Bardejov, Slovakia: A UNESCO Day Trip Worth Making

Are you planning a day trip from Košice and wondering where to go? Bardejov should be top of the list.

I spent a day in this fortified medieval town in north-eastern Slovakia, and it was one of the most rewarding stops on my entire trip through Central and Eastern Europe. It’s one of Slovakia’s eight UNESCO-listed properties, it’s incredibly friendly, and it gets far fewer visitors than it deserves.

A half-day gives you the highlights; a full day lets you breathe it in.

Here’s what to see, what to know and how to get there.

Bardejov’s main square is worth the trip alone

Bardejov is famous for its Gothic cityscape, developed during its medieval heyday, Nowhere is that more apparent than Radničné námestie, its show-stopping main square

I’ve strolled around many squares across Europe but few had the wow factor of this one.

Three sides are lined with 46 pastel-coloured burgher houses, many adorned with frescoes and intricate stone carvings above their entrance portals. In the Middle Ages, this was a thriving market square, and it still hosts market fairs today.

The Gothic-Renaissance Town Hall occupies a prime position at the centre of the square, dating from the early 16th century and now housing an exposition dedicated to Bardejov’s history. Pop into the Tourist Information Office at number 21 for a free map and sightseeing advice.

At the square’s southern end, you’ll find Bardejov’s much-photographed bronze executioner statue. It’s a pointed reminder of the town’s medieval justice system, when decapitation was considered milder and less shameful than hanging.

The Basilica Minor of St Giles

The entire northern side of the square is taken up by this extraordinary Gothic parish church, dating from 1415. It has eleven Gothic winged altars and beautifully carved wooden pews — the kind of religious art you’d expect to find in a far more visited city.

I confess that I chickened out of the church tower climb. It reportedly has fabulous views over Bardejov, but access is via an extremely narrow, steep spiral staircase. You’ve been warned.

Walk the medieval town walls

Bardejov was once protected by one of Central Europe’s most sophisticated fortification systems.

In its medieval glory days, it had 23 bastions and a double ring of stone defensive walls surrounded by a water-filled moat. Three gates led to Bardejov: the Lower Gate, the Upper Gate (Salt Gate) and the smaller Water Gate.

Nine of those bastions have survived in their original state, two more have been incorporated into later buildings, and large sections of wall have been reconstructed.

It’s sometimes compared to Carcassonne, and walking along the walls was one of my favourite things to do here. Don’t skip it.

John Lennon Park — a surprise highlight

I stumbled across this while walking the town walls, and it became my favourite thing in Bardejov (I’m a big Beatles fan).

The park and the adjacent John Lennon Street are the creation of a local superfan, Pavol Zajac. There are stones bearing album titles and the names of all four band members, and Beatles fans make the pilgrimage here every 8th December to mark John Lennon’s assassination.

It’s tucked just outside the walls, easy to miss but well worth finding.

Bardejov’s Jewish heritage

Before World War II, around 5,000 Jewish people lived in Bardejov, making up nearly 40% of the population. No Jewish community exists here now, but the town has kept its small Jewish quarter, centred on the Bikur Cholim synagogue.

Built in 1829 and with its original sanctuary furnishings intact, it’s one of the most historically significant synagogues in Slovakia.

How to get to Bardejov from Košice

I travelled from Košice to Bardejov by train. The journey takes around two hours with one change at Prešov. You can check train times here.

The Prešov to Bardejov leg is the slower stretch: single track, rolling farmland, occasional deer and – I kid you not – a station in the middle of a field with a human signaller holding a paddle board.

If you’d rather go direct, Flixbus makes the trip from Košice in around 75 minutes.

Is Bardejov worth visiting?

Yes — unequivocally. For a town so rich in medieval architecture and so little visited by tourists from outside Slovakia, it’s one of the best day trips in the country. If you’re already planning a trip to Košice, there’s no good reason not to come.

For more on Slovakia, take a look at my guides to a perfect day in Bratislava and why Bratislava is worth visiting.

About Bridget

Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.

Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.

To get in touch, email her at hello@theflashpacker.net or follow her on social media.

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