Train to Katowice - connections, tickets and itinerary

• Destination station: Katowice Główny, 1 Peroniczna St., 40-005 Katowice

• Around the city: get around the city centre on foot and get to Nikiszowiec by tram

• Character of the city: industrial heritage and modern culture - Silesian Museum in a former mine, Spodek, NOSPR and historic Nikiszowiec

• Best time to visit: May-June (daytime is 14-22°C, long days, Tauron Nowa Muzyka festival in June) and September (daytime is 10-18°C, smaller crowds)

• How much to go for: a weekend (2 nights) is enough for the Silesian Museum, Nikiszowiec, the Culture Zone and the Market Square

• Practical tip: if you want to go to the NOSPR concert, buy your ticket in advance, especially for the weekend

It is best to choose May, June or September, as the daytime is pleasant then and tourist traffic does not reach its summer peak.

Spring (April-June)

• It's 13-22°C during the day, so it's great for walking around Nikiszowiec and the Culture Zone.

• In June, the Tauron Nowa Muzyka festival takes place in the Culture Zone - one of the biggest electronic music events in Poland.

• Accommodation prices are lower than in the height of summer, and you can often book just a short time before you go.

Summer (July-August)

• These are the warmest months - it's up to 24°C during the day, and in the evening it's worth sitting out on the Market Square or in restaurant gardens.

• Large sporting and concert events at Spodek can noticeably raise accommodation prices, so book early.

• In summer, the Silesian Park in Chorzów hosts open-air concerts and cultural events.

Autumn (September-October)

• It's 18°C during the day in September, so you can sightsee without the summer crowds.

• Accommodation prices usually return to lower levels after the summer holidays.

• In October, the days are shorter and daytime temperatures are around 12°C, so bring a warmer jacket.

Winter (November-March)

• In December, Christmas markets with regional products and decorations appear in the Market Square.

• January and February are the coldest months - daytime temperatures are 1-3°C, so many people plan visits to museums and the NOSPR concert hall then.

• Outside the festive period, accommodation prices are lower and you can enter attractions without queuing.

You can get to Katowice without changing trains from most major cities in Poland. You get off at Katowice Główny station and continue by tram or walk to the centre.

From Kraków to Katowice

• The journey takes about an hour.

• Direct PKP Intercity and POLREGIO trains run several times a day.

• Along the way you stop at, among others, Trzebinia and Mysłowice.

From Wrocław to Katowice

• You travel approximately 2 hours without changing trains.

• Direct PKP Intercity connections run regularly throughout the day.

• The route goes via Opole and on to Upper Silesia.

From Warsaw to Katowice

• The fastest connection takes about 2.5 hours.

• Trains leave from Warsaw Central Station and Warsaw East Station.

• Along the way you stop at, among others, Zawiercie and Sosnowiec.

From Łódź to Katowice

• You travel around 3 hours on a direct PKP Intercity train.

• Several connections a day leave from Łódź Fabryczna station.

• The route passes through Częstochowa.

From Poznań to Katowice

• From Poznań to Katowice you travel approximately 3 hours without changing trains.

• Direct PKP Intercity connections run regularly throughout the day.

• Along the way, the train stops at, among others, Ostrów Wielkopolski.

From Gdańsk to Katowice

• You travel approximately 6 hours by train.

• Direct connections run several times a day.

• Along the way you stop at, among others, Malbork and Sosnowiec.

• Slower IC and TLK variants take longer.

You can buy your train ticket to Katowice on Europodróże without registering - you enter the route, choose the train and pay. Your ticket is sent to your email and by SMS, and 30 minutes before departure you receive an SMS reminder with a link to your ticket. The earlier you buy, the more choice of seats and the better the price. At PKP Intercity, you can return your ticket up to 20 minutes before the scheduled departure and exchange it up to 30 minutes before departure - see the refund and exchange policy for details.

There are several ways to get from Katowice Główny train station to the city centre:

• On foot: you can reach the Market Square in about 20 minutes

• By tram: it takes a few minutes to get to the centre and a single ticket costs several zlotys

• Taxi: you will pay several zlotys for the ride and it takes a few minutes to get there

The Market Square, Spodek, Cultural Zone and the Silesian Museum are all within a 2 km radius of the station. You can get around the city centre on foot.

ZTM/GZM public transport includes trams and buses throughout the city and agglomeration. A single ticket costs a few zlotys and a daily ticket a dozen or so. If you make several journeys a day, a daily ticket will be more convenient.

You can get to Nikiszowiec by tram from the centre in a dozen or so minutes. It takes about 30 minutes by tram to get to the Silesian Park in Chorzów.

If you're planning a city break in Katowice, it's best to stay overnight in the city centre, as the main attractions are then within walking distance. Nikiszowiec is an atmospheric alternative with an authentic Silesian atmosphere, but you get to the centre by tram.

Where to stay overnight:

• Downtown - main attractions within walking distance, most convenient base

• Nikiszowiec - an atmospheric alternative with an authentic Silesian atmosphere, but you get to the centre by tram

Spodek

35 Korfantego Avenue. An iconic sports and entertainment venue from 1971, one of the symbols of Katowice. It is worth seeing it from the outside - admission is free, and in the evening the building is spectacularly illuminated. Spodek regularly hosts major sports and concert events. A walk around the building takes 15-20 minutes.

Silesian Museum

Housed in the former Katowice Coal Mine - you will see part of the exhibition underground, in the former workings. There are over 118,000 exhibits about the history, art and mining of Silesia in the collections. The visit takes 2-3 hours. There is an entrance fee. The museum is closed on Mondays.

Nikiszowiec

4 Rymarska St. A historic mining workers' housing estate from 1908-1918, one of the best preserved of its kind in Europe. The walk around the estate is free and takes 1-2 hours. After the walk, enjoy lunch at a restaurant with Silesian cuisine on the estate - book a table in advance, especially at the weekend.

Culture Zone and NOSPR

1 Wojciech Kilar Square A modern cultural complex with the headquarters of the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra. Regular classical and jazz music concerts are held here. Check the programme on the NOSPR website. The architecture of the building is impressive, so it is worth coming even without a concert ticket.

Katowice Market Square

A revitalised city centre with restaurants and cafes. A walk in and around the Market Square takes 30-60 minutes. Admission is free. Open-air events and fairs are held here in summer and in December.

St. Mary's Church

7 Mariacka St. The oldest church in downtown Katowice, built between 1862 and 1870 in neo-Gothic style. Inside you will see stained glass windows designed by Adam Bunsch. The tour takes 20-30 minutes and admission is free. The church stands on Mariacka Street, one of the most atmospheric streets in the centre.

Plan for day 1

Start at the Market Square and walk along St. Mary's Street with St. Mary's Church. From there, walk towards the Spodek and see it from the outside. Continue to the Culture Zone - if there is a concert at the NOSPR, buy your ticket in advance. Alternatively, enter the Museum of Contemporary Art. In the evening, have a dinner with Silesian cuisine in one of the restaurants on Market Square or Mariacka Street.

Plan for the weekend

Friday evening: upon arrival, walk around the Market Square and have dinner - Silesian sour soup or a roulade with noodles in one of the restaurants in the centre.

Saturday: go to the Silesian Museum in the morning and plan 2-3 hours for the visit. In the afternoon, take the tram to Nikiszowiec for lunch with Silesian cuisine and a walk around the estate. In the evening, return to the centre for a concert at the NOSPR or dinner in another neighbourhood.

Sunday: visit the Museum of Contemporary Art or take a stroll through the Culture Zone. Then have a coffee in the Market Square and return on the afternoon train.

What to eat

Silesian żur is a must-try dish - a traditional rye sourdough soup with egg and sausage. You can eat it at Żurownia at 16 Juliusza Ligonia Street and at Cafe Kattowitz at 7 Św. Jana Street.

Rołada śląska is beef stuffed with onions, bacon and pickled cucumber, served with Silesian dumplings and braised red cabbage. It's a filling main course for around 35-50 zł.

Silesian pierogi with meat, potato or fruit can be found in most Silesian restaurants in the city.

Śląska Prohibicja at 1 Krawczyka Street in Nikiszowiec is an elegant restaurant with Silesian cuisine in the historic surroundings of a workers' housing estate. Book a table in advance, especially for a weekend lunch.

The two main gastronomic districts are the Market Square with Mariacka Street, where you will find a variety of restaurants and cafés, and Nikiszowiec with a more local atmosphere and Silesian cuisine.

Souvenirs

• Silesian ceramics - regional designs available in shops in the centre and around the Market Square

• Graphics and posters - referencing the industrial heritage of the region

• Local products - regional flavours and produce from the Supersam shopping centre at 6a Piotra Skargi St.

The table below is for a weekend (2 nights, 3 days) and shows indicative costs for three travel options.

The budget option assumes a hostel or budget hotel, eating in milk bars and lunch restaurants, and visiting free attractions such as Nikiszowiec, the Market Square and Spodek from the outside, with one paid entry to the Silesian Museum. The mid-range option includes a hotel in the city centre, lunches and dinners in Silesian restaurants, and museum and concert tickets. The comfort option includes a higher-end hotel, tasting menus and taxi rides instead of the tram.

On the dates of major events at Spodek, accommodation prices can increase many times over. If you are planning a trip on such dates, book your accommodation well in advance.

For a solid dinner with żur and a roulade you will pay less in Katowice than for a comparable meal in Warsaw or Kraków.