Travel Guide Katowice

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Roberta Garrett
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Travel Guide 02 02 04 04 Quick view Travel etiquette Health 05 05 08 08 Phone calls & Internet Top 10 sights

1 Travel Guide Quick view Travel etiquette Health Phone calls & Internet Top 10 sights Shopping in Restaurants Nightlife Calendar of events Hotels Look Studio / Alamy LH.com/travelguide 01/13

2 02 Quick view a brief overview At the heart of Upper Silesia, a vast area in the south of, is one of s most important cities. It came to prominence during the 1800s and boomed at the start of the last century, with industry at its heart. Today, it plays home to a string of important cultural attractions, including the stunning Spodek concert hall. Stroll the streets and see a huge range of superb architecture, from early-20thcentury gems to ancient relics. Often overlooked, is an impressive, fastchanging city that is surely set to become one of Europe s hottest new city break destinations. General Information Country overview One of Europe's most underrated countries, offers a huge amount for travellers of all stripes, from the wild scenery of its mountainous south, with its great skiing and hiking, to the stunning Old Towns of Cracow, Zamość and Gdańsk, and the wilderness of the Białowieża National Park and the Great Masurian Lakes in the country's north. 's scenic beauty is as varied as it is extraordinary. The Baltic coast has some excellent sandy beaches, as well as the Słowiński National Park with its ethereal forests, bogs and sand dunes. The Cracow-Wielun Upland with its limestone areas, caves and medieval castles is another highlight, while perhaps most beautiful area of all is around the Carpathian Mountains in the far south. Geography shares borders to the east and northeast with Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Lithuania and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, to the south with the Czech Republic and Slovakia and to the west with Germany. To the north lies the Baltic Sea. The Baltic coast provides almost 525km (325 miles) of sandy beaches, bays and steep cliffs; between Gdańsk, and the port city of Szczecin to the west there are many seaside towns offering unpolluted water and some fine beaches, with sunbeds and umbrellas available for hire. These sand and gravel deposits also form the shifting dunes of Słowiński National Park, the sand bars of Hel and the Vistula Lagoon. Northern is dominated by lakes, islands and wooded hills joined by many rivers and canals. The Masurian Lake District to the northeast is a patchwork of lakes and forests with Lake Hańcza, the deepest lake in, located here. The longest river, the 1,090km (675 mile) Vistula, or Wisła, rises in the Tatra mountains and empties into the Baltic, cutting a wide valley between the capital, Warsaw in the heart of the country, to Gdańsk on the coast. The rest of the country rises slowly to the Sudety mountains, which run along the border with the Czech Republic, and the Tatra mountains, which separate from Slovakia. To the west, the River Oder, with Szczecin at its mouth, forms the northwest border with Germany. LH.com/travelguide 02/13

3 03 counts almost two dozen national parks, covering an area of 3,200 sq km (1,235 sq miles), and including the oldest, Białowieża National Park, east of Warsaw on the border with Belarus, and one of the largest, Bieszczady National Park, part of the Carpathian mountain range. These parks are home to European bison (the largest mammal in Europe), brown bears, lynx, wolves and even some wild horses. And Białowieża contains a fragment of the forest that once covered Europe prehistoric times, with some oaks dating back half a millennium. Polish forests are largely pine though, accounting for two-thirds of the total. General knowledge Key facts Population: Population Density (per sq km): 123 Capital: Warsaw. Language Polish is the official language. There are a few small German-speaking communities primarily in the southwest. English and, increasingly less so, Russian are also spoken. French is also popular. Currency Złoty (PLN; symbol zł) = 100 groszy. Notes are in denominations of zł200, 100, 50, 20 and 10. The coins are in denominations of zł5, 2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 groszy. is required under the terms of its accession to the European Union in 2004 to adopt the Euro as its national currency sometime in the future but this is not expected to happen for at least three years. Electricity 230 volts AC, 50Hz; continental plugs with two round pins. General business opening hours Most offices in major industries open Mon-Fri Government offices are open Mon-Fri A few independent businesses may open on Saturday morning. Public holidays Below are listed Public Holidays for the January December 2019 period Nowy Rok (New Year s Day): 1 January 2018 Święto Trzech Króli (Epiphany): 6 January 2019 Pierwszy dzień Wielkanocy (Easter Sunday): 1 April 2018 Drugi dzień Wielkanocy (Easter Monday): 2 April 2018 Międzynarodowe Święto Pracy (Labour Day): 1 May 2018 Święto Narodowe Trzeciego Maja (Republic Day): 3 May 2018 Pierwszy dzień Zielonych Świątek (Whitsun): 20 May 2018 Dzień Bożego Ciała (Corpus Christi): 31 May 2018 Wniebowzięcie Najświętszej Maryi Panny (Assumption): 15 August 2018 Wszystkich Świętych (All Saints Day): 1 November 2018 Narodowe Święto Niepodległości (Independence Day): 11 November 2018 Pierwszy dzień Bożego Narodzenia (Christmas Day): 25 December 2018 Drugi dzień Bożego Narodzenia (Second Day of Christmas): 26 December 2018 LH.com/travelguide 03/13

4 Nowy Rok (New Year s Day): 1 January 2018 Święto Trzech Króli (Epiphany): 6 January 2019 Pierwszy dzień Wielkanocy (Easter Sunday): 21 April 2019 Drugi dzień Wielkanocy (Easter Monday): 22 April 2019 Międzynarodowe Święto Pracy (Labour Day): 1 May 2019 Święto Narodowe Trzeciego Maja (Republic Day): 3 May 2019 Pierwszy dzień Zielonych Świątek (Whitsun): 9 June 2019 Dzień Bożego Ciała (Corpus Christi): 20 June 2019 Wniebowzięcie Najświętszej Maryi Panny (Assumption): 15 August 2019 Wszystkich Świętych (All Saints Day): 1 November 2019 Narodowe Święto Niepodległości (Independence Day): 11 November 2019 Pierwszy dzień Bożego Narodzenia (Christmas Day): 25 December 2019 Drugi dzień Bożego Narodzenia (Second Day of Christmas): 26 December 2019 All information subject to change. Travel etiquette How to fit in Social Conventions Poles are friendly, industrious people and foreigners are usually made very welcome. There are vast contrasts between urban and rural life and the Polish peasantry is very religious and conservative, maintaining a traditional lifestyle. Roman Catholicism plays an important role in daily life and criticism or jokes about religion are not appreciated, despite the general good humour of the people. Shaking hands is the normal form of greeting; an older man will often kiss a woman's hand. Normal courtesies are observed when visiting private homes, and it is customary to bring flowers, preferably in odd numbers. Fairly conservative casual wear is the most suitable attire, but dress should be formal when specified for entertaining in the evening or in a smart restaurant. Smoking is banned in public places, including railway stations, restaurants and bars. Photography Military installations including border points should not be photographed. Health Health Main emergency number: 112 Food & Drink Mains water is normally chlorinated, and while relatively safe may cause mild abdominal upsets. Do not drink water from rivers or lakes even if they look pristinely clean as it may contain bacteria or viruses that can bring on diarrhoea and vomiting. Make use of the public wells for better tasting water; bottled water is available everywhere. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are generally considered safe to eat. Two words of caution - a lot of dishes in Polish cuisine are stuffed or wrapped. Avoid them at a cafeteria or buffet if they look like they have outlasted their shelf LH.com/travelguide 04/13

5 05 life. Also, Poles can be big drinkers and vodka is the national drink. You definitely won't be able to keep up with your fellow drinkers for long. Go easy and either miss a few turns or sip your drink in stages. Otherwise count on the mother of all hangovers and an upset stomach the next day. Other Risks Vaccinations against tuberculosis and hepatitis B are sometimes recommended. Another one is against tick-borne encephalitis. This is spread by small insects that burrow under the skin and in recent years has become a common problem in parts of central and eastern Europe. Encephalitis is a serious infection of the brain, and vaccination is advised particularly for campers and hikers. Anyone who is considering spending a lot of time outdoors in affected areas should consider getting the jab before they leave home. Two inoculations of the vaccine will protect the recipient for a year while three doses provide protection for up to three years. Contractual physician of Lufthansa Dr. Straszak, Andrzej City Hospital Dep. Internal Medicine Siemianowice Sl. 1 Maya 9 Tel Ext.286 Please note that Lufthansa accepts no responsibility for the treatment nor will it bear the cost of any treatment. Phone calls & Internet Phone calls & Internet Telephone Country code: +48 Mobile telephony and Internet Since June 2017, EU citizens traveling within the EU, and also in Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein have been able to use their cell phones and surf the Net without incurring any extra charges: In other words, customers pay the same price for phone calls, text messages and data volume as they do at home. Restrictions do apply to the constant use of SIM cards abroad, however, and caps may be set on data packages. For full details, contact your mobile telephony provider in your country. Travelers using a SIM card from a non-eu state do not benefit from the new arrangement. Free Internet access via Wi-Fi is possible in many busy tourist spots. When using public Wi-Fi networks, it is a wise precaution to ensure encryption of all passwords, credit card details and banking TANs entered. Use of a VPN app or security software to check the safety of a hotspot is recommended. Top 10 sights Top 10 sights in Church of St Michael Archangel This lovely wooden church was built in 1510 and moved to its present location in Kosciuszko Park in 1938, as one of a number of buildings showing off traditional LH.com/travelguide 05/13

6 06 Silesian design. It remains a working church to this day. Kościuszki Park Gawronów 20 Tel: Sunrise to sunset Jewish Cemetery Dating back to 1868, this pretty cemetery is full of impressive tombstones and mausoleums. Partially destroyed by the Nazis, it was expanded after WWII and remains one of s key Jewish sites. Ulica Kozielska 16 Tel: Mon-Thu and Sat-Sun Fri Spodek The saucer is worth heading to even if you haven t got tickets for one of the myriad sports and music events which take place here all year round. An impressive piece of Communist-era design, it stands out even in a town renowned for its buildings. Aleja Wojciecha Korfantego Tel: Various History of Museum The History Museum runs a number of key sights across the city, but its main base is in an impressive tenement building. It houses recreations of homes from different periods in s history and an excellent gallery, focusing on religious art. ul Rymarska 4 Tue and Thu Wed and Fri Sat-Sun Nikiszowiec Run by the History Museum, Nikiszowiec is a suburb designed and built for miners who worked in the area during the 1920s. Well preserved, this area of town is the best way to learn about s industrial past. Ulica Rymarska Tel: Tue-Fri Sat-Sun LH.com/travelguide 06/13

7 07 Silesian Museum Housed in a glorious, one-time hotel, this excellent museum is full of artefacts relating to the ethnography and archaeology of Silesia, which now forms part of southern. There are also displays from local modern artists. Aleja Wojciecha Korfantego Tel: Tue-Fri Sat-Sun BWA Contemporary Art Gallery Showcasing the best in contemporary art from up-and-coming locals and other key Polish artists. Regular workshops and challenging exhibitions make this one of the most vital places in. aleja Wojciecha Korfantego Tue-Sun Rondo Art Gallery Found on one of the city s busiest roundabouts, this unlikely location is home to one of s other superb modern art galleries. Student works and a revolving door of exhibitions keep this place fresh and exciting. Jerzego Ziętka Tue-Fri Sat-Sun rondosztuki.pl Garrison Church of St Casimir A work of art deco genius, this Catholic church looks plain from the outside. Walk into its cool interior though, and be wowed by superb religious art and design. One of s most exquisite buildings. M. Skłodowskiej-Curie Various Archdiocesan Museum Come here to see some truly stunning late-14th-century religious art. The Gothic paintings and sculptures are utterly unique and beautiful and offer an insight into the piety of the area. If you go to one museum in, make it this one. ul. Jordana 39 Kattowice Tue-Thu (Sep-Jun during temporary exhibitions) Sat (Sep-Jun during LH.com/travelguide 07/13

8 08 temporary exhibitions) l Shopping in Shopping in Key Areas Shopping in is not quite as bustling as larger cities in. As such, you can find fashion outlets near the main railway station, and the odd impressive independent store. For a true blowout, you need to head to the massive Silesia City Center complex on the edge of town. Markets Targowisko Miejskie is an old-style Polish market selling fresh produce. It s worth heading here to mingle with the locals. The market is located south of the main railway line in the city centre. The clothing market on Ulica Mickiewicza is also a good place to trawl for bargains. Shopping Centres Silesia City Center (Chorzowska 107) is where it s at if you want to spend a whole day flexing your credit card. It sits on a former coal mine, with more than 200 shops and other attractions including a fitness centre and cinema. You can find the world s biggest brand names here as well as luxury goods. Restaurants Restaurants in Classic Polish places and a decent array of Italian eateries are the mainstays of.however, as the city becomes a more popular tourist stop-off, there are a growing number of decent alternatives, including some seriously good Asian food. Tatiana s best restaurant, serving beautifully crafted local cuisine, including superb dumplings and even rabbit. Staromiejska Price: Expensive Little Hanoi...and more Vietnamese food isn t the first thing you d think of in, but this joint dishes up an excellent take on that freshest of Asian cuisines. Staromiejska Price: Moderate Restauracja Krysztalowa A slice of old Silesian style, Krysztalowa serves local delicacies such as catfish. LH.com/travelguide 08/13

9 09 Warszawska Price: Moderate Złoty Osioł This excellent vegetarian restaurant has a colourful dining room and creates superb, healthy lunches. Ulica Mariacka 1 Price: Cheap Zaklęty Czardasz Hungarian and Polish classics abound at this traditional spot be sure to try the goulash. Kopernika Price: Cheap Nightlife Nightlife in Nightlife in centres on Ulica Mariacki. This once seedy spot is now full of a wide array of bars and clubs that have helped improve the city s after-hours scene.whether you want a classy cocktail or fancy hanging out with s arty hipsters, there are plenty of places where the drinks flow freely. Sky Bar On the 27th floor of the Altus Tower, this fancy bar serves well-mixed drinks to match the spectacular views. Uniwersytecka Kattowice Śruba i Przyjaciele A spit and sawdust dive bar that s perfect for those who love rock music on the jukebox. Mariacka Biała Małpa Biała Małpa, or The White Monkey, is bar that loves beer, with 100 different bottles and 14 draughts to choose from. 3 Maja 38 LH.com/travelguide 09/13

10 Hipnoza Jazz Club This ultra-hip joint is always packed and puts on local and international acts. plac Sejmu Śląskiego Archibar Found in the Architects Union building, this is the place to come to drink cocktails and hang out with s coolest people. Dyrekcyjna Calendar of events Calendar of events Street Art Festival Cutting-edge street artists show off their finest work in every May. The festival involves more than a collection of eye-catching installations and dramatic murals however. Thrown into the mix are an enticing blend of exhibitions, films, concerts, workshops and debates. March - September 2018 katowicestreetartfestival.pl Venue: Various venues Art Naif Festival Dedicated to naïve art (often considered a childlike way of depicting reality), this festival recognises the work of Upper Silesia s own naïve artists, a group of miners who painted in their spare time in the 1930s. Each year, the festival also features works from another country or region. 8 June - 10 August Venue: Various venues Tauron Nowa Muzyka Festival (Tauron New Music Festival) Held on the site of a former coal mine, this hip music festival has gone from strength to strength since its inception in Hosting the likes of Kelis, Neneh Cherry, DJ Krush and Jamie Liddell, it aims to bring fresh music to Polish audiences. LH.com/travelguide 10/13

11 July Venue: Nowe Muzeum Śląskie OFF Festival Alternative music fans flock to this über-cool festival, where mainstream tunes are eschewed in favour of breakthrough acts and edgy performances. That s not to say well-known artists don t appear they do, but they re more likely to try out their latest, boundary-pushing material than play the big hits. 3-5 August 2018 off-festival.pl Venue: Dolina Trzech Stawow (Three Ponds Valley) International Student Folklore Festival Colourful street processions, open-air folk concerts and energetic dances are the order of the day at this student-led festival, which sees teams from around the world presenting a vibrant programme of cultural performances. Troupes are proudly dressed in traditional costume from their native lands. 28 August - 2 September 2018 msff.pl Venue: Various venues in and other nearby towns Rawa Blues Festival Claiming to be the world s largest indoor blues festival, Rawa Blues has had audiences tapping their toes for over three decades. Not only has it featured just about any renowned Polish blues artist going, but it has also hosted awardwinning musicians from the USA, Australia and across Europe. September 2018 rawablues.com/en/ Venue: Spodek Hall Ars Independent Film Festival New filmmakers compete to win a Black Horse trophy in this indie film festival, which awards prizes to first- or second-time directors for the best feature-length and animated movies. Beyond the competition, the festival celebrates independent video games and screens the year s best music documentaries September 2018 arsindependent.pl Venue: Various venues Ars Cameralis Taking place over two weeks each autumn, Ars Cameralis embraces art, music, literature and film in its extensive programme. A thrilling line-up featuring local and international artists encompasses everything from jazz concerts and poetry LH.com/travelguide 11/13

12 12 readings to avant-garde film screenings and thought-provoking contemporary art exhibitions. November 2018 arscameralisfestiwal.pl/ Venue: Various Venues Silesian Jazz Festival This terrific jazz festival attracts international soloists and ensembles performing high-quality jazz. Students have the chance to polish their skills at special workshops and there s a competition for jazz composers, with the finalists works performed to audiences during the festival. Venue: Akademia Muzyczna and Centrum Kultury Hotels Hotels in Finding a good-value room in should not be a struggle. The city is blessed with plenty of excellent affordable and mid-range options to make your stay pleasant and comfortable.high-end luxury is a little harder to come by however. Monopol This 5-star art deco gem has plenty to savour, with large, well-heeled rooms, a sauna and top-notch restaurants. ul. Dworcowa Category: Expensive Novotel Centrum The branch of Novotel offers high-end rooms at extremely good prices. Al. Rozdzienskiego Category: Moderate Hotel Olympia Spodek Stay right by the vast saucer that is s most eye-catching attraction, in excellent rooms at competitive rates. aleja Korfantego Category: Moderate angelo Hotel A modern business hotel right in the heart of the action, with unique décor and a highly rated breakfast to boot. LH.com/travelguide 12/13

13 13 Sokolska Category: Moderate Załęże A smart and simple hotel with cosy rooms and an excellent Polish breakfast. Ulica Gliwicka Category: Cheap LH.com/travelguide 13/13

Travel Guide Rzeszów. Nightlife Calendar of events Hotels. Quick view Poland Travel etiquette Health

Travel Guide Rzeszów. Nightlife Calendar of events Hotels. Quick view Poland Travel etiquette Health Travel Guide 02 02 04 04 Quick view Travel etiquette Health 05 05 07 08 Phone calls & Internet Top 10 sights Shopping in Restaurants 09 10 11 Nightlife Calendar of events Hotels Jan Wlodarczyk / Alamy