Located on the banks of the Brda River, Bydgoszcz is an architecturally rich city in northern Poland. It’s home to half-timbered granaries, Gothic churches and Baroque residences, many of which are now occupied by cultural museums. Bydgoszcz flourished in the 18th century with the construction of its canal, which connected the city to European waterways as far west as Rotterdam.
Things to do in Bydgoszcz
In the heart of Bydgoszcz is Old Market Square where the city was founded by King Casimir III the Great in 1346. It’s framed by 18th-century tenement houses that are occupied by alfresco restaurants where you can watch the world go by. Be sure to admire the Baroque-style Town Hall and the monument remembering the Poles who were executed here during World War II.
Just a few steps from Old Market Square is Mill Island, which lies in the branching Brda River. Once the city’s industrial hub, many of its centuries-old mill and factory buildings are now occupied by art galleries and museums. Don’t miss the monumental Rother's Mills or the contemporary Polish exhibitions of Galeria Sztuki Nowoczesnej.
Bydgoszcz’s oldest building is the Church of St. Martin and St. Nicholas, a late Gothic masterpiece established in 1466. It features a magnificent crow-stepped gable and beautiful stained-glass windows, as well as a Baroque main altar with polychrome work. Also of note is the Church of Poor Clares, which harmoniously blends Gothic and Renaissance architectural styles.
Getting around Bydgoszcz
Bydgoszcz Ignacy Jan Paderewski Airport is just five minutes’ drive from the city centre and has flights to destinations across Europe. Long-distance trains connect to the Bydgoszcz Main railway station while both buses and trams travel throughout the city. The centre of Bydgoszcz can easily be explored on foot.