Katowice attractions. List of places to see and explore

Katowice is themodern capital of the Upper Silesian conurbation. It lies in the central part of the Silesian Voivodeship, at the intersection of many routes, including the motorway to Krakow. Both coming here and going to any city in the vicinity is not a problem, although the roads are sometimes jammed. Almost all of Upper Silesia is covered by a dense network of bus, tram, bus and train lines, enabling convenient communication.

However you do not enter the city, you will be surprised by the architecture of the city, among modernist and original buildings, there are modern creations and glazed office buildings that often surprise with a nice arrangement of space around, with green oases. A lot is being done to improve the image of the city, especially in the center. I remember what the surroundings of the Market Square looked like when I was commuting to study. Today it is a completely different Katowice, and walking in this area is much more pleasant than a dozen or so years ago.

City symbols

It was in Katowice that the first skyscraper in the country was built. In addition, there is the largest Polish cathedral, the Archcathedral of Christ the King or the largest monument - the Silesian Insurgents. This city also boasts the most original sports and entertainment hall in its shape. It's the famous Spodek! The only parachute tower in Poland was built in the Kościuszko Park. All this makes the place unique, and these objects have become symbols of the city at the same time. Recognizable not only in Poland but also abroad.

Experiences in Katowice

The capital of Upper Silesia may not be very associated with tourism, but there is no shortage of attractions here. Maybe few people still do not see  this city as a destination. However, there are places that definitely deserve interest and closer exploration. Check out the best attractions in Katowice!

Nikiszowiec

Nikiszowiec, commonly known as Nikisz, is a famous mining settlement in Katowice, located in the southern part of the city. It was built at the beginning of the 20th century, according to the ingenious design of cousins - Emil and George Zillmann. The mining estate is a Historical Monument, as well as one of the New Wonders of Poland, located on the Route of Technical Monuments of the Silesian Voivodeship. Be sure to direct your steps here due to the very interesting buildings and historic red brick families. Nikisha's heart is Liberation Square. Here you can admire the architecture and enjoy the taste of sweetness from the local cafe. Do not forget about the Museum on Nikiszowiec, where you will get to know the former flat of miners or the laundry room where their wives used to meet. This is one of the unusual attractions that arouse admiration not only among the inhabitants of the region, but also outside the borders of the military and even the country.
Address: Św. Anna Street and others

Silesian Museum in Katowice

The Silesian Museum is a fantastic, modern tourist complex, which is located in the former Katowice coal mine. This is one of the biggest attractions of Katowice. The perfectly revitalized and designed space allows you to appreciate the monument of technology and enjoy the green space around and the cultural zone. Of course, the most important and valuable are the exhibitions, presenting the history and art of the region. I was most impressed by the one presenting the difficult history of the region, but also the sacred one carries a lot of emotions.
Address: ul. Dobrowolskiego 1

Silesian Centre for Freedom and Solidarity

Śląskie Centrum Wolności i Solidarności ŚCWiS is a museum devoted to the strike and the history of the pacification of the "Wujek" mine in 1981. It is located in the Brynów district, in the vicinity of the Wujek Mine, next to the Monument of the Cross. This location is not accidental, because the Museum arouses the memory of the tragic events that took place here on December 16, 1981, when shots were fired during the communist era. It was ZOMO's special platoon that attacked the striking miners. Six workers were shot on the spot, three more died in hospitals, and 23 were shot. As a result of these events, 9 people were killed! This place is definitely worth visiting in Katowice.
Address: ul. Wincentego Pola 38

Mr. Kleks's fairy tale

Mr. Kleks's fairy tale is a great attraction for children, which has been available in the former Porcelain Factory in Katowice since 2019. You will have a wonderful family adventure here. I highly recommend this place. Children will have fun in a colorful land, and you will move back to your childhood and Jan Brzechwa's iconic novel "Mr. Kleks Academy"​. It's worth going to this land of fun.
Address: ul. Porcelanowa 23

Dolina Trzech Stawów

Dolina Trzech Stawów is a pleasant and green recreational area with a Water Sports Marina on stocked ponds, numerous cycling routes and walking paths run here, and CH Trzy Stawy was created nearby
Address: ul. Murckowska

Giszowiec in Katowice

It is the second housing estate next to Nikiszowiec, but arranged completely differently, as a garden housing estate. It was built a little earlier than Nikiszowiec, and was designed by the same Zillmann cousins. Giszowiec is also located on the Route of Technical Monuments
Address: Barbórki Street, Gościnna Street and others

Kościuszki Park in Katowice

Kosciuszko Park in Katowice is an interesting green space of the city, with the only parachute tower in Poland. There is also a wooden church of St. Michael the Archangel from 1510, moved here in 1938. In this way, it is the oldest temple in the city
Address: Kościuszki Street

Wilson Shaft Gallery

Galeria Szyb Wilson is the largest gallery in Poland, presenting contemporary art. It was built on the site of the former Wieczorek mine. The facility is open to the public free of charge and is located on the Route of Technical Monuments. It is worth stopping by during your visit to Katowice.
Address: ul. Oswobodzenia 1

Market

The Katowice Market Square has been very nicely revitalized in recent years. It is a square in the city center, with benches, greenery and a fountain. The wider area of the market has finally gained a much more pleasant image.

Saucer in Katowice

The Saucer, or the Katowice Sports and Entertainment Hall, is a characteristic building with an unusual shape resembling a flying saucer. The building dates back to the second half of the 20th century. Concerts, exhibitions, fairs, sports events, etc. take place here.
Address: Aleja Korfantego 35

Roundabout in Katowice 

Gen. Ziętek's roundabout is one of the symbols of the city, the roundabout was created in 1965, but it was only at the beginning of the 21st century that it underwent a thorough modernization and gained its magnificent current appearance. In 2006, a two-nave tunnel was built, at which time the Roundabout platform with a glass dome was created. On the last level of the dome there is the Oko Miasta cafe with two balconies from which you can admire both sunrises and sunsets.

Basilica in Panevniki

The impressive neo-Romanesque Basilica of St. Louis the King and the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Katowice Panevniki is famous in a wide area mainly for its beautiful Nativity scene, which can be seen during the Christmas season. During this time, a live nativity scene with animals is also available here.
Address: St. Louis and Assumption Church, Panewnicka 76

St. Mary's Church in Katowice

The Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Katowice is the so-called St. Mary's Church. It is a beautiful, neo-Gothic building from 1870, with a high soaring tower. It stands in the city center. Mariacka Street itself is also a tourist attraction that is worth seeing.
Address: Blessed Virgin Mary Church, ul. Mariacka

Evangelical Church in Katowice

The Evangelical Church in Katowice, or the Church of the Resurrection of the Lord, is the oldest monumental building in the city, at the same time characterized by great beauty. Built in the mid-nineteenth century, it represents the Neo-Romanesque style.
Address: Church of the Resurrection of the Lord, ul. Warszawska 18

Katowice Cathedral 

The Archcathedral of Christ the King is a neoclassical building from the first half of the 20th century, it is the largest Polish cathedral, although it was planned to have a much higher tower, which the then authorities did not agree to
Address: Archcathedral, ul. Wita Stwosza

Silesian Theatre in Katowice

Stanisław Wyspiański Theatre in Katowice is a neoclassical building from 1907, it stands at the Market Square and looks impressive
Address: Rynek 2

Murckowski Forest in Katowice

A large complex of forests located almost in the center of Katowice

Altus in Katowice

Altus is the tallest skyscraper in the city as of today (2021), built in 2001-03. It has 30 floors and 125 meters in height. Helios Film Center, fitness club, cafes, shops, offices and a four-star Qubus Hotel with Sky Bar restaurant on the top floor, from where you can admire the magnificent panorama of Katowice
Address: ul. Uniwersytecka 13

And did you know that from Katowice you can reach Olomouc - one of the most beautiful cities in the Czech Republic - by train in 3 hours? Check out the best attractions of Olomouc!

Market in Katowice

Every year in November, there is a Christmas market on the market, which lasts until January. It offers not only the opportunity to buy Christmas gifts, but also to have fun: on the ice rink, on the Ferris wheel or while tasting winter specialties.
Address: Rynek

Nikisz Fair

For one weekend in December, Nikiszowiec fills up with stalls and wonderful handicrafts. This famous estate is then beautifully illuminated, sounds like Christmas carols and allows you to enjoy beautiful wonderful products and the unforgettable atmosphere of Christmas.
Address: Liberation Square

Silesian Park and Zoo

On the border of Chorzów and Katowice, it was built in the 1950s. A huge park, which is the green heart of the conurbation. It offers a lot of attractions, such as the beach by the pond, the lowland cable car called Elka, the Japanese Garden, the Planetarium, the family amusement park Legendia (the so-called amusement park) and the Silesian Zoological Garden, currently famous for penguins, cheetahs and chimpanzees. Many catwalks surprise with ingenuity and new solutions, but still a few could be renewed. It is a great pleasure to walk in the park at any time of the year.

Green City

The city is developing very dynamically, as evidenced by increasingly modern architectural and technical solutions. They catch the eye, but also make life much easier, e.g. fascinating office buildings, a modernized roundabout or the DTŚ diameter route. At the same time, Katowice, which, like all Upper Silesia, is a dirty and smoky city, offers many green areas valuable in terms of nature and recreation. One of the natural attractions is the Murckowski Forest Reserve. Interesting recreational areas are also the Valley of Three Ponds and the Kosciuszko Park. One of the most interesting places in Katowice, located on the border of the city, is the famous Silesian Park. There is no shortage of weekends to get to know this place well. It offers plenty of walking paths and interesting facts.

History of Katowice

The history of Katowice began relatively recently, so you will not find Gothic or Renaissance monuments here, but the city offers many other interesting attractions. The intensive development of Katowice continued in the 19th and 20th centuries. It began with the development of the Berlin railway leading to Mysłowice. City rights were granted in 1865 and since then Katowice has rapidly gained in importance. Soon they were elevated to the rank of a county. 

The first monumental building was built in 1856-58 and it was an Evangelical church, then the neo-Gothic church of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built in 1870 and subsequent sacred buildings. Katowice's particularly intensive development took place in the interwar years, when Katowice became the largest economic center in Poland, and at the same time the capital of the richest region. No wonder, then, that new urban infrastructure facilities, new districts and villa estates grew like mushrooms after the rain, setting new directions in Polish construction and architectural solutions. Today, Katowice is a modern city, full of interesting places.

Accommodation

Here you will find a wide selection of accommodations. By booking your stay on Booking.com through our link, you support the development of our blog — and we thank you in advance! It helps us reach many interesting places that we later love to show you and share our experiences and information with you.

Rent a car

Exploring becomes much easier when you have your own means of transport. You don’t have to worry about buses or taxis, and you can plan each day your way. The search box below will help you find the right car – right where your journey begins.

What's worth seeing in the area?

If you have already visited this attraction, it is also worth visiting several other interesting ones places nearby. Within a radius of 100 kilometers you will find many interesting places places that can diversify your stay in this part of Poland.

• Gródek Park in Jaworzno, distance: 21.3  km
• Silver Mine in Tarnowskie Góry, distance: 22.1  km
• Błędowska Desert, distance: 37.3  km
• Pławniowice Palace, distance: 41.1  km
• Eagle's Nest Trail, distance: 43.3  km
• Bobolice Castle, distance: 51.5  km
• Krakowskie valleys, distance: 52  km
• Ojców National Park, distance: 57.9  km
• Kazimierz in Kraków, distance: 69.8  km
• Moszna Castle, distance: 91.2  km