Weekend in Katowice with Friends: A 2-Day Plan

Looking for a city where you can see something new, eat well and enjoy a proper night out, all in two days? Katowice blends industrial heritage with bold modern architecture, and after dark it tempts you with one of the liveliest party streets in the region. A weekend in Katowice is a great idea for a trip with friends – no complicated logistics and no car required.

We’ve put together a ready-made two-day plan with time for sightseeing, Silesian food, an evening on a private tram and a Sunday trip underground or to Park Śląski (Silesian Park).

Before you arrive

First, agree how many of you are coming and what budget works for everyone. Then book the three things that go fastest at weekends: accommodation in the centre, an evening activity for the whole group and – if you’re planning a Sunday underground – your mine tour. The rest can easily be sorted out once you’re there, as most of the day-one stops are close together.

Day 1 – the city centre, the Culture Zone and Nikiszowiec

Morning: the Market Square and the Culture Zone

Start with a coffee on the Rynek (Market Square), home to the Teatr Śląski (Silesian Theatre), with the modernist Skarbek and Zenit buildings nearby. Then walk along aleja Korfantego (Korfantego Avenue) towards the Spodek arena. The Strefa Kultury (Culture Zone) is where you’ll find the Silesian Museum, with its underground galleries and a viewing terrace on a former mine shaft tower, the red-brick concert hall of NOSPR (the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra) and the grassy roof of the International Congress Centre, which looks out over the city centre. Allow two to three hours for the museum alone.

A Silesian lunch

For lunch, pick a restaurant serving regional food. Beef roulade with kluski śląskie (Silesian potato dumplings) and red cabbage, or a bowl of żur (sour rye soup), will set you up for an afternoon on your feet – and for visitors from outside Silesia, it’s an essential part of the trip.

Afternoon: Nikiszowiec

You can get here from the centre by bus or taxi. Red-brick familoki (miners’ tenement blocks) from the early 20th century, inner courtyards and St Anne’s Church make this one of the most photogenic places in Silesia. Pop into the branch of the Museum of Katowice History in the former laundry and into one of the local cafés, and if you still have the energy, carry on to Galeria Szyb Wilson (Wilson Shaft Gallery) a few hundred metres away.

Evening: a private tram and Mariacka Street

Save the best for the evening. A private tram with a professional sound system and club lighting takes your group around the city for two hours – for example through the Market Square and along Korfantego Avenue past the Spodek, towards Park Śląski. The ride usually ends in the centre, near Mariacka Street, so you’re only a few minutes’ walk from the bars and clubs. You’ll find all the details on the TramParty Katowice page.

An alternative for a quieter evening

If some of the group prefer culture to clubbing, check what’s on at NOSPR and the Spodek – an evening concert is easy to combine with a late dinner, after which you can join the others on Mariacka Street.

Coming for a special occasion? See what a stag do, a hen party or a birthday on a tram in Katowice looks like.

Day 2 – underground or off to Park Śląski

Option 1: the mines of Zabrze

After a big Saturday night, nothing clears the head like a trip underground. At Zabytkowa Kopalnia Guido (Guido Historic Mine) you ride the cage – the miners’ lift – down to levels 170 and 320 metres below ground and take a ride on a suspended railway, while at nearby Sztolnia Królowa Luiza (Queen Louise Adit) you can travel by boat along an underground waterway. Guido tours must be booked in advance, and it’s cool underground, so bring a jumper. In between, have lunch at Szyb Maciej (Maciej Shaft), where a restaurant operates in the historic shaft building and the tower has a viewing platform.

Option 2: Park Śląski in Chorzów

If you’d rather stay above ground, head to Park Śląski (Silesian Park), just over the Katowice city boundary. A ride on the Elka cable car, a show at the Planetarium, a visit to the zoo or the rollercoasters at Legendia theme park – there’s something for everyone. Finish with a late lunch back in the centre before you head home.

Option 3: UNESCO-listed tunnels in Tarnowskie Góry

North of Katowice lies Tarnowskie Góry, where Zabytkowa Kopalnia Srebra (Historic Silver Mine) and Sztolnia Czarnego Pstrąga (Black Trout Adit) are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In both you travel by boat through underground passages, and right next to the mine there’s an open-air museum of steam engines.

Sample plan for a weekend in Katowice

• Saturday 10:00 – coffee on the Market Square and a stroll along Korfantego Avenue
• Saturday 11:00 – the Silesian Museum and the Culture Zone
• Saturday 14:00 – a Silesian lunch
• Saturday 15:30 – Nikiszowiec
• Saturday 20:00 – two hours on a private tram
• Saturday 22:00 – Mariacka Street and clubs in the centre
• Sunday 11:00 – the Guido mine or Park Śląski
• Sunday 16:00 – a late lunch and the journey home

Practical tips

• Getting there – Katowice is easy to reach by train, or by air via the airport in Pyrzowice.
• Where to stay – look for a hotel or apartment near the Market Square or Mariacka Street; you can walk to most of the day-one sights.
• Getting around – trams, buses and app-based taxis make it easy to get around the city.
• Tickets – buy tickets for concerts at the Spodek and NOSPR, and for Planetarium shows, in advance.
• Group kitty – collect money for shared activities before you travel, so you only need to settle food and drinks on the spot.
• Bookings – the earlier you book the tram, the more dates you can choose from, especially at weekends; a larger group should also reserve tables in bars ahead of time.

Frequently asked questions

What can you do in Katowice on a rainy weekend?

Go for the Silesian Museum, a concert at NOSPR, an event at the Spodek, the Planetarium in Park Śląski or the Guido mine – the weather doesn’t matter underground. An evening on a private tram doesn’t depend on the weather either.

Where can you go out in the evening in Katowice?

You’ll find the most bars, pubs and cafés on and around Mariacka Street, with clubs in the very centre. For a quieter evening, choose a concert at NOSPR or a play at the Silesian Theatre.

Can you book a party tram for a weekend away with friends?

Yes. Prices and details are agreed individually, with separate offers for smaller groups (up to 30 people) and larger ones (over 30). We’ll match the start time and route to your weekend plan.