Considering a trip to Poznań but don't know what there is to do?
This FREE guide will help you navigate your way around the city to ensure you get the most out of your short getaway.
This guide includes:
👉 What there is to see and do
👉 Restaurant and bar recommendations
👉 Recommendations on where to stay
I can also offer a full itinerary which provides a recommended schedule for you with more recommendations and tips, transport options, local information, restaurant bookings and more. See below for more information.
Poznań is situated in Western Poland by the Warta River and is the fifth-largest city in Poland and one of the oldest cities this country has to offer.
The city probably has one of the most colourful old squares out there, with the beautiful traditional European houses of the Merchant Houses surrounding its iconic town hall.
Where to Stay?
OK, so you're convinced by a visit to Poznań but where should you stay?
I would highly recommend staying in the Old Town though as it means everything is in walking distance.
A luxury favourite for many, Hotel Włoski Italia is located perfectly in Old Town Poznań and offers luxury, elegant boutique rooms with free Wi-Fi and a 60-inch LCD TV. All rooms are air-conditioned with a modern bathroom with a shower and hairdryer, as well as slippers and toiletries. Each room has a safe and beds feature comfort mattresses and natural cotton sheets.
A bonus: guests get a free bottle of mineral water and a welcome drink: a glass of sparkling wine or juice. Tea and coffee making facilities are available for free at the reception 24 hours a day.
Why not book your luxury stay here today?
Located in the heart of Poznań 250 metres from the Old Market Square, PURO Poznań Old Town offers modern, air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi, as well as a package of free minutes for domestic and international phonecalls.
Each room comes with a tablet, which can be used as a remote for lighting, TV and climate control.
Rooms here will provide you with a multimedia TV with satellite channels and video on demand.
Featuring a shower, the private bathroom also comes with underfloor heating a hairdryer and free toiletries.
Complementary bottled water is provided.
You will also find a free sauna and the summer sun terrace.
In the lobby there is a vending machine with coffee and hot chocolate, available free of charge.
In the lobby guests also enjoy complementary access to a TV and tablets. Playstation 4 games consoles can be rented, subject to availability.
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Saint Martin Residence by Y3 Hotels - Poznań Old Town with Wellness
Located in the heart of Poznań, here there are a selection of air-conditioned apartments with free WiFi, and a wellness and fitness centre.
Each apartment comes fully equipped with a kitchenette with a dishwasher, a dining area, a flat-screen TV with streaming services, and a private bathroom with walk-in shower and a hair dryer. A microwave, a toaster and fridge are also provided, as well as a coffee machine and a kettle.
A great base nearby to everything you need.
Set in Poznań, 200 metres from St. Stanislaus the Bishop Church and 400 metres from the centre, these apartments offer air-conditioned accommodation with free WiFi, and a bar.
Featuring a kitchenette with a microwave and a fridge, each apartment also comes with a safety deposit box, a satellite flat-screen TV, ironing facilities, desk and a seating area with a sofa. There is a private bathroom with walk-in shower and a hair dryer, along with free toiletries.
The restaurant at the apartment serves Polish, steakhouse and local cuisine.
Wilda Cinema Apartments is a Loft type apartment located 900m from Main Train Station and 800m from "Stary Browar". The apartment was designed in a post-industrial spirit of Wilda district. It spacious terrace is surrounded by old maple trees and acacia, equipped with a swing chair, hammock and coffee table with chairs. Guests can also use free and monitored parking spot (gate with a remote+bollard).
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Things to see and do
Below is a a great shortlist of places to visit whilst you're in Warsaw but you may not have time to fit them all in.
Please feel free to get in touch to discuss which places may suit your interests or for a tailored day-by-day itinerary to ensure you maximise your time in Poznań.
Poznań was founded in the 12th century, and the old town square has been the center of the city ever since. It is almost a perfect square, measuring 141 x 141 metres, and after losing 60% of its buildings in 1945 was quickly restored after the war.
The square used to be surrounded by walls, but they were taken down when the city expanded in the 19th century. However, you can still see the remnants of them across the area.
Right at the center of all the beautiful architecture is the historic Poznań Town Hall and the colourful Merchant House.
Poznań Town Hall houses the Historical Museum of Poznań, with exhibits on the city.
The Town Hall's clock features mechanical goats that butt heads at noon.
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Note: I understand that parts of the Old Town Square are undergoing construction until late 2023.
The museum is located inside the Poznan Town Hall, which makes for a great quick visit after witnessing the Bill Goats show at noon.
Inside, you will find a permanent exhibition that highlights all the important events that took place in Poznan from its founding days in the 13th Century all the way to the end of WW2 in 1945.
The Royal Castle of Poznan may look new from the outside as it was renovated as recently as 2010. However, the castle has stood right at this exact location since the 13th Century, and it used to be the largest castle in the Polish Kingdom during that time.
The castle has endured various tragic events, from the burning in the 16th Century to the partitions that Poland faced in the 19th and 20th Centuries.
Located just outside the centre of Poznań, the former Imperial Castle is the last and youngest monarchical residence in Europe, created at the beginning of the 20th century.
The Gothic and baroque Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral is built on an island called Ostrów Tumski.
After extensive damage in the Battle of Poznań, Poland’s oldest cathedral has a Late Gothic design based on Medieval plans.
Why not take a relaxing walk around Ostrów Tumski (the small island). It is said to be one of the best things to do in Poznan.
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Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Mary Magdalene and St. Stanislaus
This church is one of the most important Christian churches in the country and is heaven for art history fans, from the 18th-century frescoes in the panels on the ceiling to the 13 altars.
The Church of St Stanislaus, a former Jesuit college, is held as one of Poland’s finest Baroque religious buildings.
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Play an urban game
In Poznań, a new tourist urban game has been designed to be played independently on your own. The players download a start card online (below) or collect it at one of the tourist information points.
The game has been developed in a way which allows them to be played over a span of a few hours, and be interesting and understandable for people who don’t really know Poznań’s history. It is available in English.
Legend has it that in the 16th Century, a chef who was preparing a feast for the mayor and his guests wanted to cook goat's meat, and as he went to grab them, the 2 goats escaped, climbed all the way up to the top of the Town Hall, and started headbutting each other, amusing everyone, especially the Mayor. Since then, the head-butting goats have become the symbol of Poznań.
What to Eat?
Did you know, Poznań is world famous for croissants!
The legend of this traditional pastry dates back to a centuries-old story about a baker from Poznań who dreamt that Saint Martin entered the city upon a white horse that had lost its golden horseshoe.
If you are a big fan of croissants (who isn't?), you are going to want to visit the Croissant Museum, a museum just across the street from Poznan Town Hall. It features the history of the famous St Martin's croissant, as well as a baking lesson and croissant tasting.
St Martin's croissant is a croissant with white poppy-seed filling that is a culinary delicacy of Poznan, and they have been perfecting this awesome croissant recipe in locals' homes for more than 130 years.
The museum opens from 11 AM to 3:30 PM every day, and the ticket to see the croissant show in English is 29 PLN per person.
From the moment you step inside, you'll be instantly charmed by the modern vintage decor and the seasonal decorations hanging down from the ceiling.
Offering breakfast and lunch, this is a popular choice for those visiting Poznan.
A cozy cafe with a terrace serving a global menu for breakfast and lunch.
There is a large variety of options from warm focaccia sandwiches, french toast, and shakshuka for breakfast to burgers, pasta, and healthy bowls for lunch, all of which come as delicious big portions.
This is a great place to go to start off your day if you are planning a visit to the Imperial Castle.
It is located just across the street from the Imperial Castle, and is said to be one of the best breakfast places in the city. From omelets and eggs benedict to french toast and shakshuka, this small, cozy place offers a diverse breakfast menu, which is served all day long.
You can also have lunch here, and although there are fewer options.
Conveniently located right off of Old Market Square in Poznan, and the service is friendly, fast, and efficient.
Wiejskie Jadło is a very popular choice and is the place to go to indulge in hearty Polish food, as well as the traditional atmosphere, courtesy of the rustic decor.
This restaurant serves a wide range of dishes, from soups and Polish dumplings to meat and fish.
Tucked in a small street right next to Poznan's Old Market Square, the restaurant has a beautiful wooden decor and whilst it is a little bit more expensive compared to others, the portions are big and the prices are still very reasonable compared to other city breaks.
The menu mostly includes traditional boiled pierogis (Polish dumplings) and piecuchy (oven-baked pierogis), but it also offers soups, potato pancakes, potato noodles, and salads.
A must try is the sweet piecuchy and shortcake pierogis for dessert which is a pastry filled with apples and cinnamon, cherries and chocolate, or banana and peanut butter.
The Dark Restaurant is as the title suggests - you eat in darkness, allowing your other senses, taste, hearing, smell, to be heightened, it's a big social and sensory experiment.
Without any presumptions coming from the look of your meal, you allow only your taste buds to judge the dish. The waiters help you with your choices and guide you through the experience. This restaurant offers four sets of courses which you can choose from.
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Want to explore more of Poland?
Don't forget to check out my totally FREE guide to Warsaw below:
Travel enthusiast with a passion for photography, adventure and organisation!
Hello, I’m Lyndsey, I’m 32 years old and I live in Suffolk in the UK.
My brand is Suitcase Squirrell as I absolutely love to travel the world. I don’t know what I love more – travelling or planning a trip.
So far, I have visited 46 countries (and counting!). I visit on average 6 countries a year and I like to explore somewhere new each time. My experience of travelling ranges from budget holidays, luxury stays, a long weekend away and backpacking.
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