Silesia Mine Tours: Mines and Adits to Explore Near Katowice

For generations, Upper Silesia lived to the rhythm of its coal mines and steelworks, and that heritage has become one of the region’s biggest attractions. Shafts, engine houses and underground galleries have been turned into museums, art spaces and visitor routes where you can go deep underground, take a boat through an adit (a horizontal mine tunnel) and see what a miner’s working day really looked like. Silesia mine tours make a great trip with friends, a memorable company outing or a day out before an evening party.

We’ve picked the most interesting places in Katowice and the surrounding area – from the Silesian Museum to the tunnels beneath Zabrze and Tarnowskie Góry – along with practical tips on planning a day like this.

Katowice – post-industrial heritage in the city

Silesian Museum

The best place to start. The museum stands on the site of the former Katowice coal mine: the red-brick buildings and the shaft’s winding tower were preserved, while the new galleries were hidden underground. From the terrace at the top of the tower you can take in the Culture Zone and the city skyline, and the exhibitions help you understand how industry shaped Upper Silesia.

Nikiszowiec and Giszowiec

Two estates built in the early 20th century for workers of the Giesche mining company and designed by Emil and Georg Zillmann. Nikiszowiec is a district of red-brick blocks with inner courtyards and St Anne’s Church, and a branch of the Museum of Katowice History occupies its former laundry and mangle house. Giszowiec was built as a garden city, with houses that resemble traditional Silesian cottages.

Galeria Szyb Wilson (Wilson Shaft Gallery)

A contemporary art gallery occupies the buildings of the former Wilson shaft, a few hundred metres from Nikiszowiec. It’s a fine example of how post-industrial interiors can be given a second life. Check the exhibition programme before your visit.

Zabrze – underground and by boat through an adit

Zabytkowa Kopalnia Guido (Guido Historic Mine)

Here you descend in the szola – the cage that carries miners down the shaft – just as miners do in working pits. Routes on the 170-metre and 320-metre levels show how coal-mining methods changed over the years, and part of the way is covered on a suspended railway. There’s even an underground pub on the 320-metre level. All visits are guided and must be booked in advance.

Sztolnia Królowa Luiza (Queen Louise Adit)

This site, run by the Coal Mining Museum in Zabrze, links the former Królowa Luiza mine with Główna Kluczowa Sztolnia Dziedziczna (the Main Key Hereditary Adit) – a historic underground canal that drained water from the mines. The highlight is the underground water route with a boat trip, and for families there’s also a walking route that includes a ride on a mining train.

Szyb Maciej (Maciej Shaft)

The revitalised shaft of the former Concordia mine is where you can see a historic winding engine and climb to a viewing platform on the shaft tower. There’s also a restaurant in the building, which makes it a good lunch stop between the other sites.

Tarnowskie Góry – UNESCO-listed tunnels

Zabytkowa Kopalnia Srebra (Historic Silver Mine)

This former lead, silver and zinc mine is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The route follows galleries around 40 metres below ground, and part of it is covered by boat. Right next door is an open-air museum of steam engines, which is well worth adding to your plan.

Sztolnia Czarnego Pstrąga (Black Trout Adit)

An intimate and wonderfully atmospheric route: around 600 metres by boat through an adit that has been draining water from old mine workings for more than two centuries. It’s also part of the UNESCO-listed site, and the visit itself takes about an hour.

Further south: Kopalnia Ignacy in Rybnik

If you have more time, head to Rybnik. At Zabytkowa Kopalnia Ignacy (Ignacy Historic Mine) you’ll see the restored headframes of the Głowacki and Kościuszko shafts, a steam winding engine that is set in motion during demonstrations, and a viewing tower in a former water tower. The visit focuses mainly on the surface buildings, but there’s still plenty of engineering to take in.

The Industrial Monuments Route and Industriada

Most of the places described here belong to the Szlak Zabytków Techniki (Industrial Monuments Route) of the Silesian Voivodeship, which links dozens of sites connected with the region’s industry. Once a year the route holds its own festival, Industriada, when the heritage sites put on an exceptional number of events. It’s a great opportunity to see several places in a single weekend.

Silesia mine tours: practical tips

• Warm clothing – it’s cool underground all year round (around 10°C in the Silver Mine), so bring a jumper or a jacket.
• Comfortable shoes – underground routes can be damp and uneven, so flat footwear is a must.
• Bookings – groups should book their tours in advance, and at Guido booking is compulsory.
• Age and health – the routes have age restrictions, and people with serious health problems are advised not to descend to great depths; read the visitor rules before you go.
• Planning the day – Guido and Królowa Luiza are about a kilometre apart, and Szyb Maciej is also in Zabrze, so it’s easy to combine all three in one day.

Sample day in post-industrial Silesia

• 9:30 – descent into the Guido mine in Zabrze
• 12:30 – lunch at the restaurant at Szyb Maciej
• 14:30 – boat trip at Sztolnia Królowa Luiza
• 16:30 – back to Katowice and a stroll around the Culture Zone
• 20:00 – two hours on a private tram, then the bars on Mariacka Street

After the sightseeing – a party on a tram

After a day spent underground, it’s time for an evening with a completely different vibe. A private tram with a professional sound system and club lighting takes your group around Katowice for two hours – we agree the route individually, and the ride usually ends in the centre, close to Mariacka Street. It’s a great way to round off a company trip or a weekend with friends. See the TramParty Katowice offer and our corporate events on a tram.

Frequently asked questions

Which mine in Silesia is best to visit with a group of friends?

If you want to go really deep, choose the Guido mine in Zabrze. For a gentler adventure with a boat trip, go for Sztolnia Królowa Luiza or the tunnels of Tarnowskie Góry.

What should you wear for a mine tour?

Dress warmly and comfortably: a jumper or jacket, long trousers and flat shoes that won’t mind a bit of mud. It stays cool underground all year round, whatever the weather on the surface.

Can you book a party tram in Katowice for a group after a day trip?

Yes. We agree the date, start time and route individually, and a standard ride lasts two hours. We prepare separate offers for smaller groups (up to 30 people) and larger ones (over 30).