Attraction in Katowice

Spodek

Katowice's 1971 saucer-shaped arena is the city's best-known building and its main venue for concerts, sport and trade fairs.

Reviewed and updated July 2026

Why Spodek is Katowice's signature landmark

Spodek opened in 1971 and its tilted, saucer-like dome has stood in for Katowice on postcards ever since. The Polish name simply means 'saucer', and the shape is often read as a flying saucer. It sits on aleja Korfantego alongside the newer Culture Zone, so most visitors pass it while walking between the Silesian Museum and NOSPR.

What happens inside the Spodek arena

The main hall seats roughly 11,500, with capacity trimmed to between 8,000 and 10,000 for staged shows. Over the decades it has held world and European championships in volleyball, ice hockey, handball, wrestling and more, and it remains a regular stop for touring concerts and esports events such as the Intel Extreme Masters.

Visiting Spodek in Katowice

Beyond the dome the complex includes a gym, an ice rink, a hotel and car parks. There is no permanent museum inside, so the building is usually experienced from the outside or by attending an event. Check the official Spodek website for the current programme and ticketing before you plan a visit.

Frequently asked questions

It is Polish for 'saucer', chosen for the arena's tilted, saucer or flying-saucer shape.

There is no standing museum or general tour, so the interior is normally seen only by ticket holders during concerts, sport or trade events. Check the official site for what is on.

At aleja Korfantego 35, next to the Culture Zone with the Silesian Museum and NOSPR, a short walk north of the main railway station.

More attractions in Katowice

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Nikiszowiec

A complete early-twentieth-century miners settlement of red-brick courtyards, now a protected monument and the most atmospheric corner of Katowice.

NOSPR (Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra)

The purpose-built home of Poland's National Radio Symphony Orchestra, with acoustics by the designer of some of the world's leading concert halls.

Silesian Insurgents' Monument

Three great steel wings honouring the Silesian Uprisings, frequently described as the largest and heaviest monument in Poland.

Church of the Resurrection (Evangelical Church)

A mid-19th-century Lutheran church on Warszawska Street, widely regarded as the oldest monumental building in central Katowice.

Mariacka Street (ulica Mariacka)

Mariacka Street is Katowice's pedestrian nightlife strip in the city centre, lined with bars, restaurants and cafes and shaded by cherry trees that flower in spring.

Silesian Park (Park Śląski)

Silesian Park is one of Europe's largest urban parks, spread over roughly 535 to 620 hectares on the Katowice-Chorzów border, with a zoo, planetarium, cable car and open-air museum inside its grounds.