Bydgoszcz attractions. Venice of the North full of interesting places, art, greenery and cuisine!

Bydgoszcz, called Bydzia, is getting more beautiful every year. It is a modern city, albeit with a rich history, unique, with an interesting, relaxed atmosphere. It is called the Venice of the North, because it hides numerous canals, rivers, bridges, which creates a very charming landscape of the city. Bydgoszcz lies on the Vistula River, on the Brda River, but the Bydgoszcz canal also flows here. Be sure to come here, walk through the picturesque corners, taste in this city, see if it will take you away too!

Getting to Bydgoszcz – how to get to the city?

Bydgoszcz is well connected with other Polish cities and abroad. The city can be reached by train, because PKP Intercity offers direct connections from Warsaw, Gdańsk, Poznań or Wrocław. There are also long-distance buses. It will also be comfortable by car, because important national and express roads run through the city. Bydgoszcz-Szwederowo Airport is available for travellers from further afield, serving domestic and international flights. In the city itself, there is efficient public transport (trams, buses), and the center is friendly for pedestrians and cyclists.

Attractions in Bydgoszcz - what is worth seeing?

Bydgoszcz is a city full of various attractions that will delight people looking for relaxation in the bosom of nature. Lovers of history and architecture, however, will also be satisfied, especially those who love Art Nouveau, of which they will find beautiful examples at Gdańska Street. Here are suggestions for places worth visiting along with short descriptions that will allow you to appreciate the charms of this city. Check out the best tourist attractions in Bydgoszcz!

Granary on Brda - Leon Wyczółkowski District Museum in Bydgoszcz

The characteristic historic granaries in Bydgoszcz, standing above Brda, are today not only a showcase, but literally the logo of Bydgoszcz. They proudly and picturesquely reflect their faces in the river and attract the attention of passers-by. They come from the 18th century. Once there were 2 more buildings, but in 1960 they burned down. The granaries on Brda house interesting museum exhibitions. It is a great place to learn about the history of the city and see works of art related to the region.

Crossing the river - balancing sculpture - symbol of Bydgoszcz

I think it is difficult to find a person in Poland who does not associate this famous monument. Crossing the river in Bydgoszcz is a balancing sculpture, hung on a rope by the Brda River. In the heart of Bydgoszcz. The "Passerby" hung in Bydgoszcz on May 1, 2004 to commemorate Poland's accession to the European Union. It weighs only 50 kg, and the author of this unusual sculpture is Jerzy Kędziora.

The phenomenon of the sculpture lies in the fact that the figure stands on a line stretched above Brda, between its two edges. The secret lies in moving the center of gravity below the level of the rope. Thanks to this, the sculpture maintains balance.

A little more symbolism. The "Passer-by" holds an arrow in his hand, and his sandals are hung, referring to another famous monument in Bydgoszcz, i.e. the Archer, who, holding the bow, is dressed only in these sandals. It is also interesting that the "Passerby" is accompanied by a swallow. In German, a swallow is a schwalbe. And Szwalbe is the name of the founder of the Pomeranian Philharmonic, an outstanding Bydgoszcz citizen, music lover, who is the "father" of many cultural institutions in the city.

Cruises around Brdo - attractions for children and adults

A boat trip on Brdo is a unique opportunity to see Bydgoszcz from the perspective of the water. During the guided tour, you will learn about the history of the city and its most interesting corners.

Bydgoszcz Old Market Square - the center of the old city

The bridge over Brda opens the way to a large market square. King Casimir the Great marked him out, and in his time he was lying on an island, because he was surrounded by dug moats. As a token of gratitude, the residents of Bydgoszcz erected a large monument to him.

Mill Island in Bydgoszcz

 

Bydgoszcz impresses with its Mill Island – the green heart of the city. You will enter here by a bridge over the beach. The place is very charming, full of atmospheric cafes and museums. It is definitely one of the most beautiful corners of Bydgoszcz, surrounded by Brda and Młynówka. In the 19th century, mills and bakeries were created here, later expanded to Rother's Mills, which operated until the 1990s.

Rothera mills

Rothera Mills is a restored complex of former grain mills on Mill Island. The old mills were built in 1849-50, and today it is a modern cultural center where exhibitions, concerts and educational events take place. Their interiors and surroundings are just a nice place for locals and tourists. where you can walk, sit and have a cup of coffee.

Opera Nova

A distinctive point is Opera Nova, consisting of three circular buildings. Supplemented with another one. Next to it, I recommend a walk along the boulevards above Brda, we liked the fragment with the historic White Granary from the 18th century.

Cathedral of St. Martin and St. Nicholas - the oldest monument in Bydgoszcz 

The cathedral is the oldest church and at the same time the oldest building in Bydgoszcz. It was erected in the years 1466-1502. It is noteworthy that the fragments of the northern wall are much older. The sacral building stands in the Old Town, near the market square.

Museum of Soap and History of Dirt

The Soap and Dirt History Museum is very surprising. You will discover many unbelievable but true stories here, and you will make your own soap. Did you know that the first soap was created 2800 years before our era, and then a lot changed in this area? In ancient times, naked athletes performed in the arena and lubricated themselves with various lubricants, and then scraped sweat, cuticles and these lubricants off their bodies. Oddly enough, women collected it and later created cosmetics from it. In the Middle Ages, scientists found that our pores widen during washing and all the dirt enters our body, so it was decided not to wash. France was the worst in this regard, because in fact they almost gave up washing completely. The king reportedly washed as many as 4 times throughout his life, of which once completely by accident, because he fell into the fountain.

Archer - a symbol of the city in the Music District

The archer in Bydgoszcz, as she has already mentioned, is dressed only in sandals. The figure of a naked woman once aroused a lot of controversy and caused scandal. Therefore, today the monument can be admired on the sidelines, 1.5 km from the market square. In the Jan Kochanowski Park, in the Music District, near the Pomeranian Philharmonic.

Murals in Bydgoszcz

Bydgoszcz is a paradise for street art lovers. You will see more than 50 murals here. Among others, the famous Andreykov. One figure on his mural is particularly close to us, because it is associated with Silesia. This is Ociepka, an intuitive painter who was an informal guru of the Janowska group from Nikiszowiec. Peter Pan is very popular and impressive. What is special for the city is the mural with Kazimierz the Great and the famous archer. It is associated with the legend of the city.

Trees in Bydgoszcz

Have you ever seen a tree? This is an example of fantastic street art. In Bydgoszcz, the Lithuanian artist Linas Domarackas creates such amazing trees. That's what we called them, because neither this mural nor this planks, but just a painting in a tree trunk. Of course, everything is done ecologically, responsibly. The trees are first specially prepared for this, then the painting is applied and something so beautiful adorns the city. There are about 10 similar paintings in the city, e.g. in the Jan Kochanowski Park or in Ostromecko near the old palace, where the aforementioned Andrzej Schwalbe is painted.

Monument to Casimir the Great

Kazik, or the monument of Kazimierz Wieki in Bydgoszcz, even surpasses Baśka from Kielce, or the monument of St. Barbara, weighing 2 tons. This one in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship weighs as much as 3 tons. It is so heavy that the army had to be involved to bring it here. This is the heaviest statue of this king in our entire country.

Fordon

Bydgoszcz has two markets 12 km apart. Fordon used to be a separate town, and today it is a part of the city. And by the way, such a quiet alternative for quiet walks, both on the market square with a multimedia fountain and on the nicely prepared promenade on the Vistula. As Toruń has its Fishermen, so Bydgoszcz has its Fordon.

Ostromecko Palaces

Ostromecko is a picturesque, green asylum away from the city and the hustle and bustle. Although only 5 km from Bydgoszcz. There are 2 beautiful and well-groomed palaces waiting here. New and old. This newer one dates from the 19th century, from 1832-1840. Its interiors can be visited, they bring to mind sumptuous, and at the same time romantic residences that live. Because in these beautifully arranged rooms and rooms there is a restaurant and a café, as well as guest rooms. It may not be the end of the world, but it is definitely a place of rest and wonderful greenery around. In the old palace from the 18th century, you will see the various and extremely valuable pianos for which this place is famous. It was the dream of an outstanding Bydgoszcz citizen, Andrzej Szwalbe, who, although a lawyer, made an extraordinary contribution to the cultural sphere of the city's life. It is him who depicts the tree on the trunk under the old palace. He wanted Ostromecko to become a suburban cultural center. He called them "Bydgoszcz Wilanów" or "Bydgoszcz Łazienki".

Come to the huhuny attic. You will see here Picasso's paintings, an ancient coin, an owl from faience from Włocławek and many, many other figurines and images of owls, from English, Mexican and any other porcelain. And all in a great arrangement. This is the collection that Boese's marriage used to amass. When they learned that the king of Denmark was collecting elephants, they wondered why they could not collect owls, and so they collected about 8,000 figurines and other artifacts related to this symbol of wisdom. They later donated the collection to the palace. Owls were placed in the attic of the new palace.

Other attractions in Bydgoszcz

• Lemar's barge - moored at the granaries and offers a museum
• Waterworks Museum Water Tower - the historic tower offers an observation deck with a panoramic view of the city and an interactive museum presenting the history of Bydgoszcz waterworks and technical curiosities
• Clock with Bydgoszcz time - an unusual attraction in the Old Market Square shows the Bydgoszcz time, other than the official time
• Exploseum - an interactive museum built on the site of a former World War II explosives factory
• The Bydgoszcz Canal and the Bydgoszcz Canal Museum - one of the oldest shipping canals in Poland, connecting Brda with Noteć, and at the same time two of our most important rivers: the Vistula and the Oder. It was established in 1773-74. A walk along the canal is an opportunity to admire beautiful views. The Bydgoszcz Canal Museum presents interesting exhibits and stories related to the water traditions of the city and the history of shipping
• Monument Three Graces - stands in the heart of the city, opposite the granaries
• "Myślęcinek" Forest Park of Culture and Recreation – the largest urban park in Poland
• The Botanical Garden of Kazimierz Wielki University - a place of rest and education among many interesting plant species. The garden is open all year round, constituting a green oasis of the city
• Jan Kochanowski Park in Bydgoszcz - one of the most beautiful parks in Bydgoszcz. It is located in the Music District and is famous mainly for its sculpture "Archers". There are also alleys, a playground and numerous outdoor events. It is a perfect place for a walk or a family holiday
• A model of the former Bydgoszcz - a unique attraction presenting the appearance of the city from years ago. It allows you to travel back in time and see how the city has changed over the centuries
• Zoo

In the area, it is also worth visiting the amazing, historic Toruń, the wonderful Grudziądz with a beautiful postcard from behind the Vistula, the quiet spa town of Inowrocław or the architectural gem called the city of lovers, Chełmno.

 

There are plenty of restaurants, cafes and all kinds of pubs in Bydgoszcz, in its various parts. That's what the city is famous for! They are waiting at the market square, in its vicinity, or on the Mill Island. Here you will be welcomed by the Mill Inn, located in a historic granary on the Brda River, with traditional Polish and regional cuisine in a unique, historical setting. For quick dishes, come to Burgito on the Old Market Square. It's Mexican cuisine, tasty and affordable. A little further from the center, there is the Czosnek i Oliwa Restaurant at Grudziądzka Street. It is an elegant two-storey restaurant in an industrial style, serving exquisite world cuisine. We sat down for coffee in Rother's Mills, in the Nowe Miejsce Café. Nice, with delicious desserts and at quite affordable prices.

Accommodation in Bydgoszcz - where to stay?

Bydgoszcz offers a wide range of accommodation, from luxury hotels in the center, through boutique guest houses, to family-friendly apartments. We slept in a very pleasant City Hotel, which we highly recommend. It is located in the city center, so close to the market that you can easily walk on foot, but so far away that it was very quiet at night. The room was tasteful and spacious, with all amenities and a private bathroom. What really captivated us was the hotel breakfasts. Very diverse, at a high level. There was everything you could wish for, even cocktails, which  doesn't happen very often. A big plus for that.

Here you will find a wide selection of accommodations. By booking your stay on Booking.com through our link, you support the development of our blog — and we thank you in advance! It helps us reach many interesting places that we later love to show you and share our experiences and information with you.

Our video

We also encourage you to watch our film with the 5 most beautiful cities in the voivodeship. Bydgoszcz, quite accidentally, found itself at the end of it.

Brief history of Bydgoszcz in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship

Bydgoszcz is a city with over 600 years of history, which owes its origins to the granting of city rights by King Casimir the Great in 1346. For centuries, it was an important commercial and industrial center, especially thanks to its location on the Brda River and the Bydgoszcz Canal. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, it developed dynamically, gaining the status of one of the main cities of the region. Today, Bydgoszcz combines tradition with modernity, delighting with both monuments and vibrant cultural life.

Legend of King Casimir the Great and the Archer

Casimir the Great was famous for his weakness for women. But he fell in love with a girl with no memory and thought that it was really a real feeling. They met, liked, loved, even hunted each other. And when once the king wanted to return here with the intention of raising the village to the rank of a city, it turned out, unfortunately, that the girl had died in the meantime. The king's grief was great, but as he had decided, so he did. He granted the village city rights, and in memory of the girl named after her, he named it Bydgoszcz. He never showed up here again afterwards to avoid adding to his pain.

Rent a car

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What's worth seeing in the area?

If you are looking for more ideas for interesting places to visit, we have it for you some options in the area. There are several attractions within a radius of 100 kilometers, that are worth adding to your travel plan.

• Chełmno, distance: 37.8  km
• Inowrocław, distance: 39.8  km
• Settlement in Biskupin, distance: 40.8  km
• Toruń, distance: 42.3  km
• Grudziądz, distance: 64.5  km
• Bory Tucholskie National Park, distance: 83.1  km
• Kwidzyn, distance: 91.6  km