Katowice is the capital city of the Silesian region, the center of the mining area and the heart of the gigantic Silesia Metropolis, formed by fourteen neighboring towns connected through their common industrial past. It's the most underrated city in Poland. The city of Katowice is the center of cultural and economic life in Upper Silesia – a region of the Silesia province, in southeastern Poland. This city, which has known a lot of modernization in the past few years, is on the way to place itself higher on the list of the most beautiful cities in Europe. The history of Katowice is a mirror reflection of the history of Upper Silesia. In the past, these lands belonged to Poland, the Czech state (Czechia), Austria, Prussia, and Germany.

For years, the landmark welcoming the visitors to the capital of Silesia was the coal mine winding tower. And it is still so today. However, the "Warszawa II" tower, visible from afar, has completely different functions. The tower's second life is an observation deck with a view of the colourful and modern Katowice. Its transformation was an element of the revitalization of the former mine area. The Culture Zone, a unique place not only in Poland, but in the entire Europe, was established in this area. The delightful buildings of the National Symphony Orchestra of the Polish Radio, the Silesian Museum, and the International Congress Centre were built here. The Zone is complemented by Spodek, i.e. a sports and entertainment hall referring to the shape of a spacecraft, and modern office buildings: an eye-catching structure of .KTW and the nearby Altus, the tallest building in the Silesian Voivodeship.

The tourist and cultural car trail, which was created by combining dozens of industrial sites within the region of Silesia, leads through 26 towns housing 42 sites associated with mining, the AST plants, power industry, railways, telecommunications, water production, and food industry. It represents the most important cultural industrial heritage of the region, including the Gliwice Radio Station and the Silesian Museum. Following the trail allows you not only to learn about the traditions of the region, but also to observe its current transformation.

Nikiszowiec, once an entirely separate district built solely for mining families, is a unique example of architecture and a must for street photography enthusiasts. Nikiszowiec is a Katowice historic area, which is one of the most atmospheric places on the map of the city. It was established in the years 1908-1924, according to the architectural design of Georg and Emil Zillmann. In the mining settlement here, the Neo-Baroque church of St. Anna and the “Wieczorek” Coal Mine create a unique atmosphere, which allows you to move to the beginning of the 20th century. Another tourist attraction is the Wilson Shaft Gallery, which exhibits works of contemporary art. Since 2011 the Nikiszowiec settlement has been entered on the list of Historic Monuments.

An exquisite tourist attraction was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List was added in July 2017 -  Tarnowskie Gory Lead-Silver-Zinc Mine and its Underground Water Management System.

It is located in Upper Silesia, in southern Poland, one of the main mining areas of central Europe.  The mine includes the entire underground mine with adits, shafts, galleries and other features of the water management system. Most of the property is situated underground while the surface mining topography features relics of shafts and waste heaps, as well as the remains of the 19th century steam water pumping station.

The labyrinth of mining excavations dates back to the 15th century but its development continued over five hundred years to 20th century.  Today it is a unique tourist attraction with a route over one mile long, including a part covered by boat, is open to public.  The visitors can see only a small part of the extensive labyrinth of corridors.  The tour includes three shafts: Angel, Viper and God Bless  There is also a mining museum which tells you history of the mine and the area.