Look at Poland

Things to do in Katowice

Written by

Jacek

in

Quick answer

Katowice is a former coal-mining city that has turned its industrial past into its main attraction. The must-sees are the Culture Zone on the site of the former Katowice coal mine, with the saucer-shaped Spodek arena (1971), the NOSPR concert hall (2014) and the underground Silesian Museum; the red-brick miners’ estate of Nikiszowiec; and the huge Silesian Park in neighbouring Chorzów. In the evening, head for pedestrian Mariacka Street, the city’s bar street. Two days are enough for the city; add a third for the mines of Zabrze and Tarnowskie Góry.

Katowice rarely makes it onto first-time itineraries of Poland, which is exactly why it is worth a visit. The capital of Upper Silesia has reinvented itself: old mine sites now hold a concert hall with world-class acoustics, a museum built underground and a congress centre with a green roof you can walk on. This guide lists the best things to do in Katowice, written by someone who lives in the region.

1. The Culture Zone

The Culture Zone (Strefa Kultury) is the symbol of the new Katowice. It was built on the grounds of the former Katowice coal mine and brings together four landmarks within a few minutes’ walk of each other:

  • Spodek: the arena shaped like a flying saucer, opened in 1971, which hosts concerts, sports events and large esports tournaments. Its name means “saucer”.
  • NOSPR: home of the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, opened in October 2014. The building was designed by Tomasz Konior, with acoustics by Yasuhisa Toyota. The main hall seats 1,800.
  • International Congress Centre (MCK): its sloping green roof, the “Green Valley”, is open to walk on and gives a good view of the zone.
  • Silesian Museum: opened on the mine site in 2015, with most of its exhibition space underground. The permanent exhibition tells the story of Upper Silesia, and the lift up the 40-metre tower of the old Warszawa II shaft gives a panoramic view of the city.

2. Nikiszowiec

Nikiszowiec is a miners’ estate built in 1908–1924 for workers of the Giesche mine and designed by the Zillmann brothers from near Berlin. Nine red-brick blocks with arched gateways surround courtyards and a central square, with the neo-Baroque St Anne’s Church at its heart. It is an official national Monument of History and one of the most photogenic places in Silesia. Small cafés, galleries and a museum space in the former laundry building make it a good half-day trip. Read more in our guide to the hidden gems of Silesia.

Nearby are Giszowiec, an earlier garden-city estate by the same architects, and the Wilson Shaft Gallery, a large contemporary art space on a former mine site, with free admission.

3. Silesian Park in Chorzów

Just beyond the city limits, in Chorzów, lies the Silesian Park (Park Śląski), a park of about 620 hectares, twice the size of New York’s Central Park. It was created from 1951 on former industrial land. Inside you will find:

  • the Silesian Zoo, opened in 1954, with a Dinosaur Valley of life-size reconstructions;
  • the Silesian Planetarium;
  • the Elka cable car over the park;
  • the Upper Silesian Ethnographic Park, an open-air museum of rural buildings;
  • a rose garden, an amusement park and the Silesian Stadium, rebuilt in 2017.

4. The city centre and Mariacka Street

  • Market Square (Rynek): recently redesigned, with greenery and a fountain. From November to January it hosts a Christmas market with an ice rink. The Stanisław Wyspiański Theatre stands on the square.
  • Mariacka Street: a pedestrian street of about 380 metres leading to the neo-Gothic St Mary’s Church. Calm by day, it becomes the centre of Katowice’s nightlife in the evening, with bars, clubs and summer beer gardens; the quieter end near the church has restaurants and cafés.
  • Cathedral of Christ the King: a neoclassical cathedral from the first half of the 20th century.

5. Green Katowice

  • Valley of Three Ponds (Dolina Trzech Stawów): a large green area with walking and cycling paths and a water sports marina. In August it hosts the OFF Festival; see our events guide.
  • Kościuszko Park: home to a historic parachute tower and the wooden Church of St Michael the Archangel from 1510, moved here in 1938; it is the oldest church in the city.

Day trips from Katowice

  • Guido Mine, Zabrze: a real coal mine with tours 170 and 320 metres underground.
  • Historic Silver Mine and Black Trout Adit, Tarnowskie Góry: a UNESCO World Heritage Site with underground boat rides.
  • Ogrodzieniec Castle and the castles of the Polish Jura.

All of these are described in our guide to Silesia and the Polish Jura and pinned on our map of southern Poland.

Practical tips

FAQ

Is Katowice worth visiting?

Yes, especially if you are interested in architecture, industrial heritage or music. It is less crowded than Kraków and a good base for the mines and castles of Silesia and the Jura.

How many days do I need in Katowice?

Two days for the city, the Culture Zone, Nikiszowiec and the Silesian Park. Add one or two days for day trips to the mines and castles.

Last checked: 17 October 2026. Check opening hours and ticket prices on each attraction’s website.

Sources

More posts