Szczecin in one day - what's worth seeing?
Nearby: szczecin
Szczecin, located at the mouth of the Odra River to the Baltic Sea, is considered the historical capital of Western Pomerania. If you only have a few hours to explore Szczecin, it's worth walking along the boulevards stretching along the Odra River - the entrance to the boulevards is right next to the train station. You'll find benches, cafes, and places to walk and relax.
- It's about a 20-minute walk along the Odra boulevards to the Market Square and the Pomeranian Dukes' Castle
- Getting to Chrobry Embankments takes about 30 minutes
- Getting to the Dzwigozaury (Cranesauruses) and the beach on Grodzka Island - about 45 minutes
Piast Boulevard and Sailors' Avenue on the Odra
This is a paved promenade and an interesting relaxation spot located on the Odra in the city center. Walking along the second longest river in Poland, you can see sculptures and bas-reliefs related to maritime themes. You'll find many charming benches and cafes here. Sailors' Avenue is meant to show Szczecin's connections with the sea and present the history of West Pomeranian sailing and navigation. This place commemorates, among others, seafarers, legendary sailing ships, yachts, and ships.
Piast Boulevard is primarily a place to relax, where you can rest and sit in a cafe with a view of the Odra. Tourist cruises on the Odra also depart from here.
The sculpture of "Szczecin barrels" refers to the tradition and reflects the history of Szczecin, which built its wealth in ancient times, among others, on herring fishing.
On Sailors' Avenue, the sculpture of the cat Umbriaga – the sailor's cat, a real character, also proudly shows off. Umbriaga the cat sailed for several years on the Mare Dambiensis, or the Dąbie Lake, as Szczecin sailors jokingly call it.
Mosaic of Mare Dambiensis, or Dąbie Lake, on which the cat Umbriaga sailed.
Hay Market in Szczecin
This is the main old town square. The first mentions of the Market in Szczecin date back to the Middle Ages when it was the main market and trading square of the city - its name also comes from this era, derived from the hay trade taking place there. During World War II, allied bombings caused significant damage to the market buildings. In recent years, the Market in Szczecin has undergone many renovation and revitalization works, which have restored its former glory and made it an even more attractive place for residents and tourists. Some buildings have regained an appearance similar to that before the war damage, such as the Monin House.
Cast Iron Pump at the Hay Market in Szczecin
While at the market, it's worth paying attention to the cast iron pump located there - they are an integral part of the landscape of Szczecin's streets. There are about 100 such pumps in Szczecin, but only 28 are historic. They can be recognized by the Szczecin coat of arms, a crown or flame crowning the entire pump, and a dragon's head from which water flows. The pumps are colloquially called "berlinki", due to their similarity to pumps in Berlin, which instead of the Szczecin Griffin have a German bear.
Port Gate
Once it was the entrance gate to Szczecin - it is one of the two (along with the Royal Gate) gates preserved to this day, being a remnant of the old fortifications. The Port Gate is an important historical place in Szczecin and a distinctive city landmark - it is located in the middle of one of the main communication nodes of the Szczecin center.
Pomeranian Dukes' Castle
The Pomeranian Dukes' Castle in Szczecin was once the residence of the Griffins - rulers of the Pomeranian duchy and one of the longest reigning princely dynasties in Europe, whose family name was derived from the griffin. The baroque clock with a mascaron and a hand stuck in the tip of the nose catches the eye. Above it is a jester – he moves his eyes, claps his jaw, and hits two gongs. And above the jester's bust, a ball spins, half gold, half navy blue, showing the phases of the moon. Some may have trouble correctly reading the time measured by the clock - because the large hand shows the hours, and the small one – the minutes.
Chrobry Embankments
Chrobry Embankments is a viewing terrace about 500 m long in Szczecin on the escarpment along the Odra. This grand, representative walking avenue runs along the Odra embankment. In the central part of the Embankments stands the monumental National Museum. The Sea Days and most city events such as concerts or fireworks shows take place on the Embankments.
Cranesauruses
Szczecin's Cranesauruses, i.e., three historic port cranes on the Łasztownia Island, have permanently entered the city's landscape, becoming one of its landmarks. Łasztownia used to be a closed port island - today it is a place of attractions and recreation. The Cranesauruses are illuminated at night and that's when they look the most impressive.
Grodzka Island and the beach
Grodzka Island is located in the very center of the city, opposite the Chrobry Embankments. It's the perfect place to relax, but also to spend time actively, for example, playing volleyball. There is a city beach here with sun loungers, bars, and a view of the Chrobry Embankments. Numerous events, night discos, and open-air cinema take place on the island.
Publish Date: 2024-05-04
Last Updated: 2024-05-01
