Szczecin combines a circular route through the city center with museums, striking architecture on the Oder and routes through parks and forests. When planning, it makes a difference whether you mainly want to explore the sights in the center or allow more time for green paths and outdoor activities.
Explore the city center on a circular route
The city’s tourist route covers seven kilometers and takes you to 45 important places in the city center. It starts and ends at the main railway station—its starting and finishing point make it a circular route that you can use to plan your exploration. This gives you a continuous route through the center alongside individual cultural attractions, each of which can serve as the focus of a separate visit.
Museums and history
The National Museum in Szczecin houses and exhibits one of the largest collections of non-European cultural artifacts in Poland. The building at Wały Chrobrego 3 is the architectural centerpiece of the complex on the Oder, formerly known as Hakenterrasse. The collection and location thus combine a museum visit with a landmark spot by the river.
The Centrum Dialogu Przełomy offers a different way to explore history: the underground pavilion is located beneath Plac Solidarności in the city center. Its interactive permanent exhibition covers the years 1939 to 1989 and includes films, photographs, and recorded accounts from eyewitnesses and participants. The entire visitor exhibition is wheelchair accessible and can be used without architectural barriers.
Castle, Philharmonic and architecture
The Renaissance Castle of the Pomeranian Dukes stands on a hill near the Oder and is one of the most important historic monuments in Western Pomerania. The complex includes its own exhibition galleries, the Kino Zamek cinema, the Piwnica przy Krypcie theater and the Centrum Informacji Kulturalnej i Turystycznej. The Ducal Terrace on the north wing’s roof offers views across Szczecin.
You can also get to know the Philharmonic on a guided tour. The tour takes you through the foyer, chamber music hall, the Poziom 4 and Galeria przy Cerkwi galleries, the symphony hall and the museum shop. As you should not assume that tours run at fixed times, it is advisable to check the tour schedule in advance.
Oder views and green paths
Wały Chrobrego is 500 meters long and lies 19 meters above the level of the Oder’s banks. From there, the panorama stretches across the Oder and the port. The Ducal Terrace at the castle offers a different perspective: from there, the view takes in the city. The two places offer different perspectives for exploring the architecture and cityscape.
There are several destinations for walks and bike rides. Jasne Błonia is a recreational area where you can walk and cycle. With 213 London plane trees, it is home to the largest concentration of this tree species in Poland. Kasprowicza Park, meanwhile, is the largest park in Szczecin.
If you are looking for a route with more of a natural focus, consider the Złoty Szlak. This combined hiking and cycling route starts at the Castle of the Pomeranian Dukes and passes through city parks and forests before reaching the heart of Puszcza Wkrzańska. This makes it quite different from the seven-kilometer circular route through the city center: parks and forests are the focus along this route, while the central route highlights important places in the city center.
A maritime focus on Łasztownia
The Morskie Centrum Nauki im. Prof. Jerzego Stalmacha is located on Łasztownia. Its permanent exhibition includes numerous interactive science and technology exhibits, with a focus on the sea and sailing. It complements the historical museums with a distinct subject area and offers another destination for visitors interested in maritime themes.
Discover more destinations: Malechowo, Gwda Wielka, Pogodno, Dziki, Nowe Gonne.
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