Discover Katowice

4 min read    55 comments

Many people come to Katowice by chance - their low-fare flight happens to fly to the Katowice Airport, or they have a few hours to kill between trains at the Katowice Central Train Station. But we have a wild suggestion: don't just think of Katowice as a stopping-point on the way to Cracow or other larger cities, but take the time to discover this little city in south-western Poland - you might just be pleasantly surprised!

Getting There

Polish rail (PKP) has a good connection to Katowice (the train to Wroclaw, not to mention Prague and Vienna, goes through there), and the journey takes an hour and a half. You can check their timetables here.

The Town

Katowice is located in Upper Silesia, which means it's changed hands many times in its long history. Originally inhabited by ethnic Silesians, it was ruled by the Polish Piast dynasty before falling into Czech hands in 1335, and then into the Hapsburg domain in 1526. The city of Katowice was founded in the 19th century, gaining city status in 1865. The city has a long history of being a multi-ethnic city, and its inhabitants consisted mainly of Poles, Germans, Jews, and Silesians. After the Industrial Revolution, the city became one of the largest centre of coal and steel production, and to this day is known as an industrial centre of Poland.

What to See

While it's not the cultural mecca Krakow is, Katowice still has several cultural centres, including the Wyspianski Silesian Theatre, Silesian Philharmonic, many museums including the Silesian Museum and the History of Katowice Museum, and is the site of numerous festivals and music concerts year-round.

Despite its industrial background, Katowice has plenty of green spaces and parks to relax in, particularly in the warmer months. Silesian Culture and Refreshment Park, Tadeusz Kosciuszko Park, and Zadole Park are just a few of the larger ones, and dozens of others lay hidden throughout the city.

The city centre itself displays a good contrast of modern skyscrapers and Modernist and Art Nouveau buildings from the turn of the century, notably the Cathedral in Katowice and Drapacz Chmur, one of Europe's first skyscrapers. Katowice's Rynek is getting a facelift soon as well, though today you'll find a nice promenade with many shops and restaurants. Other historic buildings worth seeing include St. Stephen's Church, Silesian Insurgents Monument, the Silesian Library, and the Goldstein Palace.

Fun in Katowice

Even though the city is much smaller than Krakow, Katowice gets a surprising number of good live music acts that play on its stages. Perhaps it's the quality of the larger venues it offers, whereas in Cracow you'll mostly find bands playing in smaller underground clubs. Here's some of our favourite venues for catching a great live show (or having a few beers on regular nights).

Cogitatur is Katowice's premier concert venue, featuring a spacious stage upstairs and a full bar with a tasty menu on the lower level. Our favourite Jekyll and Hyde type of club is Hipnoza Jazz Club and Electro, another spacious bar with high ceilings and jazz music on the top floor, and a cool basement bar with non-stop electro/lounge music in the basement. Spodek is where all the major foreign acts rock out on, so if you'd like to catch stars like Tool or Depeche Mode, chances are you'll see them here. Chorzow Stadium is another place to catch huge foreign acts, and is an outdoor venue located in wonderfully gigantic Chorzow Park.

For more information, please visit the city's official website.

Restaurants/Pubs: Zloty Oshau (misspelled) - (The Golden Donkey) This is my personal favourite, as it is a great, artsy vegetarian place with great homemade, fresh and healthy food. Also, it is very cheap for a main course complete with the choice of 2 types of salads. COGITATUR - This is Katowice's premier concert venue with the spacious stage upstairs and a full bar with a tasty menu on the lower level. New Century Classics are destined to rock it here someday! Hipnoza Jazz Club/Electro - Another spacious bar with high ceilings and jazz music on the top floor, (Hipnoza), and a cool basement bar with non-stop electro/lounge music in the basement. (Electro) Concert Venues: Spodek - A classic venue for all the major foreign acts to rock out on, including Tool headlining at this year's Metal Hammer Festival on Aug. 12th! Chorzow Stadion - Poland's premier outdoor concert venue in wonderfully gigantic Chorzow Park. Summer acts include PJ (June 13) and Red Hot Chili Peppers (July 7th)

Comments

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Stanley Bielen
United States

Can you recommend a good restaurant in Katowice? Dzekuje

Reply Jun 15th, 2023
Ed Przeklasa
United States

Was Katowice ever named Letowice or is there a city named Letowice some where in Poland?

Reply Oct 25th, 2019
aga

There is a city named Letowice near Tarnow in the south and also a village named Letowice in Pomerania region right up in the north :)

Reply Oct 28th, 2019
Alan Woods
New Zealand

I was there for a week in September 2018. It was great. the people were friendly, the weather was warm, the food was great. Altogether a great place to visit.

Reply Oct 4th, 2018
jasmine
United States

I was there for a week, this September. I loved it. Great place to shop. I will definately go back!

Reply Oct 4th, 2017
Tim Cole
Australia

Hi I'll be in Katowice for WOMEX 17 in October, I want to launch my world music CD while I'm there in a multimedia VJ/DJ event, does anyone know a bar or cafe open late with a small stage or projection system, for a screening? close to the arts centre? thanks, Tim tim@smallislandbigsong.com

Reply Apr 29th, 2017
Tee J Randall
United Kingdom

I am thinking of heading to Krakow and Katowice this year (2016) to trace my Grandfather's lineage. His name was Jan Fojcik. He ended up in Scotland at the end of the war and then resettled in Peterborough. I have some cine footage of him visiting his family in Katowice in the late 70's. Would love to find them. I can be found on Facebook...... Tee J Randall

Reply Dec 31st, 2015
John Zajaczkowski
United States

My grandfather was born in Katowice in 1879. His name was Teofil Zajaczkowski and he married Agnieska Skotnika. His parents were Julian Zajaczkowski and Stephanie Kulinska. Agnieska parents were Anthony Skotniki and Zophia Ubaski. I have been to Poland (Warsaw & Cracau but want to visit Katowice to check on old Catholic parish records. Anybody think I will have any luck finding information about my grandparents?

Reply Apr 7th, 2015
Irwin
Portugal

Greetings! I’ve been following your site for a while now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from! Just wanted to mention keep up the great work!

Reply Jun 7th, 2013
sil
Poland

Katowice is a city in agglomeration of Silesia, with about 310,000 citizens. So it is not a small town really.

Reply Aug 26th, 2012
J Barczyk
United Kingdom

Did you know my father,Emil Barczyk who lived in Katowice before the war?

Reply Aug 2nd, 2012
Prisila
United States

um can someone tell me if katowice is a city, a large or a small town?

Reply Apr 24th, 2012
dar
Poland

big city

Reply Nov 6th, 2013
avertus
Czech Republic

What the F** is this article? Katowice a little town???? :D I spent some time in Katowice and it doesn't look like small city, Krakow - yes, small backward village, but Katowice small town????

Reply Nov 28th, 2011
guillaume
France

hello, I'll move to katowice, do you have any advice to find an appartment or a neighborhood that i must avoid. THANK YOU VERY MuCH

Reply Aug 9th, 2017
George M. Hayward
United States

As a child in 1943, I visited Katowice on numerous occasions. I think that is where my mother's parents lived. Their name is Maria Biernacka and Franchiszek Solecki.How cpuld I find out if they lived there?

Reply Aug 31st, 2011
nilds
Argentina

mis abuelos, gaczynski, antonio y Victoria Tomchuk eran de Katowice, pero vinieron a Argentina en 1931. Como saber de familiares?

Reply Mar 18th, 2011
Sharon Flannery
United States

I visited Katowice in 1972. I met some lovely friends. I corresponded with Jan& Bogusia Swierkot, who now live in Bytom, but have lost track of them. I love the Polish people!

Reply Mar 14th, 2011
Waclaw Kaniewski
United States

Tadeusz Kubica (86 +-) wrocil do Polski po drugiej ,razem bylismy w Polskiej szkole w Palestynie ,Czy on jeszcze zyje.chcialem powiediec Halo. i porozmawiac jerzeli jeszcz jest obecny.

Reply Feb 9th, 2011
Voytek
France

Although I live in France, I often go to Katowice (like twice a year or so) and I even bought an apartment there this year. I love this city, it's perfectly located, has great malls, awesome restaurants (karczma pod mlynem) and i just love Nikishowiec at daytime of course. there are cool parks and i just hang out with my old friends all the time. the best holiday destination ever, you simply can't get bored...

Reply Oct 2nd, 2010
GinaMarie
United States

My mothers family is from Katowice. My grandparents were fleeing the war when my grandmother was pregnant with my mother. I hope one day to visit and look for any relatives. The family name is Maj.

Reply Sep 19th, 2010
Dawid
United Kingdom

First of all, I,m from Scotland - NOT UK. My Babcia lived and died in Chorzow, I went to visit her home last month and I nearly died with shock when I saw the lack of progress in Silesia in general. But I still belive in Silesia - the land of my Babcia i Dziadek.

Reply Aug 24th, 2010
Izabela
United States

I was born there and actualy miss it. Lived here nearly in US 30 years yet, still something pulls me back. Visted few times and taken my children back. My kids loved it. Although, most of the family has moved back to Germany. Still we want to visit it again. Someone asked about orphanage the only one that i can recall was in Szopienice near a cemetary it was called Dom Dzieca. I remember walking pass it when walking up the hill to the cemetary. In 2003 it ws still there.

Reply Jul 19th, 2010
John BURZALA
United Kingdom

I hope to travel to poland and visit the birth place of my father,he was born in kierzno which is near kepno.I'm told its's a beautiful country

Reply Jun 6th, 2010
regina klimaniec
Australia

I was born in Kattowice.I will visit Kattowice in late July 2010 I would like to find my family, Kubica and Klimaniec.

Reply May 19th, 2010
anthony
United States

Jesse and Tristan is sitting next to me

Reply Apr 21st, 2010
anthony
United States

HI

Reply Apr 21st, 2010
ofra
Israel

iwant to know more details about foto "holas"in the past.if its possible,i want to know more about Bushman family that was the owners. thank you

Reply Apr 15th, 2010
Tracey Randall
United Kingdom

My grandad came from Katowice; Jan Fojcik, (son of Maria and Josef Fojcik), any information or leads would be great as it is difficult to access records remotely. My mum and I have put off going to the city, but I feel the time is coming. I's good to read the range of opinions.

Reply Apr 6th, 2010
Koos
Netherlands

All of the above sounds true. Katovice has 300000 inhabitants, but the urban sprawl is 3 million. A few streets are very attractive, and so are the recently developed huge shopping malls, but the general appearance is shabby. There is some seriousluy heavy industry left, but most factories and mines have been closed, which looks sad. The budget flights to Katowice are cheap, and hotel accommodation is from about 30 euros per night, breakfast included. Look up Hotel Polon1a in Katowice to see what I mean. Public transport costs per week what I spend in Holland in a day, and it's everywhere. I visited the Katowice area 3 times and I intend to go there again. I suppose that tells you something...

Reply Mar 29th, 2010
Pablo
Poland

Well in fact Katowice's agglomeration is more than twice bigger than Krakow's. The point is history - while Krakow was developing and it dominates all surrounding villages around, cities in Katowice's agglomeration became more-less equally developed. In our area we say that we are different, but equal:) Plus something worth noting - Bytom, a city within Katowice's agglomeration is older than Krakow. I mean, it gained the rights to be a city a bit earlier in XIII century.

Reply Mar 10th, 2010
nosu
Poland

Hi MT! I know Krzysztof Oset and the message was provide ;)

Reply Nov 22nd, 2009
Anna
United States

Just wanted to bring to everyones' attention, that the entire world has filty places. Check Mexico City, Los Angeles, New York, China, Belgrade to name a few... not that I am excusing the poles but reality is that there is no heaven on earth! To those there are from Poland can you tell how the heck you can find phone directories in your country? Have a great day!!!!

Reply Nov 19th, 2009
Katrin ;P
Germany

Siema :P jestem z Niemczech, i co roku jade do polski 3 razy :PP i babcia mieszka w katowicach :)) Pozdrawiam wszystkich ;*;*;*

Reply Nov 5th, 2009
Trretop
United States

Well said: "do not look like disney world, this place is real and i love it" I love this place too and all other cities around Katowice like Bytom or Gliwice with medieval market places surrounded by coal-mines...

Reply Sep 21st, 2009
david
United States

When i was a little boy i was in a orphanige in katowice.... does it still exist?

Reply Aug 17th, 2009
okzebra2
United States

I'd like to know where the village of budnanuvka (sp?) is in relation to this city. Family may have come from there.

Reply May 21st, 2009
MT
China

hi,people in katowice.i'm looking for a man who named krzysztof oset,if someone knows him,please tell him i still keep his lighter for him,please dont worry.i will try my best to send it to him.

Reply May 10th, 2009
Stephen Zajac
United Kingdom

Hi i was looking as my Father(Tadeusz Zajac) came from here during the war he had a brother i knew as Eddie & i think he had sisters who stayed in Poland

Reply May 9th, 2009
john holliday
United States

My mother's mother had a younger sister Agnieszka who married a Tadeusz Zajac and moved to Brazil from Poland around 1938. My name is John Holiday and my grandmother was Marcella (Kedzierski) Lopuszynski. PEACE

Reply Dec 21st, 2014
Eryka Martin
United States

I was born in Katowice have not visited but would like to some time.I'm looking for my mother's relatives but have no idea where to begin. My mother's name was Krystyne Filak

Reply Apr 25th, 2009
john
Ireland

been there a few times and the more i go back the nicer thigs i see, it is interesting and alive. i like places that do not look like disney world, this place is real and i love it

Reply Apr 7th, 2009
Jo
United Kingdom

This city was so dirty and we were robbed by two kids on scooters. So glad to live, or be from, this place. I would never go back there.

Reply Feb 19th, 2009
andrzej
Poland

I was born in katowice poland I loved it and no it was not clean but you should see it now. now i have moved to wales to work and now im a builder and i visit family once a month out in poland we do have a lot to offer in poland

Reply Feb 8th, 2009
Dave
United States

I visited Katowice in March, 1992--was only there briefly but my American sensibilities were shocked by the pollution and dirt. Yet I could see the lovely city still there under the grime, and I do hope, as the years have passed, that the dirt has been cleaned away and the gems of the old city brought back into view.

Reply Jan 1st, 2009
ooi
United Kingdom

i would say that population of katowice can not be measured without surrounding cities of the upper silesian metropolitan union (katowice agglomeration). therefore it is about 3,000,000. this is one continuous high dense city area! krakow apart of the old town is rather a low dense type. as i said before, with the industrial heritage - katowice (and agglomeration) is not for wimps! krakow is pretty nice though but bit dull ;-)

Reply Sep 7th, 2008
United Kingdom

Can this the place I went to last month? It's a dump.

Reply Sep 5th, 2008
anka
Poland

ooi, katowice is no way bigger than cracow! the population of katowice is just above 300,000! cracow has almost three times that, and is much prettier and more interesting culturally. katowice does have better concerts, but it's because it has better venues and a nice stadium.

Reply Sep 3rd, 2008
ooi
United Kingdom

katowice (and agglomeration) is a great, modern city! it is misleading in the article about size of katowice! about 3 milion people is living there, few times more than in cracow. music scene is much better than in cracow! i recommend the spodek arena - great concerts! according to locals classic music concerts are the best in poland (katowice is a home of polish national orchestra) . i went to one at a big white building in the katowice downtown - really impressive (the music). katowice - not for wimps!

Reply Sep 2nd, 2008
alina surga
United States

This is the city of my mother's birth. I am seeking anyone and all that may know her. Her name was Leokakja Kupiec. Born to Stanley Kupiec and Joanna. She was taken from this city at the age of 17. She was born in 1924 here. Her brothers were Joseph, Walter, and sisters, Amelia, Sophia. If you knew of her or her please let me know through this site.

Reply Aug 28th, 2008
Robert Anderson
United Kingdom

Just found a cheap flight from Scotland so next free weekend I'll try Katowice .. thanks

Reply Aug 27th, 2008
United States

i was born in katowice Irka M

Reply Aug 15th, 2008
Peter
Germany

kto pisze,ten zostajie. ;-) weiter so!,gruß an Katowice.

Reply Aug 8th, 2008
KinKa
Poland

Nie¼le napisane, krótko, zwiê¼le i na temat :-)

Reply Jul 27th, 2008
natasza
Poland

dobrze napisane

Reply Feb 24th, 2008