- Ivan Dlouhy
Since moving to Warsaw, I have been able to make some great friends and attend InterNations events with other expats who understand what it's like to be so far from home.
Living in Katowice
Katowice is a large city in southern Poland and a major center for culture, business and industry in the area, making it an excellent location for expatriates. Is has been given the nickname ‘the city of heavy engineering’ thanks to its large production of coal and steel. Expats living in Katowice will be able to explore the Market Square, with its adjoining streets described as excellent examples of modernism, whilst the St. Michel Archangel, a complex of wooden churches in the Kosciuszko Park, is a must see. Other important cultural attractions include the Silesian Theatre and the Silesian Museum. Katowice is also home to the Silesian Philharmonic and a number of festivals each year such as the Rawa Blues Festival and the International Competition of Conductors. There are also a number of sports played in the area including football, tennis, squash and motorsports.
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Moving to Katowice
As in the rest of Poland, the cost of living in Katowice is lower than a number of other European countries, with affordable housing options for expats moving to Katowice as well as great schools and excellent transport facilities. There is a great tram system as well as a wide bus network and the city also has great connections to the rest of Poland through its railway services. Katowice also has its own airport which operates international flights. Katowice is described as having an oceanic climate, which means that the winters can be quite cold with low temperatures whilst the summers will be much milder and warmer, particularly in July and August. If you are an expatriate moving to Katowice you should think about joining the InterNations online community which can help you get in touch with fellow expats from over 190 nationalities across the world, and possibly get helpful information about Katowice as well as moving to Poland in general.
Working in Katowice
Katowice has a reputation for being a large supplier of coal and steel, with several mines and steelworks in the area providing opportunities for skilled expatriates working in Katowice. The city also has a thriving business center which provides a number of work opportunities, as well as trade fairs which are held throughout the year. Unemployment in the city is one of the lowest in Poland, with figures under 2% of the city’s population which means that expats looking to work in Katowice should be able to find work without problems. This is due to the reputation of those who work in Katowice as hard workers. As a result, Katowice also has some of the highest average wages in Poland, even more so than Warsaw. Connecting with fellow expats through InterNations is a great way to get in touch with people of similar backgrounds who may be able to provide advice and information about moving to Katowice and about finding work or, if you are being send there on an expat assignment, to simply socialize and network with.