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Mariacka Street in central Katowice, a pedestrian street of tall tenement houses with café terraces and trees, leading to the spire of St Mary's Church

Where to stay in Katowice

Photo: Bahnfrend, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Places to stay in Katowice

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About Katowice

Central Katowice has two paid parking zones and, since 29 June 2026, a clean transport zone around the city centre. Three park and ride sites, free with a public transport ticket, give a car somewhere to stay outside them.

Poland. Guide last checked .

Facts and rules

Last checked . Each fact links to its source.

Airport
Katowice Airport (KTW) in Pyrzowice, about 41 km by road from the Rynek; the Pyrzowice Lotnisko railway station is about 500 metres from the terminals. Source
Paid parking
Zone A (centre) Monday to Saturday, Zone B Monday to Friday, both 7.00 to 17.00: first hour PLN 6 in A, PLN 4 in B. Rates in force since 1 December 2023; no 2026 change found. Source
Unpaid parking
Additional fee PLN 150 in Zone A and PLN 100 in Zone B if paid within 7 days, double after that (resolution of July 2023). Source
Clean transport zone
Since 29 June 2026 around the centre, under council resolution XXVII/505/26. Cars from outside the metropolis need Euro 3 or 2000 and later (petrol), Euro 5 or 2009 and later (diesel). Source
Park and ride
Brynów (492 spaces), Zawodzie (405) and Ligota (110): free with a valid ZTM public transport ticket, 4:00 to 24:00. Source
Visitor levy
The opłata miejscowa (2026 cap PLN 3.46 a day) applies only where a council adopts it; whether Katowice levies one was unverified as of October 2026. Source
Short-term rental rules
A bill that would give every short-let flat an ID number for its listings passed committee on 17 September 2026 and awaits its second reading in the Sejm. Not law yet. Source
Registration
Foreigners staying in Poland up to 30 days are exempt. Beyond that, EU, EEA and Swiss citizens register by the 30th day at the address, other nationals by the fourth day. Source
Short stays for non-EU visitors
90 days in any 180 across the Schengen area. The EU Entry/Exit System has been fully operational since 10 April 2026. Source
A4 to Kraków
The concession stretch of the A4 charges PLN 18 for a car at each of its two toll plazas, Mysłowice and Balice, from 1 April 2026; Kraków is about 81 km by road. Source
Currency
Polish złoty (PLN). Source
Emergency numbers
112; police 997, ambulance 999 Source

Areas of Katowice

Mariacka Street in central Katowice, a pedestrian street of tall tenement houses with café terraces and trees, leading to the spire of St Mary's Church
Photo: Bahnfrend, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Śródmieście (city centre)

The centre around the Market Square, where the city's own guide sends visitors to the pubs and restaurants on Mariacka, Dworcowa, Mielęckiego and 3 Maja streets, to the Silesian Theatre and to a branch of the Museum of Katowice History. It suits a first visit on foot and evenings out.

Katowice airport
about 41 km
Rynek
under 1 km

Car and parking

Zone A covers 3 Maja, the Rynek, Plac Wolności and Uniwersytecka: PLN 6 for the first hour, Monday to Saturday 7.00 to 17.00 (rates since December 2023). The clean transport zone covers the streets up to Mariacka Tylna and Dworcowa. The automated car park on ul. Tylna Mariacka holds 240 cars.

The Katowice Culture Zone from above: the red-brick concert hall of the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra among trees, office towers behind and the Spodek arena on the right
Photo: Marek Mróz, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Strefa Kultury and Koszutka

The Culture Zone on the site of a former coal mine: the Silesian Museum, with most of its exhibition underground, the concert hall of the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, the International Congress Centre and the Spodek arena, which stands in Koszutka. It suits concerts, congresses and events.

Katowice airport
about 39 km
Rynek
about 2 km

Car and parking

Car parks A, B and C between the congress centre and the concert hall charge non-residents PLN 10 an hour, Monday to Friday 6:30 to 17:00. Part of Koszutka lies in paid Zone B, Monday to Friday 7.00 to 17.00.

Red-brick houses with red window frames and an arched gateway around a cobbled square in Nikiszowiec, Katowice
Photo: YanelaSh, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nikiszowiec and Giszowiec

Two miners' settlements designed by Emil and Georg Zillmann. Giszowiec followed the garden city idea, with Pod Lipami square at its centre; Nikiszowiec has red-brick houses for workers' families, their facades decorated with mosaics, on a regular street plan, and a branch of the Museum of Katowice History on its main square. It suits travellers who come for the industrial heritage.

Katowice airport
about 42 km
Rynek
about 9 km

Car and parking

Neither settlement is among the districts the city names for its paid parking zones; street parking rules there were not verified, so ask the host about a space.

A small pond among tall trees in Park Kościuszki, Katowice, with sunlight on the grass
Photo: Marek Mróz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Brynów, Park Kościuszki and Ligota

The area around Park Kościuszki, home of the wooden church of St Michael the Archangel looked after by the Museum of Katowice History, with Ligota and its railway station further out. It suits a stay with the car left at a park and ride.

Katowice airport
about 44 km
Rynek
about 3 km

Car and parking

The Brynów park and ride on ul. Kościuszki has 492 spaces and five tram lines; the Ligota one, by the railway station, has 110. Both are free with a valid ZTM ticket and open 4:00 to 24:00.

Guides

Questions

How much does street parking cost in central Katowice?

In Zone A, the city centre, PLN 3 for up to 30 minutes, PLN 6 for the first hour, PLN 7.20 for the second, PLN 8.40 for the third and PLN 6 each hour after, Monday to Saturday 7.00 to 17.00. These are the rates in force since 1 December 2023; no 2026 change was found.

Can a rental car enter the Katowice clean transport zone?

Cars from outside Katowice and its metropolis may enter until the end of 2033 if they meet Euro 3 or were built in 2000 or later (petrol), or meet Euro 5 or were built in 2009 or later (diesel). No permit or sticker is needed.

Is there a tourist tax in Katowice?

Polish communes may levy an opłata miejscowa only where their council adopts one, capped at PLN 3.46 a day in 2026. Whether Katowice levies one was unverified as of October 2026.

Where can a car be left for free?

At the park and ride sites at Brynów, Zawodzie and Ligota, free with a valid ZTM public transport ticket, open 4:00 to 24:00.