Katowice is a major academic and business center located in southern Poland, at the heart of the Metropolis GZM. Thanks to its location in the central part of Europe and a well-developed transport network, Katowice can be easily accessed from  different corners of the world. The city issituated  within a small distance from five European capitals – Berlin, Bratislava, Prague, Warsaw and Vienna.

For more information about the city of Katowice, visit the official website!

Official name: Rzeczpospolita Polska, Republic of Poland (short form: Poland)

Official language: Polish

Capital city: Warszawa (Warsaw: population 1.7 million / Warsaw agglomeration: 2.5 million)

Population: 38 million.

Time zone: Poland belongs to the Central European time zone (GMT + 1 hour / UTC + 1 hour),  Central European Summer Time (CEST / UTC+2) in summer.

Climate: The Polish climate is moderate continental, with relatively cold winters (from December to March) and hot summers which extend from June to August. January temperatures average -1°C (30°F) to -5°C (23°F). July and August average temperatures range from 16.5°C (62°F) to 19°C (65°F), though some days the temperature can reach even 35°C (95°F).

Currency: 1 złoty (PLN) = 100 groszy,  (EUR 1 = PLN 4,20), credit and debit cards, and contactless and mobile payments are widely accepted.

Electricity: 230V / 50Hz, Type E sockets (same as in most EU countries).

Calling code: + 48

Katowice International Airport (KTW)

• Around 30-40min from Katowice.
• Direct bus connections to the city via Metropolitan line AP (Airport–Katowice), included in the local ZTM ticketing system (tickets valid on regional transport). The bus stops at the Katowice Bus Station. For more details, visit the ZTM website.
• Shuttle services and private bus transfers (e.g., Matuszek Transport, Flixbus) operating between the airport and Katowice city centre are avaliable.
• Taxi and transportation services such as Uber or Bolt.

Kraków John Paul II International Airport (KRK)

• Around 60-80min from Katowice.
• Direct coach services (e.g., FlixBus and other operators) between KRK and Katowice (bus station or direct regional links).
• Another way to get to Katowice is to go to Kraków city centre and then take a train to Katowice from Kraków Główny (Central Train Station) (frequent regional and intercity services). Trains are operated by PKP – Polish National Railways.
• Taxi and transportation services such as Uber or Bolt.

Long-distance trains:

• Fast and express services operated mainly by PKP Intercity connect Katowice with Berlin, Vienna, Prague, Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław, Gdańsk and other major cities. Tickets and schedules are available in English at: https://www.intercity.pl/en/

Regional trains:

• Frequent regional connections are provided by Polregio and Koleje Śląskie, operating within the Metropolis GZM. Tickets and schedules are available in English at: https://rozklad-pkp.pl/en