What to do in Katowice? (short journey)

Hello all,

I just booked a flight with 2 friends to Katowice for the first weekend of November. We really don't know anything about that city and we booked that flight because.. oh well, it was super cheap :) The 3 of us are from France and in our early thirties and we would like to know what to do there. Ideally we would like to find a good mix in between doing touristy stuff (museum, sight seeing, etc) and partying (good coffee place, restaurant, pub, live music, places the locals go, etc).

We don't speak a word of polish even if I'll try to learn some basics sentences, and I'll be pretty much the only one with a good grasp of english. Will that be an issue? Is it considered impolite? What should I do to avoid any cultural faux-pas? All of us have done quite a few travels in our life and we always try to avoid being the douchey tourists and we'd love to mix and interact with people from the area.

Anyway please share your experiences and good tips, places we should avoid as well, really anything you think should relevant to our short journey.

Thanks!
Matt

Oh Matt, that's the single worst, most miserable weekend to be in Poland ;(
The 1st of November is All Saint's Day and 95% of Poles spend the day visiting graveyards to remember their dead. So most people aren't really in a party mood I'm afraid,

All shops are closed, most pubs and restaurants too.

I live in Kato and the place is as dead as disco that time of year.......however, look up ul. Mariacka (Mariacka Street) that's where all the best pubs/clubs are.

The large park in Chorzow is cool too, although some things might be closed at that time of year.....

Check out Katowice in your Pocket (inyourpocket.com/poland/Katowice), it's a free tourist guide for Kato.

Plus if ya get bored in Kato, Krakow is a only 45min drive away
Oh and bring warm clothes ;)

Hope you have a nice time.

Ahah well, that might explain the cheap tickets..

Thanks for the link though, lots of information in it!

yea, it's pretty good.

If you've any questions just give me a shout ;)

Here is nice 8min promotional video of Katowice. It highlights places of interest in the city:



(in Polish, but has nice shots)

I was in Katowice on Monday with my ex girlfriend. The hotel EuroResidence was fine. We had spent the previous 2 weeks in Wroclaw, Krakow and Kalwaria.

Katowice is like Blade Runner. We went in the centre so Maja 3, Rynek, Plac Wolnosci. We were looking for some bars mentioned in Rough Guide like Bellmer, Archibar. There were closed for good or relocated. Couldn't find Hipnoza or La Grotta for food.

In the Rynek there were broken sewer pipes because of rebuilding. You have massive incredible buildings like Teatr Slaski. And you can this huge UFO looking building called the Spodek on the horizon from the Rynek.

So we couldn't find any bars or restaurants open only McDonalds and Subway in the rebuilt train station. There were homeless alcoholics, hooligans with german shepherds. And then we saw this 70 year old man with this beautiful 20 year old blonde Ukrainian prostitute in hot pants and a vest top. He was taking her to Krakow on the PKP train. And there were other girls in there selling themselves.

On top of that I've got the cold from hell. I pray to God the closest I ever get to Katowice is the airport.

Mtth please take my advice. Change the hotel bookings to Krakow. And spend some time in the Staro Miasto especially around the Ryenk. And spend some time in Kazimeirz. Go and see Wawel.If you go Katowice I promise it may put you off Poland for life.

You missed Katowice's main party street, ul. Mariacka. It has at least 20 pubs and about 10 restaurants all on one street. And more on its side streets.

It's a pity you missed it, every time some one from home comes over to visit me here they always have a great time there. Shame that the receptionist at your hotel didn't tell you about it.

Hipnoza is here:
goo.gl/maps/3RGwm

La Grotta closed many, many years ago.


There are at least 4 bars/restaurants outside the main entrance of the new train station, they are on the left built onto the side of the new shopping centre.

I wouldn't worry too much about Matt, his post was from September 2013 :)

Can you help me with a nice quite.hotel in the Katowice area I am hope to go the for a break and.chill out .so could you tell me of the bast area .thank you.mick

Merged: Visit Katowice

Hello everyone :)

Me and mine friend gonna visit Katowice on 19/10/15 till 23/10/15
Can someone tell us about the nightlife clubs & pubs, prostitution rates and where we can find them?

Dirck