Market Square in Katowice

Katowice Market Square (Rynek, pronounced roughly "RIH-nek") is the main square of Katowice, the largest city of Poland's Upper Silesia region, and the natural place to start exploring downtown. Trams cross it, the main streets meet here, and the Spodek arena and the city's Culture Zone are a short walk away. Rebuilt between 2012 and 2016, the former traffic junction is now a pedestrian-friendly space with trees, benches, potted palm trees and fountains, overlooked by the Silesian Theater.

Getting there

Katowice lies about 80 km (50 miles) west of Kraków – roughly an hour by car on the A4 motorway or by train. Katowice Airport (Pyrzowice) is about 30 km north of the city. From Katowice's main railway station, the square is only a few minutes' walk. Downtown parking is paid, so public transport is the easier choice.

A short history

Katowice is a young city: it received town rights in 1865, booming on coal and steel under Prussian rule. The square was laid out to a plan of 1856 and was called Friedrichsplatz until 1922, when this part of Upper Silesia became Polish. On September 4, 1939, German troops executed around 80 of the city's defenders here. War damage and demolitions in the 1960s and 1970s replaced many historic buildings with modernist department stores and office blocks. A design competition was won by Konior Studio; work started in 2012 and the new square opened in 2016.

What to see

• The Silesian Theater (Teatr Śląski), built in 1906–1907 to a design by Carl Moritz of Cologne – a listed landmark.
• The Silesian Press House (1963) and the Zenit department store (1962), examples of postwar modernism; the Skarbek store (1975) is just off the square.
• Flower Square (Plac Kwiatowy) with flower sellers' kiosks, fountains and benches.
• An artificial stream lined with palms, a symbolic trace of the Rawa River, which flows in a covered channel beneath the square.
• 19th- and early 20th-century townhouses on the frontages.

The square is in fact three linked spaces: Flower Square, Theater Square (used for big events such as the Christmas market) and Katowice Defenders' Square.

Practical information (as of October 2026)

The square is public and open around the clock, free of charge. The city's tourist information center is at Rynek 13 (+48 32 259 38 08), a good place to pick up maps. There is a city bike station on the square.

With kids and accessibility

The paved, level surface is easy for strollers and wheelchairs, and a playground was added during the redesign. On warm days children love splashing around the fountains and the stream. Keep an eye on the tram tracks, which cross the square in several places – trams run frequently, and pedestrians share the space with them.

Is it worth visiting?

On its own, the square takes about 30 minutes – but it is the hub for a great day in Katowice. Walk along Korfantego Avenue to the flying-saucer-shaped Spodek and the Culture Zone, home to the Silesian Museum and the NOSPR concert hall (Katowice is a UNESCO City of Music). Then take public transport to Nikiszowiec, a red-brick miners' housing estate, or to the green Silesian Park.

Christmas market 2026

The Christmas market on Katowice's Market Square runs from 20 November 2026 to 10 January 2027. The 33-metre Mega Młyn Ferris wheel returns, with views over the festive city centre. Opening hours for 2026 have not been announced yet. Details are on our page Katowice Christmas Market.