Rent a car in Katowice City Center

Katowice

Thanks to its industrial character Katowice has excellent transport connections not only with the rest of the country but also with Europe. It is here that two motorways intersect - the A1 running north to south and the A4 connecting Lower Silesia with the Podkarpacie region. You can also get to Katowice from Warsaw by the fast train Pendolino or by plane to the international airport Katowice-Pyrzowice.

Nikiszowiec

This historical red-brick miners' housing estate is a postcard-like place which takes us back to the beginning of the 20th century. It was built between 1908 and 1918 for the workers of the Giesche coal mine. It was designed in such a way that within the settlement there was everything one might need to live - schools, shops, restaurants, a police station and a church. The residential buildings, so called familoki, are three-storey high and have window openings painted with red paint. In 2011 Nikiszowiec was declared a monument of history. 

Spodek (The Saucer)

The famous sports and entertainment hall owes its name to its shape resembling a UFO vessel. A year ago, Spodek celebrated its 50th birthday - despite the passing years, the building still surprises with its futuristic architecture. It is an important place on the cultural map of Katowice - Pearl Jam, Rammstein, Metallica and Modern Talking, among others, have played here. 

Cultural Zone and the Silesian Museum

The former mining area near Spodek is now home to the modern Congress Centre, the National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Silesian Museum. This is a piece of good modern architecture, which at the same time benefits from the heritage of the place - on top of the former mine shaft there is now a viewpoint. It's worth taking a stroll around here; be sure to visit the Silesian Museum to learn more about the region's history. 

Market Square

Recent years and numerous investments in the city centre have brought changes in the appearance of the central square. Once ugly and concrete, today it has much more to offer: an artificial river with deckchairs and palm trees (the so-called Buenos Aires or California of Katowice), an event area for various events and finally the Flower Square, where - as the name suggests - you can buy flowers. 

Kościuszko Park

After a walk around the city centre, it's worth taking a rest in the Kościuszko Park. This is the biggest park in the city - its area is as big as 72 acres. There is the famous 50 m high Parachute Tower (it was from here that scouts resisted the Wehrmacht forces in September 1939). Promenade concerts are held here in the summer.