I’ve been to Szczecin so many times now that I’ve come to consider myself an unofficial ambassador. While I’ve lost track of exactly how many times I’ve been there, over the last 5+ years, I’ve taken different friends there on a day trip from Berlin on multiple occasions.
Szczecin is one of the most popular day trips from the German capital, as it’s less than two hours away and is very affordable whether you travel by train, car, or bus. Filled with historical sites, several museums, old and new architecture, and plenty of cool bars and restaurants, find out all the reasons why you should make the trip and visit Szczecin Poland.
A Day Trip From Berlin to Visit Szczecin Poland
Back in 2018, I went with a group of other Berliners from my old Make Friends in Berlin Facebook group (which has since disbanded). We met up early one morning at Berlin Hauptbahnhof and made our way to Poland. As it was almost everyone’s first time there, I took them on my “standard Szczecin city tour”.
Recommended reading: Another perspective about what to do in Szczecin, this article about the best hotels in Szczecin Poland, and this article filled with recommendations for other day trips from Berlin.
If you want to visit Szczecin Poland and experience the city in the same way we did, follow our recommended highlights.
1) Pierogies and Beer
Whenever I start to crave Polish pierogis and beer, I usually jump on a train just to visit Szczecin Poland for a quick fix.
One of the best places for pierogis is Harnaś, a traditional Polish restaurant set in the heart of the city’s Old Town. And this is where I brought our group of friends when we first arrived in Szczecin. Their pierogi game is tops and they have a few different types on their menu, including pierogi stuffed with cheese and potatoes topped with fried onion, pierogi with pork, herb, and garlic topped with red cabbage and fried onion, and baked pierogis with meat, a cream sauce, and smoked cheese. A plate of 5-6 pierogis will cost you around €6.
Our tips: To complete a perfect lunch or dinner, order a Polish beer and if it’s a nice day, grab a table on the terrace and entertain yourself by watching the action in the square. If you’re staying in the city for lunch and dinner, consider heading further into town and going to Karczma Polska Pod Kogutem for even more authentic pierogi goodness.
2) Stare Miasto
Stare Miasto is Szczecin’s oldest district in the city. Aside from the castle, you’ll find Hay Market Square, full of colorful buildings showing off traditional German architecture, as well as the Old Town Hall. Dating back to the 15th century, the building was completely ruined during the war but brought back to life in the 1970s. Nowadays, it serves as a Historical Museum which has everything from14th century-mint coins to 20th-century German postcards. The building’s also home to the Wyszak Family Brewery where you can get your inner beer geek on and soak up all of the artisanal suds your heart desires.
Our tips: While we fully endorse Harnas as one of the top places to eat around Hay Market, we also recommend the very hipster, Bajgle Króla Jana. I’ve personally dined there many times for breakfast, always opting for their yummy pastrami bagel. Their coffee isn’t bad either! On my list to visit at some point in the future is The Office – Craft Beer Pub, because yeeeees, I love me a good beer.
3) Ducal Castle
This Gothic Pomeranian Dukes’ Castle in Szczecin is a mainstay of the Old Town. The castle was originally built in 1346 with further additions being added over the years. Destroyed during the Second World War, reconstruction efforts began in earnest about a decade after the war ended.
These days the castle is a cultural center where you go to watch concerts, plays, or even opera performances. When I visited last summer, I came across a medieval festival that made me feel like I was in a Game of Thrones episode. The Castle Museum features regular exhibitions and also contains six sarcophagi of the Pomeranian dukes. In addition, the Pomeranian Dukes’ Castle has a restaurant, cinema, and gift shop.
While walking around the main courtyard, be sure to look up at the clock tower which displays an astronomical clock, much like in Brescia or Prague.
Our tips: To our regret, we didn’t spend much time here, but we left thinking about how nice it would be to watch a performance on a warm summer’s day (preferably, with a glass of wine in hand).
4) The City Gates
When you visit Szczecin Poland, be sure to check out the two remaining historical Baroque city gates. Brama Portowa, the Harbour Gate built between 1714 – 1740, is decorated with depictions of a city panorama and the God of the River Oder, Viadrus. The other gate, Brama Królewska or Royal Gate, was constructed between 1725 – 1737 and showcases emblems of the black eagle of Prussia, as well as the Roman gods, Mars and Hercules.
5) Solidarity Square
A solid reason to visit Szczecin Poland is to check out Solidarity Square, located just outside of the city’s new philharmonic building. Taking the European Prize for Urban Public Space back in 2016, the square’s quite a place to behold as the city has done much to repurpose the space. Many events are held at the square and on less busy days, it’s full of locals walking around, skateboarding, and even rollerblading. As the site’s so picturesque in terms of its geometry and other fixtures, it’s a haven for photographers and yes, even Instagrammers looking for a cool shot that’s sure to garner plenty of likes. Our group of Berlin travelers certainly had a lot of fun here taking photos.
One of the first things that you’ll notice is the contrast of old versus new architecture, especially as you compare the striking bold white jagged exterior of the philharmonic building resting beside a very traditional German-styled building. The concrete foundation of the square’s also not level, as it was built to resemble waves in a tumultuous sea. The uneven square also serves as a rooftop for the Center for Dialogue Breakthroughs, a two-story museum with a permanent exhibition on the history of Szczecin and host to other cultural events.
Another prominent part is the Angel of Freedom monument, created by Czesław Dźwigaj, a famous Polish artist, sculptor, and professor. Built in 2005, the angel appears on a small boat, channeling through a sea of rough waters as reflected by the surrounding square. This 11-meter-high monument showing an angel clutching a crown of thorns is an iconic symbol of the Polish solidarity movement. It was at this square that 16 people protesting their poor work conditions were shot and killed by the Polish army and police. Their names are now engraved on four commemorative plaques at the sculpture’s base.
Other nearby attractions? Due to time, we didn’t get to visit some other nearby attractions like the Church of Saints Peter and Paul and the Museum of Regional Traditions. If we return for another visit, we’ll likely stop by the highly recommended Mała Tumska for a traditional Polish meal (Mmmm!).
6) The Szczecin Philharmonic
Szczecin’s philharmonic building opened in 2014, spans 13,000 square meters, and includes two concert halls – one seating up to 1,000 people and another 200. Designed by the Barcelona-based architectural firm Studio Barozzi Viega, the building’s bold and modern look helped them take home the European Union prize for contemporary architecture in 2015.
The white zigzag-shaped facade of the building is covered in ribbed glass and gives off an ethereal glow by night. The architects note that the building’s design was inspired by the roofs of neighboring residential buildings, the city’s neo-Gothic churches, and even the tall cranes dotted alongside the river. The interior’s simple, minimalist, and monochrome, dominated by a series of skylights.
It’s also another paradise for Instagrammers or anyone looking for a new Facebook or Tinder profile picture (I offered tips to my friends on the best spots to pose).
If you’re visiting Szczecin and don’t have an EU-based phone number, the wifi here is strong, fast, and free.
Our tips: Come here to enjoy a performance by the local orchestra, which has been around since 1948. Note, the concert halls aren’t open to the public when performances aren’t taking place. Otherwise, tour the inside to experience the grandness of the interior or grab a drink from the onsite café.
7) Wały Chrobrego
When you visit Szczecin, Poland, you could easily come to Wały Chrobrego and hang out here for the entire day without going anywhere else.
It’s one of the few places in Szczecin that wasn’t destroyed during WW2 and is one of the best places in the city to experience history. Built by Wilhelm Meyer- Schwartau between 1902 – 1921, this impressive 500-meter-long elevated promenade rests on the bank of the Oder River and is flanked on each end by oval roofed rotundas. In the center of the promenade and at the bottom of the embankment, is a beautiful fountain – now curiously empty of water and replaced by a tacky-looking boat sculpture. The top of the promenade features a tree-lined street, a bunch of restaurants, bars, and food trucks, as well as access to some of the city’s most notable architectural landmarks like the Maritime University, National Museum, and Szczecin’s Contemporary Theatre. Events like the Tall Ships Races and Days of the Sea are also held here.
Offering panoramic views over the river, we stopped by one of the restaurants along the terrace – the American Western-themed Colorado Steakhouse for a late afternoon cocktail.
Other nearby restaurants? We were so stuffed from our pierogi lunch that we didn’t have any more room in our stomachs to take on more food. If we had more time on our hands, we would have checked out Columbus Restaurant.
8) Cafe 22
While Wały Chrobrego offers a great view over Szczecin, one of the top views in the city is found at Cafe 22. The restaurant and bar, located on the 22nd floor of a business skyscraper, is an excellent place to take a late breakfast, afternoon coffee and cake, and even a romantic dinner. Particularly unique are the views of the philharmonic building from above, as well as Ducal Castle. Visit Cafe 22 on Wednesday nights for live music, including jazz, swing, rock, and pop.
Our tips: Order a dessert (the apple strudel is delicious) and pair it with some bubbly. Our group opted to taste some of the restaurant’s exotic and fruity cocktails and reported high happiness levels. Even better, visit Cafe 22 at sunset to see Szczecin’s cityscape on fire.
We regret missing out on this trip (I’ve been there several times before), but there’s also one more place in the city to get an aerial view over Szczecin, and that’s the Cathedral Basilica of St James the Apostle. Take the lift up 110 meters for some genuinely glorious city views.
9) Galaxy Shopping Mall
We know, we know. There’s nothing remarkable about Galaxy Shopping Center. It’s just another mall that’s no different than any other mall anywhere else.
However, coming here as a tourist is way fun. There’s a massive supermarket inside where you can shop for local beers, Polish vodka, and tons of other treats not available in Germany. Standard shops like Mango or H & M often feature different clothing than you’d find at the same shops back in Berlin.
Shop to your heart’s content and load up on goodies before heading home.
10) Baltica Wellness And Spa
This is a recent addition to our Szczecin to-do list. Baltica Wellness And Spa is one of the top spas in Szczecin; it’s the perfect place for weary Berliners to get a dose of health and wellness. Aside from their dizzying array of spa treatments, guests can spend time in the wellness area, which includes a sauna, jacuzzis, steam rooms, sensation showers, and even a snow room to cool down after the sauna. On a recent trip to Szczecin, I had a facial, massage, and access to the wellness area for only €60. Talk about a deal!
We know this particular activity may be hard to fit into a mere day trip from Berlin, so we either recommend swapping out some of the above activities for a time at the spa or staying in Szczecin for at least 2 days.
What do you think about these reasons to visit Szczecin, Poland? Have you been there? Are we missing any vital city tips? Drop us a comment below and let us know.
Locations
Visit Szczecin, Poland now. Make it easy and download this Google Map to spend your day cherylhoward.com style, featuring all of the places mentioned above.
Transportation Options In Szczecin
These are the main transportation options you have when you visit Szczecin, Poland:
1) Szczecin isn’t very far from Berlin and makes for an easy day or weekend trip. If you want to take a break from the German capital, head there by train, bus, or car:
- You can get there by train on a second-class Berlin Brandenburg ticket for €33. This budget-friendly price includes the round-trip fare for up to five people. Depending on your connection, the journey will take anywhere from two or three hours.
- The bus is fairly cheap as well, averaging anywhere from €15 – 20 for a round-trip fare. The bus trip will take about three hours if traffic is light and construction zones are few.
- Driving from Berlin to Szczecin will take you a little under two hours. If you’re visiting other parts of Poland, rent a car and take a road trip.
2) For those coming from anywhere else, transportation options to Szczecin’s city center include taking a train, bus, or taxi:
- From the airport – The airport, Solidarity Szczecin-Goleniów Airport (SZZ) is 45 kilometers northeast of the city. You can take a regional train from the airport’s station, Port Lotniczy Szczecin Goleiow to Szczecin Glowny, the city’s main station. The train runs four times daily, takes about 50 minutes, and a ticket will cost you just over €3 (14.80 złoty). You can take a Flixbus, leaving the airport twice daily with the journey to the city center taking 40 minutes. A ticket is around €5 (23.71 złoty) or more if you reserve a seat. You can also book an airport transfer with a minibus via PKS – buses run six to eight times daily (timed with flight landings), stopping at Szczecin Glowny, and Place Rodła. The journey takes about 55 minutes and a ticket is just over €5 (24.90 złoty).
- From the train/bus station – The city’s main railway and bus station, Szczecin Glowny, is located in the middle of the city. Use public transit, walk, or take a taxi to get to arrive at your final destination.
3) Getting around Szczecin, Poland:
- Taxis – A recommended local company is Night Taxi Szczecin.
- Ridesharing – Uber and Bolt are available in Szczecin.
- Bikes – Grab a bike with Bike_S, the city’s bike-sharing service.
- Public Transit – ZDiTM has an excellent public transit system with plenty of buses and trams. A single ticket fare can be purchased for a time, anywhere from 15 – 120 minutes, costing anywhere from €0.42 (2 złoty) to €1.05 (5 złoty). If you’re there for a day or longer, purchase a 24-hour, 5-day, or 10-day ticket. A 24-hour ticket costs €1.05 (5 złoty).
- Driving – If you want to drive in Szczecin, consider renting a car with Herz or Platinum Rent.
Where To Stay In Szczecin
Find a place to stay when you’re in Szczecin.
Booking.comPaying For Things In Szczecin
Important information to consider when handling payments while you’re traveling around Poland.
1) Poiand uses the złoty:
- See xe.com to find out how your home currency compares to the złoty.
- Most places accept bank or credit cards. There also are bank machines throughout the city in case you need cash.
- When paying by card, you may be asked which currency you want to pay in – choose to pay in the local currency to save money on the exchange rate.
2) Your money will go a long way in Szczecin as prices are lower here than in other European destinations. You can splurge when it comes to accommodation, eating out, and more.
3) If you can avoid doing so, exchange your money in the city center and NOT the airport, as exchange rates at the airport tend to be on the high side.
Good To Know About Szczecin
1) Experience a guided tour when you’re visiting Szczecin.
2) Love Poland as much as I do? Check out my Poland archive or read some of my favorite posts:
- Journey To Middle Earth At The Wieliczka Salt Mine in Poland – Go deep underground on a journey to “Middle Earth” to see the Wieliczka Salt Mine in Poland, which includes a cathedral made entirely of salt.
- Poznan Restaurants for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner – The next time you visit Poznan, Poland try out these delicious Poznan restaurants for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- The Pharmacy Museum in Krakow Is A Must See – Visit the Pharmacy Museum in Krakow, filled with over 22,000 objects and reproductions of ancient apothecaries.
For even more inspiration, consider these things to do in Krakow.
*Disclosure – This post contains some affiliate links. If you book a tour or hotel through any of these links, I’ll earn a tiny commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!
great tips! I’ve never been to Szczecin even though I’m Polish but hopefully will make it there this year as a day trip from Berlin 🙂
Thanks Aga. Glad you like the post and hopefully it will prove useful should you ever make the trip to Szczecin. <3
Yes, I love Poland as much as you do and will definitely check your other articles about the country. Szczecin looks fantastic! I all about beautiful architecture and good food.
Yeah, I’ve been so many times I’ve list count. Hope you enjoy Szczecin! 🙂
Wow such interesting architecture there, I especially love the philharmonic building and I want to try the pierogies.
Didn’t know this was so close to Berlin. Szczecin looks like a nice place to visit. Only been to Krakow but need to go back to Poland.
Hey Sue!
Yes, dangerously close to Berlin. The cravings for pierogis are real. 🙂
– Cheryl
Yes, the philharmonic building is my favourite as well! It’s basically Instagram heaven. <3
Looks like a really interesting place to go, Thanks for sharing this!
It’s a very lovely city!
Hi Cheryl.
Please give me some more information about your one day trip to Sczcecin for 4 adults and 1 child (3years old)
Thank you ,
Lina
[email protected]
Hi Lina,
Thanks for your comment and reading my blog! All the general info we can offer is already contained in the article – we’ve listed different ways to travel there, approximate costs of travel, etc. We’ve also listed out things to do, places to eat, and more. There’s even a downloadable map. 🙂
If there’s something missing, please let us know the details and we can try to see if there is more info we can offer.
Kind regards,
Cheryl
Thanks to your blog I got to enjoy a day trip to Szczecin today! I knew I wanted to do a day trip to Poland from Berlin however everything I was reading was discouraging, except for your blog. I followed most of your tips. My favorites were the view while having a coffee at Café 22 and also the beer and pirogies at Harnaś (the weather was picture perfect so I sat on the terrace!). I went solo and my Deutsch Bahn ticket was €22. It wasn’t available online, only at the train station. Thanks again for all of your great information!
Hey Raymond,
Wooo hooo. So glad to hear this news and that you enjoyed our tips. 🙂
Cheers!
– Cheryl
PS: You can buy a ticket online. See the link above in the “Transportation Options In Szczecin” section.
Hello Cheryl,
I am going on a bus trip in Sept 2020 in which I will have 1 free day in Berlin. Since I have been to Berlin previously and wanted to take a day trip to Poland, I had read many people on other sites who were saying not to do a day trip to Poland. I came across your blog who encourages it. I do have a couple of questions and concerns. My first is the ticket to Szczecin, can you only get the ticket at the train station? I also would like to know what timeframe you would suggest starting the day trip to Poland and how much time do you recommend to spend there? My concern is because I am doing a bus trip with a group, I want to make sure that I make it back before the group leaves the next day, I am fearful of being left in Poland.
Thank you,
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
I’m not sure why people would advise you not to go to Poland? Szczecin is a great city well worth visiting. 🙂
You can buy a train ticket online – you’ll find the link in the “Transportation Options In Szczecin” section above. If you take the bus, you can also buy the ticket online.
In the same section, you’ll also find how long it takes to get there and back. That should help you plan your day. I usually leave Berlin between 8 – 9 am to get there before lunch. By 6 pm or so, I’m usually ready to come back to Berlin and arrive around 8 pm.
Hope this helps. Enjoy your trip!
– Cheryl
Is August, 2022 a good time to visit Szczecin?
Hi Linda! Most definitely, this is a great time, as you can enjoy time eating and drinking on terraces, take in some water based activities, and more. Enjoy your time in Poland!
Hello, I am re-planning my son’s very belated graduation trip to Berlin (we were booked to go in May 2020, then December 2020…) and we are finally going in December. I’m looking at day trip possibilities. Does Szczecin have a Christmas market, and if so, do you know if it would be worth planning our day in order to visit it? thanks!
Hi Kayla! Great to hear that your family will finally be able to make such a nice trip! Yes, Szczecin has Christmas markets and would definitely be worth visiting. We also recommend these other day trips from Berlin as well. Enjoy your vacation.
Szczecin is not the same city which was before war. All bricks were moved to rebuild Warsaw — it’s heartbreaking. And the city’s old buildings are pretty dirty due to all the fumes and the city itself is quite a pathology, especially if you go to Bulwary at night. And it’s still pretty lame in comparison to other Polish cities like Warsaw, Cracow, Gdansk.
I can recomend Szczecin’s parks and cafes though, especially when it comes to cakes and coffees: the great place are Ciastki (next to the current city hall) and Chodzą słuchy (Rajskiego Street) owned by U Piekarzy. You can buy delicious coffee in Palarnia kawy who have their spots all over Szczecin (one is somewhere near Książnica Pomorska). You can also try some ice-cream (U Marczaka, Między wierszami). I would also recomend the neighbourhood of Szczecin, there are quite a few nice spots in Gmina Dobra (if you want to go swimming, I’ll recomend Stolsko lake — it’s cleaner than Głębokie and much more private but you can still have sausages and barbecue, there’s also a small playground so the kids won’t be bored, it’s in Stolec next to the amazing palace in Stolec, you can’t visit it though), especially for bicycling.
Thanks for your comment and recommendations! I’m sure our other readers will appreciate them. 🙂
This is a very helpful article. I am seeking a day trip from BErlin to the closest city in Poland to experience another country and this came in very handy. any other thoughts on another close by city in Poland which can make a good day trip from Berlin? Thanls
Hiya Rupal – Szczecin is definitely an option and Poznan is another. It’s a bit further and would make for a long day, but it could also be done. Enjoy! 🙂
For visit Szczecin i propose you: https://centrum-informacji-turystycznej.pl/informacja-turystyczna-szczecin
Hi Maciej! Thanks for the recommendation. Appreciated! 🙂
Hi, hopefully you’ll see this even though it’s so late! When in this part of Poland, do you typically speak Polish, or are you able to speak German, English, etc.?
Thank you for all the great and detailed info!
Hey Yolanda – It’s really hard to say, as it’s always hit and miss for me personally. I can say that generally speaking, younger people tend to speak English and are happy to help if you are lost or need help translating. With older people, outside of Polish, they tend to speak either German or Russian. Hope this helps and enjoy Poland. <3