Attractions in Toruń. What is worth visiting in Toruń? Gingerbread, cruise and gothic sights!

Name: Toruń
Rating: 4.6

Toruń is an extraordinary city of Gothic, Vistula cruises and sweet secrets. Imagine a city whose wonderful panorama is reflected in the wide waters of the Vistula. The medieval walls and gothic towers grown from the wealth of trade create a unique landscape. It is Toruń, a pearl of architecture from the UNESCO List, which impresses with its multitude of monuments. Every place in the Old Town tells a noble story. Be amazed by Toruń. We spent a wonderful weekend here, but if you can, choose other days of the week and avoid the strict season, because the beauty of this city is appreciated by many tourists and it is crowded here!

Getting to Toruń

The city is located in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship. Below you will find detailed information about getting to Toruń from Warsaw and from Silesia ( Katowice) by three means of transport: car, rail and bus.

Warsaw – Toruń

By car: the shortest route leads through Lipno, Płońsk and Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki, about 210 km, travel time about 3 hours. Alternatively, via Włocławek and Kutno, and then via the A2 motorway – about 267 km, also about 3 hours
Train: direct connections from Warsaw Central to Toruń Główny. The fastest train (IC ZAMOYSKI) runs 2 hours 9 minutes
Bus: FlixBus, Polski Bus, PKS connections, the journey takes about 3.5 hours

Katowice – Toruń

By car: the fastest route: through Bytom, Piekary Śląskie, Częstochowa, Radomsko, Piotrków Trybunalski, Łódź, Kutno, Włocławek, 357 km, about 3 hours 41 minutes. Alternative: by Chorzów, Sieradz, Zduńska Wola, Pabianice, Łódź, Kutno, Włocławek – 426 km, about 4 hours 53 minutes
Train: connections (PKP, POLREGIO), travel time approx. 6 hours 23 minutes
Bus: no direct long-distance connections Katowice–Toruń, necessary change (e.g. Katowice-Warsaw, Warsaw-Toruń). Katowice-Warsaw crossing (about 4.5 hours), Warsaw-Toruń (about 3.5 hours).
Best means of transport:
The fastest and most convenient access from Warsaw to Toruń is the IC train (2h 9min)
From Katowice the fastest by car, about 3h 40minutes)
Bus from Warsaw to Toruń is a convenient, cheap alternative, from Silesia requires a change

Monuments and attractions in Toruń. What is worth seeing in the city of gingerbread?

Toruń is attracted like a magnet by the magical Old Town, which in 1997 was inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. It is one of the most architecturally valuable urban complexes in the whole country. In fact, you will find valuable and stunning buildings in the heart of the city, within the small Old Town, which you will get to know during a wonderful walk with history in the background. Check out the most beautiful attractions in Toruń!

Old Town Hall - the main seat of the District Museum

The monumental Town Hall sits in the central part of the Old Town Square and overwhelms with its power and majesty. It offers an interesting Museum with a Great Hall. Here you will find a collection of 20 portraits of townspeople. They were the strength of the city. Toruń was not a Sarmatian city, but a humanistic one. He had the royal right to judge the nobility, who, known for their arbitrariness and felicity, could not feel unpunished here, as in other Polish cities.

Cathedral of St. Johns in Toruń

Toruń Cathedral hides one of the largest medieval bells in Poland, Tuba Dei (God's Trumpet) and the unusual Digitus Dei (God's Finger) clock. The clock was the second largest after the one in Gdańsk and allowed the rafters from the Vistula to see the hour, hence it also bears the name of the rafter's clock. The power of the cathedral is already evidenced by the weight of these decor elements, where the bell weighs over 7 tons, and the clock face itself weighs 300 kg.

Toruń Leaning Tower

The Leaning Tower in Toruń is tilted more vertically than the fame of Pisa. Only this one is only 15 meters high, and the other 55, so in the end, the tip seems more curved there. The deviation at the top is more than 140 centimeters, you will not set straight against it. It is a remnant of medieval city walls. Originally, it did not have one wall, because boiling water boilers were pulled to its top, which were treated by foreign troops. When the walls lost their importance, a prison was organized here and the wall had to be added, you understand.

Nicolaus Copernicus House - Branch of the Regional Museum in Toruń

Nicolaus Copernicus House is one of the most beautiful tenement houses in Toruń. This is probably where little Nicholas was born and raised in 1473. Mikołaj's father also had that name, which is why they nicknamed him the Elder. He was a wealthy merchant from Krakow. Therefore, he could afford to educate his son so nobly, who moved the Earth for us. Today, this tenement house houses the Museum, talking about a great astronomer, and it was created in the original scenery of the climatic interior and tells us what the apartment looked like in the fifteenth century. It is extremely impressive. We highly recommend it when visiting Toruń!
Address: ul. Kopernika 15

Live Gingerbread Museum and Museum of Toruń Gingerbread

Toruń is the world capital of gingerbread! The tradition of its baking here is as old as the city itself. Today, you can not only try this sweet symbol of the city, but roast it in the Living Gingerbread Museum. We highly recommend you. You will meet here a root witch and a gingerbread master who will tell you how to make gingerbread yourself and how valuable it is. And why the root witch? Not from the root, because none of the aromatic gingerbread spices is the root, but from the bark, because cinnamon, an important component of gingerbread, is just obtained from the bark. Ginger, which can be considered a root, is not one, because it is a rhizome, i.e. an underground stem with functions other than the roots.

Yeah! There is a saying that there are four best things in Poland: Toruń gingerbread, Warsaw boots, Gdańsk vodka and Krakow panna. I think we were a great fit here as Inspiring Gingerbread. I highly recommend you, a great place with a lot of humor.

This museum is private, but the Toruń Gingerbread Museum, which is a branch of the District Museum, is also recommended in the city. This place is also worth visiting.

Cruise on the Vistula River in Toruń

Do you know what is the most popular Polish comedy film in Toruń? It's a Cruise, of course, but we had our own. And this is an unusual unit. It is a nailed, medieval ship that came to life after six hundred years. And this is due to the polychrome from the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. According to historians, this is the most perfect medieval depiction of a river ship in Europe. The painting became an inspiration for the reconstruction of a rowboat and sailboat, which today everyone can take on a cruise. It's a great idea to explore the city from a different perspective and a beautiful adventure, we confirm and recommend it!

Tony Halik Travel Museum

The Traveler Museum, a branch of the District Museum, is a place that every traveler should definitely visit. Why was it created here? Because Elżbieta Dzikowska gave the inhabitants of Toruń as many as 800 exhibits from their travels and each year she continues to support this museum with gifts. Just look around and you will surely be fascinated by the distant world. Tony, or actually Mieczysław Halik, was born in this city, but since World War II he has traveled a lot, creating programs with "Pepper and Vanilla" at the forefront. Next to the museum is the Planetarium.

House of Eskens - Museum of the History of Toruń

The historic Esken House houses a modern, interactive and impressive History Museum, which is another branch of the District Museum, with multimedia, but also valuable monuments at exhibitions. It's definitely worth a visit, because the exhibition is fantastic!

House of Toruń Legends

In one of the tenement houses in the Old Town, the House of Toruń Legends was built. It is an interesting attraction for children and adults, with an activating sightseeing model.

Monument to Nicolaus Copernicus on the Old Town Square

It is a famous place in Toruń, where many tourists gather. At the feet of the powerful Town Hall stood the figure of probably the smartest inhabitant of the city, Nicolaus Copernicus, who was born and spent his childhood in Toruń.

Statue of a rafter on the Old Town Square

On the opposite side of the Town Hall stood a monument to a young boy, a clever raftsman, who, according to legend, with his violin playing, led troublesome frogs out of the city, for which he was rewarded. This place of the Toruń Old Town is less crowded, despite the fact that it is located in the heart of the city. It is also a fountain.

Royal Pharmacy Under the Eagle

Pharmacy Pod Orlem was located on the Old Town Square 4. It was a pharmacy, not just any pharmacy. It operated continuously for 622 years. From 1389 to 2011. It was said to be the second oldest continuously operating pharmacy in the world after Dubrovnik! Unfortunately, it was closed because the last owner, Sylwia Siwiec-Kant, died. It is a great pity that such a story died before our eyes.
Address: Rynek Staromiejski 4

Toruń donkey

The famous donkey from Toruń stands next to the Copernicus monument. Its ridge is characteristically finished, forming a thin, metallic edge. Apparently, it used to be sharper. And that's because he was sentenced to prison. If the offense was more serious, bricks were tied to the legs to cause more pain. The pain of pride was probably as severe as physical suffering.

Ruins of the Teutonic castle

The Teutonic castle was built in the 13th century, and in 1454 it was demolished by the townspeople themselves, who rebelled against the Teutonic Knights. Thus began the Thirteen Years' War, as a result of which Toruń became part of the Kingdom of Poland, and thanks to its privileges it became increasingly rich in trade and rafting. Today, only the ruins of the building have survived, with a significant part of the castle, i.e. Gdańsk.

Ruins of Dybowski Castle

The Dybowski Castle was built by King Jagiełło in the fifteenth century. On the other side of the Vistula, around the Teutonic castle grew the great Teutonic Toruń, and at the Dybowski Castle, the Polish Nieszawa. In the middle of the fifteenth century, an uprising of the inhabitants of Toruń against the Teutonic Knights broke out. In an act of gratitude to the inhabitants of Toruń, King Jagiellonian later moved the competing Nieszawa 30 km up the Vistula River. The only visible trace is the ruins of the castle, which today stand in the middle of greenery, right next to the Piłsudski Bridge.

Museum of Toys and Fairy Tales - attractions for children

The Museum of Toys and Fairy Tales is a great attraction not only for children. These will surely be surprised how much has changed in this area, but parents and grandparents will be sincerely moved when they see the toys they held in their hands when they were young children themselves.

The collection contains exhibits from the beginning of the 19th century to the 1980s. You will see teddy bears, blocks, planes, but also a large collection of very old dolls from around the world. Wax, porcelain, mâché paper, celluloid, plastic and the youngest, rubber. The oldest is almost 200 years old. The most beautiful ones come from France, Germany and from Adam Szrajer's Polish factory in Kalisz. 120-year-old "Cracovians" with wonderfully blue, crystal eyes arouse admiration. A visit to the museum is a beautiful sentimental journey.
Address: ul. Ducha Świętego 12

Baj Pomorski Theatre

The Baj Pomorski Theatre is a puppet theatre, operating since 1946. It is located at 9 Piernikarska Street. It is an interesting proposition for adults, but also a great attraction for children.
Address: Piernikarska 9

Where to eat in Toruń?

In the Middle Ages, grain flowed mainly through the Vistula, which is why dumplings in this region are very appropriate. We recommend the Old Mill Pierogarnia with a nice decor, of which there are actually several in the region. We sat on the Old Town Square and ordered both stoves and glues. Stoves are dumplings from the oven, and glues from the water. They were delicious and looked great. Monka is also a famous restaurant here, but you have to prepare financially for this visit. Jan Olbracht - Old Town Brewery is very cool and atmospheric. You can not only taste a set of several selected flavors of the local golden drink, but also eat a burger or pizza and sit in a pub in the type of a great pub, in a venerable, old tenement house. The Chleb i Wino Restaurant on the Old Town Square is elegant and exquisite. Its décor is breathtaking!

And across the river, we highly recommend the Observation Deck. This is a restaurant where you will not only eat exquisitely and tasty, but you will also admire the sunset overlooking the beautiful Old Town. The place is unique, perfect for the end of the day. Prices aren't low, but they're acceptable. We only ordered soups so as not to generate a lot of costs, because we wanted to know more gastronomic places in Toruń, but you can also come for coffee, just for the view!

Accommodation in Toruń

We spent 2 nights in the Milky Way Apartment in Szczytno, in the Old Town, at Szczytna Street. There are several apartments there, we found a weaker option, quite tight, but with a kitchenette, so it's a plus. The bathroom was also private. But it wasn't expensive in the promotion. The downside was that it was loud at night, but we were there on the weekend and apparently this is what Fridays look like there. Saturday night was better. In general, the location is great, because it is a few minutes on foot to the Old Town Square, opposite is the Jan Olbracht brewery and beautiful buildings around. The only downside is the loud youth at night and the lack of parking on the spot. We were standing in the city parking lot, which was not paid at night.

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.

Experiences in the area

Located in the heart of Poland, on the main river of the country, the city is surrounded on all sides by beautiful cities and interesting tourist attractions. Nearby, you can also visit the Olender Ethnographic Park in Wielka Nieszawka, modern Bydgoszcz, intimateInowrocław, gothic Chełmno and the wonderful Grudziądz with granaries.

Brief history of Toruń

Toruń is one of the oldest cities in Poland. It obtained city rights in 1233, and its development was associated with the Teutonic Knights. Already in the thirteenth century, a Teutonic castle was built here and settlers from Kujawy, Mazovia, distant Silesia, as well as German countries flocked here. The arrival of merchant families to Toruń was the beginning of the development of trade. Already in 1280, the city became a member of the Hanseatic League, an organization with a monopoly on trade in various goods in this part of Europe.

When kings ruled in Poland, there was not a kilometer on the Vistula from Krakow to Gdańsk without a boat or raft. It was the main motorway of Europe. The city experienced a real boom in 1365, when it received the right to compose. What did it mean? Every merchant who passed by here had to put their goods up for sale here, and very often at prices set by the townspeople. So the money was making itself. This is what the interesting and modern city museums in the town hall, and above all in the House of the Eskens, tell us about, which made a very positive impression on us.

For centuries, Polish and German influences, Catholic and Protestant religions have been intertwined here, which influenced the history, culture and magnificent monuments of the city. Toruń is famous for its gingerbread, but everyone is also familiar with the fact that the famous astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus was born here, who stopped the Sun and moved the Earth. In 1945, the Nicolaus Copernicus University was established in Toruń, referring to the tradition of Stefan Batory University in Vilnius. Today, it is one of the largest and most prestigious Polish universities.

Our video about Toruń

We encourage you to see our film about the most beautiful cities in Kujawsko-Pomorskie. Of course, Toruń also appeared there.

Rent a car

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What's worth seeing in the area?

You don't have to travel far to find more interesting places. Within a radius of 100 kilometers, there are many attractions waiting for you that will certainly enrich your stay Your trip with additional memories.

Inowrocław, distance: 34.6 km
Chełmno, distance: 39.6 km
Bydgoszcz, distance: 42.3 km
Grudziądz, distance: 54.4 km
Settlement in Biskupin, distance: 62.8 km
Kwidzyn, distance: 83.4 km
Płock, distance: 89.7 km
Iława, distance: 91 km