Szczecin in one day - what is worth seeing?

Szczecin is a city in north-western Poland, near the mouth of the Oder River and close to the Baltic Sea. It is known as the historic capital of Western Pomerania. If you have only a few hours to visit Szczecin, a good idea is to walk to the riverside boulevards along the Oder River. The entrance to the boulevards is very close to the main train station, Szczecin Główny. You will find benches, cafés, and pleasant places for walking and relaxing.

• from the Oder boulevards, you can walk to the Old Market Square and the Castle of the Pomeranian Dukes in about 20 minutes
• the walk to Chrobry Embankment takes about 30 minutes
• the walk to the Craneosaurs and the beach on Grodzka Island takes about 45 minutes

Piast Boulevard and the Avenue of Sailors by the Oder River

This is a paved pedestrian promenade and a nice place to relax by the Oder River in the city centre. While walking along Poland's second longest river, you can see sculptures and reliefs connected with the sea. There are many charming benches and cafés here. The Avenue of Sailors shows Szczecin's links with the sea and presents the history of sailing and shipping in Western Pomerania. It honours sailors, famous sailing ships, yachts, and ships.

Piast Boulevard is mainly a place to rest. You can sit in a café with a view of the Oder River. Tourist boat cruises on the Oder also start from here.

The sculpture of the "Szczecin barrels" refers to local tradition and the history of Szczecin. In the past, the city became rich partly thanks to herring fishing.

On the Avenue of Sailors, you can also see the proud sculpture of Umbriaga the cat. Umbriaga was a real sailing cat. For several years, the cat sailed on Mare Dambiensis, which means Lake Dąbie. Szczecin sailors jokingly call this lake the Dąbie Sea.

The Mare Dambiensis mosaic shows Lake Dąbie, where Umbriaga the cat sailed.

Hay Market Square in Szczecin

This is the main old town square. The first records of the market square in Szczecin come from the Middle Ages, when it was the city's main trading place. Its Polish name comes from the hay trade that took place there. During World War II, Allied bombing caused serious damage to the buildings around the square. In recent years, the square has been renovated and restored. It is now more attractive for both local people and tourists. Some buildings were rebuilt to look similar to how they looked before the war, for example the Monin family tenement house.

Cast-iron pump on Hay Market Square in Szczecin

When you are on the square, notice the cast-iron water pump. Pumps like this are a typical part of Szczecin's street landscape. There are about 100 such pumps in the city, but only 28 are historic. You can recognise them by the Szczecin coat of arms, a crown or flame at the top, and a dragon's head where the water comes out. Locals often call these pumps "Berlin pumps" because they look similar to pumps in Berlin. The Berlin pumps have a German bear instead of the Szczecin griffin.

Castle of the Pomeranian Dukes

The Castle of the Pomeranian Dukes in Szczecin was once the home of the Griffin dynasty, the rulers of the Duchy of Pomerania. It was one of the longest-ruling ducal families in Europe, and its name comes from the griffin, a mythical creature. One of the most interesting details is the baroque clock with a funny face and a hand pointing to its nose. Above it there is a jester. The jester moves his eyes, opens his mouth, and strikes two gongs. Above the jester's bust, a half-gold and half-dark-blue ball turns and shows the phases of the moon. The clock may be confusing: the large hand shows the hours, and the small hand shows the minutes.

Royal Gate and the Philharmonic building

It is worth walking for a moment to the Royal Gate. Together with the Harbour Gate, it was built during the Prussian expansion of the Szczecin fortress. Today it is one of the city's well-known landmarks and stands in the middle of one of the main traffic points in central Szczecin.

Right next to the Royal Gate, you pass the modern building of the Mieczysław Karłowicz Philharmonic. It has won many architecture awards.

Chrobry Embankment

Chrobry Embankment is a viewing terrace in Szczecin, about 500 metres long, located on a slope along the Oder River. It is an impressive and elegant walking avenue. In the central part of the embankment stands the monumental National Museum. Many city events take place here, including the Days of the Sea, concerts, and fireworks shows.

Craneosaurs

The Szczecin Craneosaurs are three historic port cranes on Łasztownia Island. They have become a permanent part of the city landscape and one of Szczecin's symbols. Łasztownia used to be a closed port island. Today it is a place for attractions and leisure. The Craneosaurs are lit up at night, and that is when they look most impressive.

Maritime Science Centre in Szczecin

The Maritime Science Centre in Szczecin is located by the Oder boulevards, close to the Craneosaurs. It is full of educational and interactive attractions. Five themed exhibitions help visitors learn about the sea and sailing in an interesting and active way. People of all ages can find something enjoyable here. It is best to plan a few hours for the visit. This is also a good place to spend time when the weather is uncertain.

Maritime Science Center in Szczecin - interactive sea museum not just for kids

The Maritime Science Center in Szczecin is the perfect place for a family trip, full of educational and interactive attractions. Five themed exhibitions allow you to learn about the sea and sailing in an interesting and engaging way. ...

Grodzka Island and the beach

Grodzka Island is in the very centre of the city, opposite Chrobry Embankment. It is a great place to relax, but also to spend time actively, for example by playing volleyball. There is a city beach with deckchairs, bars, and a view of Chrobry Embankment. Many events, night parties, and open-air cinema screenings take place on the island.