What is worth seeing in Poznań?

Attractions worth seeing in Poznań

Poznan is the eighth largest city in Poland. In the capital of the Greater Poland Voivodeship, we can find attractions for every visitor, starting with numerous monuments, many beautiful parks, museums, theatres and cinemas, and ending with many cultural events. And there are many of these in Poznań: in high season, we can encounter large open-air concerts, festival weekends or events connected with the city’s tradition.

Old Market Square
A meeting place for everyone.

The Town Hall, which is the central point of the Old Market Square, was built at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries and is undoubtedly the finest Renaissance building in Wielkopolska and one of the most beautiful in Poland. In 1551 a clock with goats was installed on the town hall. Every day when the clock strikes 12 noon, a door in the tower above the clock opens and two goats – the symbol of Poznań – appear. The colourful buildings on the south side of the Town Hall are relics of the old trade architecture. The central part of the square also houses the Greater Poland Uprising Museum and the Arsenal City Gallery.

Malta
A lake with many attractions.

Lake Malta is an undoubted gem on the map of Poznań. It attracts athletes from all over the world for competitions, as well as locals and tourists for recreational walks and training. The area around the lake is rich in many attractions, you can enjoy Malta Ski, Bula Park, the ice skating rink, as well as the Malta Thermal Baths and SPA.

The Citadel
A great park in the heart of Poznań.

Poznan’s Citadel is a large green area, a favourite place for walks for Poznan’s citizens, offering plenty of opportunities not only for hiking, but also frequented by cycling and rollerblading enthusiasts. There is a sledge run, several plant themed gardens, the remains of a summer theatre and dozens of sculptures located throughout the park. Two museums are also located there: the Museum of Armaments and the Poznan Army Museum. The park is inseparably connected with the cemeteries in the south, one of the largest military cemeteries in Greater Poland.

New Zoo
A huge park full of wild animals.

Poznań Zoo is one of the largest zoological gardens in Poland. It is famous for its modern elephant house, lynx enclosure and bear asylum. There are many attractions on offer at the zoo: visit the fort, use the Maltanka park railway or the Zoolandia mini rope park.

Ostrów Tumski with the Cathedral.
The Gate of Poznań.

The former cathedral island of Ostrów Tumski is one of the most charming parts of Poznań. With the cathedral dominating the area, the small church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the cobbled streets running in place of the former defensive ramparts and the historic houses of the cathedral canons standing in the gardens, it is an enclave of peace and quiet. The Poznań Gate is an idea to present the cultural heritage of Ostrow Tumski in such a way that the institution and its surroundings meet the expectations of today’s tourists. It is a place which, by means of exhibitions and a range of programmes, tells the story of Ostrow Tumski’s historical and contemporary fate and the importance of the place for the identity of modern Poles. Moreover, the tourist activation of the island and its surroundings is one of the first steps towards transforming the area into a so-called ecomuseum.

Castle
A beautiful fortification from 1910.

The castle is the most important building of the former Imperial Quarter, completed in 1910 for the last German Emperor and King William II of Prussia. Among other things, the castle features a Cultural Centre with a cinema, art galleries and a concert hall. It is a place that presents the most interesting phenomena of contemporary culture, where visual arts, theatre, film, music and literature intermingle and complement each other. The castle is a place for artistic experimentation by creating conditions for artists to realise their works and meet with their audiences.

Stary Browar
Stylish shopping centre.

A centre for shopping and the arts built on the basis of the former Hugger’s Brewery, a property that is more than a century old. The building cleverly combines elements of a shopping centre (with many shops, restaurants and cafés) and an art gallery where, in addition to shopping, visitors can take part in numerous exhibitions and cultural events or enjoy a cinema. In 2005, Stary Browar received an award from the International Council of Shopping Centers for the best shopping centre in the world in the medium-sized shopping centre category.