Cheap flights from Madrid to Katowice from £27

The infamous Auschwitz concentration camp, where at least 1.1 million people were killed in the 1940s, is located less than 40km from Katowice. Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum commemorates those tragic events. You can enter it with or without a guide, but all visits must be booked online in advance. Visits without a guide are allowed only before 10:00 or after 16:00 in March-October. Note that the complex is really large and will take at least several hours to explore.

St. Mary's Church, constructed in the 19th century, is an eye-catcher. The neo-Gothic building features an astounding 71m octagonal tower. That is something to please your Instagram fans with! Come inside and see the altar, dating back to the 15th century. The marvellous stained glass windows were created by Adam Bunsch, a famous Polish painter and graphic artist.

This open-air folk park transports visitors to an idyllic village. You can explore some 100 buildings constructed from the late 18th to early 20th century. The list includes granaries, thatched-roof homes, wayside shrines, wooden churches, and windmills. Many of those buildings have indoor exhibits. However, take into consideration that they are closed on Mondays. If you get hungry, grab a bite at an old inn. Leave the bustling city and take a dip into the atmosphere of the old Polish countryside!