Old Market Square & Old Town

Poznań's Old Market Square and the surrounding Old Town area is by far the most colorful in Poland, perhaps in Europe, and is a must-see for anyone visiting the city. In its centre is Poznań's beautiful City Hall, from which two buck figures emerge every day at noon and have a symbolic brawl. Apart from the City Hall, the Market Square houses dozens of beautiful tenement houses, but also restaurants and cafes. It is, essentially, the centre of tourist life and a big site for urban life. The Old Town area is also known for its hip bars and nightlife.

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Church of St. Stanislaus

First constructed in 1915, and later reconstructed after WWII, the basilica occupies a large part of Poznań's Old Town, and its colorful facade elevates the festive atmosphere of the area. The church can be visited every day free of charge, and it should be - namely for its beautiful, well-kept exteriors and lavish interiors, the cobblestone-paved area with many quaint restaurants, the many ornaments and decorations, and the splurging golden accents.

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Imperial Castle

Constructed in 1910, the Imperial Castle in Poznań was constructed for the likes of the last German monarch, Wilhelm II. Today, it is the most important building of the Imperial District of Poznań, and its unique style is truly something to see while in the city. Unfortunately, due to current restoration efforts, it is not possible to enter the castle for sightseeing.

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Cytadela Park

If you want to escape from the city, head to one of Poland's largest parks, just north of the Old Town. Cytadela Park is a great place to experience metropolitan life in Poland away from all the other tourists. The park is a place to walk, bike, relax, or have a picnic. Apart from that, the park boasts a number of unusual monuments and sculptures, as well as a collection of military aircraft and tanks on display.

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Stary Browar

If this list was made for locals, Stary Browar, which translates directly into Old Brewery, would top the list. The building is an amazing restoration and interpretation of an actual brewery once operating in the complex. Today, it is a beautifully designed shopping mall, but also a park, a set of restaurants, and an art gallery. It is a fantastic place to grab something to eat or some ice cream and chill out on the chairs freely available in the park. It's also great for some shopping, of course.

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Warta Banks

There is a duality when it comes to the banks of the Warta river. On one hand, one can come here to relax after a day in the city. The promenades running along the embankments are usually quiet and cozy, and the place is great for picnics. On weekend nights, however, the entire embankment turns into Poznań's open-air party centre. This, however, is not to say that it makes the area less inviting - although it may seem chaotic, it is actually a great opportunity to experience city life among Poland's young generation.

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Ostrów Tumski

Ostrów Tumski is the only remaining island on the river Warta, located northwest of the Old Town. Apart from having a countryside-like, peaceful atmosphere, it is the home of a number of important landmarks - namely a large basilica from 1945, the Archbishop Palace, a church from 1400s, and a pastoral building from 1518. The area is great for a walk, and a stroll to it from the city centre reveals a lot of undiscovered post-industrial Poznań.

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our super low-budget picks

it's no bed of roses; it's no pleasure cruise - but these picks get the job done with dignity for a penny on the dollar.

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our low-budget picks

for those who want to spend the minimum, but not the bare minimum.

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our mid-budget picks

you don't want to miss out on any amenities, but you're not paying extra for fancy decor - this one's for you.

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our high-budget picks

for the ones who are coming to Poland for the trip of their lives - or just for the one's who always want the best of the best.

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Świebodzin

Świebodzin is a small city of about 20 thousand with two main things going for it - the world's largest statue of Jesus Christ at 53 meters tall, which by itself is something thousands flock to Świebodzin for every year. The other thing Świebodzin has going for it is its beautiful old town, which on one hand is simply pretty with its few cafes, churches and town hall, and on the other hand is a great display of Polish countryside life.

It takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to go to Świebodzin from Central Poznań by car. However, we recommend taking the train, which takes 55 minutes and costs 30 zł [7.0 EUR] each way.

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Wielkopolski National Park

Wielkopolski National Park is Western Poland's epicenter of lakes, forests, chateaus, bike paths, and relaxation. Being very close to Poznań, the park is a great place for anyone looking to escape the city for a day or half a day. If you can get hold of a kayak, the experience will be even better. In fact, for animal lovers out there, the park offers a wide variety of rare insects, but also badgers, snakes, boars, deer, and martens.

It's easiest by far to get there by car - it takes just 30 minutes from central Poznań, and it's a 20-kilometer drive. Unlike most other national parks, it is also quite accessible by public transport, through the city of Mosina. It's easiest to take a train to Mosina, which costs only 6.5 zł [1.5 EUR] and takes less than 20 minutes.

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Gniezno

Gniezno is a historically important city of almost 70 thousand located northeast of Poznań. It is the medieval capital of Poland, and today boasts a nice Old Town, which includes a Main Square with tenement houses and restaurants, as well as a Catherdal first constructed in the 11^th century.

It takes 30 minutes to go to Gniezno from Poznań Main Station by train - and it costs 17 zł [4.0 EUR] each way. You can also go by car, though this is a bit counterproductive - this will take you 40 minutes.

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Leszno

Leszno is a minor city between Wrocław and Poznań, with its main attraction being the beautifully-preserved Main Square and Old Town with dozens of colorful tenement houses, a handful of great restaurants, but, most importantly, great atmosphere in the summer, especially during the evenings. The bright-pink facade of the city hall is also great for photography, and, in recent years, the city has seen an increase in hip urban areas and in urban life in general.

It takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes to drive from Poznań to Leszno, though this is expected to decrease by 50% when an expressway opens in late 2019. You can also take the train, which we recommend - this takes a little over 1 hour and costs 15 zł [3.5 EUR].

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Biskupin

Biskupin is an archeological open-air museum located northeast of Poznań. It presents and lets visitors explore a settlement from roughly 720 BC. The settlement consists of a fortified wall, a wooden gate, and two elongated huts. Inside of the buildings, you can find artifacts from an era long gone. Biskupin is one of the best-preserved locations of this type in the world, and it is a must-see for anyone who's in the area.

Biskupin is best reachable by car - it takes 1 hour and 10 minutes to go there from central Poznań. If you want to get there by public transport, you're basically out of luck. The only way to get there is to take a train to Gniezno, then a bus to Gąsawa, and then a bus to Biskupin, which will take you just under 3 hours and cost 29 zł [6.8 EUR] each way.