Information on Gliwice needed

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for any and all information on everyday life in Gliwice - basic things like where the supermarkets are, bus route maps, etc.

I'm also wondering if there a Gliwice guide in English that I can pick up from Hotels/Tourist Information.

What is Gliwice like to live in? Would be grateful for any information on life in the city centre: recommendations for restaurants, bars, things to do.

Thanks in advance!

Well, it's hard to tell you where the supermarkets are without a knowledge of the city (your knowledge, I mean). Gliwice guide in English? I would doubt it but I can tell you all you need to know about the city.

The city centre is in a state of transition as the market square is currently under renovation. There are some nice bars around it but the best one is 7-8 mins from it :)

Are you a tourist or.....?

Please tell me what you like and I can help you more.

Thanks Seanus - I will be the tourist, and my boyfriend will be living there for work for 2 months. (marginally different to a tourist?) He'll be staying on Nowy Świat, not too far from the Cathedral. I suppose on his first night there he'll need to buy some basics for his apartment - it'd be great if you could point out a nearby supermarket.

I'm looking forward to lots of weekend visits, so it'd be good to get some recommendations for nice bars and restaurants to check out, some live music venues, markets, coffee shops.

Is the rynek still nice/open at the moment or is it all a bit torn up?

I know there is a Żabka there for some supplies (not a supermarket but). I also live 2 mins from the cathedral on Nowy Świat :) There is a Biedronka very near, beside Marzanki street (on Opawska street) which is parallel to Nowy Świat. Literally a 3-min walk from where he'll be. Check Google Maps.

For live music, check out 22 Wieczorka street. There is a club called 4ART and it has some really good musicians. 15 mins from Nowy Świat.

The bar Hemingway on the market square is nice. Gramofon too, it's just off the market square.

Places are open but it is torn up on the rynek.

As for restaurants, I'll get back to you on that tomorrow as I have to hit the hay now. Please tell me what kind of food you like and I'll point out a few places.

Seanus
Thanks Seanus - The Żabka will be really handy on his first night. Can't find the Biedronka on Google Maps exactly, but I'm guessing it might be this from your description: tinyurl/2u4garw

As for restaurants we're both pretty open to new foods. We like pretty much everything - French, Italian, Mexican. I don't know if I'll be the greatest fan of bread and animal fat, but I'll probably try everything once. A good steakhouse would probably go into heavy rotation for him on nights that he doesn't want to cook.

Thanks again

The Biedronka won't be on the map but Opawska street is. Go to the defunct tiny gas station at the traffic lights where you turn onto Kosciuśki street and then face due south. You walk maybe 80 metres from there and Biedronka is on your right. So, check for Opawska and Marzanki. It's at the end of Opawska closest to Marzanki.

There is a Mexican bar in the centre of the city on Bednarska St near Hotel Royal. I can say that it's pretty good for non-Mexicans. There are plenty of Italian places around. The best is probably Sorrento which is a bit further on from Wieczorka St and near the jail. There is also another place not to far from the rail station, right beside Chopin Park. It's a little tucked away but a gem to find. I can't remember the name. There's a new Indian restaurant now on the market square but I haven't been as it only opened last week. A steakhouse? It's a bit out of town but on Daszynskiego, I believe.

I have to go now but tbc.

Nowy Swiat is not too far from Rynek... a 5-10 min walk Id say... If you stick to Rynek and explore from there, you can find some good places to have dinner and hang out... its all very walkable and close... and dont worry, even without a knowledge of the city you should be able to walk around and find a Zabka somewhere... there is also a Biedronka on Dworcowa street (across from Qubus hotel... which you can see on Google maps... Dworcowa is in yellow)... Rynek is a disaster right now but its coming along... when is he going to be here?

Dworcowa also has Gazdówka, a top restaurant with super food for cold weather. There is a Greek place on the rynek too. Just ask for any specifics.

Don't forget the Tesco near my uncle's place ;)

Thanks Seanus - sounds like there are plenty of good options for eating and drinking. Some more questions:
Are there any parts of town to avoid?
Is there public transport to Arena?
Is there some sort of open air market in the filled in canal?

Thanks KLove, think he'll have to pass close by the Qubus every day to catch the train - that Biedronka will come in useful. Like you say - once he's/we're there we'll find out most things just by walking around. Still, Gliwice has been the hardest place so to find information on that I've travelled to so far. So thanks everyone for being so helpful - it's great to get some information before we go.

Some buses run to Arena, yes.

Most parts of town are fine and I never feel that I have to avoid any. It's not like my home city.

Yeah, it's called Balcerek. It has all kinds of stuff. There is also a second-hand shop opposite the bus station called Lumpeks. It's next to the Biedronka there. I sometimes pick up designer brands from there from cheap.

It is hard to get info on Gliwice, I agree.

I've been offered a job in this city. does anyone live there now that uses polishforums just now?

what can i expect?

thanks

Gliwice is a nice place to live. What would you like to know exactly, Mariuz?

hey, thanks for the reply.

i like markets, walking, parks, nice buildings, cinema, football, eating in and out and nice local bars. also a traditional apartment, not a new fancy one.

would gliwice offer this?

also how much would an apartment cost? with all bills paid. a one bedroom or two bedroom.

if you can help that would be amazing, please and thanks

I'd say the city center offers all this, pretty much. The Rynek (the city's main square) is cute, many restaurants and bars there and the surroundings.

Once, I went (walking) to the stadium, to watch the local team play, and then back (still walking) to the Centrum, and had dinner in a Mexican restaurant. But if you'd rather have Asian food, or kebab, or pizzas, or Polish food, you'll find all this.

If you like shopping, Forum should be fine. It's a modern mall, with a cinema complex, 10 minutes (walking) from the center. Lots of buses too. Public transportation is quite developed anyway.

I advise you to get an apartment in the city center, and avoid the northern parts of the city. I've been told they are not always safe + too many Górnik Zabrze fans (Gliwice's main rival and neighbour) ;)

What do you mean exactly by 'traditional apartment'?
I remember, one of my friends was living in a very nice flat, in a nice (kinda posh) street. It was about 80m², and she paid like 2,000zł monthly. But it probably didn't include heating and the Internet.

Probably it was more 2,500 in winter. Not really sure. But I'm guessing this is the kind of prices you should expect there for a nice place in the center.

I had a smaller place, 37m², in the center as well. The rent was about 1,200zł+heating+gas, but TV+Internet included. Kinda cool. I liked it there.

Thanks for that and yes, i'm also a big soccer fan! i would be very interested in attending the Piast games.

tradtional apartment, i guess i mean not a hideous new build or a tall, 10 + story block of flats.

i like buildings with character and history.

i'd get an apartment that is cycling distance to the job. does the city have trams and trains?

great about the food. is it easy to get asian spices and ingredients in gliwice?

So definitely city center. Only there you could find what you're looking for, I'd say. Plus, Chopin's Park is a nice place for a walk. And I think it has free wifi... Anyway.

And I also recommend the veggie restaurant called Złoty Osioł (Golden Donkey). Nice colourful hand-made decoration, cool staff, good music, and delicious food.


It used to have trams, it doesn't anymore. Only buses now.
Trains yes, but for longer distances (next cities).
Where would your workplace be?


I would say so. Many supermarkets where you can find pretty much everything.
Are you Asian? (I'm curious, sorry)

I am part Asian.

All sounds good so far.

I'm very impressed there is a vegetarian restaurant as in the east of Europe it is not exactly known for vegetarians.

I would probably look for a 2 bedroom apartment for visitors. I'm very intrigued by the city.

What's the local beer/lager/alcoholic drink and local dish?

Gliwice is a big city. wegebar.com is the link to the restaurant.
I think there's also an Indian restaurant. You may find vegetarian food there too.


Lots of beers. Polish (Żywiec, Lech, Tyskie, etc.) and foreign.
If you want to discover Polish food, I would suggest Dobra Nasza Kasza, located on the Rynek (main square).
Polish cuisine is not vegetarian, but it's quite rich, so you will easily find a lot of vegetables. And Polish cakes are usually very appreciated ;)

You're a good person, Polson!

Out of curiosity, how much into the Piast games? Do they sell beer in the stadium?

Hehe, trying the best I can ;)


It's quite cheap. I think I paid like 20zł. Depends where your seat is, of course. And also on the game. Let me check.

Ok, it seems it's even cheaper than I thought. They're probably trying to attract more people every weekend.
For 1 person, apparently, from 9zł (almost free...) to 43zł... And a 'membership' would be even more interesting if you're planning on attending several games.


I think they do.

It's a nice enough place but unfortunately one of the most polluted cities in Europe :

Pernik, Bulgaria
Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Krakow, Poland
Pleven, Bulgaria
Dobrich, Bulgaria
Nowy Sacz, Poland
Gliwice, Poland
Zabrze, Poland
Sosnowiec, Poland
Katowice, Poland

For Gliwice this website has too little data, but prices should be similar to nearby Katowice.
prices Berlin vs Katowice:

And you can watch Gliwice in Google Maps:

Indeed. Upper Silesia in general... And Cracow too (how sad).
But the Sudetes moutains are not far. You can spend sometime there on weekends, in summer or winter ;)

Hi everyone,
I've just received a job offer in Gliwice and am very inclined to accept based on what I've red about the city. it definitely looks like a great place to live.

I have just a few question before accepting it, I hope you can help me

1 - What would be an average good salary for living there? I have a wife and two small dogs :)
2 - is there much difference in terms of costs and/or life quality between living in the city center and a bit far from it?

I appreciate any help you can give me on these queries.

thanks in advance,
Fernando

Hi Fernando. I was in Gliwice a few days ago. There was that group of Spanish-speaking people talking and laughing on the Rynek (city's main square). I don't know if that's of any interest to you, it's just that your name looks hispanic, so...

Anyway,


Depending on where you live in the city, I'd say 3,500-4,000zł (net) would be a good start for two persons (with two dogs).


In terms of quality of life, the city center is probably a lot better. Nicer area, buildings, lots of public transportations, shops, etc.
In terms of costs (rents), I don't think the difference between the city center and the rest of the city is really important.

Hello Polson,
Thank you for your help. I'm Brazilian and have no clue on how to speak spanish, i just understand what is similar to portuguese :), but it is good to know there are other foreign people in there as well.

Anyway, the information you gave me is very helpful. Thank you very much.
Let's see what happens and then I'll know if I'm moving or not.

Another question. Is there many people in there who speaks english?

I'd agree, if that's each of course.
4000zl between 2 people would be pretty rough, like your rent would be 1/4 of that so you wouldn't have a lot of spending power.


Yea, Polson is on the ball. Sure Gliwice is so small anyway that if you cycle or drive you're never far from the centre.

Sinto mutíssimo! ;)


I'd say yes, especially among younger generations.


Depends what their lifestyle is I guess. I don't spend much money, but that's just me. If Fernando and his wife want to buy a car, go to the cinema every Saturday night, play squash, and go to the gym, then yes, they'll definitely need more than what I said ;)

Well. I'm not planning on buying a car, at least initially. the company is only 5km from the city center, I just don't know in terms of transportation, if it is easy or not to get there.

But it is very helpful to get info from you.
We don't go out that often. we like going to cinema (twice a month, depending on the movies) and we don't usually eat outside very often.

Let's hope they offer me something I could live and save some money in the end of the month :)