The green lungs of Upper Silesia – it is not at all surprising that this is how the Silesian Park in Chorzow is often referred to. The vast green areas of the park hide many attractions, so that here you can not only relax in nature, but also spend your free time actively. Add Legends to the mix and it becomes clear that one day in Silesian Park is definitely not enough.
We have been to Silesian Park twice: once in autumn and once in winter. You may think that what can we know, since we have not been here in spring or summer, when greenery dominates around and all the attractions are open. Well, we proceed on the assumption that since even in winter we had something to do here, all the more so in other seasons this park will appeal to visitors.
Table of contents
How was the Silesian Park in Chorzów created?
Where did the idea to create a green oasis in an industrial agglomeration come from? One of the originators was Gen. Jerzy Zietek, who proposed replacing areas damaged by the mining industry with extensive green space. It is worth mentioning here that the 3-kilometer-long park promenade is named after him. The decision to create the park was made in 1950, and the first work began the following year.
However, this was not an easy task, as the site was significantly devastated, full of mining spoil heaps, dumps, sinkholes and swamps. Looking at the current appearance of the park, the place in no way resembles the former dilapidated post-industrial site – more than 3.5 million trees were planted in total, avenues and walking paths were marked out, and two distinctive sections were planned – one more restful, wooded, and the other cultural and entertainment (this division is still visible today).
It is extremely interesting to note that the park was created as a community deed and its construction involved residents, students, young people, administrative staff, and many people supported the investment financially.
Today it is one of the largest city parks in Europe, offers a multitude of attractions, is the venue for events, concerts, festivals. Some of these attractions are seasonal and some are available year-round. The fact is, however, that the very possibility of walking, being active and breathing in the fresh air makes it a place worth visiting.
Attractions in the Silesian Park
Areas for rest and recreation
The park is an important part of urban life and is very popular among both residents of the metropolitan area and tourists. But before we show you specific attractions in Silesian Park, let’s take a moment to look at traditional park facilities and amenities.
The city park covers more than 530 hectares, and there is no shortage of space for play, relaxation, sports, and there are many alleys and walking paths. The sizable area is home to some 3.5 million trees, a pond, the Regatta Canal, and many gardens that please the eye and provide a respite from the hustle and bustle of the city. Walking, picnicking, playing on playgrounds or outdoor gyms are just a few suggestions for spending time here. Many people also spend time here actively using the marked bicycle paths and trails for rollerblading and running.
There are, of course, playgrounds for children, although we have to admit that from such a park we would expect more of them and more attractive to children. Of those that are there, one in particular stands out: The inclusive playground, located in the western part of the park. It opened in October 2020 and, in addition to the traditional children’s attractions, includes an adult section with a mini gym, benches and deck chairs. In addition, right next door is a water playground – this is a new attraction, opening in August 2022 (opened seasonally, of course).
Gardens and sculptures
The park has several themed gardens headed by Rosarium, where the largest collection of roses in Poland awaits – there are more than 35,000 of them here. The best time to admire roses is from June to September. In the Japanese Garden you can feel the oriental atmosphere not only thanks to plants characteristic of the country, but also thanks to a waterfall and a glass terrace. Other gardens include. Perennial Garden and Mosaic Garden.
The most famous sculpture in the park is a giraffe on 3 legs, standing on Chorzowska Street – it is the one that stands at the beginning of Giraffe Alley leading to the zoo. It is 16 meters high. Another point of interest is the Gallery of Silesian Sculpture, with more than 30 sculptures left over from artistic plein-air events.
Legendia Śląskie Wesołe Miasteczko
Silesian Park is home to the oldest amusement park in Poland! However, if you just have in front of your eyes old, rusty roller coasters, carousels straight out of horror movies then this is definitely NOT the right image of Legendia ;)
Silesian Wesołe Miasteczko opened in 1959, that is, just nine years after the decision to build the Silesian Park was made, and just a year later, in 1960, it offered more than 60 attractions! The first amusement park in Poland attracted real crowds, people came here from all over Poland. Several thousand people visited daily, and on the best days even dozens.
Today, the funfair has changed its face, although the oldest merry-go-round located here since the park’s inception is still in operation today and is very popular. Changes were initiated by the appearance of the first rollercoaster in 2007, and in 2017 a rebranding took place and since then the place has been known as Legendia Śląskie Wesołe Miasteczko. More than a funfair, it should be classified as a theme park and amusement park, as more and more attractions are themed on Polish legends and legends (which we liked a lot, as there are not many such places in Poland).
Currently, the park offers more than 40 attractions aimed at both adrenaline fans and family-friendly, peaceful carousels. Among the fastest rides is the park’s newest roller coaster, the Lech Coaster speeding at nearly 100km/h! However, this is not the only rollercoaster in Legendia. Visitors can ride the oldest inversion roller coaster in Poland – admittedly, there are only two loops and the ride is less comfortable than the Lech, but it might be a good option to start with to see if a roller coaster is a good idea. For fans of such attractions, there is also Dream Hunters Society, Sky Flyer or Phoenix.
There are two attractions at Legendia where you can get more or less wet: the gentler Yaga Valley cruise and a more adventurous option: Diamond River.
Those who prefer quieter rides will find many slower merry-go-rounds where you can get on even with smaller children (including the Ferris wheel – Legendia Flower, among others), but there are also attractions where children have to ride alone, because the carriages are small enough that parents won’t get on them.
There are many other attractions at Legendia, such as playgrounds, trampolines, inflatables, a cabinet of mirrors, and booths where you can win toys. Catering is also extensive.
Prices
Ticket prices for Legendia at the time of writing this post are:
Normal ticket – 129 PLN (online: 119 PLN),
Discounted ticket – 109 PLN (online: 99 PLN).
Children under 2 years of age enter for 1 zl.
Silesian Zoological Garden
There is a zoo in the Silesian Park, home to some 3,000 animals from around the world. When entering the garden, it is worth noting the unique gate from the Donnersmarck palace (it was brought from Swierklaniec).
At the zoo you can see: lions, tigers, elephants, antelopes, watussi, hippos, ponies, alpacas, deer, buffalo, bears, giraffes, camels, wolves, cheetahs, flamingos, puffins, pelicans, cranes and many, many more animals.
There is a special seasonal enclosure for turtles in the garden, and an eye-catching penguin enclosure with a glass pool so you can watch the animals swim right past visitors. It is a relatively new enclosure that, along with many others, have either been prepared or have undergone upgrades to bring new animal species to the zoo and create better living conditions.
In the zoo you can also see… dinosaurs! Only models, of course, but this is definitely the part that will appeal to younger visitors. More than a dozen models of these prehistoric creatures can be seen in the Rock Dinosaur Basin.
The zoo has designated tours, including one specially designed for children. The youngest can also enter the mini zoo (open seasonally) and play on the playground.
Prices
Below you will find ticket prices for the zoo in the Silesian Park:
Normal ticket – 26/13 zł (in season/out of season),
Discounted ticket – PLN 13,
Family ticket (2+2) – 65 PLN.
Children under 3 years of age enter for 1 zl.
Elka railroad
The Elka cable car route stretches between the Wesołe Miasteczko station (the station is from Zlota Street) and the Silesian Stadium, and is the longest lowland railroad in Europe. It has been operating in the park since 1947, but recently had a rather long break of 7 years. This break was to modernize the railroad, so that since 2013 it has been operating as a modern and very comfortable attraction in the park.
The ride is calm and slow (average speed is 2 m/s), allowing you to enjoy the view of the park; you can see the Legend, the rosarium, the zoo, the Regatta Canal. The one-way trip takes about 40 minutes. When going on a trip, you can choose whether you want to sit in chairs (4-seaters) or in a lockable gondola.
It is worth keeping in mind that it is planned to expand it with another point – the Planetarium.
Prices
Prices tickets for the Elka Railway in Silesian Park:
It is one of the largest and most modern stadiums in the country, hosting not only sports matches and events, but also cultural events. Poland’s national soccer team played its best matches in the late 1950s at Chorzow Stadium, but not much remains of the old stadium.
As of 2017, it is a modern facility that is open to the public. During your visit, you can see the Polish national team’s locker room, VIP boxes, a museum, as well as enter the turf and a 26-meter-high vantage point.
Prices
Ticket prices for a tour of the Silesian Stadium:
Normal ticket – PLN 19/29 (depending on route choice),
Discounted ticket – PLN 11/19 (depending on route choice).
Entrance to the viewpoint:
Normal ticket – 9 zl,
Discounted ticket – 6 zloty.
Silesian Planetarium
You may be surprised to learn that the Planetarium in the Silesian Park was the first planetarium in Poland (it was established in 1955). Like many of the attractions described above, the planetarium has undergone modernization and is a state-of-the-art science park as of mid-2022.
Interactive expositions have been set up here, and visitors can experience interesting phenomena (such as feeling an earthquake, seeing lightning and how clouds are formed, or taking a flight into space). It is also possible to climb the observation tower from where you can enjoy a view of the entire Silesian Park.
Of course, let’s not forget the most important thing – sky shows: a huge spherical screen of almost 800 square meters allows you to view the sky in excellent quality (8k).
Prices
Exposure Astronomy:
Normal ticket – 12 zł,
Discounted ticket – 8 PLN.
Exposure Geophysics:
Normal ticket – 18 zł,
Discounted ticket – 12 zł.
Planetarium screenings:
Normal ticket – 20 zl,
Discounted ticket – 15 PLN.
Museum of the Upper Silesian Ethnographic Park
And it doesn’t end there, well, the city park even has room for an open-air museum! In Chorzow you can see an old village with homesteads, wooden huts and farm animals. A tall windmill from the village of Grzawa attracts attention.
A walk through the museum allows you to see how life in the countryside was over 100 years ago. There are agricultural tools, hut equipment, and in spring and summer you can see what it was like to work in the fields.
Prices
Admission to the Upper Silesian Ethnographic Park Museum costs:
Normal ticket – 15 zl,
Discounted ticket – PLN 10,
Family ticket (2+2) – 40 zł.
Children under the age of 3 enter for free, and children under the age of 7 enter for £1.
Admission is free on Mondays, but individual huts are closed.
Water attractions
For the moment, the only option for water bathing is the water playground we wrote about earlier, but this will soon change.
A major overhaul is planned for the Wave bathing area, which was last open in 2014. The swimming pool was put into operation in 1966 and at one time was a place of rest and recreation for residents, one of the most interesting achievements of sports architecture (sports competitions were also held here). The reopening of the facility is planned for 2023, and we are curious to see if this plan will come to fruition.
Fans of water sports will certainly be interested in the Regatta Canal, in which, although it is not possible to swim, but during the season you can rent bicycles and kayaks here. The 550-meter-long canal is an extension of the Big Pond. The canal is also set to undergo an upgrade, and a number of interesting attractions are expected.
Practical information about Silesian Park
Catering
We, admittedly, did not have the opportunity to try anything in the Silesian Park, but there are several restaurants and cafes in the area that have good reviews (there are also several stalls and mobile points and they also have pretty good reviews).
You can both sit down in an exquisite restaurant, drink coffee in an atmospheric café or order ice cream in a booth – there is something for everyone, although we must admit that the off-season selection of food outlets was more modest than in high season.
Getting to the Silesian Park
The park is formally located in Chorzow, near the border with Katowice and Siemianowice Slaskie. The main entrance to the park is from Chorzowska Street, but you can enter the area from any other direction, the entrance is not ticketed, and the area is not fenced.
Car parking lots are located m/in. On Zlota Street and at the Silesian Stadium (paid).
Access by public transportation is pleasant, because the stops are located close to the entrance to the park or individual attractions: Silesian Park Main Entrance, Silesian Park Zoological Garden, Chorzów Silesian Stadium, Silesian Park Amusement Park.
The exact address:
Silesian Park
2 Rose Avenue
41-501 Chorzow
e-mail: park@parkslaski.pl
phone: +48 32 757 44 26
www: https://parkslaski.pl/
Opening hours of the Silesian Park
The Silesian Park is a public place, open all the time, only individual attractions have specific opening hours.
Prices in the Silesian Park
Entrance to the city park is free, but some attractions have additional fees (we wrote about the prices when describing the various points).
Where to spend the night in the Silesian Park area?
In the vicinity you should easily find accommodation that suits you (unless you happen to hit a concert or other event, then it may be difficult ;) ).
We stayed at the first property on the list, but the ones listed below also have at least very good reviews and are worth considering:
Vienna House Easy by Wyndham Katowice Address: Sokolska 24, 40-086 Katowice Prices: from 494 PLN for a double room Link: http://r4b.link/vienna-house-katowice
Novotel Katowice Centrum Address: Al. Roździeńskiego 16, 40-202 Katowice Prices: from 297 PLN for a double room Link: http://r4b.link/booking-novotelkatowice
ActivPark Apartments Address: ul. Chorzowska 210-216, 40-101 Katowice Prices: from 180 PLN for a double room Link: http://r4b.link/booking-activpark
Our opinion about Silesian Park
As you might have read, there really is something to do here! Leaving aside the mere aspect of relaxation and outdoor activities, there are plenty of attractions in the park that will interest people of all ages.
There is an amusement park, a cable car, you can visit the football stadium, go boating, look at the planetarium, and there are many interesting events taking place here.
We, for sure, will be happy to return, because we have not yet seen everything ourselves :)
...prefers a quiet, lazy vacation, but does not miss the opportunity to see something interesting and bravely keeps pace with Kamila. Contrary to appearances, he also loves active leisure :) He is responsible for the organizational and practical part of the trip, i.e. he makes sure that we get to the ... More about us >>
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