Things to do and see in Szczecin

Szczecin (source: en.wikipedia.org)

Szczecin is one of those cities that you don’t hear too much about. It’s not somewhere in the spotlight, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth visiting. Szczecin has a long and dramatic history which can be seen while wandering though the city. It’s a long way from the most of parts of Poland but if you ever get the opportunity to visit Szczecin don’t miss it.

Exploring Szczecin

To discover Szczecin click on the path that suits you best:

Active exploring in Szczecin – like spending time in the fresh air walking around the city? This one is for you.
Monumental fun in Szczecin – this one will be the best if you want to have some great memories of the cultural and historical places of Cracow.
Chilling out in Szczecin – follow this path if all you want to do is to relax within the city. Solo or with your friends.

Explore the Underground Szczecin

Szczecin Underground

Not everyone knows that Szczecin hides an impressive complex of underground tunnels and bunkers which is a remainder of World War battles. It is still unknown how long and vast underground city is, but right now only one part is available for viewing. It consists of 2 thematic tours: World War II and Cold War. They are arranged to give you a disturbing feeling of those hard times. Remember to wear some warmer clothes as it is a little bit colder than outside. Grab a helmet and explore history!

Address: ul. Kolumba 1
Opening hours: tours start at 12pm (every day except Sundays, II World War tour only), 13pm – Cold
Length of visiting: one tour takes approx. 1 hour
Price: normal: 17 PLN, students: 14 PLN, schoolkids: 13 PLN for one tour
Directions: by tram – lines: 3, 6, buses: 61, 81, 75 (all on Dworzec Glowny stop)

Monkey business in Tarzania Park

Tarzania Park

If you’re not afraid of heights this is definitely for you. Tarzania Park offers fit daredevils some climbing and rope slides a few metres above ground level. Sounds scary? Don’t worry, all the tours (4 for your choice: green, blue, red and Tirol) are completely safe and you’ll be under the care of professional instructors. In fact, even a small child is able to go through it.

Address: ul. Zegadłowicza
Opening hours: during summer: 11am – 20pm, Autumn, Winter: usually only on demand
Length of visiting: depending on your skills and fitness
Price: depends on the tour, from 20 to 30PLN
Directions: by tram: 1, 9 (Glebokie stop)

Canoe along canals of the Odra river

Odra River

One of the strongest advantages of Szczecin is water all around the city. Odra river and Dąbskie lake give all the citizens and tourists the possibility to explore wildlife and water environments within a few kilometres of the city centre. The easiest way to taste it is to rent kayaks, preferably with a group of friends, and just let yourself flow with the current. The area to explore is huge so you can choose to go to Dąbskie lake and see the concrete shipwreck of “Urlich Finsterwalde”, built in 1941 and destroyed in 1945 by bombings and later left in the northern part of the lake. Or, if you have less time, visit Szczecin city centre and the industrial atmosphere of the harbour.

Opening hours: from mid-April until the end of November (hours: mornings until hour before sunset)
Length of visiting: varies from 1 hour to one day
Price: 35 PLN for a whole day of renting cheapest kayak (weekends), 30 PLN (weekdays)
Directions: by bus – lines: 79, 56(Camping stop – only on request)

Explore Bukowe Hills

Bukowe Hills

So, are you tired of big city life, chaos, people running with insanity in their eyes? It’s time to pack your backpack, wear comfortable boots and trek at least a little into the wild. The Bukowe Hills and Forest offer total retreat away from it all. While wandering around the trails you can bump into some ruins of buildings and bridges built many years ago by Germans, also if you have luck you can meet boars and deer (don’t go too close, obviously). In the middle of the backwoods there is also a hidden treasure: Emerald Lake. The name comes from green colour of the water, which is an effect of the chalk mine that existed there years ago.

Length of visiting: depends of length of your trip, varies from 1 hour to one day
Directions: by bus – lines: 55, 64, 66 (Jezioro Szmaragdowe stop)

Take a swim at the Floating Arena

The Floating Arena

Floating Arena (Olympic Pool) was an arena for the European Championship in 2010. Now it is serving for citizens’ desire for some serious swimming exercises. The Pool is open for amateurs and pros so why not start a day with a few lengths of the pool? If you don’t want to swim you can go along and watch one of the many events. This could be a good occasion to see non-mainstream sports like water polo.

Address: ul. Niedziałowskiego
Opening hours: 6am – 22pm
Length of visiting: at least 60 minutes
Price: 10 PLN, discounted (children under 16 years old): 7PLN
Directions: by tram – lines: 2, 3, 12, (Odziezowa stop)

Enjoy winter sports in Gubałówka

Gubałówka

If you ask any Pole about Gubalowka, without any doubt you would be directed to Zakopane. But, surprisingly, Szczecin also has place with the same name. It’s a ski-run where winter sports maniacs can get lost in their passion. Ski –run includes 2 routes(both about 300m long) and it’s opened only during winter. Apart from ski-run you can also go crazy on the ice rink or go to the snow park.

Address: ul. Lisiej Góry 5
Opening hours: ski-run 9am – 20pm
Length of visiting: a few hours
Price: 5 entries: 15 PLN(weekdays), 18 PLN (weekends); 10 entries 25 PLN(weekdays), 32 PLN (weekends)
Directions: bus: 51 from Kollataja loop to Osów stop

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Sightsee the Pomeranian Dukes Castle

Pomeranian Dukes Castle

A castle straight from medieval times, it was the seat of Pomeranian Dukes. It has been rebuilt many times, but we think it’s pure miracle it survived the bombings of World War II. Obviously, the Castle had to be repaired, but now it impressively looks down on town houses and the river. It’s a place of many exhibitions and city events especially those connected with medieval and ancient times.

Type: castle
Address: ul. Korsarzy 34
Opening hours: 10 am – 18 pm
Length of visiting: around 2 hours
Price: 6 PLN, reduced: 4 PLN, groups(a least 4 people): 5PLN, school groups(15 or more): 2 PLN
Directions: 6 (Waly Chrobrego stop), 4,1,10 (Plac Zolnierza Polskiego stop)

Wały Chrobrego

One of the most recognisable places in Szczecin, if you buy a postcard from Szczecin it’s very probable it’ll have Waly Chrobrego as a picture. Located next to Odra river it is an apple of Szczecin inhabitants’ eye. The whole complex consists of terraces on different heights that overlook Jana z Kolna street, Odra River and Trasa Zamkowa – the main road entering the city centre. A newly renovated fountain attracts attention with colour changing lights and clean sandstone walls.

Type: sightseeing, history
Address: Wały Chrobrego
Opening hours: all day, all night
Length of visiting: around 1 hour, stay as long as you want
Price: free
Directions: 6 (Waly Chrobrego stop), bus: 70 (Teatr Wspolczesny stop)

St. Jacob Apostle Cathedral

St. Jacob’s Cathedral

St. Jacob Apostle Cathedral is the second highest building in the city – with a height of over 110 metres it peaks high above city roofs. Inside, the overall view is rather ascetic, but it’s doesn’t apply to the historic organs. The range of sounds it’s capable of making is simply astonishing. The observation deck on the top is open for everyone and the very good news is that there’re two elevators installed so you don’t have to climb up thousands of steps.

Type: sightseeing, history, sacred
Address: ul. Św. Jakuba 1
Opening hours: observation deck 10 am – 20 pm
Length of visiting: around 1.5 hours
Directions: observation deck – normal: 8PLN, reduced (students): 5 PLN, kids under 7: free, group (at least 20): 6 PLN

Visit the National Museum

National Museum Building

The National Museum has locations all around the city, but the main building is part of the Waly Chrobrego complex. It’s a place of many exhibitions, some permanent (for example an African village expo) and others are time restricted. Also, a very big advantage of the Museum is the observation deck on the top, yet another one in Szczecin. This one is a little bit lower than the Cathedral deck, but has one big advantage: its open balcony in the fresh air. There’s no glass between you and the beautiful view.

Address: ul. Wały Chrobrego 3
Opening hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday: 10 – 18, Thursday: 10 – 20, Sunday – 10:16, Monday, Friday – closed
Price: normal: 10 PLN, reduced: 5 PLN, groups (a least 10 people): 5 PLN/person
Length of visiting: around 2 hours Directions: trams: 6 (Waly Chrobrego stop), bus: 70 (Teatr Wspolczesny stop)

Museum of Technology and Communication

Probably the newest museum in the city, it is found in a place of old, unused tram depot. Now it’s not only a place for trams but also many old school cars, buses, bikes, radios and other machines you wouldn’t even think of. For tram fans always dreaming of riding a tram, the Museum also organized a professional simulator. Every brave person sits in a chair of the tram driver and can really feel like they are cruising through the city.

Type: museum
Address: ul. Niemierzyńska 18A
Opening hours: Monday – closed, Tuesday: 10 – 15pm (Free entrance!), Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday – 10am – 18pm, Sunday: 10am – 16pm
Length of visiting: 1,5 h
Price: 10 PLN, reduced: 5 PLN, groups (a least 10 people): 5 PLN/person
Directions: tram: 3 ( Lenartowicza stop)

Enjoy the Summer Theatre

Summer Theatre

This is one of the biggest open-air amphitheatres in Poland with capacity of 4,500 people. Usually, when spring comes, the season for events in the Summer Theatre begins. The great thing is that it’s open every day, even when no event is scheduled. People just sit and relax, look up at the sky and sunbathe. It’s situated in magical surroundings – next to a big pond named Rusalka, in between the trees of Kasprowicza Park.

Type: history, culture
Address: ul. Falata 2
Opening hours: all day, gate closed at night
Length of visiting: around 1 hour
Price: usually free, tickets only for specific concerts
Directions: buses: 67 ( Piotra Skargi stop), 60 (Slowackiego stop)

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Drink and eat on the Market Square

Buildings of the Market Square

During II World War Szczecin (or as it was called then Stettin) was severely bombed during air raids. Many parts of the city were completely destroyed and never rebuild in the same form. Thankfully one of the oldest parts of Szczecin, Rynek Sienny wasn’t. The Market Square gets the most lively after sunset, when locals can really enjoy the nightlife. Before getting into eating and drinking you can enjoy the Old Town Hall and the National Museum in it.

Address: Plac Sienny
Opening hours: 24/7
Length of visiting: depends on your spot
Price: depends on what you order
Directions: 2, 7, 8 (from Wyszynskiego stop)

Take a rest in Jasne Błonia

Greenfields of Błonia

Jasne Blonia, located next to the Town Hall, is probably favourite place to spend free time. On sunny and warm days the park is full of people chilling out. You can rest there from away from the buzz of the city or exercise. Jasne Blonia is a popular place for locals and visitors with many events to take in. In the park you can also find two monuments. First, one of the Pope John Paul II and second, called by inhabitants ‘three eagles’, in memory of three generations of polish citizens that initiated and continued converting Szczecin into polish city.

Opening hours: park is open 24/7
Length of visiting: unrestricted
Directions: bus: 67 (Piotra Skargi Stop), 70 (Urzad Miejski stop)

Fountain next to Garrison Church

Fountains (pic. szczecinblog.pl)

This place is relatively new to public space, but has already gained a lot of appreciation from Szczecin’s citizens. While the fountain is not the largest, it is beautiful especially around sunset. At night is lit up by rainbow of colours. In the middle of the fountain there is a small walkway over the pool so people can get across it.

Address: Plac Zwyciestwa
Opening hours: 24/7
Length of visiting: depens on you
Directions: by bus – lines: 61, 81, 75(Plac Zwycięstwa stop)

Chill out at Głębokie Lake

Głębokie Lake from the air

Despite not having coastal beaches Szczecin has inland beaches to relax on. One of them is area around Głębokie Lake. It’s not far from the city but still has the feel of the countryside. It is a great place to sunbath or swim. Local people like to make bonfires there as it has special places prepared for it. Of course you can as well make your own bonfire and cook some good sausage.

Address: ul. Kupczyka 2
Opening hours: 24/7
Length of visiting: unrestricted
Directions: trams: 1,9 (Głębokie loop)

Walk through Central Cementery

Central Cemetery

Usually, graveyards are associated with sadness and aren’t visited very often. In Szczecin’s case it’s different because Central Cemetery is 3rd biggest one in Europe. And this may sound weird but it’s great for a walk especially in the autumn when the leaves are yellowish and falling from the trees. Cemetery offers thematic walks following the footsteps of pre-war citizens of Szczecin. The city is emotionally connected with the sea so one of the most important and worth seeing is the one in the memory of those who didn’t come back from the sea.

Address: ul. Ku Słońcu
Length of visiting: unrestricted
Directions: trams: 8 (from Cmentarz Centralny stop)