Is Poznan Worth Visiting?

With so many great cities around Poland is Poznan worth visiting? We’re happy to report that having traveled around Poland from Warsaw to Gdansk we say yes, it absolutely is!! Poznan attractions are understated and authentic!

Over 1000 years old and Poland’s first capital, Poznan is a delightful destination with plenty to do that is unique, fun, and affordable. Where else can you watch Goats Head-Butting On The Town Hall Roof or join a fun baking class using the ancient & protected Poznan St Martin Croissant recipe? 

Stary Rynek with its 14th century town hall is the heart of old Poznan. A gorgeous centuries-old market square with inviting cafes and restaurants, this city meeting spot is a feast for the senses.

Order a coffee or glass of wine and marvel at the multi-colored buildings, the history and enjoy whatever form of street entertainment comes along.

As well as fascinating history Poznan has a buzzing nightlife, so if you like to party as you travel, this might be your ideal destination.

Ready to delve into what else makes Poznan worth visiting?

This post will give you an overview of Poznan’s attractions and the reasons that make this city a great place to visit. 

Why Is Poznań Worth Visiting

From eating out to getting around and unique things to do, keep reading to find out the top reasons why Poznan needs to be on your Poland travel list.

1. It’s An Affordable City

Compared to Warsaw and Krakow, Poznan prices are typically less expensive. Overall, we found Poznan pretty good value in terms of eating out, our accommodation, and the cost of local attractions like museums.

You can easily visit here for no more than a few hundred dollars for a weekend (that’s for 2 of you)!

As a guide for planning your trip, here are prices from our visit in 2025. The local currency is Zloty. At the time of writing, the exchange rate is $1 USD equals 3.82 Zloty and £1 UK equals 5.00 Zloty.

• Cappuccino Coffee – 15-17 Zlt
• Beer – 12-14 Zlt
• Glass of Wine – Domestic 15 Zlt
• Dinner for 2 – mid-range with drinks – 150 Zloty
• Accommodation – ranges from $50 to $150+/night (double)
• Bus from the airport into town – 6 Zlt

2. Less Crowds & Easy To Get Around

The good news is you are less likely to have to deal with big crowds or long queues at attractions here. But Poznan certainly isn’t boring despite having far fewer visitors than say Krakow, Gdansk, or even Wroclaw! 

Being compact, it’s pretty easy to walk around town to the main sights and activities. Once you get your bearings, it’s a short walk from the market square to Cathedral Island, the Imperial District, or the artsy Jezyce suburb.

Public transport in Poznan is straightforward. If you have any walking restrictions, trams and buses are a good option as are Uber, Bolt, and Freenow.

3. Wide Choice of Places to Stay

There’s a great selection of affordable accommodation in Poznan.  You can stay a little out of the town center and get really good deals or pay a bit more to be nearer the main attractions.  

If you prefer to have self-catering, this is another way to have more flexibility and often space for a longer stay.

Small local independent hotels may have fewer facilities like a restaurant or bar, gym, etc but there’s so much choice around town, in terms of places to eat, it doesn’t matter. 

You can find global brands like Hampton, Radisson, and the City Park Hotel & Residences which offer both hotel and suite facilities.  Booking.com can help you find the right fit.

4. Excellent Restaurants For All Budgets

If you love food, you have lots of reasons to visit Poznan. Away from touristy restaurants, there’s an amazing selection of delicious dishes on offer at reasonable prices. 

Did you know there are currently 14 Michelin Rated Restaurants in Poznan from chic Muga Restaurant to Fromazeria with its nod to cheese and wine?

At the other end of the scale, hidden gem cafes like Cafe Ryczka are tucked away in the trendy district of Jezyce known for amazing murals. Breakfast here was beautifully presented and of high quality. So you can eat well in less central spots like this and pay a lot less!

Forget the stereotypical notion of stodgy food. Of course, there are plenty of traditional pierogi and bigos dishes around town, but often with a modern lighter twist. For a taste of tradition, the chain Pierogarnia Stary Mlyn is reliable and the food is tasty.

5. Safe and Clean City

During our time here, we found Poznan clean and a safe city to explore on foot. People are friendly and in our experience, English is widely spoken across the city. Tap water is safe to drink and we had it in restaurants and at our hotel.

It’s easiest to use a credit/debit card for public transport tickets, and entertainment/food purchases. We suggest having some cash for tips and small purchases might be helpful. There is an ATM at Airport Arrivals and they are around town too.

The main safety and security things to be aware of are the same as in most cities these days:

• Don’t bring & wear flashy jewelry or valuables
• Avoid using taxis or transport that are not official
• Don’t share personal details with strangers

This UK Government Safety and Security summary for Poland is a helpful guide for more general information.

6. Old Town Poznan Feels Authentic

Another big reason why we feel confident Poznan is worth visiting is that it doesn’t try to be something it’s not. Of course, there is an element of commercial tourism with souvenir shops but compared to other places like Gdansk or Krakow, it’s low key!

As you make your way around town, like us you will likely stumble upon a hidden gem garden cafe; an eclectic but fascinating museum, tucked behind a grey communist structure or baroque ornate building.

We have grouped the attractions that we feel make Poznan worth visiting geographically to help you navigate around town more effectively.

7. Poznan’s Massive Old Market Square

One of the main reasons we enjoy returning to Poland is the character of old market squares and Poznan is no exception – it’s simply stunning. 

As you enter for the first time, you’re likely to gasp at the sheer size and almost perfection of the rows of coloured buildings, each unique in style and story!

This is probably as touristy as it’s going to get in Poznan, and so prices are higher and cafe menus seemed a bit generic to us. 

By late morning things start to happen. Find a spot at one of the cafes facing the stone fountain in front of the Town Hall building (the one with the clock tower).

At noon each day, crowds gather at the spot to watch the odd yet appealing show of 2 mechanical Billy Goats headbutting as the bell tolls 12 times. 

On the final bell, they retreat and the door to their ‘stable’ closes. If you have spent time in Prague, you will be familiar with their astronomical clock where perhaps more predictable characters appear 🙂  

8. Cobbled Streets And Outdoor Markets

You never quite know what’s around the next corner and that’s why we find Poznan worth visiting even squeezing it into a weekend or 2-3 days.

Cobbled streets spawn off in all directions from the main square. So you can easily spend time strolling around and discovering living history as you walk.

For example, one street leads you to an old Castle (Zamek Przemysla) now a museum of art. Rebuilt in the last decade, city views from the almost hidden walled garden are excellent.

Take another path off the square and you will be facing the stunning building that is Saint Stanislaus Church. Many Poznan architectural surprises await.

Dotted around these ancient city pathways, you will also find cafes, unique bookshops, bars, churches, and restaurants, often through drab looking entryways.

Some are tiny and honestly, until you enter you don’t know what you’re going to experience – all part of the fun of exploring. Here’s an example of a small entrance but once inside you can enjoy a stunning garden restaurant.

If you are a farmer’s market fan, don’t miss Wielkopolska Market with its stalls of fresh local fruits and vegetables. Along with a flower market at the entrance, it’s no more than 5 minutes from the market square.

It is popular with locals doing their shopping so a perfect place to mingle with them and try your Polish! 

Poznan has some lovely city parks (more on these later). If you enjoy a picnic, buy your items here, and pick up fresh bread from a local bakery and you’re all set for a tasty outdoor lunch.

9. St Martin’s Croissant Museum

Yes, it might sound bizarre that a top Poznan attraction is a croissant! But there’s a whole lot of ‘storytelling’ and tradition to this version and it’s a worthwhile visit.

The old market square is where to find the fun and irreverent Croissant Museum. Less of a traditional museum and more of a performance, you can be part of the show, kneading, rolling, filling, and of course eating!

This isn’t a serious cooking school either – more an engaging hour to learn a little of the history and what makes a St Martin Croissant unique and patented as such by the EU.

10. Cathedral Island

Although not as expansive as Wroclaw’s bridge and island network, Poznan has its own impressive Cathedral island.

On the small island that was the start of Poland’s Christianity, you will see where early Bishops lived in the 10th century.  Explore the cathedral grounds of the ancient church for free and for a small entrance charge its underground mysteries.

Keep going to visit the Srodka area of town which has a quieter atmosphere, and some interesting street art like the musical wall next to a popular beer garden. Yip, it needs to rain for it to perform!

11. Imperial District, Poznań

Just out of the older part of Poznan, you come across what is known as the Imperial Part of town, referring to German and Communist times. It’s worth spending a morning or afternoon here amongst the main sights.

What’s intriguing about exploring Poznan are the layers of history. Even if you’re not a big history buff, you can’t help but be captivated by gaining some insight into the years of turbulence Poland has lived through. It’s no different in Poznan which was also part of Germany in times past.

The palace in the Imperial District is an imposing building built for Germany’s Wilhelm II although he hardly visited it.  The grounds and gardens are extensive and today operate partly as a museum and exhibition area.

The clock tower steeple was damaged (a whole other story to hear when you visit) so now has a flat roof but is still an imposing structure.

Look out for the Poznan 1956 Museum within the complex.  It’s well worth visiting in Poznan as it shares the story of how people’s lives were affected by these outside rulers and their bravery in rebelling.

Next to the clock tower of the Castle, you will see 2 large concrete crosses with various dates inscribed on them. These are remembrances of the dates of key political opposition and a visit by Pope John Paul II. The dates reflect cries for freedom in various cities including Krakow, Gdansk, and here in Poznan.

Next to the Palace Wilhelm II, you can go see an original Enigma machine in the museum of the same name – this was a favourite of ours to visit. Learn about the fascinating story of 3 mathematical geniuses from Poznan who finally cracked the German enigma code that helped end WW2.

12. Discover Jezyce

A little further on from the Imperial District takes you to Jezyce which is going through some major updating and upgrading.  It was originally a separate town but now is part of Poznan.

Come here to admire some of the many street murals and graffiti tucked into side streets and corners from churches to neighbourhoods.

It’s also a peek into how many Poznan residents live away from the busier old town which very few people call home.

Another reason to spend time here is to check out the cafe scene which is fast growing and really good value.

13. Green Spaces Like Citadel Park

Sometimes trekking around city sights can be a bit tiring and you might need some green space! In Poznan, you’re in luck!

This might only be 20 minutes or so walk from the old market square but Citadel Park is a Family friendly playground for Poznan.  This is where to come for a picnic and where residents of Poznan come to relax.

This is also where battles were fought and it is home for the National War Museum, and various war and peace-related memorials.

The Commonwealth Memorial pays respects to various nationalities of soldiers who lost their lives in conflict along with Polish and Soviet-era fighters.

14. Nightlife in Poznan

Poznan attractions include a lively entertainment scene for all tastes of music and live events. Jazz Clubs to Night Clubs are dotted around the city center.

There are places that students love to hang out so if you’re coming solo, check around to see where the latest spots are.

If you love beer, there are some excellent beer-tasting events that pop up frequently or head to microbrewery Brovaria in the old market square.

Getting to Poznan

Flying: From the UK, there are non-stop flights from most main airports. We typically fly from Edinburgh to Poland each summer when we return and Ryanair has a pretty good schedule.

If coming from the USA or further afield, fly into Berlin, Warsaw, or Krakow and get the train to Poznan.  

➡️ Check Flights To Poznan from your nearest airport

Train.  It only takes a couple of hours to get to Poznan from Berlin Main Station on a fast train service.  So if this flight route is better for you, or you fancy combining a few days here, check Berlin to Poznan schedules on Trainline App.

Poznan Airport. This is an easy airport to fly in and out of and if you can, get yourself a window seat as you fly in.  The flight path is directly over the city so the views are worth the extra cost when you reserve your seat!

Located around 7km from town, it’s easiest to get into the city using the excellent bus service #159 and then switch to a tram. Expect 30-40 minutes depending on where your hotel is within town.

If you have a lot of luggage we recommend Uber or Welcome Pick-Ups. 

Why Poznan Is Worth Visiting

We believe the main reasons for visiting Poznan are its unique mixture of historical sights, and fun activities without feeling you’re stuck in a major tourist hub.  It is for us an understated destination in Poland.

Poznan is a little Poland in many ways.  Huge history, deep traditions that people love to hold onto, a beautiful mix of architecture, delicious food and drinks, and a friendly proud culture.

A blend of ancient, old, current, and new might be the best way to sum up this great getaway destination of Poland.

And finally, don’t worry if you can’t speak Polish, they do speak great English but will appreciate a word or two of their native tongue if you can manage it!