A city with a vibrant cultural heritage
Established in the 10th century by Poland’s first known ruler, Duke Mieszko I, Poznań is the birthplace of the Polish state. Currently the country’s fifth largest city, it has emerged as a vibrant tourist destination in recent years. In 2017, almost 1.5 million people flocked to the historic city as improvements made to the visitor experience — started when Poznań played host to the 2012 UEFA European Championship — began to pay dividends. Its city centre is a friendly meeting place throughout the year and is the setting for several hundred local and international events.
Located halfway between Berlin and Warsaw, and on the transport route that links Moscow to the German capital, as well as Paris, Madrid, Budapest, Prague and the Baltic coast, Poznań is easily reached by air, road or rail. Once there, the city is easy to explore thanks to the Poznań City Card, which offers discounts on attractions and is available in three languages. Tourist guides are also printed in 10 languages, while information in Braille is available at most popular monuments.
Poznań has invested heavily in alternative transport, including electric scooters, carpooling and city bikes, all of which can be booked via an app. Locals and tourists alike have access to 100 scooters, 300 cars and 113 bike stations throughout the city. Its entire bus fleet, plus almost two-thirds of its trams, are low-floor to allow for disabled access. The involvement of people living with disabilities and the organisations representing them in improving the city’s infrastructure was a key factor in why Poznań ranked third at the European Commission’s Access City Awards in 2014.
The Warta River, which runs through Poznań and links the city to the Great Waterway Loop, has been the scene of some of the city’s greatest efforts to reinvent itself. The banks of the river have been rejuvenated to create attractive recreation spots, while the city has signed up to continent-wide initiatives such as CONNECTING NATURE and EnRoute.
In a bid to shake off its label as a boring, business-focused town, Poznań has also created two schemes in the past decade designed to drive tourism from within Poland, as well as abroad. ‘Half-Price Poznań’ is an off-season initiative that gives visitors 50% off at top attractions on a given weekend, while ‘Summer at the Fair’ sees a host of free events organised throughout the city.