Chorzów

Chorzów is an industrial city in the Silesian Voivodeship of southwest Poland, with a population of 105,628 in 2021. Many of its attractions are in the Culture Park along the boundary with Katowice.

Understand
Chorzów was already a mining and metal-working village in 1136 when first documented by Pope Innocent II, one of dozens in forest clearings across Silesia. They all remained small until the 17th / 18th centuries when better mining and steel-making techniques caused them to expand and grow into each other. In that era Silesia lay within Germany, and Chorzów was one of several towns that voted to remain German when Poland re-unified in 1921. From the 1930s Chorzów incorporated its nearby small towns, and was in turn almost engulfed by Katowice. After Germany was defeated in 1945 most of Silesia was allocated to Poland but the west around Ostrava re-joined Czechoslovakia.

20th century Chorzów earned its living from mining, steel, electrical machinery, electronics and chemicals. All these industries then collapsed and the region has been trying to re-invent itself since.

Get in
For long-distance connections see Katowice. From Katowice-Pyrzowice Airport take the local bus into Katowice and change, there's no direct transport to Chorzów. Similarly from Kraków John-Paul II Airport travel via Kraków city centre.

By train
is on the line towards Bytom and Tarnowskie Góry. It's a modern building opposite the hospital and close to town centre. But it's dark and dismal, and in 2024 is closed as the trains are replaced by buses - these stop just outside on Truchana.

Chorzów Stary Station is another 3 km north on that line but you're very unlikely to use it. It's just a halt amidst freight yards, the station building has been demolished, and you may find a parked freight train blocking access across the tracks to the platforms. Use the tram to reach this corner of town.

Trams run frequently along the boulevard from Katowice, and are the most convenient way to reach facilities in Park Śląski at the east edge of Chorzów. They continue into town centre, where one line turns south to Batory station, one goes west to Ruda Chebzie, and one heads north to Bytom. Tram tickets are the same as city bus tickets, see "Get around".

By bus
Bus 48 runs every 30 min from Katowice, taking 10 min to Chorzów town centre.

By road
From Warsaw take E67 / 75 southwest past Częstochowa to Bytom, then Hwy 911 / A1 south into town.

From Kraków take E40 west to Katowice then Hwy 86 onto 79.

From Berlin and Wrocław follow E40 southeast to Gliwice then Hwy 902 east.

Get around
ZTM Metropolia run almost all buses and trams across the 40-some cities of Upper Silesian Metropolis, which straddles the Czech border. They have a unified ticket system. See Katowice for ticket options and where to buy them.

Centre

 * The original village was 3 km northeast, but from 1797 the coal mines and ironworks caused this area to mushroom into Königshütte or Królewska Huta. Today this is known as Chorzów I or Miasto meaning town centre.


 * is the central square and former market place. It's large, lined with civic buildings such as the town hall of 1876 and the post office of 1892, plus lots of modern tat, and with a busy highway flyover slicing through. Other cities that carved up their historic centres in that manner, such as Dresden and Genoa, have lost their UNESCO listing in consequence, but the local governors shrewdly deduced that no such risk hung over Chorzów.
 * Municipal Savings Bank a block west of the museum on Zjednoczenia was one of the tallest buildings in Poland when completed in 1935, at the dizzy height of 40 m.
 * Bismarck was the name of the steelworks and district further south by the main railway station. When Chorzów transferred from Germany to Poland in 1945 they needed a new name, but it had to start with "B" as that was the trademark embossed on the steel products. What they came up with was Batory, ruler of Poland, Lithuania and Transylvania 1576-86.
 * Municipal Savings Bank a block west of the museum on Zjednoczenia was one of the tallest buildings in Poland when completed in 1935, at the dizzy height of 40 m.
 * Bismarck was the name of the steelworks and district further south by the main railway station. When Chorzów transferred from Germany to Poland in 1945 they needed a new name, but it had to start with "B" as that was the trademark embossed on the steel products. What they came up with was Batory, ruler of Poland, Lithuania and Transylvania 1576-86.
 * Bismarck was the name of the steelworks and district further south by the main railway station. When Chorzów transferred from Germany to Poland in 1945 they needed a new name, but it had to start with "B" as that was the trademark embossed on the steel products. What they came up with was Batory, ruler of Poland, Lithuania and Transylvania 1576-86.

North

 * Chorzów II was the northern extension of the 18th / 19th century city.


 * Dom Kalidego at the east end of 3 Maja (between Elizabeth & St Barbara churches) looks to be only held together by its grime. It's one of the oldest buildings in town, erected in 1802 as part of a housing district for steelworkers, and this block housed the officials. Building and adjacent alley are named for the sculptor Theodor Kalide (1801-63).
 * Chorzów Stary - "Old Chorzów" or Chorzów III - was the original village northeast of the present centre, first mentioned in a papal bull of 1136. It's now an ugly brownfield area of semi-derelict industry. St Mary Magdalene Church is from 1890 but not worth a special trip.
 * Żabie Doły: see Bytom for these lagoons further north, formed in the 20th century by mining subsidence.
 * Chorzów Stary - "Old Chorzów" or Chorzów III - was the original village northeast of the present centre, first mentioned in a papal bull of 1136. It's now an ugly brownfield area of semi-derelict industry. St Mary Magdalene Church is from 1890 but not worth a special trip.
 * Żabie Doły: see Bytom for these lagoons further north, formed in the 20th century by mining subsidence.
 * Chorzów Stary - "Old Chorzów" or Chorzów III - was the original village northeast of the present centre, first mentioned in a papal bull of 1136. It's now an ugly brownfield area of semi-derelict industry. St Mary Magdalene Church is from 1890 but not worth a special trip.
 * Żabie Doły: see Bytom for these lagoons further north, formed in the 20th century by mining subsidence.

Elsewhere

 * Silesian Culture and Recreation Park (Wojewódzki Park Kultury i Wypoczynku), east of the Ethnographic Park and Highway 79, extends 2 km east-west and 3 km north-south along the boundary with Katowice. It's accessible free 24 hours, dog-friendly, with multiple entry points and transport routes. Attractions within (below) include the Stadium, zoo, planetarium, amusement park, Trade Fair Grounds, rose garden, swimming pool and water sports centre, and tennis courts. It's criss-crossed by walking and cycling trails and a cable-car plies above it. Large concerts, festivals and similar events are often held here.
 * Rose Garden and Japanese Garden are by the entrance to the zoo.
 * (Zespół szybu Elżbieta) at Siemianowicka 64 housed the shaft of the former Elżbieta coal mine. The mine owners prettified it into a mock-castle or Moorish palace, though it more resembles a down-at-heel seaside casino, and is nowadays an events venue. Only if you happen to be passing.
 * is a nature reserve of forest and wetland, south of Hwy E40 on the boundary with Katowice and Ruda Śląska. As with Żabie Doły to the north, the lagoons formed through mining subsidence.
 * Rose Garden and Japanese Garden are by the entrance to the zoo.
 * (Zespół szybu Elżbieta) at Siemianowicka 64 housed the shaft of the former Elżbieta coal mine. The mine owners prettified it into a mock-castle or Moorish palace, though it more resembles a down-at-heel seaside casino, and is nowadays an events venue. Only if you happen to be passing.
 * is a nature reserve of forest and wetland, south of Hwy E40 on the boundary with Katowice and Ruda Śląska. As with Żabie Doły to the north, the lagoons formed through mining subsidence.
 * (Zespół szybu Elżbieta) at Siemianowicka 64 housed the shaft of the former Elżbieta coal mine. The mine owners prettified it into a mock-castle or Moorish palace, though it more resembles a down-at-heel seaside casino, and is nowadays an events venue. Only if you happen to be passing.
 * is a nature reserve of forest and wetland, south of Hwy E40 on the boundary with Katowice and Ruda Śląska. As with Żabie Doły to the north, the lagoons formed through mining subsidence.

Do

 * Football: Ruch Chorzów were relegated in 2024 and now play soccer in 1 Liga, the second tier. Their home ground Ruch Stadium (capacity 9300) is just north of Batory Station.
 * Football: Ruch Chorzów were relegated in 2024 and now play soccer in 1 Liga, the second tier. Their home ground Ruch Stadium (capacity 9300) is just north of Batory Station.
 * Football: Ruch Chorzów were relegated in 2024 and now play soccer in 1 Liga, the second tier. Their home ground Ruch Stadium (capacity 9300) is just north of Batory Station.

Events

 * Bluestracja is a blues festival organized by MDK Batory in late April.
 * Constitution Day is May 3, with civic parades.
 * City Festival is at the beginning of June.
 * Port Poetycki is poetry, music and visual arts in June, at the site of the former President Mine.
 * FEST Festival was in August but went bust in 2023.
 * If Summer Ends is an alternative music festival in late August.
 * Beer Festival is in September in the Fields of Mars in the Park of Culture.
 * Independence Day and Chorzów Anniversary Feast is on 11 Nov.
 * Christmas Market is held in the run-up to Christmas.

Eat

 * Rynek and Wolności have a strip of eating places. They include Pod Beczką (below), Na Winklu, Kartel, Kaskada, Everest, Pod Drewnianym Bocianem, Cafe Paterman, Piwniczka Piccolo, Tygiel Kulinarny and Włoskie.

Drink

 * Pubs around Rynek are Hard Rock, Kraken Restopub and Szuflada.

Sleep

 * You could also stay in Katowice, as travel time is so short.


 * Hotel Diament Bella Notte is within the same building, similar price and quality.
 * Hostel Kasyno shares the building with Hotel Gorczowski.
 * Hotel Diament Bella Notte is within the same building, similar price and quality.
 * Hostel Kasyno shares the building with Hotel Gorczowski.
 * Hostel Kasyno shares the building with Hotel Gorczowski.
 * Hostel Kasyno shares the building with Hotel Gorczowski.

Connect
As of April 2024, Chorzów and its approach roads have 5G from all Polish carriers.

Go next

 * Katowice is the chief city of the region and has the most extensive industrial and church heritage.
 * Ruda Śląska and Bytom are smaller similar centres.
 * Częstochowa is a pilgrimage destination for its monastery with the Black Madonna icon.