Need some information about Katowice (starting to look for accommodation)

Hello,
I will be moving to Katowice for work beginning of 2014. I am starting to look for accommodation (sharing apartment) and for general information to know the city better. I have a few questions, I hope someone can provide me the details:-

1) I'll be working on Ul. Uniwersytecka, are there safe and posh residential areas nearby to rent a room?
2) Is there a centrum/stare miasto like there is in Wroclaw? Where is it in Katowice?
3) How expensive are the areas near Centrum?
4) And are the areas near Centrum safe for foreigners?
Thanks a lot in advance

1. Maybe there are exceptions, but I wouldn't call Katowice posh. This is ul. uniwersytecka:

2. It's not like in Wrocław, but there is older part, around central train station:

3. Rents are cheap in Katowice. I don't think that center would be more expensive, because it doesn't look attractive.
random website: dom.gratka.pl/mieszkania/katowice/wynajem/

4. I would omit areas with tower blocks

How come that you got a job, but haven't even seen the city? You seem to know Wrocław, so trip to Katowice shouldn't be big problem?

Merged: Residential areas/apartments in Katowice

Hi,

I have accepted an employment offer from an IT organisation in Katowice, Would be moving there by late Jan/Early Feb 2016 with my wife.

Can you please recommend which is the best residential area as per my below criteria:

- For me and my wife, recommend me should I go for 1 bedroom or 2 bedroom apartment?
- My work location would be Ul Francuska 36 Building B Katowice and I don't mind commuting for approx 30 mins.
- Looking for a furnished apartment and my budget would be between 1000 to 1200 PLN (looking at the previous threads)
- As an Indian, I would like to stay at a place where most of the Indians are living.
- What facilities does the Land Lord provide in a Furnished apartment?
- If possible close to park, restaurants, pubs, tram/bus station.
- I saw some ads in the olx.pl ( Is it a recommended site?)

Thanks in advance!!

Well, a 2 bedroom apartment is always better in case of you both fight and need to sleep separately.


IF this is not with bills included, maybe you can find something. Othewise you will need to live at Bytom, where your commuting will be quite long.


Why? Why form ghettos instead of live among other locals?


I used already (to buy, not to sell), it is generally safe but be aware of miracle offers.

PS: I cannot quote your name properly since it have sh1t in it....

Thanks Levi, The reason I was looking at a place where Indians stay is because I cannot speak polish, so socializing with poles would be a bit difficult is what I believe.

Don't why it display me name as Raksh1ta, ( char 'i' is being replaced by digit '1')

Apartments in Poland don't count bedrooms, they count rooms. A two room apartment is the equivalent of a one-bedroom apartment. They usually have a kitchen and bath (maybe separate WC and bath room) and usually have a entranceway (the door to the apartment usually goes into a little room with closets and not into the living room).


Polish infrastructure (and a decades long housing shortage after WWII) means that ethnic ghettos don't really happen.


public transport should not be a problem, it's pretty efficient and widespread (local people complain about it but they're wrong) Pubs aren't really traditionally a Polish thing so you'll only find that kind of thing in the center of the city.


Then learn Polish, most Polish people are not anxious to socialize in English (esp Indian English which is perceived as essentially incomprehensible). Polish is the language of basically everything and the more you know the better.