8 Best Things to Do in Poznan

8 Best Things to Do in Poznan

1. Stroll Around the Beautiful Poznan Old Town Square

Update: The major renovation of Poznan Old Market Square has now been completed, so you can once again explore the square normally. The project brought a new surface, more greenery, and upgraded underground infrastructure while preserving the historic character of the square.

Probably one of the prettiest parts of Poznan, the Old Town Market Square, is the first place you should definitely visit. Surrounded by some of the most colorful traditional houses out there, I think Poznan Old Town Market Square has got to be one of the most colorful town squares in Poland, and there are a lot of them here.

The Old Town Market Square dates back to 1253, when Poznan was laid out on the left bank of the Warta River under Magdeburg law. The square became the commercial and administrative heart of the medieval city, with the Town Hall and market stalls developing at its center.

That said, Poznan Town Square still retains its former grid of narrow cobblestone streets, preserving the square in its original orientation. This makes it a great place to imagine yourself back in medieval times.

While you are at the Town Square, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for all the colorful, accidentally Wes Anderson houses that are lined up perfectly around the square. I really meant it when I said this is the most colorful town square I've seen in the country.

Right at the center of all the beautiful architecture at Poznan Town Square is the historic Poznan Town Hall and the colorful Merchant House, which we will be visiting next. It is the heart of Poznan, and there is no better place to be to get your bearings when you first arrive in Poznan than here.

Where to Stay in Poznan?

Budget

Blooms Boutique Hostel

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Mid-Range

Hotel Altus Poznań Old Town

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Sheraton Poznan Hotel

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2. Check Out Poznan Town Hall and its iconic Billy Goats

Standing right at the heart of Poznan is the iconic Poznan Town Hall. The earliest parts of the building date back to the early 14th century, while the ornate Renaissance form you see today largely comes from a major reconstruction carried out in the 16th century.

Nowadays, the Town Hall is in this beautiful mannerist architectural style that was quite prevalent in this part of Europe back in the 16th Century. The Town Hall features an ornate loggia and a clock tower with mechanical goats that perform one of the most famous shows in Poznan, the Billy Goats Butting Heads show.

Legend has it that in the 16th Century, one fine noon, a chef who was preparing a feast for the mayor and his guests wanted to cook goat's meat, and as he went to grab them, the 2 goats escaped, climbed all the way up to the top of the Town Hall, and started headbutting each other, amusing everyone, especially the mayor.

The head-butting goats have since become one of the symbols of Poznan. The mechanism was installed in 1551, and every day at noon, two metal goats emerge above the clock and butt heads 12 times. If you are exploring the Old Town around midday, this is definitely one tradition worth timing your visit for.

If you are around the Poznan Town Hall at noon, be sure to look up and witness this century-long fight at the top of the clock tower while enjoying a nice meal at one of the nearby restaurants.

3. Learn the History at the Museum of the History of Poznan 🏛️ Best Museum

If you are interested in learning more about the history of Poznan, the Town Hall – Museum of Poznan would normally be one of the best places to start. However, the museum is currently closed while another major phase of conservation and renovation work is carried out on the historic Town Hall.

The museum has occupied Poznan Town Hall since 1954. It briefly reopened part of the building in 2024 after an earlier renovation, but the next phase of work has since begun and the Town Hall is once again unavailable to visitors.

The museum currently expects all spaces of the Town Hall to reopen around late 2027 or early 2028. You can still visit the Old Market Square and watch the famous billy goats from outside at noon while the museum itself remains closed.

4. Admire the beauty of the Merchants' Houses ♥️ Must Visit

Right by the Poznan Town Hall, you will see these colorful narrow houses lining up perfectly at the foot of the Town Hall. That is the Merchants' Houses, an old, beautiful relic of the past and a great example of Poznan's early commercial architecture.

Constructed in the 13th Century, the houses back then were made out of wood, and the local merchants used them to sell all kinds of everyday items like salt, candles, and torches. Then, in the 15th Century, the houses were replaced with narrow brick buildings with shops on the first floors and living quarters on the second floors.

After many years have passed, the Merchants' Houses still live up to their names, as you will find many local artists selling paintings, as well as other kinds of handicrafts, here. It is one of the most unique structures in the city, and I highly recommend you check it out when you are exploring Poznan Town Square.

5. Visit the Beautiful Poznan Fara

If I have to choose a single piece of beautiful architecture in Poznan for you to see that will blow your mind away, it would have to be the all-pink Poznan Fara.

Poznan Fara, also known as the Church of St. Stanislaus, is a Roman Catholic basilica and is considered one of the most exquisite examples of Baroque architecture in Poland.

Constructed in the 18th Century by Polish and Italian designers, this basilica is impressive from both the outside and inside, perfectly blending the Baroque architectural style and Roman designs, creating a unique piece of architecture we see today.

The exterior of Poznan Fara will immediately catch your attention when you see it on the horizon. Its massive scope and all-pink painted exterior make the church stand out from other churches you see in Poland.

The interior of Poznan Fara is also worth seeing, with its massive frescoes on the ceiling and the Corinthian columns often seen in churches in Italy. This is a great example of the Roman influences on its design.

If you want to see Poznan Fara and its stunning pink facade and the jaw-dropping interior, be sure to visit outside of the Holy Masses hours as the place is dedicated to prayers only during that time. The church opens every day from 6 AM to 7:30 PM, and it is free to enter.

6. Explore the Royal Castle of Poznan

The Royal Castle of Poznan may look new from the outside as it was renovated as recently as 2010. However, the castle has stood right at this exact location since the 13th Century, and it used to be the largest castle in the Polish Kingdom during that time.

The castle has endured various tragic events, from the burning in the 16th Century to the partitions that Poland faced in the 19th and 20th Centuries.

After the reconstruction was completed in 2013, the Royal Castle reopened to visitors and now houses the Applied Arts Museum. You can also go up to the tower for a great view over Poznan Old Town. A regular museum ticket currently costs 20 PLN. Opening hours vary by day: Tuesday and Wednesday 10 AM - 4 PM, Thursday 10 AM - 6 PM, Friday 10 AM - 8 PM, and weekends 10 AM - 5 PM; it is closed on Mondays.

7. Admire the beauty of Poznan Imperial Castle

Although most European cities often have one imperial castle that was used to rule the land, Poznan actually has 2 castles: the Royal Castle I previously mentioned and the Imperial Castle located just a little bit outside of Poznan's Old Town.

The Imperial Castle is one of the youngest castles in Europe, as it was only constructed in 1910 as the seat of power, housing German government bodies when they ruled the area.

Despite its name, calling it a castle, the building is actually a palace, and it was built in the Neo-Romanesque style, which is regarded as one of the best representations of the glory of the Holy Roman Empire back in the day. You can clearly see just how out-of-place the design is from the rest of the structures in Poznan.

Another interesting tidbit about the castle is that during the occupation of Poland by Nazi Germany, Hitler actually converted this place into one of his residences, decorating many of the rooms in the totalitarian style of the Third Reich.

Nowadays, the Imperial Castle is mostly used for entertainment and museums, and you can often find many summer events happening in the vicinity of the castle, from concerts to puppet shows.

8. Visit the Croissant Museum

If you are a big fan of croissants (who isn't?), you are going to want to visit the Croissant Museum, a museum just across the street from Poznan Town Hall. It features the history of the famous St Martin's croissant, as well as a baking lesson and croissant tasting.

St Martin's croissant is a croissant with white poppy-seed filling that is a culinary delicacy of Poznan, and they have been perfecting this awesome croissant recipe in locals' homes for more than 130 years.

If you love croissants as much as I do, you are going to love the Croissant Museum. In 2026, a regular individual ticket costs 41 PLN for the standard croissant show or 47 PLN for the goat-viewing show, with open English-language shows also priced at 47 PLN. Standard opening hours are 11 AM - 3:30 PM from Sunday to Friday and 11 AM - 5 PM on Saturday, although the actual show schedule varies, so it is worth checking the available sessions before you go. You can also join a walking tour, which should also include the museum visit as well as other tourist attractions in Poznan.

When to Visit Poznan?

The best time to visit Poznan is during the shoulder seasons from late April to June or late August to September when the weather is relatively comfortable, the places aren't too crowded, and the prices of accommodation aren't too expensive compared to the peak season from June to August.

How To Get To Poznan?

If you are arriving in Warsaw from abroad and would like to get to Poznan, you can board one of the many buses from Warsaw Western Bus Terminal bound for Poznan. You can easily book the bus online here, and it should cost no more than 12 USD and take about 4 hours.

How to Get Around Poznan?

Most tourist attractions in Poznan are concentrated around the Old Town Area, and many of the places I mentioned here can easily be reached on foot, so you do not have to rely on any public transportation here.

Daily Budget

This location is less expensive than most countries, but it's not exceedingly cheap. Expect to spend around $30 - $50 USD per day per person, which includes both accommodation and meals.

Please keep in mind that these are suggested daily budgets based on my own style of travel, which leans more towards the budget side of things. If you aim to stick to this budget, anticipate sleeping in dormitories, dining out only occasionally, and being comfortable with the cheapest and most convenient modes of transportation, which often involve a considerable amount of walking.

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