Poznan, a city in west-central Poland and the fifth largest city in the country is a beautifully historic place and rather an underrated gem. With outstanding architecture, remarkable greenery, and notable history, Poznan is both one of the oldest cities in Poland and an important business, education, and technology center. We visited Poznan without any expectations and frankly, it turned out to be one of our favorite cities in Poland, and saying that it’s worth visiting would be an understatement. So let’s dive into the 12 places and things to do while in Poznan!
Old Market Square
The Old Market Square, in the heart of the city, is a great starting point to explore the old town of Poznan. The square is filled with old merchant buildings, narrow streets, lots of cafes and restaurants with traditional cuisines as well as refreshing drinks and a memorable atmosphere.
Historically, the old Market Square was constructed in 1253 as a medieval city with walls built around it and taken down only in the 19th century when the city was expanding. The Old Market Square, also a National Historic Monument of Poland, is a must-visit place in the city. When we visited Poznan in late August of 2023, the square was under construction but nevertheless, you could still admire the amazing architecture and walk around the place.
Town Hall
The historic Town Hall of Poznan is one of the most interesting places to visit while exploring the Old Market Square. Originally the Old Town was built in the 13th century but nowadays you can admire it as a beautiful Renaissance-style building, designed by Giovanni Battista Quadro and finished in 1560. Historically the building was used as the seat of the local government however presently it serves as the Museum of the History of the City of Poznan.
Currently, the museum is closed due to the construction works being held in the Old Market Square and Town Hall but it’s said that in 2023 visitors will be able to access the Gothic cellars and the ground floor where exhibitions of the history of Poznan from the 10th to the 16th century and history of the Town Hall will be displayed.
The goat show
The most fascinating part of the Town Hall without doubt is the goat show that is occuring every day at noon. You may be wondering what goats exactly and what do they do there. Well, the story goes back to the days when the Town Hall was damaged in a fire accident in the 16th century and was rebuilt with a clock, displayed at the top of the building.
Because of the reconstruction, a celebration was being held in the Town Hall where for the feast a leg of a deer was being prepared. In unfortunate events, the leg of the deer got burned and the cook, Pietrek, in fear of the ruined meal, decided to steal two goats that he took with him to the kitchen. A few moments later the goats managed to escape from the kitchen to the cornice of Town Hall and were found by guests butting their heads. It was later decided to make a mechanism of the goats by the clock that has been a huge entertainment spot for tourists every day since then.
The goat show every day at noon is also accompanied by a trumpet player and is absolutely worth those five to ten minutes that the show lasts. It is completely free to attend and no reservation is needed.
Kolegiacki Square
One of the city’s historic squares, the Kolegiacki Square is another great place to not miss in the heart of the city. Located just a short walking distance from the Old Market Square, the Kolegiacki Square is freshly renovated with modern aspects that blend with the historic parts of the place.
In the square you will find remains from the largest collegiate church of the city that are shown through glass floors and learn about its history. Besides that, you can enjoy the greenery and the colorful fountain, have a rest, as well as savor the many lovely cafes and restaurants that lay around the square and that offer great views.
Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Mary Magdalene and Saint Stanislaus
One of the best examples of incredible baroque architecture in Poznan is the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Mary Magdalene and Saint Stanislaus or simply called the Fara. Located just by the Old Market Square, the Roman Catholic Basilica is admirable not only by its architecture but also by its colors, its size, and the beautiful yard it has.
The basilica’s beginnings go back to the 13th century but the form it has now was obtained only later, in the 18th century. The church is open for visitors as well as the lovely yard without any fees. For music lovers, the Basilica holds organ music concerts every Saturday as well as organ music festivals are organized every year where the best musicians attend to perform.
Croissant Museum
One of the highlights of our trip to Poznan was the Croissant Museum in the heart of the Old Market Square. A fact I didn’t know about Poznan is that the city is famous for its pastry called the Saint Martin Croissants. Because of how special this is, a museum with a show and a cooking demonstration is held for visitors and it turned out to be one of the best shows I have attended in a while.
The show has an interesting and funny history explanation as well as a very engaging live croissant baking masterclass where volunteers are being asked to help create the famous pastry. The show is suitable both for adults and kids since the history is explained very simply yet with interesting jokes about cultures and politics. At the end of the masterclass, you will receive a diploma that you have learned about the cooking of Saint Martin Croissants as well as a piece of the baked good which, by the way, was one of the best croissants to taste.
The program is available both in English and Polish and it is better to purchase tickets beforehand since the seats are limited and the show in English is happening once a day at 14:00 in the summer months and on Saturdays and Sundays at 14:00 the rest of the year. The ticket price is PLN 37 or around 7 Euros. You can purchase the tickets on their official website here: https://rogalowemuzeum.pl/en/bilety-online/
Chocolate Museum
Poznan might be considered as the place for people with a sweet tooth because not far away from the Croissant Museum you will find another tasty gem – Chocolate Museum. For PLN 50 or around 10 Euros for an adult ticket and PLN 45 or around 9 Euros for a children’s ticket, you can learn about the history of chocolate as well as what the journey from a cocoa bean to a chocolate bar looks like. Not only that, you can enjoy tastings of different chocolate creations as well as during the workshop make your own chocolate bar. For more information, check out their official website here: https://www.muzeumczekolady.edu.pl/
Royal Castle
The 13th century Royal Castle of Poznan on the hill has faced many historic events, once being a royal residence for Przemysl I, the Duke of Greater Poland, but was sadly severely damaged in 1945 during the World War II Nazi siege. Between 2010 and 2016 the castle was reconstructed and now it is home to the Museum of Applied Arts.
In the museum, you can find pieces of art ranging from the Middle Ages to the present day that include different glass and metal objects, ceramic pieces, furniture, jewelry, clothes, and much more. The ticket prices depend on the exhibition that is being held at the museum therefore it’s best to check online at their official website for any updates here: https://mnp.art.pl/muzeum-sztuk-uzytkowych-w-zamku-krolewskim-w-poznaniu. On Tuesdays the entrance to the museum is free.
If you visit the Royal Castle, make sure to not miss the observation deck in the castle tower for great views of the old town and the city around it.
Imperial Castle
The impressive Imperial Castle, also called Zamek (which translates from Polish as “castle”), was historically built as a provincial residence of Kaiser Wilhelm II, the German emperor and King of Prussia. Built in 1910 by the architect Franz Schwechten, it is a neo-Romanesque style building, representing and glorifying Germany.
The Imperial Castle currently works as a cultural hubspot where visitors can enjoy concerts, theater performances, movies, restaurants, and bars, as well as the 1956 Uprising Museum with exhibits from the anti-communist protests in 1956.
The entrance fee to the palace is PLN 7 or around 1.50 Euro and is open every day from 12 p.m. till 8 p.m., except on Mondays.
Palm House
One of the most beautiful places in Poznan is certainly the Palm House – a botanical garden with multiple pavilions that cover a wide variety of plants and species. The Palm House is considered one of the oldest and largest gardens of this kind in Europe with around 17 thousand plants and 1100 species that are truly unique and magical to look at and walk along them.
There you can expect to find different subtropical vegetation examples, water plants, tropical forest plants, xerophytes and plants from savanna, temperate climate vegetation plants, and succulents from America. With all of that, you will also find some unique insects and amphibians, like frogs that are just fascinating, as well as an aquarium with about 37 tanks with different species of fish and aquatic plants. In the Palm House, you will also find a cafe that is encircled with tropical plants and a cozy atmosphere where you can enjoy different sweets, foods, and delicious drinks.
The entrance fee to the Palm House for one adult is PLN 16 or around 3 Euros and the tickets can be bought at the ticket office upon arrival. The Palm House is open on workdays, except on Mondays, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends.
Wilson Park
Just outside the Palm House lies the oldest public park in Poznan, the Thomas Woodrow Wilson Park, named after the 28th United States president. The park is made in two parts that differentiate in style – the southern part is in English style with ponds and alpine gardens while the northern part is in French style with geometrical shapes and layouts. Visit to the park is for free and certainly should be added to the list of places to visit in Poznan since it’s an exceptionally charming place to spend some relaxing time. The park is open every day from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Level vintage store
Conscious buying habits are one of the best ways of protecting our dear home – our planet. When traveling I love to visit local thrift stores to just browse for unique pieces of clothing and “Level” is the place for that in Poznan. I came across the store very unexpectedly, walking to my next destination in the city and I’m so glad that I decided to take a look at this shop because of what a great collection they have, with not only clothing pieces but jewelry, books, shoes and other items, as well as the affordable prices that makes this place an unbeatable stop for any fashion lover. The store is located on the Mielżyńskiego 21 and make sure to check out their website for any news or just read about their mission here: https://levelofficial.com/
Untitled Coffee
As a huge coffee lover, I can’t visit new places without looking for a great place to have a delicious cup of coffee. And that’s how I came upon “Untitled Coffee”, an independent coffee shop that serves amazing specialty coffee along with some baked goods and sandwiches. The coffee shop is located in a small yard, on Półwiejska 14/10 street, where you can enjoy your drinks both inside and outside on the small yet cozy patio. But what caught my eye at first was the modern design of the place and how cozy it made the time there. I highly recommend visiting this place for a much-needed rest in the middle of the city exploring.
You can manage to see everything in Poznan in just a day or two but I would recommend spending a few more days to fully enjoy everything that the city offers or even to catch an event at the Imperial Castle or other local festivities. If you are visiting Warsaw and wondering whether to visit Poznan as well but are worried that it can be a complex process, you can grab a train ticket for only as little as 12 Euros for one way and enjoy the affordable trip to the fullest. Poznan is certainly one of the best destinations in Poland so don’t hesitate and book that adventure! Check my other blog posts about Poland here.
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