Poland shall not be forgotten or official 13th June Chorzow/Katowice show thread

roubal

Ok, to keep all the information on the Polish show in one place, let's start a new thread.

Bartek of pearljam.pl made a very good effort of putting some important information together at:
http://www.pearljam.pl/index.php/news/view/title/the_show_in_poland

TRAVEL

Additionally, if you intend to fly in to Poland for the show, use:

- Centralwings (http://www.centralwings.pl) for: Scotland and Ireland to Katowice; London, Ireland or Italy to Krakow; London, Ireland or Italy to Wroclaw; various European cities to Warsaw.

- Easyjet (http://www.easyjet.pl) for: UK to Krakow or Warsaw

- Wizzair (http://www.wizzair.com) for: various European cities to Katowice or Warsaw

- Skyeurope (http://www.skyeurope.pl) for: various European cities to Krakow

- Ryanair (http://www.ryanair.com) for: UK and Ireland to Krakow, Dublin to Warsaw.

Katowice airport is about 10-15 km from the Silesian Stadium. Krakow (rent a car and drive straight 80 km motorway, toll of about 3 euro; or take a train) is about 80 km, Warsaw is 300 km.

If you want to stay for a day or two or three and do some sightseeing, do NOT stay in Chorzow/Katowice. Choose Krakow or Warsaw instead.

The Silesian Stadium is about 5km from the Katowice train station, check out http://www.tagzania.com/item/13132 (scroll the map to the up left).

There is a 1am train from Katowice to Krakow (http://rozklad.pkp.pl/bin/query.exe/en?) if you want to go back there straight after the show. While in Krakow, there are plenty of hostels to choose from (http://www.hostelworld.com).

CURRENCIES

Euros are most of the time not accepted in Poland. You can without any problems exchange euros at the airports. It is just the simplest way for foreigners to do it..though the rate is not the best. The other way to exchange the money is to go to the KANTOR. There are many of such places in Poland. Just dont know how many and how they are located in Katowice/Chorzow area. They usually have better exchange rate. There are KANTORS at the bigest train stations in Poland as well.

You can pay also using credit cards. Just search for the VISA/MASTERCARD etc. logos at the shops/restaurants/pubs. Or just ask before paying.

If you're in a restaurant in Krakow, or at the airport, or in your hotel - ask, they might accept euros. Exchange euros for zlotys anyway, you will need them most of the time.

OTHER STUFF

One more important notice: it is illegal to drink alcohol on a street in Poland. If you get caught by the police while doing it, you'll get fined. Gotta hide your bottle or can.

If you have any questions, ASK.

Satellite

If I can't rent a car and I'm taking the train from Krakow, where can I stay after the show?

roubal

Satellite wrote:

If I can't rent a car and I'm taking the train from Krakow, where can I stay after the show?

There is a 1am train from Katowice to Krakow (http://rozklad.pkp.pl/bin/query.exe/en?). While in Krakow, there are plenty of hostels to choose from (http://www.hostelworld.com).

xnothingmanx

Hi,

Im coming from London. This thread is really helpful. Thanks!

Satellite

roubal wrote:

There is an 1am train from Katowice to Krakow (http://rozklad.pkp.pl/bin/query.exe/en?). While in Krakow, there's a plenty of hostels to choose from (http://www.hostelworld.com).

That's great! But I looked online and people are saying the Katowice train station is dangerous for females traveling alone.

mole1985

If i go i will be going alone. Is the station easy from the gig?

roubal

Satellite wrote:

That's great! But I looked online and people are saying the Katowice train station is dangerous for females traveling alone.

The station is full of music fans on concert nights, so you should not worry about anything. You can kill time at 24hrs open McDonald's in the neighbourhood, as everyone does while waiting for a night train.

roubal

mole1985 wrote:

If i go i will be going alone. Is the station easy from the gig?

It is 5km, check out http://www.tagzania.com/item/13132 (scroll the map to the up left).

I'd say it's a walkable distance, 10-20k or even more people will be following the route after the show.

Satellite

roubal wrote:

The station is full of music fans on concert nights, so you should not worry about anything. You can kill time at 24hrs open McDonald's in the neighbourhood, as everyone does while waiting for a night train.

Everything sounds great, and thanks for the help. Now we have to figure out how the hell to get from Munich to Katowice in less than 10 hours, and less than $500.

mole1985

Might have worked something out for Liverpool to Krackow but need a little more info. Is it easy to get to the station form the gig and is Krackow and easy place to navigate. When i arrive will it be easy to get to the hostel ect...

roubal

mole1985 wrote:

Might have worked something out for Liverpool to Krackow but need a little more info. Is it easy to get to the station form the gig and is Krackow and easy place to navigate. When i arrive will it be easy to get to the hostel ect...

As Googlemap shows, it is a straight 5 km route, can't really miss it.

As for the Krakow hostels, sorry, I could only give you the link to the website, I don't know Krakow well.

mole1985

Thanks. You have done a lot for us thinking of travelling to Poland.

karola

good job, roubal! (I have finally remembered my password for this site, hehe)
as for hostels in krakow - there's plenty of them here but there's also loads of tourists, especially in the warm months of the year so it would hurt making a reservation, especially if you wanna stay in the centre. it's really easy to get around, same with katowice.
I would suggest trying to panic less - poland is not a third world country, people do speak english here and they're ready to help, there's loads of tourists coming to this country every year and they do survive it intact.
oh, and as far as the train station in katowice goes - it's not the nicest of places as it isn't the cleanest and the smell leaves a lot to be desired too... but I've spent loads of time there - also alone - and being a woman I can assure you you'll be fine.

Laura_Jayne

Thank you so much for this info guys, it's really helpful.

Would it be possible to actually stay in Katowice? And would a taxi be particularly expensive from Krakow to Katowice?

pb21

I am staying in Krakow on the 12th and katowice on the 13th. I didnt really like the idea of having to get from the stadium to krakow that late.

Bartek_-_

roubal wrote:

If you want to stay for a day or two or three and do some sightseeing, do NOT stay in Chorzow/Katowice. Choose Krakow or Warsaw instead.

Or choose Wroclaw. Out of this three Warsaw is the worst choice :P (expensive and far away from Chorzow, yet it has the biggest airport).

Laura_Jayne

pb21 wrote:

I am staying in Krakow on the 12th and katowice on the 13th. I didnt really like the idea of having to get from the stadium to krakow that late.

Ooh where are you staying in Katowice? And how did you book?

Thanks

xnothingmanx

Thats exactly what Im doing!

karola

sure, staying in katowice after the gig sounds like a reasonable idea. taking a taxi from krakow to katowice doesn't! expensive! trains to katowice go every hour or so.

Laura_Jayne

Haha thanks! I guess I'm just nervous about trying to negotiate public transport when it's all in a language I don't understand i.e. what ticket to buy, will I get on the right train going in the right direction etc!

Also, if I want to be near the venue do I actually want to be staying in Chorzow??

pb21

Laura_Jayne wrote:

Ooh where are you staying in Katowice? And how did you book?

Thanks

On the 12th Hotel Wielopole booked through expedia.co.uk for 38 pounds.

On the 13th a hotel called Diament in Katowice which I booked through booking.com for 61 euros.

This way I get to look around krakow which is supposed to be a nice city and the ease of getting to a hotel after the show.