Last Updated: December 21, 2023
I have been visiting Poznan for 12 consecutive years now, mainly during December so I can spend the holidays with Greg’s family. I thought it was about time to write my guide on How you can Spend 48 Hours in Poznan (better late than never). The city is quite big but thankfully, most of the attractions are close to each other, making it easy to explore. Poznan is the kind of city that you can choose either as a standalone city getaway or better yet, a part of a tour around Poland.
In this guide on How to Spend 48 Hours in Poznan, you will find all the information you need to plan your holiday, what to see, where to stay and what to eat.
HOW TO GET TO POZNAN
You can fly directly to Poznan, Ławica Henryk Wieniawski Airport with Ryanair, LOT and many other airlines. Most people combine a visit to Poznan with other major Polish cities such as Krakow and Warsaw. If that’s the case, you can either rent a car, catch a train or a flight in case the distance is too long. Taxis are very easy to find at the train stations and airports and they are relatively cheap. If you want to avoid the stress of having to catch just ANY taxi, then you can book an Uber which operates everywhere in Poland.
BEST PLACES TO STAY IN POZNAN
Seeing that this guide focuses on how to spend 48 hours in Poznan, it means that you’ll want to look for a central location for your stay. Stary Miasto which is the Old Town of Poznan, is a good place to stay albeit a bit on the expensive side. If budget is not an issue, check out the City Solei Boutique Hotel, located only 5 minutes from the Old Market Square. You’ll fall in love with its hip and modern interior design. Alternatively, you can book a cool Airbnb as a more affordable option and try a local home. Besides the Old Town, you might also wanna consider staying at Ostrów Tumski island. You may need to grab a taxi to reach the Old Market Square from here, which is approximately a 40-minutes walking distance.
WHAT TO SEE AND DO IN POZNAN
It goes without saying that the most beautiful part of Poznan is its Old Town. However, there are plenty of other places that are worth exploring in Poznan. Here is what you should not miss during your visit in the city.
OLD TOWN
Start your day from the Imperial Castle, located in the city centre. This impressive grand castle dates back to 1910 and it is one of the most important buildings in Poznan. Continue your exploration towards the Święty Marcin Street (Saint Martin). This is the main central street of Poznan and one of very important historical significance. If you’re lucky enough to be in the city on the 11th November, you will get to experience the parade taking place on this street, to celebrate St. Martin’s day which coincides with the Polish Independence Day.
OLD MARKET SQUARE
You haven’t truly seen the city, if you haven’t been to its Old Market Square. It is the crown jewel of Poznan and an unmissable place to explore. The vibrant, colourful buildings are postcard-perfect, so be sure to have enough space in your memory card. If you’re visiting during the summer, there is no better place to enjoy a drink and a light lunch than the restaurant located right on the square. It is true that they are a bit pricier than in some other parts of Poznan but the location is hard to beat.
Once you’ve explored the old square, head towards Stary Browar. It is a 15-minute walk to get there but there are plenty of shops to browse on your way which make the walk very enjoyable. Stary Browar means literally, old brewery in English and it is just that, an old brewery converted to one of the best shopping malls in Poland. The building is a perfect mix of old and modern which splits into two parts. The old part is where you’ll find most of the high street stores and a small food court. The new part has more exclusive stores, a cinema and also a food court. You’ll want to spend at least 2 hours here so plan your time accordingly.
While in the Old Town, be sure to check out KontenerART. Located just 5’ minutes from the Old Market Square at the river banks. This place is fantastic if you’re visiting some time between April and September, to just sit on one of the sunbeds and enjoy a locally crafted beer.
OSTROW TUMSKI ISLAND
This part of Poznan is the oldest of the city, surrounded by the rivers Cybina and Warta. Ostrow Tumski is where many significant historic buildings, such as the Poznan Cathedral, are located so don’t miss your chance to explore this beautiful neighbourhood. The island is connected to the neighbouring districts via several bridges. Take The Royal-Imperial Route which passes through the most important parts of the city, including Ostrow Tumski via The Bishop Jordan bridge.
NEW TOWN
The New Town or Nowe Miasto in Polish, is located on the East side of the Warta river. This is where you will find the largest shopping malls in Poznan, Posnania. In this part of the city you will also find Poznan Zoo. Start your day early and spend a few hours in the Zoo before heading towards Lake Malta. The Poznan Zoo is huge, so you’ll need a lot of hours to explore all the areas. The entrance fee is 23PLN on the weekdays which is roughly 5EUR. It is a great place to spend a few hours in nature where you can make new “furry” friends. For the second part of the day head towards Lake Malta. It is an artificial lake and a favourite place of the Poznanians who like water sports, picnic and even skiing.
WHAT TO EAT IN POZNAN
Polish cuisine is utterly delicious with some of the dishes being recognised worldwide. The most popular of all is the Polish sausage or otherwise known as kielbasa. You will find it cooked in various different ways such as grilled, boiled, used in soups and casseroles or simply served as a cold cut. The Polish sausage is served in most of the traditional restaurants or you can buy them at the supermarket and simply eat cold with fresh bread.
Do not leave Poland before you try some of their hearty soups and casseroles. They are all very different from each other which means you’ll definitely find one that satisfies your taste buds. My absolute favourite is zurek. A soup made with sour rye flour, sausage and halved eggs served usually in a bowl made of bread. I was a bit sceptical at first but once I tried it, I liked it so much, I had to get the recipe from Greg’s mum!
Like with many other countries, each region has its own specialty. The classic Poznan specialties include:
- Pyry z gzikiem, a simple dish made of boiled potatoes served with a white cheese topping. Sometimes less is more.
- Rogal świętomarciński. If you try only one sweet item during your visit to Poznan, then this should be the one. It is a croissant filled with white poppy seeds, nuts, raisins and coated with icing. Heaven! Traditionally, it is baked on the 11th November to celebrate St. Martin’s Day.
- Plyndze ze smietana which are potato pancakes served with sour cream and sprinkled with sugar.
KORNIK – A DAY TRIP FROM POZNAN
If you have time then you might want to consider visiting Kornik which is only an hour drive from Poznan. Kornik is a pretty rustic town where you can escape the bustling city and which you can easily explore on foot. The highlight of Kornik is the 14th-century castle and its surrounding gardens.
Poznan is an excellent city to visit and without a doubt you’ll leave from here with beautiful memories. Use this guide on How to Spend 48 Hours in Poznan to help you plan your trip and to make sure that you don’t miss anything.
Poznań, piękne miasto, warto odwiedzić!