Cathedral of Christ the King

Let's start our Katowice guide with a church. Constructed in the early communist times of 1955, this Roman Catholic archcatherdal is one of a kind in Poland. Its rough, blocky outside and geomertical inside contrast enormously with the Roman-style columns of the facade. Since its construction, the catherdal has become a symbol of Katowice, and, despite perhaps not being the most flashy building around, is a must-see for anyone looking to experience Katowice's true colors.

The catherdal is open daily, and can be visited free of charge. This applies to the vast majority of Polish churches.

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St. Mary's Street

St. Mary's Street, or ulica Mariacka, is Katowice's centre of urban life. It is a promenade lined with hip restaurants, clubs, bars, cafes, and stores. The street is a great place to discover Polish metropolitan life, but is also great for photography thanks to the church tower looming over the street on its eastern end. During the night, and especially on the weekends, the street slowly fills up with people - this is the best time to go there.

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Architecture

Let's face it - Katowice is no tourist paradise. However, there is something that must be admitted to its credit. There are dozens of builidngs, especially tenement houses, scattered around the city centre that few pay attention to. Those same buildings located anywhere else would become major tourist attractions - here, they're just too commonplace. Many of them have tens of beautiful ornaments, decorative towers, or just a very unusual design. Katowice is, therefore, a paradise not for the typical tourist, but for one with appreciation for such old buildings with history that have remained low-key.

Szczecin Philharmonic official website

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Spodek

Located in the dead centre of Katowice, Spodek is a multipurpose arena constructed in 1971. It is, however, not the arena part that is notable, it is the design of the exterior. The building is truly one of a kind, and it is a must-see simply for its odd form. The name "Spodek" translates directly to "Saucer", as in flying saucer, in honor of its resemblance to a UFO.

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Valley of Three Ponds

After a day in the industrial concrete jungle that is Katowice, it can be very nice to relax in the Valley of Three Ponds, a water and greenery complex located south of the city centre. It is a good place to discover modern cosmopolitan life in Eastern Europe, but also for a picnic, or maybe even a swim.

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Silesian Parliament

The parliament's grand, awe-inspiring building was constructed in 1929 to house the parliament of the autonomous region of Silesia. What is, however, most notable about the parliament is its modernist facade, with its hundreds of blocky windows, modular wings, monuments and ornaments. Most importantly, however, the building truly represents the distinctiveness of the people of Silesia from Poland, but also the meaning and atmosphere of Katowice.

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Main Square

The Main Square in Katowice is unlike any other Main Square in Poland, most of which have an old city hall in the centre and are surrounded by tenement houses. In Katowice, the tenement houses have been swapped for modern buildings interlacing with old, standalone structures, and the city hall was replaced by a green open urban space. The main square, in our opinion, is best enjoyed in the evening, which is exactly when there is most activity in the cafes and restaurants that surround it.

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our super low-budget picks

it's no bed of roses; it's no pleasure cruise - but these picks get the job done with dignity for a penny on the dollar.

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our low-budget picks

for those who want to spend the minimum, but not the bare minimum.

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our mid-budget picks

you don't want to miss out on any amenities, but you're not paying extra for fancy decor - this one's for you.

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our high-budget picks

for the ones who are coming to Poland for the trip of their lives - or just for the one's who always want the best of the best.

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Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camps

The two concentration camps are located 50 kilometers west of Central Cracow, and are infamous for being the site of extermination of upwards of 1.1 million people during World War II. Today, it is a museum in memorial of "the martyrdom of the Polish nation and other nations in Oswiecim". A visit to eye-opening the museum should be a must for every adult during their lifetime.

It costs 45 zł [10.4 EUR] to enter the park. This entrance fee includes a guide in English. The park is about 40 minutes away by car, or about 50 minutes away by public transport. To get there by public transport, you must first take a train to Oświęcim, and then take a short walk to the site. The journey will cost you 6 zł [1.4 EUR] each way.

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Cracow

Cracow is Poland's most popular city, and for good reason. It has incredibly rich history, and is, in a way, the opposite of Katowice. While Katowice is a city focused on its industrial architecture and atmosphere, Cracow emphasizes the medieval and renaissance. Cracow's most notable buildings and areas include the Main Square, Wawel Castle, and Kazimierz Jewish District. In truth, if you have a spare day in Katowice and have not yet been to Cracow, you really, really should go.

It takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes to go to Central Cracow from Central Katowice by car (it's a motorway all the way there). Alternatively, you can take the train, which takes a bit under 2 hours and costs as little as 12 zł [2.8 EUR].

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Częstochowa

Częstochowa is a major city north of Katowice with two main things going for it - the monastery of Jasna Góra, to which thousands flock in pursuit of pilgrimage, and the Cracow-Częstochowa Upland, which is remarkable for its ruins, beautiful terrain, stone formations, and flora. What is more, Częstochowa is a must-visit for any dedicated Roman Catholic, or for anyone looking to experience at least one more city in Poland.

It takes around 1 hour minutes to go from Central Katowice to Central Częstochowa by car. Alternatively, you can take the train, which takes a bit under 2 hours and costs 26 zł [6.1 EUR] for an Intercity Train ticket.

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Ostrava

Though this goes against the premise of our website, we can't help but recommend taking a trip to Ostrava if you have a spare day in Katowice and would like to explore a new city or country. Ostrava is the third biggest city in the Czech Republic and a truly industrial powerhouse of the past, which is now being converted into a paradise of hip restaurants, cafes, and open areas.

It takes about 1 hour to go to Ostrava from Katowice by car, with a motorway all the way there. Though a bit troublesome, it's also possible to go by train - there is a direct Intercity connection which takes 2 hours and 15 minutes and costs 13 euro.

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Ojcowski National Park

A small national park located 20 kilometers northwest of Central Cracow, known for its boulders and odd stone structures. It's the perfect place for a picnic, trekking, and photography. The nature in the park is truly breathtaking, and so are the ruins of Ojców Castle. Apart from flora, it is also known for its fauna, and especially the hundreds of types of birds and hundreds of bats living in the park's caves - but also deer, polecats, hares, and boards.

Ojcowski National Park is best accessible via Ojców, which is reachable by car in 1 hour and 5 minutes. You can also first go to Cracow (see how above) and then take a Unibus bus from Kraków Nowy Kleparz/Prądnicka station, which takes 35 minutes, departs roughly every 4 hours, and costs 10 zł [2.3 EUR].

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Błędów Desert

Oddly enough, Poland has a desert, and it is located just northeast of Katowice. It is an area of 32 square kilometers, with sands reaching up to 70 meters of depth. Apart from having been a training ground for German troops awaiting deployment in Africa during WWII, it is a fantastic experience if you have never been to a desert before. The desert can be walked across for free, of course.

It takes about 35 minutes to drive to the desert from Central Katowice (which is crazy). It's quite hard to get there by public transport, but, if you are determined to, the best option is to go to the town of Klucze, which is a good access point for the desert. To do so, you must take a bus from the bus station near Silesia Shopping Centre to the town of Olkusz - this takes 50 minutes - and then take another bus from Olkusz to Klucze - this takes 10 minutes. The total cost of this trip is 10 zł [2.3 EUR] each way.