After the Silesia Marathon: Wisła

The Route: Katowice → Wisła → Katowice → Katowice Airport (KTW) Logistics: Train from Katowice to Wisła Uzdrowisko, two nights in the town, train back. Short local walks, with a bus or taxi for the Malinka ski jump. Marathon Month: October Duration: 2 nights

Katowice ──(train via Czechowice-Dziedzice, Skoczów, Ustroń, about 1.5 to 2 hr)──> Wisła Uzdrowisko
    ▲                                                                                   │
    │                                              town centre, museum, Malinka, reservoir
    └──────────────────────────────(train back)───────────────────────────────────────┘
    │
    └──(train or AP bus)──> Katowice Airport (KTW)

The Silesia Marathon ends on a Sunday in early October. Two nights in Wisła give a rest day and a travel day without much walking in between. The town lies in the Silesian Beskids, and the Vistula, Poland's longest river, has its sources here. The best use of Monday is a short walk and a long lunch.

October in Wisła: autumn colour on the hills is the main draw, and a mountain valley can be cool and damp. Bring a coat and shoes with grip, and check the forecast before planning the Malinka or the reservoir.

Wisła Uzdrowisko is the main station, on ul. Towarowa, about 15 minutes' walk from the Rynek. A direct train from Katowice takes about an hour and a half on one planner, passing Czechowice-Dziedzice, Skoczów and Ustroń, and both Koleje Śląskie and PKP Intercity run on the route. Another timetable page returned no connections for the date it showed, and services in the valley get disrupted, so do not rely on one listing. Look at the dated timetable the evening before and keep the return time flexible.

Night one: arrival and the town centre

Arrive by early afternoon and keep the first evening to the centre. The Beskid Museum, named after Andrzej Podżorski, stands in the centre in a building from 1794 that began as an inn. It opened in 1964 and covers highland life and culture, with temporary exhibitions. Next to it, the Wooden Building Enclave, opened in 2010, has a shepherd's hut, an apiary and a working smithy. Check hours and prices with the museum.

On the main promenade, the Avenue of Sports Stars, founded in September 2008, has bronze plaques for sportspeople including Adam Małysz. In the Dom Zdrojowy hall stands a chocolate figure of Małysz made in 2001, 2.5 m tall and weighing 180 kg, which now sits behind glass after visitors tried to bite it. These are short stops in the centre, and they suit legs that are still stiff. Check the gradient on the day.

Day two: the ski jump and the reservoir

The Adam Małysz Malinka ski jump opened in 2008 and is a large hill, K120 with a hill size of 134 m. It stands on the road towards the Salmopolska Pass, with a large free car park. Visitors can climb the stands and go up to the top of the jump, which is a lot of stairs for tired quads. Take a taxi or bus up, and decide on the climb when you see the stairs.

The Czerniańskie reservoir on the Wisła Czarna was created after a dam of about 280 m was completed in 1973. It holds flood water and supplies drinking water, and the dam gives a view of Barania Góra. The best light is at golden hour. Further afield, the Environmental Education Centre at the Jonidło sports complex is about 3 km from the centre, with a wooden footbridge over a pond, a bridge over the Wisła and nearby running and cycling trails. Ask the tourist office at Plac Hoffa 3, tel. +48 33 855 34 56, about transport to it.

For a mountain walk, no October route has been checked for this guide, so the Beskid hills should wait for another trip, or for a gentle valley path chosen with the tourist office.

Where to stay and eat

Hotel Gołębiewski Wisła is a large resort hotel in the town. Confirm rooms, spa access and half-board terms with the hotel directly. The tourist office lists other places to stay. The Chata Olimpijczyka Jasia i Helenki restaurant is listed on the regional tourism portal, and its opening hours need confirming.

Getting back

Take the train back to Katowice on the third morning, and check the timetable at least a day ahead. From Katowice, the airport is reached by the airport rail connection or the AP bus.