Poznan and Wroclaw are two cities that are perfect examples of Polish culture and architecture. Both cities were heavily bombed during World War II but have rebuilt and reconstructed most of their historic buildings. Poznan and Wroclaw are home to some of Poland’s most iconic buildings. Here is the ultimate guide to whether you should visit Poznan or Wroclaw.
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Poznan or Wroclaw Overview
Poznan
Poznan is the 5th largest city in Poland with roughly 540,000 residents. It is also one of the oldest cities in Poland and is considered to be the cultural center for the Greater Poland region. The Poznan Cathedral was originally built in 968 AD. The city was devastated during World War II but was quickly rebuilt after the war.
Today, Poznan is one of Poland’s largest industrial centers, actually having the 2nd highest GDP, only behind Warsaw. It is also a major hub for university students with 130,000 students in the city. The city is known for its beautiful Old Town and its authentic Polish architecture.
Wroclaw
Wroclaw is the 4th largest city in Poland with 642,000 people living here. Like many Polish cities, Wroclaw was heavily damaged during WW2 but rebuilt and reconstructed its landmarks at an incredible pace following the war. Wroclaw is also another city with many institutions of higher education with over 130,000 university students in the city. The University of Wroclaw is known for having 9 alumni that were Nobel Prize laureates.
In 2016, Wroclaw won the award of the European Capital of Culture and in 2018 was awarded the European Best Destination title. Many tourists visit Wroclaw to see impressive buildings like the ones found in the Old Town and Centennial Hall.
Things to See
Poznan
Town Hall is one of the most iconic structures in Poznan. It was originally constructed in the 13th century but the present-day form was completed in 1560.
Old Market Square is in the center of the Old Town of Poznan which is a National Historic Monument of Poland.
Poznan Cathedral was completed in the late 900s AD and has been restored throughout the centuries.
Poznań Fara is a Roman Catholic basilica in the Old Town. It is one of the best examples of Baroque architecture in Poland.
The Imperial Castle is a palace that was completed in 1910. It served the German government until after World War II.
Wroclaw
Wroclaw Market Square in the middle of the Old Town and is the most famous tourist area in the city.
Town Hall began construction in the 13th century and is one of the most iconic buildings in the city.
Cathedral Island is an area that used to be an island and is the oldest part of the city.
Centennial Hall is a UNESCO World Heritage Site used mainly used for sporting events recently.
Wroclaw University is one of the most prestigious universities in Poland and produced 9 Nobel prize laureates.
Food
Poznan
- Pierogi is one of the most famous dishes to come out of Poland and is considered by many to be the national dish of Poland so finding some in Poznan is a must. Pierogi is basically Central Europe’s version of a dumpling.
- Kielbasa is a form of sausage that originated in Poland. It is a U-shaped sausage made with pretty much any kind of meat, it just depends on where you find them.
- Pyry with gzikiem is sour cream mixed with cottage cheese, served with potatoes. It is another popular dish, especially in Poznan.
Wroclaw
- Placki ziemniaczane, or potato pancakes, is very popular in Poland. It is typically served with some sort of topping, from cottage cheese and sour cream to apple sauce.
- Of course, pierogi is a good option anywhere you go in Poland so it wouldn’t be a bad idea in Wroclaw!
Golabki is a dish consisting of boiled cabbage leaves, wrapped around minced beef or pork. - If you want to try something sweet, you should find some Pączki which are basically the equivalent of a donut in Poland.
Getting Around
Public transportation in Poznan is made up of a system of buses and trams. One of the best investments you can make when visiting Poznan is buying the Poznan Card. The Poznan Card gives you unlimited access to public transportation and gives you free or discounted admission to the city’s museums, attractions, and even some restaurants. The center of the city is very walkable, however, if you want to go to places like The Imperial Castle or the Poznan Cathedral, you might want to save some time and take public transport.
Wroclaw has a very walkable city center so you should definitely take your time and explore the beautiful area. You might not even need to use the public transport if you don’t plan on leaving the center of the city. If you plan on visiting the Wroclaw Zoo or Centennial Hall, you will want to take public transportation. Wroclaw has a network of trams and buses that can get you pretty much wherever you want to go. Wroclaw is also a great city to explore on a bike because of its 95km of bike paths.
Nightlife
Poznan
Poznan is a city with over 100,000 university students, meaning the nightlife can get quite lively. Most of the nightlife, especially the bars and pubs, can be found around the Old Town and to the west of the Old Town. The bars and pubs are where you’ll be spending you’re time until the nightclubs get going. IF you want to go clubbing there are a few good options. Some of the best nightclubs in the city are SQ Klub, Słodownia, and OPCJA. Muchos is a bar/club that is Latino themed and is a pretty fun place to experience.
Wroclaw
The center of Wroclaw has an abundance of bars and pubs for you to bounce around to. Another area to explore is Słodowa Island which is an island that has quite a few drinking establishments. It is also close the Wroclaw University so many students flock to the island at night. If you want to let loose and dance, there are quite a few clubs you could check out. The area around Niepolda street is the best place in the city to find some wild parties. Insomnia Club, Mundo 71, and Czarny Kot Klub are some of the best nightclubs in the city and are all right next to each other near Niepolda street.
Day Trips
Poznan
Gniezno was the first capital city of Poland in the 10th and 11th centuries.
Licheń Stary is a village of just 1,100 people and is home to Poland’s largest church, Basilica of Our Lady of Licheń.
Leszno is known is just south of Poznan and is known for its iconic town square.
Wroclaw
Książ Castle sits on a hill overlooking the Pełcznica River and was completed in 1292.
Świdnica is a small city to the southwest of Wroclaw. It is known for The Church of Peace and its market square.
Opole is one of Poland’s oldest cities and is less than an hour from Wroclaw.
From Wroclaw, you could also head south and explore the cities of Katowice or Krakow. Poznan sits between Warsaw and Berlin, both of which would be excellent if you can find the extra time to do so.
Overall
Poznan and Wroclaw are two of the most visited cities in Poland and for good reason. They both have beautiful Old Towns and some of the most iconic buildings in Poland. Both cities deserve to be explored if you have the time. One of the best ways to decide which city to go to is which city is closer to your next destination because you can’t go wrong visiting Poznan or Wroclaw. Don’t go further out of your way to see one of the other, go to the one that fits best in your travel plans.
