Katowice has undergone a noticeable transformation in the last decade, working tirelessly to breathe new life into its urban space. Today, it is a lively, multicultural city that is the beating heart of Poland's first metropolis, the location of many big events, and a UNESCO-designated music city with lots of green spaces. It's no wonder that it's been such a commonplace to live and visit for all of these reasons and more.

This futuristic, minimalist venue, located near the famed Spodek Arena (yes, the one that's sometimes compared to a UFO), is one of the city's most distinctive spaces. It's impossible to accept that this coal mine was already operational in the 1990s. The International Congress Centre, with its striking slanting grass roof, the world-class auditorium of the Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra, and the intriguing Silesian Museum, which displays its collection through a network of tunnels 12-16 meters underground, are all located there today. Every year, a number of activities take place in the Culture Zone, attracting thousands of people. The European Economic Congress, which draws members from the world's political, business, and science communities; the finals of the Intel Extreme Masters international e-sports competition, which attracts hundreds of thousands of players to Katowice; and the annual Tauron New Music Festival are among the most significant activities. The United Nations COP24 climate change conference was held here in 2018, and more high-profile meetings are planned for the future.

The eye-catching Silesian Insurgents' Monument is situated near the Culture Zone, on the other side of Rozdzienskiego Lane. The three-part memorial was unveiled more than 50 years ago and stands on the former site of the Red Army soldiers' cemetery, which was later relocated to Kosciuszko Park. It was designed by architect Wojciech Zablocki and sculptor Gustaw Zemla. The statue, which is made up of three eagle's wings, commemorates the three Silesian uprisings that occurred in 1919, 1920, and 1921. The names of all the towns where rebels boldly battled against German dominance can be seen at the bottom of the map. It is now one of Katowice's most important sights, as well as one of Poland's most readily recognizable monuments.

The city of Katowice is home to Poland's largest and most interesting array of important Neoclassical structures. Fans of architecture will undoubtedly love their stay! The Silesian Province Office and the imperial-looking Silesian Parliament buildings are among the most important, having been designated as "National Historic Monuments" by the Polish President. There are two important details about this structure: first, it houses one of Poland's four remaining paternoster lifts. Second, the treasury, which is stored in the cellar, is secured by a special device that submerges the contents of the treasury into a tank below in the event of a break-in.

Another, similarly intriguing tower was one of Europe's tallest in the 1930s when its five-year building was finished. Its real name is Drapacz Chmur, and it was one of the aspects that earned Katowice the nickname of the "Polish Chicago." Its steel frame supports 14 storeys above ground, as well as three underground levels. This and 14 other places make up the Modernism Trail, a multi-kilometer route whose construction reflects an imaginative approach to urban space at the time.

Greenery accounts for nearly half of Katowice's town, which can come as a surprise – and a very welcome one – to those who are unfamiliar with the region. Apart from the magnificent Murckowski Forest, which is home to centuries-old beech trees and medicinal herbs, Katowice residents can also relax amid the ideal flowerbeds in Kosciuszko Park and the vast Valley with Three Ponds, the latter becoming a genuinely wonderful spot for more physical activities such as riding, rollerblading, or just taking a pleasant stroll. You can hire a bicycle and go for a leisurely ride around the city, or rent a kayak and spend a relaxed afternoon on the water. On mild, sunny days, families flock in large numbers to the beach area and water playground, which is particularly popular with children. The valley area also has a campsite as well as restaurants and bars with views of the wetlands, and the environment is calming and welcoming. Not unexpectedly, this is the site of many musical festivals, including the OFF Festival Katowice, a multi-award-winning alternative music festival.

Nikiszowiec, once a distinct district designed primarily for mining families, is a rare architectural example and a must-see for street photographers. Emil and Georg Zillmann designed the stunning brick housing estate, which has been featured prominently in films by Kazimierz Kutz and Lech Majewski, among others. Many people believe Nikiszowiec has an undeniably mystical quality to it, thanks to the artists of the Janowska Community, who are still active here today. The Art Naif Festival, held annually at the nearby Wilson Shaft Museum, draws thousands of fans of this specific form of prehistoric art, considering the fact that they represent life with simple strokes. Many local artisans continue to work here today, making exquisite watercolors and one-of-a-kind coal jewelry.

Nikiszowiec has been a member of the Industrial Monuments Route for several years, which takes tourists on a tour of key places in the Slaskie province's industrial heritage. If you plan to take the road, don't forget to stop by Giszowiec, a nearby mining housing estate built over a century ago for the Giesche corporation's employees. Its very unusual architecture was inspired by English urban planner Ebenezer Howard's idea of the Garden City. The Walcownia Zinc Metallurgy Museum and the China Factory, whose restored compound has since been converted into a technology park, are both parts of the Katowice portion of the Industrial Monuments Road. China is no longer made in the United States; however, it is still painted and sold, either as beautiful collections or as stunning individual pieces.

This big, newly renovated space in the heart of the city is a popular meeting spot for Katowice residents. Often festivals, fairs, children's activities, and the highly common food truck rallies are held there as well. The exotic five-meter-high palm trees that give welcoming shade to passers-by have been the square's unique drawcard during the summer months for a few years now. The date palms, which came all the way from the Canary Islands, stand next to a fountain that mimics the Rawa River, which runs directly underneath the market square. If you look closely, you'll see that the Market Square is a spot where tradition and modernity collide: 19th-century tenement buildings and the Silesian Theatre, designed well over a century ago, stand proudly alongside Zenit and Skarbek, the city's first department stores, and recently constructed restaurant pavilions. All are in complete harmony, as befitting the city.

Katowice's culture is its lifeblood, a part of its spirit, and one of the city's growth foundations. Katowice was given the status of the Creative City of Music by UNESCO a few years ago, making it the first city in this region of Europe to do so and one of only a few in Poland to be part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

The Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra in Katowice (NOSPR) and world-famous composers Wojciech Kilar and Henryk Mikolaj Górecki are among Katowice's cultural highlights. The OFF Festival, Tauron New Music, Rawa Blues, the Jazz Art Festival, the Grzegorz Fitelberg International Competition for Conductors, and the Karol Szymanowski International Music Festival, which premiered in 2018, are among Katowice's many festivals, the majority of which are music-related.

There are plenty of film and theatre festivals to choose from, including the Regiofun International Festival of Film Producers and the Interpretations National Festival of Directing Art. Another event to add to the calendar is the Katowice Street Art AiR, which is a fantastic festival of incredible street art. Katowice has also played a major role in the development of Polish swing, blues, and hip-hop, as well as having a long history of amateur music-making that many Silesian families continue to maintain. 

While there is plenty for all to appreciate and explore, this is undoubtedly the region for cultural tourists.

Warszawa (Warsaw):

It is the capital of Poland with an estimated population of 1.7 million people. The majority of Polish people migrate to the city for business and education. This is due to the higher education institutions with a vibrant spirit, and it is an important center for culture and sciences. 

After the city was destroyed entirely by World War II, it gained steady progress with years of communism. This helped the city recover in terms of its architecture and commercial structure, both of which are signified by the Palace of Science and Culture and the skyscrapers. 

Kraków (Cracow):

The city has stunning architecture and fine works of art which is a major tourist attraction. It was the ruling place of the royal family and the capital of Poland until 1596. 

As the first university of Poland, the Jagiellonian University, founded in 1364, is located in Kraków and is regarded as the cradle of Polish science. Kraków has more than 730,000 residents, and it is an important cultural and academic center. 

Wrocław:

It is the fourth largest city in Poland and the capital of Lower Silesia (Dolny Śląsk). There is a beautiful Old Town with a unique atmosphere that describes its history and location. It spreads across several islands and is surrounded by the Oder River and its tributaries on all sides. 

Gdańsk:

It is a major seaport in Poland and forms the Tricity Metropolis with Sopot and Gdynia along with a population of 750,000 people. Gdansk was an important Hanseatic city, owned by Poland and Germany alternately. This where World War II and the Polish Solidarity Movement began. 

Poznań:

It is among the oldest and largest Polish cities, and due to its Paris-Moscow route, Poznań is an important transport and trade center. Poznań has been the venue for the International Trade Fair since 1925. It also has a good number of universities and research institutes that contribute to its development. 

Łódź:

Łódź is an important city in Poland, and it was the textile-manufacturing hub. It has a Central Museum of Textiles with 19th-century machinery, fabrics, and handicrafts that were once a prominent part of the city’s trade and commerce. The Manufaktura complex, which was once a factory, was restored into a lively arts and culture center. 

Poland has numerous cities and universities that can make your time there worthwhile. Moreover, the value of a degree acquired from any university in this country is far greater than in other European regions.