Where to go with your dog in Košice: Dog-friendly tips for a day out with your pet

For endless fun and games, you simply must head to one of Košice’s most beautiful parks in the northern part of the city! Anička Park offers long, winding paths perfect for walks with your dog on a lead. Make new friends on a trip to the park or find out about the activities of the Anička Košice Dog Training Club, which has been dedicated to dog obedience training, sporting dog training and rescue training here for almost 80 years.

As well as other green spaces in the city, it’s also worth visiting Košice City Park , situated right next to the Old Town and Košice Railway Station, where, as well as strolling along the footpaths, you can enjoy a fenced-off enclosure for all dogs keen to have a bit of a run about off the lead and make new friends.

If you fancy exploring Košice’s housing estates, you’ll find modern, fenced-off dog runs and walking areas at:

• Ostravská,

• Jantárová,

• Jasuschova and Rovníkova streets,

• on Americká Avenue,

• Podhradová,

• Kalvária,

• in Dukla Victims’ Park

• and in Hroncova Park.

If your four-legged friend can handle moderately challenging walks in the surrounding area, why not set off together to explore the nearby peaks and recreational areas! Take a car or public transport to the village of Ružín, where you can admire the fantastic railway viaduct spanning the waters of the Ružín Reservoir. In the nearby forest, you’ll find signposted trails that will easily take you to the most famous viewpoint near Košice, the summit of Sivec. Sit on the rocks of the massive rock massif, admire the iconic views of the High Tatras and the Volovské Hills, and discover the local flora and fauna in the surrounding forests during endless walks.

For nature experiences close to the city centre, take your dog to the Bankov, which is one of the most popular day-trip destinations for dog owners. Take a walk along the Old Spiš Road, where you’ll find many remnants of the region’s rich mining history, such as the Chapel of St John of Nepomuk, dating from 1922, and healing springs. The main attraction in the area is the historic hotel, where you can stay with your dog for an additional fee.

Take the air-conditioned bus no. 14 to the Bankov holiday resort or Jahodná – with a muzzle and a short lead, you’ll get there in about 25 minutes.

For more inspiration, check out our favourite places for a trip into the countryside.

Treat yourself to a relaxed break in the city on Košice’s promenade, which is perfect for strolling and sampling culinary delights in restaurants serving dishes from around the world. Pop into the city centre for a delicious ice cream, Asian noodles, Italian pasta, Japanese sushi or breakfast classics such as a fresh butter croissant or scrambled eggs made with free-range eggs. Spend long, leisurely mornings sipping coffee from local roasters in Dominican Square or in Crafts Alley and soak up the atmosphere of these romantic nooks with your four-legged companion, enjoying a pleasant chat or a captivating book on the outdoor terrace throughout the year, except in winter.

You can also join the loyal dog lovers from the Košice community, who love nothing more than enjoying a drink on tap in the company of their four-legged friends – and not just during the summer months. Head to the oldest pub in Slovakia, the courtyard of an independent cultural centre, and a restaurant in the Čermeľ Valley, and experience the authentic local way of life for which Košice is renowned and so popular with visitors.

Should you need any veterinary care whilst travelling in Košice, in addition to traditional clinics offering professional treatment, you can also choose from a range of mobile veterinary services within the city. You’ll also find several services in the city offering dog training, behaviour correction, basic obedience and even physiotherapy and rehabilitation for dogs. Do you need a few hours’ break or to run some errands? Make use of the tried-and-tested services of a dog hotel and dog day care centre, for example in Myslava.

Get around Košice with no worries, even if you’re on holiday without a car! Travelling with your dog on Košice’s public transport is hassle-free – all you need is a muzzle and a short lead.

Head out into the Košice City Forests and discover the secrets of Košice Castle in the Kavečany area, easily accessible via a short bus ride on route 29. The nature trails will introduce you to the region’s military history, the significant Battle of Rozhanovce, medieval traditions and the local flora and fauna. Immerse yourself in the tranquillity of these mysterious and ancient parts of Košice and leave the hustle and bustle of the vibrant city behind for a while, beyond the edge of the forest.

For those who love walking along undisturbed footpaths, we also recommend a visit to Furča Forest Park with its nearly 4-kilometre-long footpath leading towards Zelený dvor, a walk from the UPJŠ Botanical Garden to Červený breh for the view from Morská chata, or a shorter and somewhat secret stretch above Popradská Street.

To conclude – even if you’re out on a walk with your dog, viewing public art in the city. Click on the links for the art map and a map Icons of Košice Architecture and be amazed by a remarkable showcase of works by sculptors and artists not only from Košice, but from all over the world. What’s more, the architectural gems from every decade of the last century (and even earlier periods) will delight you with their aesthetic precision.

Make sure your dog stays hydrated

Although you won’t find any official dog drinking fountains in Košice, every proper dog owner always carries their own collapsible bowl to top up their dog’s fluids after long walks! Fill up with water for your four-legged friend on Hlavná and Orlová streets, in Zuzka’s Park and on Bankova, or at the dog-friendly cafés in the centre of the Old Town.

Don’t forget:

• a muzzle

• a short and a long lead

• treats for dogs

• a first-aid kit for dogs

• harness

• a water bowl

  
  

Frequently asked questions about staying in Košice with your dog

Can dogs walk off the lead in Košice?

Always keep your dog on a lead when walking in the city, unless otherwise specified.

Can dogs travel on public transport in Košice, and what conditions must they meet?

Dogs on Košice public transport must always wear a secure muzzle, be on a short lead and have a valid ticket.

Can you take your dog into cafés and restaurants in Košice?

When entering restaurants and cafés in Košice, please follow the instructions at the entrance.

What should you take on a trip to Košice with your dog?

For a trip with your dog, take a water bowl, a muzzle, a lead and some treats

Which walking routes around Košice are suitable for dogs?

Take your dog for a walk in the woods near Košice, for example to the peaks of Sivec, Kojšovská hoľa, Jánošíkova bašta and the Slanské vrchy hills.

Where can I do sports with my dog?

Go for a run in Furča Forest Park, at Alpinka, in Bankov, around Čermeľská Valley, or at the Anička complex.

Find out where to go for a walk with your dog in Košice. You’ll find more tips in the section Nature and Trips on Visit Košice.