Touristic Info

Touristic Information

Poznań is a friendly, colorful, and vibrant city. A trip to the capital city of the Wielkopolska (Greater Poland) region is an opportunity to visit numerous historic sites and buildings, including those related to the origins of Polish statehood. But Poznań is also a place where you can enjoy interesting museums or cultural events, spend time shopping or simply relaxing in many green areas. There are some things that you can do or experience only in Poznań. You can find the list of interesting tourist attractions below or take a look at Poznań Top 10 Attractions.

Old Market Square

The colourful Old Market Square in Poznań used to be the cultural, political and economic centre of life in the city. Today it is a no. 1 destination attracting crowds of tourists every year. Here you can see the Town Hall – a 16^th century masterpiece dubbed “the most beautiful Renaissance building north of the Alps”. It is also well known for the famous Poznań mechanical billy goats that appear on the tower only at noon and butt each other’s heads 12 times. Right next to the Old Market Square you can find also a true gem of the Baroque – the former Jesuit Church currently called the “Fara” (Parish Church).

The Imperial Castle (Zamek)

The Imperial Castle is a place you certainly cannot miss in Poznań. Built in the years 1904-1910 it used to be a residence of the German emperor Kaiser Wilhelm II. Nowadays, the castle is run by a cultural entity, Centrum Kultury “Zamek”, and hosts numerous events related to literature, art, film, music and theater.

The Enigma Cipher Center

Right next to the Imperial Castle you can find another interesting spot – The Enigma Cipher Centre. It is an extraordinary place – a unique exhibition which engages visitors and presents the story of the breaking of the Enigma code, and the ways of encrypting messages developed over the centuries. It is history, mystery and adventure all in one, introducing the tale of Polish cryptographers, the events that changed the course of the Second World War and paved the way for the digital world we live in. Here you have the opportunity to face an intellectual challenge and solve the cipher mysteries yourself.

Citadel Park

The largest park in Poznań is located only a 15-minute walk from the Old Market Square and hides many secrets. It used to be a 19th century fortress and the largest artillery fort in Europe. Today it is the place where you can relax in green space or enjoy one of the cafes or restaurants. There is also a military museum located in the middle of the park, and a military cemetery on its outskirts.

Poznań Cathedral and Ostrów Tumski (Cathedral Island)

Poznań hosts the oldest cathedral in Poland, dating back to the 10^th century and the beginnings of the Polish State. It is the burial place of the first rulers of Poland – Mieszko I and his son Bolesław Chrobry. The cathedral is located on an island – Ostrów Tumski – between the two branches of the river Warta.

Porta Posnania Heritage Centre

From the cathedral you can take a walk across one of Warta’s branches to reach Porta Posnania (Brama Poznania). Porta Posnania tells the story of the beginnings of Poznań, the Polish state and the Cathedral Island. There are no museum exhibits here, but the history is presented in a modern way, with multimedia and light. Visiting the Porta Posnania has two stages: first is a unique exhibition located in a minimalist building, the second one is a walk through the Cathedral Island. It is also a meeting place by the river, where you can relax and take a breather.

St Martin’s Croissant Museum

The St Martin’s Croissant (“rogal świętomarciński”) is a truly unique and extraordinary kind of pastry, and it can only be tasted in Poznań. It has its own museum located on the Old Market Square. During a visit, which is a live demonstration, you learn about its history and the delicious taste of the sweet gem of Greater Poland.

Poznań Palm House

The Poznań Palm House has been located in Wilson Park for over a hundred years, being the oldest and largest garden of this type in Poland and one of the oldest in Europe. It invites visitors on an unforgettable journey to distant continents among the rich vegetation of various climatic zones. The experience is further enriched by the sounds of live birds, the sound of water and aquariums full of exotic fish. The Palm House is also an ideal place for a family visit – in addition to its educational values, this unique place guarantees a great time for everyone.

 Lake Malta

The lake is named after the Knights of Malta, and is located in the eastern part of Poznań. It was created by damming up the Cybina River and covers an area of 64 hectares. The 2190 metres long regatta course is one of the best in Europe and it hosts international rowing and canoeing championships every year. The western part of the lake features the largest fountain in Poznań built to commemorate the 750th anniversary of the foundation of the city. Hidden underground along the north-west bank of lake are thermal springs, which are used in the aquapark next to the lake – Termy Maltańskie. The south bank features an all-year ski slope and a toboggan-run on a hill.

The narrow-gauge track of the Maltanka children’s train runs along the north shore to the Zwierzyniec end station located at the entrance to the Wielkopolska Zoological Gardens (the New Zoo).

Stary Browar (The Old Brewery)

The famous and awarded shopping centre is located only 10 minutes away from the Old Market Square. It is a place where shopping, art and business meet, with its unusual architecture referring to its industrial past. The centre combines retail space and areas of art, located in a historic factory – a brewery.

Retro Tram Line

There are many ways you can do the sightseeing in Poznań. An interesting option is to take a tour of the streets on a retro tram. It gives an overview of the city in limited time and in weather-proof conditions.

Around Poznań

If you already know Poznań, there are also many interesting places around it, which you can reach in less than an hour. These include, among others Kórnik Castle and its famous arboretum and a great carriage collection, Rogalin Palace and Museum – a residence among ancient oaks with Hogwarts-like palace library and art gallery, or the fascinating Museum of Agriculture in Szreniawa. If you prefer to relax or take a jog in the outdoors, there is the Greater Poland National Park right south of Poznań, or Zielonka Forest Landscape Park to the northeast, with many natural forests and glacial lakes. For more options, see the Top-10 Attractions Around Poznań .

Destinations in Poland

Visiting Poznań is a great opportunity to see more of Poland. Poznań is well connected to many interesting cities or areas, including:

• Warsaw – the capital of Poland
• Kraków – former capital, the second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland
• The Tricity (Gdańsk/Gdynia/Sopot) – a large agglomeration located on the coast of Baltic sea,
•  Wrocław – Poland’s fourth-largest city and the capital of the voivodship of Lower Silesia.
•  Toruń – a city on the Vistula River in north-central Poland and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for the famous gingerbread and medieval part of the city.

 For more information or other destinations, please look at the Polish Tourism Organisation website.

All of the above-mentioned destinations are reachable with a direct train connection. For timetables and tickets look at PKP Intercity pages