"my home town ;-)" Top 5 Page for this destination Katowice by arantha

Katowice Travel Guide: 252 reviews and 474 photos

the view from my window - isn't it lovely? ;-)

Katowice from the outside

Katowice is city located in southern part of the country, in Silesia region, in province called Wojewodztwo Slaskie. It is 75 km from Krakow.

The city is 140 years old and has been founded for mining and metallurgic industry. That's why it is still very poluted and discourages its scenery. Few years ago I heard even an anecdote about some Japanese scientists who predicated that it's imposible for any human being to live in such a polluted area ;-)

I believe that visiting Katowice, your first feeling about this place is "I'm in the CONCRETE JUNGLE! Get me out of here!" :-) And you wouldn't be wrong. Tall post-communist blocks, wide polluted streets, gray scenery... You could think "it's not a place I wish to stay longer and get to know better"

Giraffe in Park Chorzowski

let me warn you,what you would lose ;-P

Coming deeper into the down-town you can see some nice 19th and 20th century tenement houses and a big spaceship (SPODEK, the most famous building in Katowice).
However the bigest attractions are in the suburbs:
MUCHOWIEC is a huge part of the city with small local airport (except of this one we have the international one, obviously ;-) and a really big and wild park (it's more like a forest) with many lovely ponds.
The other big green space is PARK CHORZOWSKI, located in the nearest town Chorzów, which is closer from the center of Katowice than Muchowiec, to be honest. You can meet there three-legged giraffe :-) visit the ZOO, amusement park (the biggest in Poland as far as I remember :-) and the beautiful folk museum which contains traditional polish wooden rural building. Besides you can go there on the longest in Europe low lying cable-chair way or try to ride on the yearly bob-sleigh coast. You could spend also some time relaxing in lovely cafes or eating traditional silesian sausage from the barbecue :-)

as you can see...

It's not a 'must tourist destination', however if for some reason you are in the area, there is plenty of reasons to visit my home town, even if it seems to be a concrete jungle from the outside :-)

To be quite frank with you, I learned to appreciate and love this city recently, and I'm still discovering its charm day by day :)

Take a look at my pictures of the amazing sky over Katowice :-)

Pros and Cons

Pros:green spaces, the longest in Europe low lying cable-chair way, spaceship in the center of the city, cheap beer, three-legged giraffe, ME :-)
Cons:pollution, dust, smelly river, packed buses in the rush hours, lack of night life (uncommon thing for the university town, I suppose)
In a nutshell:Katowice is not worth to be a travel destination, but if you are already there for some reason, there is many things to see there :-)

Last visit to Katowice: Oct 2005
Intro Updated Sep 26, 2006
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Reviews (38)

The Online Katowice Map Favorites (2)

If you are looking for the object, building or a street in Katowice, you can easy find it on the online city map. You... more travel advice

The longest in Europe low lying cable-chair way - Katowice

The longest in Europe low lying... Things to Do (9)

Very nice relaxing ride over the park, giving the best occasion to see what else you want to do or see :-) My english... more travel advice

Periodic entertainments in Katowice Local Customs (1)

The list of things Katowice are famous of ;-) - Rawa Blues Festival - the biggest indoor blues festival in the... more travel advice

If you are traveling by motorbike What to Pack (1)

If you are traveling by motorbike, better make sure that you have all spare parts for your motorbike because the... more travel advice

Transportation (6)
See All Train (PKP)
Nightlife (13)
See All American Pub

Restaurants (3)
See All The Lovely Coffeeshop
Warnings Or Dangers (3)
See All Meat from salvage!

Travelogues (1)

Written Feb 7, 2006

6 photos

Amazing sky over Katowice

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Comments (8)

Rish80 Nov 4, 2008 at 4:09 PM Report Abuse

Arantha, i'm visitig Katowice for a few days and really appreciate ur advice. thank you!! a few things that scare me, and i hope it all turns out well....but thanks for the warning! and thank you very much xxx take care
highlandlaura Dec 16, 2007 at 2:16 PM Report Abuse

Hi, Nice to read about your city. I hope to travel there next year.
tini58de Jun 19, 2007 at 3:37 AM Report Abuse

I just returned from Katowice and had a fantastic time there!
perseushermes May 19, 2006 at 8:29 AM Report Abuse

Seems like the place to visit
RickinDutch Jan 30, 2006 at 11:10 AM Report Abuse

Birthday greetings from Alaska! Very sorry to hear about the roof collapse. Hope all your loved ones are safe.
HORSCHECK Oct 14, 2005 at 3:59 PM Report Abuse

Interesting page with helpful tips about Katowice. I like your introduction photo. :o)
Matyas Sep 28, 2005 at 3:16 PM Report Abuse

Looking forward to your updates and photos. Yeah...I agree with Ben. You live in a great country :) Can't wait to travel back...maybe to Bialystok.
Ben-UK Sep 14, 2005 at 2:28 PM Report Abuse

Very good start Ania -- I like that Intro photo -- I've had many good times in Katowice -- I lived on ul. Monte Cassino when I worked there -- I look forward to your other Poland pages -- I love your country.