A £205 ticket, six flights, and a destination I could barely pronounce, how could I say no?
The “Wait… where?” moment
Košice. Mention Vienna or Budapest, and most travellers nod knowingly. Mention Košice, and you’ll likely get the same puzzled look I did: “Wait… where?”
Tucked away in the far east of Slovakia, Košice isn’t the first city that springs to mind when planning a European city break. Bratislava, maybe, but Košice? For most travellers, it’s off the radar. And that’s exactly what made it so appealing.
The fare that started it all
The trip began, as some of my adventures do, with a free weekend and a bargain fare. A £205 return popped up for Eurowings out of Newcastle via Düsseldorf, then Austrian Airlines via Vienna into Košice. Six flights in total to make it work – hardly the most direct routing, but irresistible to someone that enjoys the journey as much as the destination.
Add in the perks of Star Alliance Senator status: fast track security, lounge access, and free seat selection, and it suddenly looked like a very comfortable way to tick off a new country.
Planning the stay
Accommodation was easy: Hilton points booked me into the DoubleTree Košice, right in the city centre and within walking distance of the main square. No cash outlay, and Hilton status dangled the possibility of an upgrade.
The plan itself was straightforward: explore Košice’s compact but beautiful old town, join a walking tour to get under the skin of the city, spend Sunday at the steam railway’s anniversary event, and in between make time for food, beer, and late-night atmosphere. The only downside? A brutal return schedule: a 3:30am taxi to the airport, then three separate flights to get home. But that’s a problem for later.
First impressions: small but smooth
The journey over was a patchwork of Eurowings efficiency and Austrian Airlines charm (more on that in the next entry). But within minutes of landing, Košice had set a very different tone. The airport is tiny. Off the plane, through security, and outside, all in about 90 seconds. Try doing that at Heathrow.
A quick taxi ride later (€25 fixed fare), and I was at the DoubleTree. Bolt and Uber both advertised fares under €10, but at 00:30 on a Saturday morning neither had drivers available.
Check-in was effortless, and sure enough, Hilton status worked its magic: an upgrade to a suite. Not a bad start for a first night.
Next stop: a city to explore
By the time I unpacked, enjoyed the welcome cookie, and glanced out of the window at the quiet streets below, I was itching to see more. Tomorrow would be the real test: exploring Košice on foot in the middle of a 34°C heatwave – pastel façades, Gothic spires, and more than a few café stops.
👉 Next: From Newcastle to Düsseldorf: Aster & Thyme, Main Aspire Lounge, and Eurowings Economy