutes. 
• Bratislava. Overshadowed by neighboring Prague and Vienna, for decades Bratislava has been something of a hidden gem. Recently, however, more and more tourists are beginning to discover the delights of the Slovak capital which include the city’s well-preserved architecture and many unique museums. Located 405 km (251 miles) west of Kosice, Bratislava takes about four hours to reach.
• Budapest. Known for its spectacular setting on the Danube River, imperial boulevards, many museums, and spicy cuisine, the capital of neighboring Hungary is one of the most popular city destinations in Europe for a reason. Often visited on the same trip as the previously mentioned Bratislava, as well as Vienna in neighboring Austria, Budapest can also be directly accessed from Košice, with the drive southeast taking only about three hours. While both Slovakia and Hungary are part of the Schengen Area and there are no border controls in place, you should still ask your rental car provider in advance whether they permit you to travel to both countries on the same trip.

Car rental prices in Kosice

• Small cars - from $35 per day
• Medium cars - from $40 per day
• SUVs - from $51 per day
• Vans - from $47 per day
• Large cars - from $47 per day
• Premium cars - from $84 per day
• Station wagons - from $45 per day

Money-saving and other tips

Get a great rental car in Kosice by following these simple tips:

• Compare the rates of different rental car providers
• Book your rental car well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit during the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Kosice is the cheapest in February when renting a car is about 50% cheaper than the yearly average and a whole 73% cheaper than renting a car in March.