 Distances
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London |
1240 km |
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Edinburgh |
1600 km |
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Dublin |
1743 km |
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Paris |
1193 km |
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Brussels |
917 km |
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Copenhagen |
417 km |
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Ystad |
290 km |
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Berlin |
140 km |
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Warsaw |
516 km |
Why visit Szczecin?
- It is the ideal place to relax because of its:
- mild climate
- extensive green spaces
the city is surrounded by three forested areas and almost half of its total area is made up of parks and green spaces, encouraging recreational activities. - well-developed tourist infrastructure
hotels, restaurants, walking and cycling trails, sightseeing - wide range of entertainment
- good transport
efficient public transport, inexpensive taxis - highly attractive prices and high quality of services
- water sports facilities
there are three lakes around the city, of which Lake Dąbie is the third largest in Poland - proximity to the Baltic
Szczecin is only 65 km from the coast and its sandy beaches - friendly people
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Photo by Marek Czasnojć
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A brief history of the city
Szczecin is the capital of Pomorze Zachodnie (Western Pomerania), a region with a stormy history due to its position at the crossroads of different cultures, political persuasions and economic interests
The city was founded sometime in the 8th or 9th century, as a Slavic tribal fortification. Over the following centuries, it came under the influence and control of many different nations. |
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Photo by Marek Czasnojć
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In the first half of the 12th century, the city was Christianised through Bishop Otton of Bamberg. At the end of the century, Szczecin came under Danish influence.
Prince Barnim of Magdeburg granted the town its civic rights in 1243. At the end of the 15th century, Prince Bogusław X unified Western Pomerania, and with his marriage to Anna Jagiellonka, the city came under Polish influence. In the mid-17th century, the Swedes gained dominance, followed by the Prussians in 1720. Even the Napoleonic armies were stationed in the city at one point.
It was only at the end of the Second World War that Szczecin returned to Polish rule. Unfortunately, 65-90% of the city had been destroyed in Allied aerial bombardments, in particular the shipbuilding and the port areas. The rebuilding of the city was undertaken in the main by Poles who had been displaced with the changing of the Eastern border, along with refugees from the Poznañ and Warsaw areas. Over the years, the city and the Western Pomeranian voivodship, of which Szczecin is the capital, have become increasingly important, with the Shipyards reaching a high quality of production and the ports of Szczecin and Świnoujście undergoing constant expansion.
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Photo by ATS-Si
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December 1970 saw strikes at the Szczecin Shipyard (known at that time as the Waryñski Shipyard), in protest at the Communist regime. The protests soon spread to other factories, followed by mass demonstrations which were eventually broken up by the security forces and the army, with the loss of dozens of lives and over one thousand injured.
It was almost ten years later, in August 1980, that Szczecin saw the first agreements between striking workers and the government, which led to the formation of the Solidarity movement. |
Although present-day Szczecin is very different from the city we can see on pre-war postcards, it has retained its unique character and is one of the most attractive cities in Poland.
Szczecin today
Often known as the 'green city', Szczecin is the capital of the Western Pomerania voivodship. With a population of around 420,000, it is the seventh largest city in Poland, but in terms of area it is the third largest.
The city's location can be described as strategic; close as it is to the land and sea borders of the European Union, a mere 12 km from the Polish-German border, 130 km from Berlin and 65 km from the Baltic Sea, Szczecin has always been an important junction where east meets west, north meets south. Szczecin recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of its becoming the headquarters of NATO (North - East).
Following intensive development in the second half of the 19th century, Szczecin was called the 'Paris of the East' due to its characteristic layout of streets coming off roundabouts. While some of the city was later destroyed in the Second World War, this layout is still in evidence around Plac Grunwaldzki. |
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Photo by Marek Czasnojć
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When combined with that of Świnoujście, Szczecin's port is one of the largest in Europe. Despite recent difficulties, the port and shipbuilding area still play a significant role in the economy of the region.
Several institutes of higher education are located in the city: The Pomeranian Medical Academy (PAM), the Szczecin University of Technology (PS), the University of Szczecin (US), and the Agricultural Academy.
Culturally, the city attracts performers and visitors from not only Szczecin but also overseas to the Opera at the Castle and the Philharmonic Orchestra. There are many concerts and events throughout the year, particularly at weekends, with the main cultural event taking place every June, the weekend-long Sea Days Festival.
Tourists can visit the city either on foot, using the Red Route marked on pavements, or take a boat trip along the river Odra, although the best view of the city has to be had from a café on the 22nd floor of the tallest building in the city.
Not far from the city are two 18-hole golf courses.
Tourists come in large numbers throughout the year, principally from Scandinavia and Germany, to take advantage of the many shopping, health and entertainment opportunities Szczecin has to offer.
How can I get to Szczecin?
While it is easy to get to Szczecin by air, land, or sea, many travellers take advantage of the numerous possibilities to arrive in Poland by road or rail to see some of the country en route.
By plane
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Source: Szczecin Goleniów Airport
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By far the fastest and cheapest route is the direct flight from London Stansted to Szczecin Goleniów offered by Ryanair, with tickets costing as little as £20. Book tickets online at
ryanair.com
The flight lasts a mere 1 hour 50 minutes, and from the airport you can get to the city on a bus link, which costs approximately £1.50 if you travel as part of a group, or around £14 if you travel individually. Find out more here... |
Another option is to fly into Berlin (which is far closer to Szczecin than Warsaw) and from there come straight into Szczecin with one of the many bus and taxi operators. They will pick you up from any of the airports and in less than 3 hours you will be in your hotel room.
| City |
via |
Flight time
(approx.) |
Ticket cost from* |
Airline |
| EUR / GPB |
| London |
direct |
02:00 |
€ 30,50 / £20,00 |
Ryanair |
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Edinburgh |
direct |
02:15 |
€ 83,00 / £56,00 |
Centralwings |
| Liverpool |
Berlin |
02:00 |
€ 86,80 / £57,00 |
EasyJet |
| East Midlands |
Berlin |
02:00 |
€ 46,60 / £30,60 |
Ryanair |
| Manchester |
Berlin |
02:40 |
€ 100,00 / £66,00 |
AirBerlin |
| Bristol |
Berlin |
02:00 |
€ 80,70 / £53,00 |
EasyJet |
| Glasgow |
Berlin |
02:15 |
€ 82,20 / £54,00 |
EasyJet |
| Dublin |
direct |
02:20 |
€ 68,00 / £45,00 |
Centralwings |
| Cork |
Berlin |
02:25 |
€ 65,00 / £43,00 |
Aerlingus |
| Belfast |
Berlin |
02:15 |
€ 106,60 / £70,00 |
EasyJet |
| Copenhagen |
Berlin |
01:00 |
€ 57,00 / £37,00 |
EasyJet |
| Stokholm |
Berlin |
01:50 |
€ 100,00 / £66,00 |
SAS |
| Oslo |
direct |
01:35 |
€ 33,00 / £22,00 |
Norwegian |
| Madrid |
Berlin |
03:05 |
€ 66,00 / £43,00 |
EasyJet |
| Rome |
Berlin |
02:10 |
€ 98,00 / £64,00 |
EasyJet |
| Paris |
Berlin |
01:40 |
€ 70,00 / £46,00 |
EasyJet |
| *return ticket |
| bus shuttle prices for HealthAndRelax customers: |
| Goleniów Airport - Szczecin Centre (approx. 1 hour): |
€ 4,50 / £3,00 |
| Berlin Airports - Szczecin Centre (approx. 2 hours): |
€ 22,50 / £14,80 |
By ferry
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Photo by Marek Czasnojć
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There are regular ferry services from Świnoujście on the Baltic to Sweden (Świnoujście - Ystad) and Denmark (Świnoujście - Copenhagen and Świnoujście - Ronne). From the ferry terminal you can either drive into Szczecin or take a direct bus.
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| City |
via |
Travel time
(approx.) |
Ticket cost from* |
Ferry Line |
| Ystad |
Świnoujście |
07:00 |
€ 86,70 / 790,00 SEK |
Unity Line |
| Copenhagen |
Świnoujście |
10:30 |
€ 110,00 / 820,00 DKK |
Polferries |
| Ronne |
Świnoujście |
05:00 |
€ 67,10 / 500,00 DKK |
Polferries |
| *return ticket |
| bus shuttle prices: |
| Świnoujście - Szczecin Centre (approx. 1,5 hour): |
€ 15,60 |
By train
There are four kinds of trains serving the Polish rail network: InterCity, EuroCity and Express trains, then fast trains and local trains. The train stations in most of the larger cities offer: left-luggage facilities, restaurants, bars, foreign exchange offices and telephone boxes. You can travel either first or second class. Reservations are required on InterCity, EuroCity and express trains, which can be bought at the appropriate counter at the railway station.
Because train travel is relatively inexpensive and therefore crowded, you should consider upgrading to first class on longer trips.
Beware of pickpockets and thieves!
Poland is covered by a dense network of rail and coach services which provide easy access to almost any place you can find on the map. To find out more about train schedules, look at
rozklad.pkp.pl
By car
Unfortunately , the state of Polish roads leaves somewhat to be desired, and the situation is not helped by a distinct lack of motorways. Combine this with the rather dangerous tendency of Polish drivers to ignore all speed limits and overtake rather recklessly, and the car does not look like the best way to get around. This does not mean that you should not bring your car; only do not expect to get to your destination quickly! You can find the quickest route into Szczecin or throughout Poland by clicking here: www.mappy.com
Do not leave anything inside the car unattended. Car thieves in Poland are as keen on your valuables as everywhere else. If you are not going to be staying in a hotel it is a good idea to park your car in a guarded car park or preferably an underground garage, where it cannot be seen.
Getting around in Szczecin
The easiest way to travel around the city is to use a taxi, since they are cheap and there is a wide choice of reliable companies, which you will find on this site.
There are four main fares (taryfy):
| TARYFA I |
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weekdays from 6 am to 10 pm |
| TARYFA II |
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weekdays from 10 pm to 6 am, and all day Sundays and public holidays |
| TARYFA III |
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weekdays from 6 am to 10 pm outside the city limits |
| TARYFA IV |
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weekdays from 10 pm to 6 am, and all day Sundays and public holidays outside the city limits |
Prices range from around 4 zł (approx. 70p) for the first kilometre and then, depending on the fare, from 1.50zł (approx. 25p) to 4.50zł (approx. 80p) for each additional kilometre. Telephone bookings often give a discount of up to 20%.
Private transport companies
If you are travelling in a group or would like to go a bit further afield, hiring a car or bus with a driver is worth looking into. For a very reasonable price you will have the freedom to travel where and when you want. Find out more in this section: Transfer.
Car rental
The main car rental firms, such as Avis or Hertz, all have branches in Szczecin, or you may use one of the local firms who also offer a high-quality service. Click here for more information:car rental
Public transport
Using public transport is another convenient method of getting around. In most cases you can use a one day travel card which gives you access to the city's integrated transport network. Please remember to punch your ticket in the machine on the bus or tram on your first trip during the day.
Tickets for buses and trams are identical and can be bought either from the driver, or better still from almost every kiosk and many shops.
There are several types of buses:
regular daytime (with a double number, such as 75),
express (with a letter A to G),
night (with three numbers on a black background)
and also trams (numbered 1-12).
The tickets are timed, with multiple changes permitted: a 20-minute ticket costs 1.90zł
(around 33p), 60 minutes 2.90zł (50p), 120 minutes 3.80zł (66p). The ticket should be stamped in the machine on the bus or tram to validate it. You can also buy books of 10 tickets (which are cheaper than 10 separate tickets), or 1, 5 or 10-day tickets. You will need to buy two tickets to travel on express and night buses, which cost double. You will also need an extra ticket if your luggage is bigger than 60 x 40 x 20 cm (or the total measurements come to more than 120 cm), or if you are travelling with a dog. You can find a bus route plan here: daytime, night.
You will find the tram routes here.
Weather
Szczecin's climate is somewhat milder than most people expect, due to its proximity to the sea. Average winter temperatures are usually milder, and summer temperatures cooler than in other parts of the country
Spring begins in March, although not at the beginning, and it is not until May that sunny, pleasant weather prevails.
While summer begins in June, which is usually warm and sunny, it is not until July and August that higher temperatures set in, when it is not unusual to see 35C. A heat wave is often followed by thunderstorms, sometimes violent.
September sees the start of more autumnal weather, while October often witnesses the beautiful "Polish golden Autumn", with a period of dry, sunny days when all of the changing colours of the leaves can be admired in the city's parks.
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Photo by Marek Czasnojć
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This soon changes, however, to November's rains, fog and chilly temperatures.
In recent years, winters have been rather mild, with freezing temperatures and snow somewhat of a rarity. The coldest months are January and February, with average temperatures around or slightly below freezing, although there are occasions when it can be -20C.
It is safe to say that you should be prepared for all eventualities, since the British Isles do not have a monopoly on changeable weather! It has been known for it to be rainy and 17C in July, 33C in April or even 12C in January. If in doubt, check the weather forecast for Szczecin on this site, which is generally quite accurate:
bbc.co.uk/weather
Remember that whatever the weather, you will never be bored here!
The Cultural and Tourist Information Centre
ul. Korsarzy 34, 70-540 Szczecin
Tel: (+4891) 4891-630, Fax: (+4891) 4340-286
e-mail: cikit@zamek.szczecin.pl
The Cultural and Tourist Information Centre (CIKiT Zamek) is situated in the Mint Wing of the Pomeranian Dukes' Castle. This is the only tourist information office in the city open 7 days a week. You can pop in or call us from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., but our fax or e-mail operates 24 hours a day.
At the information centre you can find:
- tourist information
- guide and hotel reservation
- a bookshop and souvenirs
- entrance tickets to the castle
- tickets to concerts and theatre productions in Szczecin
- tickets to concerts in Poland
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Photo by Marek Czasnojć
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