museum
Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial
The preserved Nazi camp and museum near Oswiecim, a sombre, essential stop for remembrance.
48 km · about 55 min drive
EuropePolandSilesia
Rybnik
Silesia, Poland · Europe
About Rybnik
Rybnik sits on the route: 10 minutes from Niedobczyce, 48km from Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial.
Rybnik is in Silesia, Poland, with about 140,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Niedobczyce, about 5 km away.
Rybnik (Polish pronunciation: [ˈrɨbɲik] ; Silesian: Rybńik, Ribńich; German: Reibnig) is a city in southern Poland, in the Silesian Voivodeship, around 38 km (24 mi) southwest of Katowice, the region's capital, and around 19 km (12 mi) from the Czech border. It is one of the major cities of the Katowice-OstravaRead more
metropolitan area with a population of 5.3 million and the main city of the so-called Subregion Zachodni, previously also known as the Rybnik Coal Area. The city currently has a population of 122,026 inhabitants as of December 31, 2025.
Rybnik is the center of commerce, business, transportation and culture for the southwestern part of the Silesian Voivodeship, a consolidated city-county and the seat of a separate suburban Rybnik county. Rybnik is particularly recognized for its contributions to music, with the Szafrankowie School of Music musicians such as Henryk Górecki or Lidia Grychtołówna, among others. It is also a seat of the Rybnik Philharmonic Orchestra.
The name Rybnik derives from an old Slavic word rybnik, meaning a pond (Czech language still uses it, while in Polish the modern word is staw), which was located in the place of the current market square. In the Middle Ages, three settlements merged into one town, with a Magdeburg rights location dating back to 1308. Fishing, trade and artistry were the main industries. Rybnik's development accelerated in late 19th century upon discovery of rich coal fields, and continued until the 1980s. Since the 1990s, the city attempts to diversify its economy with commerce, health care and business industries.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Rybnik?
Within an hour or so of Rybnik: Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial (48 km).
Are there any good drives near Rybnik?
The nearest famous roads are Cervenohorske Sedlo, Zakopianka (Road to the Tatras) and Droga pod Reglami, Zakopane.
Where is Rybnik?
Rybnik is in Silesia, Poland, about 5 km from Niedobczyce.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 142,510
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Poland
- Region
- Silesia
- Timezone
- Europe/Warsaw
- Coordinates
- 50.0971, 18.5418
Tags
Worth the detour from Rybnik
1 notable place within an hour's drive.
Driving in Poland
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.42/litre
- Motorway tolls
- ~€5.00/100km
When to drive here
April to October
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