Szczecin. Attractions worth visiting

Szczecin is the historical capital of the Duchy of Pomerania and the modern capital of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship. This unusual city is located in the north-western part of Poland, at the mouth of the Oder River to the Baltic Sea. For centuries, it has been the crossroads of important transit routes in Europe, which is why Szczecin is called the Polish window on the world. To this day, Szczecin has retained its unique character, tourists are captivated by this city with its historic and monumental architecture and magnificent greenery. The stellar layout of the squares, on the other hand, brings to mind the French capital, which is why the city is sometimes referred to as the Paris of the North. See how much this city has to offer!

Attractions in Szczecin - what is worth seeing here?

Szczecin is a large city with a rich history and beautiful architecture. This can be seen at every turn, where monumental buildings delight and encourage walks around the city, beautifully revitalized. Check out our guidebook, photos, and top things to do in the city. You will learn first-hand what is worth visiting in this city! First, we present you with a list of these places, and below I describe them in a few sentences. And if you want to find an even more detailed description, click on the linked (blue) experience name, which takes you to a detailed description of the experience with practical information. Discover the best attractions of Szczecin!

• The Pomeranian Dukes' Castle
• Chrobry embankments
• Piastowski Boulevard and other Nadodrzańskie Boulevards
• Old Town Hall
• Archcathedral Basilica of St James
• Dąbie Lake and sailing regattas
• Emerald Lake
• Valley of Seven Mills with Deep Lake
• Rose Garden Rose
• Port Gate
• Mieczysław Karłowicz Philharmonic
• Krzywy Las in Gryfino near Szczecin

1. Castle of the Pomeranian Dukes in Szczecin

The extremely impressive castle in Szczecin is the former seat of the dukes of the Pomeranian Griffin dynasty. Today, the beautifully renovated building is a real decoration of the city, made available to tourists. Courtyards can be visited free of charge, interiors can be visited for a fee. In addition to permanent exhibitions, temporary exhibitions, concerts and other cultural events are also organized here. The history of the castle is long, already in the early Middle Ages there was a Slavic stronghold. The wooden court of Prince Warcisław I was expanded around 1224 by Prince Barnim I the Good, who at that time granted city rights to Szczecin. However, it was not until another of the griffins - Prince Barnim III the Great in 1346 that the present castle really began, through the construction of the so-called Stone House, the chapel of St. Otto and the so-called Big House with a prison tower.
Address: Zamek, ul. Korsarzy 34, Szczecin

2. Chrobry embankments in Szczecin

Wały Chrobrego is the most picturesque and pleasant corner of Szczecin - green terraces leading to the Oder River, at which stands, among others, the Maritime Museum and a beautiful colorful fountain. Every tourist should visit this place, because it is unique and brings to mind European resorts. The most characteristic element of the embankments are the impressive stairs and the fountain at their base. The entire architectural premise is already 100 years old, because it was created in 1902-21 and initially it was called the Haken Terrace.
Address: Wały Chrobrego, ul. Wały Chrobrego, Szczecin

3. Piastowski Boulevard and other Nadodrzańskie Boulevards in Szczecin

Beautiful and extremely attractive Boulevards located in the area of the Long Bridge and the Castle Route is a unique place in Szczecin, attracting walkers, cyclists and sailors. Here you can moor a boat and walk along the Sailors' Avenue, in a beautiful scenery by the river, with a flower, light, benches, cafes and restaurants, and in addition with an outdoor exhibition, which is a beautiful story about the sea, sailors and Szczecin. You will find, among others, Wyszak's boat – a legendary Szczecin merchant and pirate from the 12th century, sculptures of famous captains, a sailor's cat, navigation devices and historical plaques. All this shows Szczecin's relationship with the sea.
Nadodrzańskie Boulevards are:
- Piastowski Boulevard – leads from the railway bridge to the Castle Route
- Gdynia Boulevard – a section of over half a kilometre from the Long Bridge to the Castle Route
- Old Town Quay – continuation of the Gdynia Boulevard, from the Castle Route to the border of the Gryf Fishery Port
- Elbląg Boulevard – runs in front of the Main Railway Station and is a mooring place for sports, tourist and white fleet units
- Passenger Quay – a modernized section located north of the Chrobry Embankment
Address: Bulwar Piastowski, ul. Bulwar Piastowski, Szczecin

4. Old Town Hall and Sienna Square in Szczecin

The Old Town Hall is a beautiful and very impressive Gothic building standing on the Hay Market Square, slightly below the castle. The first mention of a wooden merchant's hall standing in this place dates back to 1245, but today's town hall was built in the middle of the 15th century. Interestingly, its façade is decorated with glazed fittings. Currently, the Old Town Hall houses the Museum of the History of the City - a branch of the National Museum in Szczecin.
Address: Town Hall, ul. Mściwoja II 8, Sienny Square, Szczecin

5. Archcathedral Basilica of St. James  in Szczecin

The Cathedral in Szczecin is a very impressive Gothic building, reaching high to the sky with a tower, on which there is an observation deck available for tourists for a fee. Over the Oder, the Long Bridge leads to the cathedral, not as long as the history of the temple. Its origins date back to 1187, and later it was expanded and renewed many times after numerous damages. Today, the huge Gothic cathedral has 5 naves covered with a hall roof. A characteristic feature of the building are buttresses in the interior, allowing for the placement of several chapels between them. Interestingly, the church hides a powerful presbytery, equal in size to the main hall.
Address: Cathedral, ul. Św. Jakuba Apostoła, Szczecin

6. Dąbie Lake and sailing regattas in Szczecin

The picturesque Dąbie Lake in Szczecin is clearly divided into northern Dąbie Wielkie and southern Dąbie Małe. This delta lake in the Lower Oder Valley lies entirely within the borders of Szczecin, and is quite large, as it ranks 4th among Polish lakes in terms of size. Thanks to the canals connecting the main stream of the Oder with the lake, several islands were created here, including the largest Dębina. The waterway from the port of Schwedt to the Bay of Pomerania runs through Lake Dąbie, with a length of 14.5 km, a width of 150 m and a depth of 10 m. It is the only lake in Poland available for seagoing vessels. There are several sailing facilities located by the oak, marinas and marinas, as well as tourist harbours. During the season, sailing regattas are often held here, including The Tall Ships Races, which host large sailing ships.
Address: Dąbie Lake, Jana z Kolna Street and others, Szczecin

7. Emerald Lake in Szczecin

Emerald Lake is a wonderful natural attraction of Szczecin, it is worth visiting here while being in the area for the beautiful views that this place offers, along with the nearby Beech Forest. It is a green corner of Szczecin located in the area of the Beech Forest Landscape Park. Emerald Lake is an artificial lake spilling over in Zdroje - the Szczecin housing estate, and was created in the excavation of the former chalk and marl mine. It owes its name to the characteristic colour of water, associated with the content of calcium carbonate, derived from the dissolution of calcite.
Address: Emerald Lake, Kopalniana Street, Zdroje Forest Park, Szczecin

8. Valley of Seven Mills with Deep Lake

The Valley of the Seven Mills in Szczecin is today an interesting place for recreation in the bosom of nature, with tourist infrastructure. The Polish-German route "Seven Mills - Gubałówka" was created in the charming valley of Osówka, which has been used to irrigate mill ponds since the 13th century. There have been seven mills in the valley since the 17th century, hence the name of the trail and the valley. Going from the beginning of the trail by the Głęboki Lake, these were the following mills: Zazulin, Ustroń, Zacisze, Uroczysko, Nagórnik, Łomot and Wyszyna. Over time, the mills lost their importance and only one of them has survived to this day, while the place was used as a pleasant place for tourists. 
Address: Dolina Siedmiu Młynów, ul. Zegadłowicza, Droga Siedmiu Młynów, Szczecin

9. Rose Garden in Szczecin

Popular Różanka is a historical garden founded in Łękno in 1928, on the occasion of a gardeners' convention. It is a beautiful place, in the season attracting not only wonderful roses blooming in many colors, but also outdoor concerts. The garden survived the war intact, but then began to fall into disrepair. In 2006-07, it was revitalized and took the form of the 1930s. At that time, over 9,000 roses were planted here in 99 varieties, and in addition, the park is decorated with stairs, alleys, and a playground. Original exotic trees and shrubs have survived, such as horse chestnut, Amur cork, apple, cherry, American hornbeam or Serbian spruce found only in the mountains of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The attraction of the garden is the Bird Fountain, recreated from clinker and marble on the basis of photos and engravings, modelled on a pre-war building.
Address: Różanka, ul. Pawła Jasienica 8, Szczecin

10. Port Gate in Szczecin

The Port Gate is one of the city gates of Szczecin, historically known as the Berlin Gate. It was built in 1725-27 according to the design of the Dutch fortification designer Gerhard Cornelius van Wallrawe. It is the same one that rebuilt the Kłodzko and Magdeburg fortresses. The Port Gate is one of two preserved gates, next to the Royal Gate, which are the remains of the former Prussian fortifications. An interesting fact is that during World War II, the ornate tops of the gate were dismantled so that they would not be destroyed and hidden in the Arkoni Forest, and the gate itself was planted with ivy. This is how it survived the war, while in 1957 decorative peaks were found and reinstalled on the gate.
Address: Brama Portowa, Pl. Port Gate, Al. Niepodległości, Szczecin

11. Mieczysław Karłowicz Philharmonic in Szczecin

The Szczecin Philharmonic is a building that attracts a lot of attention, it is considered an icon of contemporary architecture, awarded many times in competitions. Inside, there is excellent music and numerous events, but we are more interested in the fact that the philharmonic is available for tourists to visit. It can be visited on selected Fridays, in Polish, English and German. It takes about 45 minutes and costs PLN 5 per person. 
The tour leads from the lobby of the Philharmonic through the chamber hall, where the film is displayed, through the Level 4 Gallery, the symphony room, the Gallery at the Orthodox Church, to the souvenir shop and publishing houses.
Address: Philharmonic, ul. Małopolska 48, Szczecin

12. Krzywy Las in Gryfino near Szczecin

Krzywy Las is a curiosity and a natural peculiarity that can be visited while heading from the south to Szczecin. It grows near Szczecin, in Nowy Czarnowo, at the "Dolna Odra" Power Plant, 4 km south of Gryfino. The Crooked Forest is probably the strangest forest in Poland! It is formed by pine trees forming a picturesque picture here, because the trees have characteristic bulges and grow in an unnatural way, instead of vertically upwards, just above the ground they grow horizontally and only above the bulge they climb vertically upwards. This is probably because they were deliberately shaped by man to obtain wood of such a shape. Once there were several hundred trees, now there are much fewer.
Address: Krzywy Las, Przemysłowa Street, Nowe Czarnowo, Gryfino

13. Birthplace of Empress Catherine II

Princess Sophia Augusta Fryderyk von Anhalt Zerbst, daughter of the commandant of the Prussian fortress of Szczecin, was born in a corner house at Farna Street in Szczecin on May 2, 1729. She married the Tsar of Russia Peter III in 1745, receiving Orthodox baptism and the name Catherine II. After her husband's death in 1762, she became Empress of Russia as Empress Catherine II, ruling with a firm hand for the years 1762-1796. Her rule was controversial; she bloodily suppressed the rebellious Cossack and peasant movements, allowed the nobility to trade in people, and sent rebels to Siberia. It also contributed to the partitions of Poland.

Despite her power and actions on a wider scale, Catherine II did not forget about her hometown. She donated 23 commemorative medals to Szczecin, which were placed in the City Hall. Today, the building in which she was born houses the headquarters of an insurance company, and on its wall there is an information board commemorating this unique figure from the history of the city.

Where to eat and sleep in Szczecin?

In such a big city, you will have no problem finding a tasty place, we highly recommend the tiny Kuś Mnie Restaurant located next to the castle. We let ourselves be tempted and we have no regrets, it was delicious among the interesting decor. Breakfast, lunch and desserts are served here. Everything is very colorful, tasty and healthy, sweet or dry, also in vege versions. There is pizza, like everywhere, but also waffles, bagels, brioche rolls, pasta and nutritious soups. There is also a large selection of teas and coffees, including wine. There is an oriental note here, I really liked the place.

A nice Czech Hospudka was located opposite the Toress Apartments in Szczecin, where we slept, at Kaszubska Street, among many other restaurants. I recommend Toress for accommodation, beautifully, modernly, cleanly, with a kitchenette, independent entrance and close to the castle, we went for a walk. Literally a step away is the Kaskada Shopping Mall, where fast food chains such as Pizza Hut, McDonald's and others are also waiting.

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.

What events are waiting in Szczecin?

Recently, Szczecin has been a city of unconventional events. It is here that one of the most outstanding jazz festivals "Jazz Struggles" takes place, and new challenges are sought on the Szczecin stages during the oldest theatre festival in Poland "Kontrapunkt". Also in Szczecin, contemporary artists paint reality on their canvases presented during the most avant-garde festival of Contemporary Painting. Szczecin is definitely a sailing city, throughout the season there are many events on such topics here, on Lake Dąbie. Regatta for beginners, regatta for children, regatta for the disabled, of course, also regatta for skilled sailors, and above all the regatta The Tall Ships Races hosting large sailing ships. These are very interesting events, especially scenic and exciting is the last one, due to the impressive individuals that can be admired in Szczecin at that time. In autumn, the Euromusicdrama Festival and Oktoberfest Szczecin, or the beer festival, take place here.

History of Szczecin

Szczecin is a city with over a thousand years of tradition and turbulent history. Its heyday dates back to the reign of the princes of the Griffin dynasty and the city's membership in the Hanseatic League, i.e. the period from the 13th to the 17th century. At that time, the city was one of the most powerful ports and trade centers in Pomerania. 

Szczecin founded Wkrzanie - a medieval Slavic tribe. It was at the turn of the 7th and 8th centuries, in the area of the current Castle Hill. Initially, it was a settlement of farmers and breeders, but over time, trade and crafts also developed, which resulted in the development of the town. This is how Szczecin Ibrahim ibn Jakub described in the 10th century, who referred to the name of the city as Sajin. It was an important center of pagan worship, when it was conquered by Bolesław Krzywousty in 1121, forcing the inhabitants to be baptized. It did not help much, because soon Szczecin became part of the Holy Roman Empire. 

In 1243, Duke Barnim I the Good- Duke of Szczecin and Pomerania from the Gryphon dynasty granted Szczecin city rights. The city quickly acquired other areas - Dąbie Lake and Police. In the thirteenth century, Szczecin became a Hanseatic city, and in the place of the Slavic castle in the fourteenth century, Prince Barnim III the Great built his new seat - the so-called "Stone House" and the chapel of St. Otto. They gave rise to today's castle, called the Castle of the Dukes of Pomerania. In 1464, the last representative of the Szczecin Gryphon line died and the city was taken over by the dukes Eric II reigning in Słupsk and Warcisław X reigning in Wołogoszcz, thus defending the Gryphon heritage. After the death of Eric II, his son Bogusław X took power in the Duchy of Szczecin, who united Western Pomerania after the death of his uncle Warcisław X and moved his capital to Szczecin in 1491.

As a result of German colonization, in 1514, Szczecin introduced a ban on admitting people of Slavic origin to the guild of tailors. In this way, the German population began to dominate the city and this state was preserved until 1945. From 1589, when the last prince Ulryk Rycerski was born, the Griffin dynasty began to expire rapidly. Subsequent princes died and in 1618, at the outbreak of the Thirty Years' War, only five of them lived. By 1625, four of them had died without heirs, and the last, Bogusław XIV, died in Szczecin on 10 March 1637, when the city was under Swedish military occupation. Then it was Prussian and even French. In the nineteenth century, after the abolition of the status of the fortress, there was a strong expansion of the city.

During World War II, the city suffered during British and American air raids. On April 26, 1945, Szczecin was occupied by the Red Army, but the fate of the city weighed until July 5, 1945, when Szczecin finally became Polish. During the so-called "December events" in Szczecin, 16 people died. The city also played a significant role during August 1980 and strikes in 1988. In 1990, united Germany finally recognized Szczecin's belonging to Poland. Today, Szczecin is increasingly attracting tourists, beautifully revitalized, it has become a fashionable and culturally interesting center, with a turbulent history in the background. You will get to know the history of the Griffins best at the castle in Szczecin.

Walking tour in Szczecin

We take you on a short walk through the most beautiful attractions in the very center of Szczecin. The walk itself is about 1.5 hours. 
We start at the ornate Royal Gate. Here you can already see the castle, so we head towards it. On the left, we pass the Szczecin Philharmonic. It is best to go to the other side in front of the church, because later there are no more belts. We reach the castle, where at least you have to enter the courtyard, although we recommend visiting its interiors. You can exit the castle via the charming Kuśnierska Street. Walking then to the left along Panieńska Street, we pass by the tower. We have to get under the flyover to the other side to reach the Chrobry Embankments - beautiful observation decks. 

From the embankments, we go towards the Odra River to the Chrobrego Boulevard and further to the Piastowski Boulevard (the passage is there, although it shows otherwise on the map). At the Long Bridge (the second one in turn) we cross the street and Sienna we reach the charming Sienna Market Square. Here you can stop for coffee or dinner at numerous restaurants. From the market square, we return to the main Wyszyński Avenue where we will definitely see the huge Szczecin cathedral. Behind it is the second ornamental gate - the Port Gate. Here we will end the walk. To return to the Royal Gate, you should go right along Independence Avenue, and then right to the Polish Soldier Square - it is about 800 meters.

Film A walk around Szczecin

I invite you to our film walk around Szczecin based on the route upstairs.

Rent a car

Exploring becomes much easier when you have your own means of transport. You don’t have to worry about buses or taxis, and you can plan each day your way. The search box below will help you find the right car – right where your journey begins.

What's worth seeing in the area?

If you have already visited this attraction, it is also worth visiting several other interesting ones places nearby. Within a radius of 100 kilometers you will find many interesting places places that can diversify your stay in this part of Poland.

• Open-air museum of Slavs and Vikings in Wolin, distance: 46.3  km
• Miedzyzdroje, distance: 56.8  km
• Wolin National Park, distance: 58.8  km
• Warta Mouth National Park, distance: 95.5  km