Prešov

Etymology

The first written mention is from 1247 (Theutonici de Epuryes). Several authors derived the name from Hungarian eper (strawberry).

Other alternative names of the city include Preschau (in German), Eperjes (in Hungarian), Preszów (in Polish), Peryeshis (in Romani), Пряшев (Pryashev) (in Russian), Пряшово (Pryashovo) (in Rusyn) and Пряшів (Priashiv) (in Ukrainian).

People from Prešov are traditionally known as koňare which means "horse keepers".

Characteristics

The old town is a showcase of Baroque, Rococo, and Gothic architecture. The historical center is lined with buildings built in these styles. On the outskirts, however, the Soviet influence is clearly evident through the massive concrete panel buildings (paneláky) of the housing estates (sídliská) and specifically the Sekčov housing estate, the largest housing estate in Prešov. More Soviet-style architecture is seen in the government buildings near the city center.

Significant industries in the city include mechanical and electrical engineering companies and the clothing industry. Solivary, the only salt mining and processing company in Slovakia, also operates in the city. The city is the seat of a Greek Catholic metropolitan see and of the primate of the autocephalous Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia.

Many concerts, operas, operettas, and stage plays are performed at the new building of the Jonáš Záborský Theatre (Divadlo Jonáša Záborského), as well as at the older theatre premises.

The city and the region were contenders for European Capital of Culture 2013. The nearby city of Košice was chosen.

Topography

Prešov lies in the eastern part of Slovakia at the confluence of the rivers Torysa and Sekčov in the Košice Basin. It is surrounded by Slanské vrchy from the east and Šarišská vrchovina from the west. Roads I / 18 (Poprad – Michalovce), I / 68 (direction Stará Ľubovňa), I / 20 (direction Košice) intersect in the town and the south-western connection of the D1 motorway (Poprad – Košice) is being built. The Košice – Muszyna railway line leads through Prešov, to which the lines to Humenné and Bardejov connect. Košice lies 36 km (22 mi) south, Poprad 75 km (47 mi) west, Bardejov 41 km (25 mi) north and Vranov nad Topľou 46 km (29 mi) east.

City Districts

Self-governing city districts. Territorial districts of self-governing city districts:

Circuit number 1: Sídlisko III, Sídlisko Mladosť, Rúrky

Circuit number 2: Sídlisko II, Kalvária, pod Kamennou baňou, pod Wilecovou hôrkou, Borkút, Vydumanec, Kvašná voda, Cemjata

Circuit number 3: north of the city, Mier, Šidlovec, Dúbrava, Surdok, Kúty, Širpo, Nižná Šebastová

Circuit number 4: city center – Staré mesto, Táborisko, Sídlisko Duklianskych hrdinov

Circuit number 5: Solivar, Soľná Baňa, Šváby, Delňa, Tichá Dolina

Circuit number 6: southern part of the housing estate Sekčov – building 1–4

Circuit number 7: northern part of the housing estate Sekčov – building 5–7, Šalgovík

Cadastral city district: Prešov, Nižná Šebastová, Solivar, Šalgovík, Cemjata

Other districts: Delňa, Dúbrava, Kalvária, Rúrky, Soľná Baňa, Šarišské Lúky, Širpo, Šidlovec, Táborisko, Teľov, Vydumanec, Borkút, Kúty, Surdok

Housing estates: Sídlisko Duklianskych hrdinov, Mier, Mladosť, Sekčov, Sídlisko II, Sídlisko III, Šváby

Previous city districts: Haniska (1970–1990), Ľubotice (1970–1990), Šarišské Lúky (1970–1990, since 1990 it's a part of the village Ľubotice)

In the last few years and today, the construction of new residential areas and satellite towns in Prešov is being realized, especially in the districts Šidlovec, Solivar, Šalgovík, Tichá dolina, and Surdok.

Watercourses

Torysa with tributaries:

Šidlovský potok (L)

Vydumanec (R)

Malkovský potok (R)

Sekčov (L)

Delňa (L)

Continues to Sekčov:

Šebastovka (L)

Ľubotický potok (L)

Šalgovícky potok (L)

Soľný potok (L)

Baracký potok (R)

History

Habitation in the area around Prešov dates as far back as the Paleolithic period. The oldest discovered tools and mammoth bones are 28,000 years old. Continuous settlement dates back to the 8th century.

After the Mongol invasion in 1241, King Béla IV of Hungary invited German colonists to fill the gaps in population. Prešov became a German-speaking settlement, related to the Zipser German and Carpathian German areas, and was elevated to the rank of a royal free town in 1347 by Louis the Great.

In 1412, Prešov helped to create the Pentapolitana, the league of five towns, a trading group. The first record of a school dates from 1429. After the collapse of the old Kingdom of Hungary after the Ottoman invasion of 1526, Prešov became a border city and changed hands several times between two usually rivalrous domains, Habsburg Royal Hungary and Hungarian states normally backed by the Ottomans: the Eastern Hungarian Kingdom, the Principality of Transylvania, and the Principality of Upper Hungary.

Still, Prešov went through an economic boom thanks to trade with the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. In the 16th century, it brought in grape vines from the nearby Tokaj wine region, and was home to German-Hungarian, Polish, and Greek wine merchants. Some of the first books on Tokaj wine were written in German in Prešov.

In 1572, salt mining began in Solivar (at that time a nearby town, now a part of Prešov).

Antun Vrančić, a Croatian prelate, writer, diplomat and Archbishop of Esztergom, died in Prešov in 1573.

Prešov was prominent in the Protestant Reformation. It was at the front line in the 1604–1606 Bocskai uprising, when Imperial Army commander Giorgio Basta retreated to the town after failing to take Košice from the Protestant rebels.

In 1647, the Habsburgs designated it the capital of Sáros County. In late January 1657, Transylvanian Prince George II Rákóczi, a Protestant, invaded Poland with an army of some 25,000, which crossed the Carpathians on the road from Prešov to Krosno.

Overview of significant historical events

4th–5th century – arrival of Slavs to the territory of Prešov

1247 – the first written mention of Prešov

1299 – granting of city rights by King Andrew III of Hungary

1412 (the 80s of the 15th century) – Prešov belongs to Pentapolitana (community of 5 royal cities – Prešov, Košice, Bardejov, Levoča, Sabinov)

1429 – the first mention of a town school in Prešov

1453 – the first coat of arms of Prešov

1455 – granting the right of the city of Prešov to organize an annual three-day fair by King Ladislaus the Posthumous

1502–1505 – beginning of the construction of the Co-Cathedral of St. Nicholas

1647 – sanctification of the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession of the Holy Trinity Church

1667 – College in Prešov, Evangelical Educational Center of Upper Hungary, National Cultural Monument

1687 – Caraffa's slaughterhouse, 24 executed townspeople

1703 – the beginning of the most powerful anti-Habsburg uprising led by Francis II Rákóczi

End of the 18th century – arrival of the first Jews in Prešov

1816 – Prešov becomes the seat of an independent Greek Catholic diocese

Military

Prešov already had an important geographical position in the Middle Ages, because it was located at the crossroads of trade routes and also belonged to the important defense system of the emerging Hungarian state. The beginnings of the army in Prešov date back to this area, as Hungarian tribes and their allies, which were military-guard groups of Asian ethnic groups, came to these areas to establish guard settlements and fortresses to defend the emerging Kingdom of Hungary from enemy attacks. To this day, the names of the nearby hills Veľká and Lysá stráž have been preserved.

The city had its own garrison probably since 1374, when it was given the right to build defensive walls with bastions and towers by King Louis I. The importance of the military garrison certainly increased because the city of Prešov became a free royal town in the 14th century. At the end of the 16th century, during the 15-year war with Turkey, the city had to sustain a large imperial army. From 1604, when the first of several anti-Habsburg uprisings of the Hungarian estates broke out, until 1710, when the city capitulated to a strong Habsburg army, Prešov was besieged many times by various insurgent troops, even by imperial troops. For example: Bocskai uprising, General Bast's troops, George I Rákóczi's insurgents, Veshelini's conspiracy, Kuruk's insurgents, Tököli's uprising, General Caraffa's Prešov slaughterhouses, and the insurgents led by Francis II Rákóczi. Prešov then flourished until 1848, because it did not experience any war.

The revolutionary years of 1848–49 pulled not only the free royal city of Prešov, but the whole country into the whirlwind of events. Due to its strategic location, Prešov experienced several changes of military forces during this period. For example, General Schlick's imperial army was replaced by Görgey's Hungarian army, which was soon replaced by Austrian and Slovak volunteer units, which in turn were replaced by imperial soldiers together with the Russian army. The fact that the military importance of Prešov continued to grow is also evidenced by the data from the census of 1900, when out of 14,447 inhabitants of Prešov, there were up to 1,349 soldiers. The local military garrison consisted of several units of the joint army and militia, the largest of which was the 67th Imperial and Royal Infantry Regiment. The hardships of World War I and especially its end tragically affected the life of Prešov, because on 1 November 1918, under the influence of the revolution in Budapest, soldiers of the 67th Regiment and some other smaller units in Prešov refused to obey their commanders and looted some shops in Prešov. After the arrival of military reinforcements, the insurgents were arrested, and even though there were no casualties during the riots, the statistical court sentenced the participants in the uprising to death. On the same day, 1 November 1918, 41 soldiers and 2 civilians were executed in the square. This event is also known as the Prešov Uprising (Prešovská vzbura). The bombing of the city on 20 December 1944 was also devastating for the city of Prešov.

Geography

The municipality lies at an altitude of 296 metres (971 ft) and covers an area of 71.09 km2 (27.45 sq mi) (2025). It is located in north-eastern Slovakia, at the northern reaches of the Košice Basin, at the confluence of the Torysa river with its tributary Sekčov. Mountain ranges nearby include Slanské vrchy (south-east), Šarišská vrchovina (south-west), Bachureň (west), and Čergov (north). The neighbouring city of Košice is 34 km (21 mi) to the south. Prešov is about 50 km (31 mi) south of the Polish border, 60 km (37 mi) north of the Hungarian border and is some 410 km (250 mi) northeast of Bratislava (by road).

Climate

Prešov has a warm humid continental climate, bordering an oceanic climate. Prešov has four distinct seasons and is characterized by a significant variation between somewhat warm summers and slightly cold, snowy winters.

Population

Modern

It has a population of 81,223 people (31 December 2025).

In year 2021 was 84,824 people by ethnicity 75,844 as Slovak, 6329 as Not found out, 2652 as Rusyn, 918 as Romani, 756 as Czech, 685 as Ukrainian, 395 as Other, 260 as Polish, 248 as Hungarian, 165 as Russian, 119 as German, 65 as Italian, 50 as Vietnamese, 47 as Jewish, 47 as Bulgarian, 39 as French, 34 as English, 32 as Albanian, 28 as Moravian, 27 as Chinese, 25 as Irish, 25 as Croatian, 22 as Canadian, 19 as Greek, 15 as Austrian, 10 as Turkish, 10 as Serbian, 9 as Romanian, 4 as Silesian and 1 as Iranian.

Note on population: The difference values of population numbers in the table "Population statistic" and in the sections "Ethnicity" & "Religion" is caused by the use of various statistical methods.

In year 2021 was 84,824 people by religion 46,449 from Roman Catholic Church, 16,613 from None, 7449 from Not found out, 7346 from Greek Catholic Church, 3608 from Evangelical Church, 1305 from Eastern Orthodox Church, 268 from Ad hoc movements, 249 from Other, 234 from Church of the Brethren, 217 from Christian Congregations in Slovakia, 206 from Jehovah's Witnesses, 197 from Apostolic Church, 162 from Other and not ascertained christian church, 123 from Calvinist Church, 78 from Paganism and natural spirituality, 77 from Buddhism, 65 from Seventh-day Adventist Church, 51 from Islam, 40 from Jewish community, 28 from United Methodist Church, 25 from Baptists Church, 12 from Hinduism, 9 from Old Catholic Church, 9 from Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2 from Czechoslovak Hussite Church and 2 from Bahá'i Community.

Historic

In the past, Prešov was a typical multiethnic town where Slovak, Hungarian, German, and Yiddish were spoken.

Before World War II, Prešov was home to a large Jewish population of 4,300 and housed a major Jewish museum. During 1939 and 1940, the Jewish community absorbed a flow of Jewish refugees from German Nazi-occupied Poland, and in 1941, additional deportees from Bratislava. In 1942, a series of deportations of Prešov's Jews to the German Nazi death camps in Poland began. Plaques in the town hall and a memorial in the surviving synagogue record that 6,400 Jews were deported from the town under the Tiso government of the First Slovak Republic. Only 716 Jewish survivors were found in the city and its surroundings when it was liberated by the Soviet Red Army in January 1945.

Religion

Roman Catholic Church

Prešov is the seat of the Roman Co-Cathedral of St. Nicholas. The city is part of the metropolitan Košice Archdiocese.

Greek Catholic Church

Prešov is the seat of the Slovak Greek Catholic metropolis and the Prešov Greek Catholic Archeparchy, which was founded on 3 November 1815, by Emperor Francis II.

Orthodox Church

The Prešov Orthodox Diocese was established after World War II by the division of the Mukachevo-Prešov Orthodox Diocese. The Cathedral of St. Prince Alexander Nevsky was built between 1946 and 1950 in the traditional Russian style.

Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession

Prešov is also the seat of the diocese of the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovakia.

Religious education

There are two theological faculties in the city – the Greek Catholic Theological Faculty and the Orthodox Theological Faculty. Both are part of the University of Prešov.

Religious make-up

The religious makeup in 2011 was 55.8% Roman Catholics, 12.44% people with no religious affiliation, 8.15% Greek Catholics, 4.05% Lutherans, 1.55% Orthodox, 17.16% did not declare any religious affiliation. On the contrary, there was an increase in the number of atheists, Greek Catholics and the unidentified.

Culture

Theaters

Divadlo Alexandra Duchnoviča (Alexander Dukhnovych Theater)

Divadlo Jonáša Záborského (Jonas Záborský Theater)

Divadlo pre deti CILILING (CILILING Children's Theater)

Detské divadlo Babadlo (Babadlo Children's Theater)

Detské divadlo DRaK (DRaK Children's Theater)

Divadlo Portál (Portal Theater)

Divadelné štúdio na Hlavnej (Theater studio on Hlavná)

Divadlo Erika Németha (Erik Németh Theater)

Prešovské národné divadlo (Prešov National Theater)

Park kultúry a oddychu Čierny orol (Black Eagle Culture and Recreation Park)

Viola - centrum pre umenie (Viola – center for art)

Wave~centrum nezávislej kultúry (Wave~center for independent culture)

Museums

Krajské múzeum (Regional Museum)

Múzeum rusínskej kultúry SNM (Museum of Ruthenian Culture SNM)

Múzeum Solivar (Solivar Museum)

Barkányova zbierka judaík – expozícia Múzea židovskej kultúry v Prešovskej synagoge (Barkány's collection of Judaica – exposition of the Museum of Jewish Culture in the Prešov Synagogue)

Múzeum vín (Wine Museum)

Galleries

Šarišská galéria (Šariš Gallery)

Galéria v Caraffovej väznici (Caraffa Prison Gallery)

Galéria Múr (Wall Gallery)

Creative Design Gallery

Galéria Átrium (Atrium Gallery)

J.D Galéria J.L - exteriérová galéria na Okružnej ulici, znázorňujúca maľby historického Prešova (J.D Galéria J.L – exterior gallery on Okružná street, showing paintings of historical Prešov)

Libraries

Knižnica P. O. Hviezdoslava v Prešove (P. O. Hviezdoslav Library in Prešov)

Štátna vedecká knižnica Prešov (State Scientific Library Prešov)

Univerzitná knižnica Prešovskej univerzity v Prešove (University Library of the University of Prešov)

Cinemas

Scala (former Panorama Cinema)

Cinemax Max (5 halls)

Cinemax Novum (8 halls)

Star OC Eperia (5 halls)

Záhradné kino (Garden Cinema)

Amfiteáter Prešov (Prešov Amphitheater)

Science

Krajská hvezdáreň a planetárium (Regional Observatory and Planetarium)

Unipolab - vedecký park Prešovskej univerzity (Unipolab – science park of the University of Prešov)

Music

Thanks to the lively musical life and the success of Prešov's music production, the city of Prešov has earned the nickname "Slovak Seattle" (Slovenský Seattle) or "City of Music" (Mesto hudby) long ago, mainly through the media. However, many musicians from Prešov work not only within their hometown or region, but also reap success in the whole of Slovakia, neighboring countries, or even Europe.

However, not only the number of mainstream successful musicians contributed to the musical life of the city, in the past and today, but also more or less (un)known groups and musical subcultures, steadily operating in the city foothills (genres: metal, punk, alternative, hip-hop, R&B, gospel, rock, pop-rock, folk, jazz, country, and possibly others), concert rooms and clubs (Véčko, Bizarre, Christiania, City Club, Stromoradie, Za siedmimi oknami, Wave, Ester rock club, Netopier, Staré Mexiko, Insomnia, Ponorka, ENCORE), rock shows of bands with a long tradition (Rocková liga, vyše 20. ročníkov, Prešovský študentský Liverpool, 6. ročníkov, Rebrík) but also festivals (Sigortus, Dobrý festival, (t)urbanfest, ImROCK FEST, East Side Music Festival, Festival zlej hudby, Farfest, Jazz Prešov).

Important events include the Dni mesta Prešov (Days of the City of Prešov), which are held annually on the occasion of the celebrations of the first written mention of the city (as of 2021, 774th anniversary). The celebrations usually include open-air concerts right in the center of Hlavná street, whereas several guests from the domestic and European alternative scene have taken turns throughout the years. That includes: Deti Picasso (Russia-Armenia), Myster Möbius (France/Hungary), Masfél (Hungary), Prague Selection II.; Laura a její tygři (Czech Republic), Srečna Mladina (Slovenia), Squartet (Italy), but also Slovak groups Heľenine Oči, Chiki liki tu-a, Arzén, Mango Molas, Alter Ego, Kapátske chrbáty, and Komajota.

Part of the city's celebrations are also side stages, where young bands can also try their luck.

In 2009, the first Prešov film festival, the Bastion film festival, was established. The festival takes place on the historic wall behind the Franciscan Church. The organizers are PKO Prešov and Prešov composer and guitarist David Kollar.

After many years, the constant influx and modification of music groups, which are often enforced throughout Slovakia, required documentation, which took place through the internet database of Prešov bands and performers under the name Frenky's Music Encyclopedia. Historically and currently, the ever-growing database of Prešov musicians is run by Michal Frank, a journalist and editor-in-chief of the Prešov Korzár.

Buildings

Štátna vedecká knižnica (State Scientific Library)

Park kultúry a oddychu (Culture and Recreation Park)

Hvezdáreň a planetárium (Observatory and planetarium)

Fontány a fontánky (Fountains and small fountains)

Nové Divadlo Jonáša Záborského (New Jonáš Záborský Theater)

Historické Divadlo Jonáša Záborského (Historical Jonáš Záborský Theater)

Biely dom (sídlo PSK) (White House (PSK headquarters))

Vyhliadková veža (Lesopark Prešov) (Observation tower (Prešov Forest Park))

Historical monuments

Gréckokatolícka katedrála svätého Jána Krstiteľa (Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, which houses the remains of the Blessed Martyrs of Prešov Bishop Pavel Petr Gojdič and Vasil Hopek and a faithful copy of the Turin Canvas)

Konkatedrála svätého Mikuláša (Co-Cathedral of St. Nicholas)

Pravoslávny katedrálny chrám svätého kniežaťa Alexandra Nevského (Church of St. Alexander Nevsky)

Bosákov dom (banka) (Bosák's house (bank))

Caraffova väznica (galéria) (Caraffa Prison (gallery))

Floriánova brána (Florian's Gate)

Gotická brána (Gothic gate)

Súsošie Panny Márie, Pomocnica kresťanov (Sculpture of the Immaculate Conception)

Súsošie svätého Róchusa (Sculpture of St. Roch)

Evanjelické kolégium (Evangelical College)

Evanjelický a.v. chrám Svätej Trojice (Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession)

Františkánsky kostol svätého Jozefa a františkánsky kláštor (Church of St. Joseph)

Gréckokatolícky biskupský palác (Greek Catholic Episcopal Palace)

Rákócziho palác - sídlo Krajského múzea (Rákóczi Palace – the seat of the Regional Museum)

Palác Klobušických - sídlo Krajského súdu (Klobušický Palace – seat of the Regional Court)

Castles

Prešov has the largest number of preserved castle ruins among all the regional towns in its vicinity, which led to the creation of the Prešov Castle Road project in 2019. The aim was to connect these castles with an imaginary tourist line and thus support the development of tourism in Prešov and its surroundings. 6 castles took part in the Prešov Castle Road project, namely:

Šarišský hrad (Šariš Castle)

Kapušiansky hrad (Kapušany Castle)

Zbojnícký hrad (Zbojnícky Castle)

Lipovský hrad (Lipov Castle)

Obišovský hrad (Obišov Castle)

Hrad Šebeš (Šebeš Castle)

Parks

The construction of a central city park, situated between the Sekčov housing estate and Táborisko, is being prepared. In addition to the planned central city park, there are several parks and parks in Prešov:

Severný park (Northern Park – near Trojica, there is a sculpture of the Immaculate Conception)

Južný park (South Park – Main (Hlavná) Street, includes a monument to the liberators and the Neptune Fountain)

Garden of Art (Záhrada umenia) – Svätoplukova street

Manor garden (Panská záhrada) – Nižná Šebastová

Kolmanova záhrada (Kolman's garden)

Sochársky park pri amfiteátri (Sculpture park by the amphitheater)

Park sv. Jána Nepomuckého (St. John of Nepomuk Park) – Nižná Šebastová

Park Námestie Legionárov (Legionary Square Park)

Park Lesík delostrelcov (Park artillerymen's Lesík)

Park Čierny Most (Black Bridge Park)

Sekčov Park

Clementisova Park

Park Námestie mládeže (Youth Square Park)

Zabíjaná Lesopark

Cemjata Lesopark

Borkút Lesopark

Sports

Football

Prešov is home to one professional football team: 1. FC Tatran Prešov which is the oldest football team in Slovakia.

Ice hockey

The city's ice hockey club is HC Prešov. The home arena of Prešov is the ICE Arena, and it has a capacity of 3600 visitors. Prešov had a hockey team since 1928 (HC Prešov Penguins), but in 2019 it folded.

Handball

The city's handball club is HT Tatran Prešov, which is Slovakia's most popular and currently most successful club. The handball team of Prešov is taking part not only in the Slovak league (where it is dominating), but also in the international SEHA League with the best handball teams from the region. Many handball players from this team are also members of the Slovak national handball team.

Other

City multipurpose sports hall

Tatran Handball Arena (home stadium HT Tatran Prešov)

Women's Handball Hall – Sídlisko II, by the river Torysa, near Kaufland

ICE Arena (home stadium HC Prešov)

University of Prešov Hall

Velodrome Prešov

Bike Center Prešov, Pumptrack and Dirt track, Sekčov

Regular events

Akademický Prešov – festival študentského umenia (Academic Prešov – student art festival)

Turbanfest – festival alternatívnej hudby, divadiel a workshopov (Turbanfest – a festival of alternative music, theaters and workshops)

Prešovská hudobná jar (koncerty vážnej hudby) (Prešov Music Spring (classical music concerts))

Zlatý súdok – prehliadka karikaturistov z celého sveta (Golden Barrel – a show of cartoonists from around the world)

Týždeň slovenských knižníc (Slovak Libraries Week)

Deň Zeme (Earth Day)

Večerný beh Prešovom (Evening run through Prešov)

Šariš(ský) hackathon

Prešov Half Marathon

Lear Run

Tour de Prešov – cyklomaratón (cycling marathon)

Mikulášsky beh (St. Nicholas' run)

Mikulášska nádielka (St. Nicholas' share)

Deň soli (Salt day)

Soľnobanský jarmok spojený s Medzinárodným dňom múzeí (Salt Fair, connected with the International Museum Day)

Festival paličkovanej čipky (The bobbin lace festival – the international participation of bobbins – lasts 1 week. The first days are the courses of bobbin lace and by the end of the week, the event itself is connected with the demonstration of bobbin and the sale of everything related to this technique)

Economy and infrastructure

Industrial parks

The following industrial parks and industrial zones are located in Prešov:

Priemyselný park IPZ Prešov – Záborské (Industrial park IPZ Prešov – Záborské)

CTPark Prešov juh (south)

CTPark Prešov sever (north)

Priemyselný park Záturecká (Záturecká Industrial park)

Priemyselný park Grófske (Grófske Industrial park – under construction)

Priemyselný areál Šalgovík (Šalgovík industrial area)

Priemyselná zóna Budovateľská (Budovateľská Industrial zone)

Priemyselná zóna Širpo (Širpo Industrial zone)

Priemyselná zóna Delňa (Delňa Industrial zone)

Transport

Prešov is connected by the D1 motorway to the south with Košice, to the west with Poprad and Ružomberok. The completion of its connecting sections enabling motorway connections to Bratislava and Žilina is expected in 2024. A high-quality connection with Poland via Svidník and Hungary is to be provided by the R4 expressway.

Today, Prešov has a southwestern motorway bypass, which has been under construction since 2017 and was officially opened on 28 October 2021. The southwestern bypass of Prešov forms part of the D1 motorway in the section Prešov – west and Prešov – south. Since 2019, the 1st stage of the northern bypass from the Prešov – West (Vydumanec) junction to the Prešov – North (Dúbrava) junction, which will be part of the R4 expressway, has been under construction. After the overall construction, the Prešov motorway bypass will bypass the whole city, divert transit traffic in all directions, and connect the D1 with the R4. It will start at D1 Prešov – South junction, continue towards the northwest, to the Prešov – West junction, where it will connect to the already completed parts of the D1 motorway. At this junction, the R4 will connect to D1. Completion of the construction of the 1st stage (PO west-PO north) of the northern bypass R4 is planned for the summer of 2023, and the 2nd stage (PO north-PO east) is now under the tender with planned opening in 2027.

International routes of European importance E50 and E371, first-class roads I/18, I/68, and I/20, and second-class road 546 pass through Prešov. In 2017, the last stage of the so-called Embankment communication (Nábrežná komunikácia) was finished, including the reconstruction of the intersection at ZVL, which relieved the city center of transit traffic.

Urban public transport is provided by the Transport Company of the City of Prešov (Dopravný podnik mesta Prešov, a. s.), which operates a total of 45 regular public transport lines by the following means of transport:

trolleybuses (lines: 1, 2, 4, 5, 5D, 7, 8, 38)

buses (daily lines: 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32, 32A, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, night lines: N1, N2)

Healthcare

The largest providers of health care in Prešov are the following public and private facilities:

Fakultná nemocnica s poliklinikou J. A. Raimana Prešov (University Hospital with J. A. Raiman Polyclinic Prešov)

Vojenská nemocnica (Military hospital)

Všeobecná nemocnica Oáza (Oáza General Hospital)

Poliklinika Prešov (Polyclinic Prešov)

Poliklinika ProCare Prešov (Polyclinic ProCare Prešov)

Nemocnica svätej Alžbety (St. Elizabeth Hospital)

Analyticko-diagnostické laboratórium a ambulancie (AdLa) (Analytical-diagnostic laboratory and outpatient clinics)

Sofyc Clinic – klinika jednodňovej chirurgie (Sofyc Clinic – one-day surgery clinic)

Gynstar – jednodňová starostlivosť v odbore gynekológia a pôrodníctvo (Gynstar – one-day care in the field of gynecology and obstetrics)

In addition to these facilities, medical services are also provided by other smaller clinics and health centers.

Education

Institutions of tertiary education in the city are the University of Prešov with 12,600 students, including 867 doctoral students, and the private International Business College ISM Slovakia in Prešov, with 455 students. In addition, the Faculty of Manufacturing Technologies of the Technical University of Košice is based in the city.

There are 15 public primary schools, six private primary schools and two religious primary schools. Overall, they enroll 9,079 pupils. The city's system of secondary education consists of 10 gymnasiums with 3,675 students, 4 specialized high schools with 5,251 students and 11 vocational schools with 5,028 students.

Business

There are several business (shopping) centers in Prešov. EPERIA Shopping Mall has taken its name according to the historic city name Eperies. It is located at the river bank Sekčov, between the "Hobby park" at the west side (with DIY chain store HORNBACH) and STOP SHOP point from south side. Total shopping area of all three units is approximately 140.000 m2 (1,506.95 sq ft). ZOC MAX is also located in Sekčov. NOVUM Shopping Mall in the very heart of city centre with 33.000 m2 (355.21 sq ft) is the second largest. There are also ZOC Koral, Solivaria SC and the nearby Ľubotice Retail Park, with an additional area together of c. 40.000 m2 (430.56 sq ft).

One of the most popular locations in Prešov is Plaza Beach Resort. It is an exotic place in a cozy and calm city area, consisting of a luxury hotel with a restaurant and outside swimming pools. The resort has been built in a Mediterranean style.

Hiking trails

European walking route E8

Prešov – Miháľov – Kurimka – Dukla – Iwonicz-Zdrój – Rymanów-Zdrój – Puławy – Tokarnia (778 m) – Kamień (717 m) – Komańcza – Cisna – Ustrzyki Górne – Tarnica – Wołosate

Twin towns – sister cities

Prešov is twinned with: