Interested in Poznań as a vacation destination? Here’s our rundown of some neighborhoods to stay in Poznań!
Where to stay in Poznań? Poland’s fifth-largest city, with over 500,000 Posnanians, Poznań is located in the west of the country, between Berlin and Warsaw. Crossed by the River Warta, the city is said to have been founded in the 9th century and is today a major industrial, economic and cultural hub for the country: the city boasts 14 museums and numerous historic monuments to visit. A student town, Poznań is often off the beaten track of mass tourism, with visitors preferring Berlin, Warsaw or Prague. Poznań is known for the charm of its old town, some of whose buildings were destroyed and rebuilt identically, and has many attractions to offer its visitors.
Looking for a place to stay in Poznań? The city is subdivided into 42 districts, each offering a different, typical atmosphere. As you stroll among the colorful facades, churches and/or party bars, here’s where to stay in Poznań.
Stare Miasto
Photo credit: Flickr – UggBoyUggGirl
If you’re looking for a place to stay in Poznań and like to have everything at your fingertips, the historic center is the place to be. The historic center is home to most of the museums you’ll want to visit, countless terraced bars and historic monuments featuring a succession of architectural styles, like a testament to the passing of time. For added authenticity, private tours are available, guided by a local.
Like many Polish cities, Poznań was destroyed and rebuilt as it was, and its center is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Renaissance Town Hall on Stary Rynek Square (the old market square) is a must-see. Take the opportunity to sample local culinary specialties in the many taverns lining the square. All around, in the colorful cobbled streets, there are so many terraces where you can taste Lech (local beer), mojito or daiquiri, that you don’t know where to go. And if you’re a big vodka fan, you might even be tempted to take a vodka-tasting tour of the city!
If you like museums, don’t miss the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of the History of the City of Poznań, the Museum of the Poznań Uprising (June 1956), the Museum of Musical Instruments, the Military Museum of Greater Poland, the National Museum, the Ethnographic Museum and the Museum of Applied Arts. To round things off in style, climb up to the city’s imperial castle, named Zamek, a palace built in 1910 for Wilhelm II, Emperor of Germany. Finally, to top it all off, there are plenty of green spaces to stroll around in on sunny days! In our opinion, this is the best place to stay in Poznań.
Nowe Miasto
Photo credit: Flickr – Przemysław Turlej
Nowe Miasto means « new town » and is located on the eastern side of the city. To the northeast of the historic center, enjoy a vast park of almost the same dimensions as the historic center: Parc Cytadela, with the Armaments Museum. Cross the Warta and you’ll come across Ostrow Tumski, the island of the cathedral. This islet in the city is a place of pilgrimage for Polish Christians, as it is here that the Polish state is said to have been founded. The neo-Gothic arch-cathedral basilica of St. Peter and Paul, dating from the 10th century, is a must-see.
Further east, the Śródka district, Lake Malta, an amusement park – ideal for children – and the Poznań Zoo stretch out. There are fewer hotels to choose from in Poznań than in the historic center, but that doesn’t mean you can’t stay there: aim for homestay accommodation. The modern city offers accommodation in Poznań away from the tourist areas, offering a more local, authentic stay.
Map of hotels and accommodation – Poznań,pl