Car Hire at Katowice Airport

Airport travel guide

The city of Katowice might not have a reputation as a tourist destination, but it has a surprising amount of things to see and do, provided that you know where to look. In addition to being an industrial urban center, it can also serve as a hub for traveling around the historic region of Silesia. If you get a rental car, many interesting attractions are just a short drive away. Here are three of them:

• Architecture. Although Katowice is perhaps best known for its seemingly endless rows of socialist apartment blocks, the city is also home to plenty of architecture that is more pleasant to look at. Some of the city’s most famous buildings include the wooden St. Michael the Archangel church which is more than 500 years old, the neo-gothic St. Mary’s Church, the historic Nikiszowiec area, and the city’s old main train station.
• Tarnowskie Góry. Like with many other regions of Europe, the historic development of Silesia is closely linked to mining, with many of the mines now turned into industrial heritage attractions. Located just a 30-minute drive northwest of Katowice, the silver mine in the town of Tarnowskie Góry is open to visitors and has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Exploring its deep and long underground caverns is a claustrophobic, but fascinating, experience. Right next to the mine is the Black Trout Adit, one of the longest underground tourist routes in Europe. If you enjoy visiting these two places, you can also follow the Industrial Monuments Route which has sites in different parts of Silesia.
• Silesian Park. Also known as the Silesian Culture and Recreation Park, this large complex is one of the most visited places in the region. In addition to lots of greenery, the park is home to the Upper Silesian Ethnographic Park where you can see the wooden architecture and learn about the pre-industrial life in the region, as well as the Silesian Planetarium, Silesian Zoological Garden, and venues for different sports. Located only 4 km (2.5 miles) northwest of Katowice city center, the park can be reached in less than ten minutes by car.

Top international routes

• Frankfurt
• London
• Dortmund
• Antalya
• Burgas
• Bodrum

Main airlines

Wizz Air, Enter Air, Ryanair, Small Planet Airlines, Travel Service Polska, and Lufthansa

Terminals

The three terminals, A, B, and C, are connected to each and you can easily walk between them.

Location

Katowice Airport is about 30 km (19 mi) north of the city of Katowice and about 95 km (59 mi) from Krakow. Motorways DW913, D86, and D79 are the main roads connecting the airport to Katowice.

Most popular types of hire car

• Small cars - starting at £12 per day
• Medium cars - starting at £14 per day
• SUVs - starting at £14 per day
• Station wagons - starting at £17 per day
• Large cars - starting at £21 per day
• People Carriers - starting at £35 per day
• Premium cars - starting at £37 per day

Services and facilities

You’ll find many snack bars, coffee shops, and restaurants, some of them specializing in local Polish cuisine. There are many shops, including duty-free outlets, in Terminals A and B. You’ll also find ATMs, banks, baby changing rooms, a kids zone, a medical center, a pharmacy, an observation deck, art gallery, post office, and chapel. The airport is fully equipped for travelers with reduced mobility. You can find more information on the airport's official website.

Nearest petrol station

BP gas station at Transportowa, 42-625 Pyrzowice, can be reached in about three minutes and is open 24/7. There are many other gas stations near Katowice Airport and on the way to the city.

Popular one-way hires

• Krakow (95 km / 59 mi). Home to impressive classical and religious architecture, Krakow is one of the most beautiful historic cities in Europe. Most of the landmarks are understandably located in the old town, but plenty of hidden gems are also waiting to be found outside its bounds.
• Warsaw (298 km / 185 mi). Always full of ideas and youthful energy, Poland’s capital is a hub of culture, arts, and innovation. Although the city might not be as historic as Krakow, there are nonetheless plenty of fascinating landmarks like the Royal Castle and Palace of Culture and Science.
• Wroclaw (206 km / 128 mi). A university city built on 12 islands, Wroclaw is equal parts picturesque and interesting. Wroclaw’s highlights include the Cathedral Island, St. Maria Magdalena Church, and ‘Under the White Stork’ synagogue; the city also boasts the largest number of bridges to be found anywhere in Europe outside Venice.
• Gdansk (499 km / 310 mi). Located on the Polish Baltic coast, Gdansk is one of the classiest cities in Poland. After marveling at its well-preserved historic center and equally nice contemporary architecture, why not travel to one of the nearby beaches, forests, or spas?
• Rzeszow (272 km / 169 mi). Although sometimes overlooked in favor of other Polish cities (its hard-for-foreigners-to-pronounce name might have something to do with that), Rzeszow is a lovely place to visit. Home to a number of palaces, churches, and synagogues, it is a history lover’s dream.
• Opole (100 km / 60 mi). Located in Southwestern Poland near the border with the Czech Republic, Opole has been growing as a tourism destination. Piast Tower is the city’s symbol, but other landmarks include the Church on the Hill, Opole Open Air Museum of Rural Architecture, as well as a number of beautiful fountains.