Cheap flights from Katowice to Beijing

June comes out as the cheapest month on this route, so if your dates are flexible, aim for early summer. Fares are also tracked through September, October, November, December, January, February, April, June and August, which gives you a spread across autumn, winter and spring. Midweek departures tend to cost less than weekend ones, and the run-up to Christmas and the New Year is the priciest stretch of the year. Chinese public holidays fill planes in the other direction, so book well ahead if your trip overlaps one.

Two airlines show up on this route: LOT Polish Airlines and Air Dolomiti. Neither flies Katowice to Beijing non-stop, so both sell a connecting itinerary, usually with a change in a hub before the long leg. Both are full-service carriers rather than low-cost, which normally means a checked bag and meals are part of the fare, though the fare type you pick decides the details. Air Dolomiti covers the shorter regional legs, while LOT flies the long-haul stretch on its own aircraft. Compare total journey time and the connection airport, not just the ticket price.

You will land at one of two airports: Beijing Capital International Airport in the north-east of the city, or Beijing Daxing International, well to the south. Both sit a long way from the centre, and the drive into town can take a long time in traffic. The Airport Express train from Capital and the Daxing Express line are the quickest way in when the roads are busy; taxis and ride-hailing work better if you have your address written in Chinese. Check which airport your ticket names before you book a hotel, because the two are on opposite sides of Beijing.

Currency

CNY (¥)

Power sockets

Type A, C, I · 220 V

Language

Putonghua

Emergency number

110, 119, 120

Driving side

right

Calling code

+86

Internet domain

.cn, .中国

Population of Beijing

21.9 M (2020)

Time zone

UTC+08 (Asia/Shanghai)

Country facts: Wikidata

• Check that your ticket leaves from Katowice Airport at Pyrzowice and not from another Polish airport.
• Confirm what your fare includes, as baggage rules can differ between the regional leg and the long haul.
• Give yourself enough time at the connection if you booked the legs on separate tickets and must recheck bags.
• Check visa and entry requirements for China early, since they depend on your nationality.
• Book ahead for June, the cheapest month, and around Chinese public holidays.
• Compare arrival airports before choosing a hotel, as Capital and Daxing are far apart.