10 Best Things to do in Katowice & Why You Should Visit
Katowice is a busy city in the center of the largest metropolitan area in Poland, and one of the largest in Europe. It is no surprise that the best things to do in Katowice are entertaining! However, Katowice is a city often skipped when people visit Poland, due to its reputation as dirty and boring. But Katowice has left its history as a polluted industry town and become a bustling population center, with modern buildings, fantastic parks, and good museums, as well as a good hub to explore Poland.
Katowice is no longer a city of coal mines and factories spewing pollution into the air, which is often the first thing native Poles associated Katowice with. Certainly, Katowice and the surrounding Silesia still embrace their roots as coal miners, but the city has grown so much. On my recent visit, I enjoyed myself much more than I thought I would. Katowice is a city that has lots to offer and is much less busy than other popular Polish cities such as Kraków and Warsaw. I can say that I think that Katowice is quite underrated.
Thus, in this blog, you will find the 10 best things to do in Katowice, an underrated Polish gem. You will find general information about each activity, opening hours, costs, and transit information within Katowice. You will also find four bonus sections at the end, on getting to Katowice, getting around in Katowice, prices in Katowice, and how long to stay in Katowice. I hope you find all the information you are looking for as you plan your trip to wonderful Katowice!
1. Visit the Katowice Town Square
Description: At the heart of Katowice is the Katowice Town Square, called Rynek in Polish. Located not far from the central train station, it is unlike some of the more famous town squares throughout Poland, such as those surrounded by colorful buildings in cities like Gdańsk. However, it is a great place to hang out. Here you can see examples of some newer buildings from the 19th century, and some of the brand-new skyscrapers appearing in Katowice. Here you can also see an impressive network of trams making their way around the city.
The Katowice Town Square is also where many activities take place. When I visited, an Easter Market was occurring, with the ability to buy lots of delicious Polish food, take a ride on a Ferris wheel, or buy some good homemade souvenirs to take home. During December, the Town Square also houses the Christmas Market. The most unique Christmas tradition in the Town Square happens on December 4th each year with the celebration of Barbórka, a holiday to celebrate the patron saint of miners.
If you are looking for another activity to do in the immediate vicinity, wait for the sun to set and check out the neon sign over the Rawa River called Zachód Słońca, which makes for a good quick photo. You can also continue a little further and take a walk along the promenade along the Rawa River, although I will say the river is so narrow you could easily jump across it, it is not a beautiful river promenade like in other European cities. Overall, the Katowice Town Square is the center of most activity in Katowice and one of the best things to do in Katowice.
Hours: You can walk around the Town Square anytime you want. The most activity will be during any markets or events, usually during the day. At night, the area is still generally safe, but not as worthwhile visiting except for the neon.
Price: Visiting this area is entirely free!
Transport Info: The Katowice Town Square is a 5-minute walk from the train station and within walking distance of most of the best accommodations in Katowice. However, it is also served by almost a dozen trams that go everywhere in the city, so you should have no trouble getting to the Town Square no matter where you are staying or coming from.
2. Party on Ulica Mariacka
Description: Ulica Mariacka is where you want to go if you want to party in Katowice! It is found in the heart of the city center and is a promenade for its entire length. It has been restored to become more pedestrian-friendly and full of trees and beautiful views, as was initially intended. Along the promenade, you will find many bars and restaurants, including some of the best in Katowice! This is where you want to come for your night out when visiting.
As you walk down the street, you will undoubtedly notice the large church on the eastern end of the street. This church, called St. Mary’s Church, was built in the 1860s in the neo-gothic style by German architects and is the most beautiful church in all of Katowice. You can take a walk inside for free to admire the interior or just admire the beautiful exterior as you walk down the promenade. All in all, Ulica Mariacka is one of the best walks in Katowice and a great place to grab a drink on your visit!
Hours: You can take a walk here anytime. During the day is the best time for sightseeing. At night, you can start your night between 9 PM and 10 PM for the best atmosphere. Most bars will close between 1 AM and 3 AM, with longer hours on the weekend. The atmosphere will be highest on weekends, and lowest during major holidays.
Price: Walking up and down Ulica Mariacka is entirely free. You may end up spending money on food or drink, but that is completely up to you!
Transport Info: The start of Ulica Mariacka is about a 5-minute walk from the Katowice Town Square and the same from Katowice Train Station. Take a tram or bus to either location to get started. The eastern end of the street near the church is a short walk from the Katowice Szkoła Filmowa tram stop, with an east-west service throughout the city.
3. Visit the fantastic Silesian Museum
Description: There are many great museums throughout Poland. However, I think the Silesian Museum is one of the best, if not the best museums in all of Poland. It is in the sight of a former mine, part of what is today the Silesian Cultural Zone, which includes museums, music facilities, and modern architecture. It is part of a great effort to revitalize a city that was once heavily polluted and full of industry. This museum is a comprehensive effort full of history, art, and other experiences.
The history of Silesia is very complicated. It has been ruled throughout history by Poles, Bohemians, Austria-Hungary, and Germany, before once again becoming a part of Poland. Thus, Silesia has a very multicultural history, one which is celebrated and explained at this museum. The museum has perhaps the best singular museum exhibit in all of Poland, explaining the entire history of Silesia in detail from early humanity to the present day. You can easily spend 2 hours in just this exhibit.
But, if you are interested in other things, the top floor of the museum also houses a large collection of art in all different styles. From old Renaissance and classical art to abstract modern art, the museum has a style for everyone, with a focus on Silesian artists throughout history. They also often have special exhibitions from local artists, with the one I visited being about war.
If you want something else to do, you can also scale the view tower, which looks like a mining tower from the coal mine days of this area. From the top, you can get some of the best views of Katowice anywhere. Do note that the tower is only open during the summer when there is good weather. All in all, this museum has everything and is certainly worth your time as one of the best things to do in Katowice.
Hours: The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 AM to 8 PM. On Mondays, the museum is closed. These hours should be the same for most major holidays as well, even major holidays such as Easter. Try to visit the museum around sunset for the best view from the view tower. Also, plan at least 2 hours for your visit, this museum is huge and has lots to see. The quickest you can see everything is around 90 minutes, in my opinion.
Price: A comprehensive ticket for the main museum costs 24 PLN/18 PLN reduced. Visiting the viewing tower costs an additional 5 PLN per person. You can visit just the temporary exhibits for 14 PLN/10 PLN reduced. There are also discounted family tickets available, but only if you have the Polish Large Family Card. The museum is free to visit on Tuesdays.
Transport Info: The Silesian Museum is not far from the city center. There is no tram stop directly nearby, but you can take a tram to Spodek and walk about 10 minutes from there. Or, from Katowice Train station, take Bus 940 to Katowice Strefa Kultury, which takes about 10 minutes as well. You can also walk from the Town Square in about 20 minutes. Parking is also available, and it is free for the first 3 hours, and 5 PLN per hour for each added hour afterwards.
4. Explore the many attractions of Silesia Park
Following your visit to one of the best museums in all of Poland, consider then visiting one of the best parks in all of Poland. Like the Silesian Museum, Silesia Park is in an area once decimated by industry and poor environmental practices. Today, it is a bustling park, one of the largest in all of Poland at twice the size of New York’s Central Park. With immense human effort, this area was revitalized to its current state, and you can appreciate the new-growth forest and many other beautiful parts of the park without feeling like it has been put in place by humans.
With the size of this park, there are also naturally many attractions to be found. While taking a nice walk or relaxing on some of the large lawns are certainly worth your time alone, you may also be interested in visiting one of the attractions below.
- Silesian Zoo: This zoo is a great place to bring your kids to have some fun. The zoo is home to over 3000 different animals, some of which you can see from outside the zoo if you do not want to enter (mostly birds). Highlights of the zoo include elephants, hippos, bears, tigers, penguins, and much more.
- Silesian Planetarium: Part of the greater Silesian Science Park, here you can learn about the stars and the cosmos with interactive exhibits. You can take a trip in a spaceship simulator, take advantage of the observation tower to see the sky, or just take in the surroundings of Katowice, with views of the nearby mountains. Audio guides are available in English for all exhibits. The Planetarium is deep in the heart of the park forest and can be reached by car.
- Elka Cable Car: Want to ride in style? Take the Elka Cable Car. A historic cable car that has been in use for decades to transport park visitors, it still runs today. It takes about 40 minutes round-trip, running from near the zoo to the Silesian Stadium. It is a great way to admire the park on a nice day, or even on a rainy day, it is a way to get out of the weather.
- Upper Silesian Ethnographic Park: Visit this open-air museum in the western part of the park. Here you can learn and see how the historic peoples of Silesia lived and worked. This is a great place to take kids to learn some history, as the outdoor exhibits and activities are fun for all ages.
- Silesian Stadium: Silesian Stadium sticks out from wherever you can see it in the park. A longtime venue for the Polish National Football team, it has hosted a variety of events, including Polish Olympic qualifying events, and even car races. While it hosts no team in the Polish Ekstraklasa league, it is currently temporarily hosting Ruch Chorzów, one of Poland’s most successful football teams, if you want to go see a match in the stadium.
Hours: You can visit Silesia Park anytime! However, it is only worth visiting during the daytime in my opinion, unless you are visiting one of the attractions in the park that is open for later hours. For hours of each of the attractions, check their website, linked by clicking on their name in the list above. For the Silesian Stadium, you will only be able to access it during an event or football match.
Price: Visiting the park itself is free. Each attraction above has its price, which you can again find by clicking on the name of the attraction to take you to their websites.
Transport Info: Getting to Silesia Park is easy by public transportation. There are multiple trams, such as Tram 0, 6, 23, and 25 that take you from Katowice city center to the park. There are dedicated tram stops for the zoo, the main park entrance, and the stadium. Once in the park, you can walk to your preferred activity or attraction. For parking, the zoo has a small paid parking lot, and there is also paid parking near the stadium, but I would avoid it as it seems their rules are purposefully strict and result in high fines. Use public transport, it is easy and cheap!
5. Enjoy the surroundings of Arena Spodek
Description: Arena Spodek is one of the most unique buildings that can be found in Poland. Its distinctive UFO shape sticks out in the Katowice skyline. It was built during the communist era of Poland in 1971, and still, today is one of the largest concert venues you can visit in all of Poland. It hosts dozens of concerts throughout the year, as well as cultural events, sporting events such as basketball and ice hockey games, and many other events. The plaza outside the arena is a great place to hang out.
For an underrated experience right next to the arena that I did not find out about until I had already left Katowice, hang out on the rooftop of the Katowice International Conference Center. This rooftop is covered in grass to give it a more natural feel, and amongst this grass, you will find a staircase leading to a viewing platform that provides a decent, but free, view of the city. You can admire Spodek from here, but also the next-door KTW Business Park, home to Katowice’s tallest buildings. All in all, Arena Spodek is a cool area to explore when visiting Katowice.
Hours: You can hang out in the area around Arena Spodek any time you want. To enter, you must have a ticket to an event inside, otherwise, it is hard to enter inside. A few options to enter are via the gym or pool, but you will not get to see the famous spaceship interior. Overall, visit around sunset, so you can take advantage of the view from the roof of the International Conference Center
Price: The area around, including the viewpoint, is entirely free. The cost to enter will depend on which event you are attending.
Transport Info: Arena Spodek is about a 5-minute walk from the Katowice Town Square and a 10-minute walk from the Katowice Train Station. It is also served by various tram lines stopping at Katowice Rondo tram stop, with trams from the city center, west, and north. For parking, there is a lot to the east of the building by the National Orchestra Building, with paid parking available and many parking spaces. This is a great place to park to visit the Silesian Museum as well.
6. Catch a thrill at Legendia Silesian Theme Park
Description: Poland loves their amusement parks! Legendia Silesian Theme Park is one of the few found in a Polish city. While nearby Energylandia is much larger, Legendia is also one of the best amusement parks in Poland. The park has been open since 1959 and has been providing joy to people of all ages ever since. In 2015, the park got a major rebrand, with most rides and themed areas being themed after various historical legends.
The park is not large but is centered around a small lake, with rides and themed areas surrounding it. The park has around 40 total attractions, ranging from kid’s rides to thrilling roller coasters. The star of the park is the Lech Coaster, once the tallest, longest, and fastest roller coaster in all of Poland. The other thrilling roller coaster is Tornado, with back-to-back loops. All in all, Legendia is a great place to catch a thrill, and in the offseason, a cheap place to do so to boot.
Hours: the park usually opens by the end of March and is open until October for the Halloween fair. The exact hours are not posted on the website for each season. However, during the beginning of the season, from March until June, the park is only open on the weekends, but during the regular season, it is open every day. The hours are also longer during the summer season than during the fall and spring.
Price: The price depends on when you visit. A regular adult ticket costs 139 PLN if you book online (and 159 PLN if you buy at the park), and a child ticket from 3-12 is 64.50 online (74.50 offline), and for the youngest children, it is always 5 PLN. Senior tickets will cost the same as a child’s ticket.
There are also family tickets, which get admission for two adults plus one child at the base price of 350 PLN online, with an added 37.50 PLN for up to three more children. Fast passes cost 35 PLN. Finally, if you visit in the offseason, they often offer admission at a 50% discounted rate, so check the website to see if this applies!
Transport Info: The same trams that go to Silesia Park also serve Legendia Silesian Theme Park. The park has its dedicated tram stop bearing its name, and it takes about 10 minutes to get there from the Katowice Town Square. If you want to drive, there are also a few decent-sized paid parking lots available at the park, with parking costing 20 PLN if you are visiting the park (do not park here otherwise, as parking costs an unsightly 149 PLN!).
7. Find some quiet at Kosciuszko Park
Description: Looking for another great park in Katowice that is a bit quieter than Silesia Park? Kosciuszko Park is the one for you. Found south of the city center, this massive park is a more traditional European-style park, with manicured lawns, flowers, gardens, and monuments. There are massive lawn spaces perfect for a picnic, lots of trails to walk or bike on, and plenty of space for outdoor games. This park will have a more local flavor than Silesia Park if that is what you are looking for.
The other interesting thing to visit in Kosciuszko Park is the distinctive blue and white tower at the north end of the park. This tower was used to test parachutes during WWII. The tower itself is not very tall, which tells the tale of very dangerous testing done. While you cannot climb up the tower today (as it would be too dangerous), it provides an interesting story and a unique place to hang out when you visit the park. This, and the peace and size of this park make it one of the best things to do in Katowice.
Hours: The park is open 24/7, but it is only worthwhile visiting during the day.
Price: Visiting the park is entirely free!
Transport Info: The park is only a 30-minute walk from the city center. However, this walk is uphill for part of the way, so you may prefer public transport. Tram 6, 14, 16, and 46 all leave from the Katowice Train Station, and stop at multiple stops along the eastern edge of the park, with the first being Kosciuszki Szpital. If you want to drive, you are out of luck, as there is no parking available.
8. Learn something new at the Museum of the History of Katowice
Description: While the Silesian Museum focuses more on the overall history of the entire Silesia region, the Museum of the History of Katowice focuses solely on Katowice’s development as a city, throughout every version and name of the city. It is in an old tenement building from the early 20th century and houses a variety of dynamic exhibitions about Katowice.
The permanent exhibition focuses on the period of the earliest 20th century and the history of the building itself, as well as a comprehensive view of the history of the city from its origins in the 13th century to the present day. There are also always a variety of temporary exhibitions available, usually related to art and culture. Make sure to also snap a picture with the famous artist Witkacy out front. All in all, this museum is very small but can take up to 30 minutes to an hour at a low cost.
Hours: The museum is open from Tuesday to Friday from 10 AM to 6 PM, on Saturdays from 10 AM to 4 PM, and on Sundays and some holidays from 11 AM to 3 PM. The museum is closed on all national Polish holidays except for Easter Monday, and is also closed on Good Friday and Holy Saturday.
Price: A ticket to visit both temporary and permanent exhibitions costs 25 PLN/15 PLN reduced. Permanent exhibitions cost 15/10 PLN, and temporary exhibitions cost 20/10 PLN. A family ticket costs There are also guided tours available in English for 80 PLN. You can visit the permanent exhibitions for free on Tuesdays (although some websites say Saturday).
Transport Info: The museum is easiest to get to by walking. It is about a 10-minute walk from the Katowice Train Station. Otherwise, you can take Bus 12 from the train station to the Katowice Mariacka bus stop and walk a few minutes from there. There is street parking available near the museum, but it is extremely limited.
9. Take a hike to the Maldives of Poland
Description: While not technically found in Katowice, it is close enough and popular to visit from Katowice. The Maldives of Poland are in Park Gródek in Jaworzno, a small town east of Katowice. The nickname for this park comes from the beautiful blue lakes found in the park, and it is also sometimes called “Silesian Croatia.” The lakes are found in a former quarry, and the two different reservoirs have a distinctive blue color. The first, Orka, houses a private diving facility, and the second, Wydra, is home to a wooden walkway with gazebos akin to what is found at resorts in the Maldives.
While the nickname may be a bit of an over-exaggeration, I found this park still very beautiful! The lake is stunning, the views from the trail to the lake, with jagged cliffs, are stunning, and the surrounding forest is peaceful and full of hiking trails. The facilities at the lake are limited to enjoying the view and taking a walk (swimming is not allowed), but there is lots of space to bring outdoor activities or to have a picnic. It is well worth the trip to spend half of a day here.
Hours: The park is open 24/7. Do be aware that in the winter and early spring seasons, the boardwalks will probably be flooded, as well as other parts of the valley where the lake is. So, come prepared with waterproof shoes. You will probably not be able to walk on the boardwalks if it is flooded, as the boardwalk is not directly connected to shore. In the summer, there should be no problem with this. Overall, the earlier you get there, the quieter it will be.
Price: Visiting the park is entirely free. Thus, I expect it to be very busy in the summer.
Transport Info: Getting to the park is easiest by car, with a parking lot available at the north entrance. During the offseason, you will be able to park for free, but during the busy season, there will be a parking attendant charging 15 PLN, and you should even be able to pay by card, but having cash is recommended. There are other paid parking lots available nearby as well.
If you want to take public transportation like I did, you will first need to buy a regional train ticket from Katowice to Jaworzno Szczakowa train station. This train journey takes around 20 minutes and costs around 10 PLN. You can buy a ticket here (which requires the creation of an account) or at the Katowice train station. Once off the train, there are a variety of buses you can take to the entrance of the park, although they leave infrequently. Tickets can be bought on board with cash or contactless payment. If you want to walk, it is mostly flat and takes about 45 minutes.
Look out for a future guide to this activity with more detailed information about how to get to the park.
10. Take a day trip to a nearby city or attraction
Katowice is a well-connected city in Poland. There are many great cities and places to visit within a maximum of 2 hours of the city. Thus, if you choose to spend a few days or even a week in Katowice, you should take advantage of the convenient and inexpensive train service and take a day trip somewhere! Below are 5 good day trips to consider, ranging from the most popular to the least popular.
- Auschwitz-Birkenau: Auschwitz-Birkenau is one of the most infamous locations in all of Europe. Here was the sight of terrible atrocities committed by Nazi Germany during WWII. Millions of people each year visit Auschwitz-Birkenau to reflect on the horrors of the Holocaust. The museum and complex are only about 50 minutes by train from Katowice, arriving at the small town of Oświęcim, and costing around 15 PLN. Look out for future articles soon with more information on traveling to Auschwitz-Birkenau.
- Kraków: Kraków is one of the best cities to visit in all of Poland. From the stunning and historic Old Town to the beautiful hilltop Wawel Castle, Kraków has a lot to offer for a day trip. It also has great food, drink, and activities, is relatively inexpensive, and the atmosphere is among the best in all of Europe. It is reachable within 90 minutes by train from Katowice.
- Cieszyn: Cieszyn is a town not many who are not from Poland have heard of. However, it is a beautiful traditional Silesian town. Walking amongst the streets of the city is a highlight, with the town square being one of the most underrated in all of Poland. But the highlight of visiting Cieszyn is taking advantage of its placement on the Czech border. You can cross one of the many bridges over the Olza River and spend some time in the Czech part of the city. Cieszyn is reachable by a combination of regional trains in just under 2 hours.
- Częstochowa: Częstochowa is a small town full of history. The main reason to visit is to visit the Jasna Góra Monastery, the most important pilgrimage site in all of Poland and an iconic landmark of the country. Here is the Black Madonna of Częstochowa, which is credited with turning back invading Swedish forces, and thus is considered highly sacred. But the town itself is also gorgeous and is also the safest town of its size in all of Europe. Getting to Częstochowa takes around an hour from Katowice by train.
- Błędów Desert: For an under-the-radar destination, consider visiting Poland’s only desert. Translating to the “desert of mistakes,” this name is fitting, as this desert only exists because of bad environmental practices. Today, it is a place with dunes, great hiking, and interesting surroundings. It is reachable by a combination of regional train to the city of Olkusz and local bus in about 2 and a half hours, or by car in under 45 minutes from Katowice.
BONUS: How to get to Katowice
Katowice is perhaps the second-best connected city in Poland after Warsaw. Dozens of train lines arrive at Katowice Train Station every day, both from all over Poland and from destinations in Europe. Many of the best Polish cities to visit are within a 3-hour train ride of Katowice, including Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław, and Poznań. Daily international trains also arrive from Vienna and Prague. Many regional trains in the area connect to smaller nearby gems, that are extremely inexpensive if you are willing to travel for a bit longer.
There are two other great ways to get to Katowice: by bus and by plane. There is a bus service with FlixBus from almost anywhere in Poland, as well as international destinations such as Berlin (7-hour trip), Prague (7-hour trip), Vienna (6-hour trip), and even further long-haul destinations such as Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Hamburg, and Paris. These buses leave from Katowice Sądowa bus station, a short walk from the main train station.
If you want to arrive by plane, Katowice has its airport, found 32 km (20 miles) north of the city. Classic low-cost carriers, such as Wizz Air and Ryan Air, fly here from around Europe, including year-round flights from destinations such as Athens, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Dublin, Frankfurt, London-Luton, London-Stansted, Rome-Fiumicino, and many more. The airport is reachable from the city using a direct airport bus, which takes around 45 minutes, using either the AP or M11 bus.
Alternatively, you can choose to rent a car. You can do this at the airport as you arrive, or you can take a drive from another Polish city, with Warsaw a great place to rent a car. The drive will take anywhere from 3-4 hours, depending on where you are coming from. Do note that if you plan to drive to Katowice from either Wrocław or Kraków, the main highway is a toll road that requires an electronic pass for payment. You can find out more about this system here.
BONUS: How to get around Katowice
There are a variety of ways to get around while visiting the best things to do in Katowice. The easiest way is to take advantage of the great public transportation that Katowice and the surrounding Silesian cities have to offer. Buses and trams will take you almost anywhere in the city in 15 minutes. Major bus and tram lines leave from the Katowice Rynek or Katowice Train Station every 5-10 minutes on weekdays, and every 10-15 minutes on weekends.
To get tickets for public transportation, you can use ticket machines, which are found at key transit stops throughout the city. Here you can buy a day ticket so that you do not have to worry about repeatedly buying tickets. Alternatively, you can use the app Jakdojade. Jakdojade works in many Polish cities, and you can buy tickets through the app, pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay, bank transfer via BLIK, or secure card payment. After buying the ticket, you scan the barcode found in every tram and bus in Katowice, and your ticket is validated. If you have a paper ticket, make sure to put it in the ticket validator inside the bus or tram to avoid fines.
Ticket prices for public transport in Katowice are low-cost, as they are everywhere in Poland. The prices can be found in the table below. Note that a one-day ticket is only valid until the end of the day for which you buy it, and a 24-hour ticket is valid for 24 hours after validation. A group ticket is valid for 90 minutes and can be used for groups of up to 5 people. The reduced price applies to children between 7-18 and university students with a valid ISIC ID card. Seniors over 70 travel for free with ID.
| Ticket | Regular Price | Reduced Price |
| 20-minute ticket | 4 PLN | 2 PLN |
| 40-minute ticket | 5 PLN | 2.50 PLN |
| 90-minute ticket | 6 PLN | 3 PLN |
| One-day ticket | 12 PLN | 6 PLN |
| 24 hours ticket | 24 PLN | 12 PLN |
| Group ticket | 11.80 PLN | 5.90 PLN |
Other ways to get around the city are bikes, operated by Metrorower. These bikes are found throughout the city, and the yellow bikes and rental stations stand out. To use it, you first must download the free app, create an account, and then you can start riding! The first 30 minutes of riding only cost 1 PLN. Additionally, electronic scooters are also available in Katowice, through Bolt, which also has its app.
If for some reason you ever need a taxi, typical taxi apps like Bolt and Uber are available for use, as well as city taxis that usually have their apps. Always make sure to book through an app to get the best rate. A taxi ride will probably cost anywhere between 20-30 PLN per ride, depending on the distance you travel. Taxis to the airport will of course be more expensive, and thus using the available public transport to the airport is recommended.
If you choose to rent a car for your stay in Katowice, by doing so unlocking many of the great destinations in the surrounding area of Silesia, parking is at a premium in many places in Katowice. However, most places will have at least some paid parking available, but you will be paying every time you park. Additionally, traffic in Katowice and the surrounding Silesian cities can get quite bad, so accommodate this in your travel plans if you plan to rent a car.
BONUS: Is Katowice expensive?
One of the main reasons you might consider staying in Katowice is that it is a bit cheaper than nearby cities such as Kraków. In general, hotels and restaurants, even in the town center, should be 10-15% cheaper. In off-peak months, these discounts could be even higher. Thus, with Katowice being well connected to surrounding popular tourist destinations, staying in Katowice could allow you to save quite a bit of money, even when adding in regional train tickets. But in general, Katowice is a relatively cheap European destination, as are most cities in Poland.
BONUS: How long should I stay in Katowice?
Most people coming to Poland do not have Katowice high on their list of cities to visit. However, I hope after reading this article you will decide to spare some time to visit this very underrated city in Poland! One choice for those who are focused on other cities in Poland is to take a day trip. Katowice is especially a nice day trip from Kraków, with regional train service between the two cities taking about 90 minutes, and Inter-city routes taking around 45 minutes. Wrocław is also only a couple of hours away by train. A day trip to Katowice should include the city center, the Silesian Museum, and Silesia Park.
Alternatively, if you are interested in using Katowice as your jumping-off point for visiting Poland, you might find 3-5 days suitable. For a weekend trip, you could spend the first- and third day exploring Katowice, and the second day taking a day trip to a nearby destination such as Kraków or Auschwitz. For a longer trip, you can explore Katowice more thoroughly or take multiple-day trips to top nearby destinations.
Conclusions about the Best Things to Do in Katowice
Overall, after visiting Katowice, I think its reputation is unfounded. It was a very pleasant city, with one of the best parks and one of the best museums in all of Poland. I think visiting when the weather is nice may have influenced my perception of the city, but I think even in the heart of winter, there is some enjoyment to be gotten out of Katowice. However, I recommend visiting starting in early spring until late September, or when there is snow on the ground; during these times, Katowice will be most magical.
So, if you are looking for an underrated budget destination in Poland, Katowice is the city for you! Don’t be afraid to take some time exploring this city and hitting the best things to do in Katowice found on this list. Safe travels!
