Katowice - Spodek Arena, Nikiszowiec & Wujek Coal Mine

This excursion through the capital of Silesia offers an opportunity to explore the city’s history across various eras. 

You’ll start at Katowice Market Square, where your guide will explain how a small settlement transformed into the capital of Upper Silesia. From there, you’ll walk along Korfanty Avenue towards the Silesian Insurgents’ Monument, where the legendary Ikarus bus will be waiting. The sound of its engine and creaking doors instantly brings back the atmosphere of PRL-era Poland. You’ll then continue your journey aboard the bus, with stops along the way to take photos at Katowice’s most iconic landmarks. 

The first stop is Spodek Arena, a futuristic building from the 1970s, followed by the Culture Zone. Today a modern hub of art and science, but once the grounds of the “Ferdinand-Grube” coal mine. 

The route continues to Nikiszowiec, a workers’ housing estate built at the beginning of the 20th century for miners. More than a century later, it continues to attract artists, photographers, and visitors from all over Poland. Here, you’ll have extra time to delve deeper into the history of the district and learn about the daily lives of Silesian miners and their families. 

From its red-brick streets, the bus takes you to the Wujek Coal Mine, where in December 1981 tragic events unfolded during the pacification of a strike. Your guide will share the story of what happened and its significance in Polish history. 

The excursion continues through the southern districts, along Mikołowska Street and Andrzeja Street, with a stop at the Cathedral of Christ the King - the largest church in Silesia. The penultimate highlight is Silesian Parliament Square, a true gem of interwar architecture. 

The tour ends back in the city centre near the former Hotel Katowice - once the place to book a table for an evening dance, today a stop for those exploring a modern city still proud of its past. Finally, you’ll have a moment to recap the experience and ask your guide a few last questions. 

Please note that the order of visits and the program may be subject to change.