Stettin (Szczecin): City routes, museums and views of the Oder

City routes and green spaces

The city’s tourist trail covers seven kilometers and takes you to 45 important places in the city center. It starts and ends at the main railway station. Its length, number of stops, and starting and ending points provide a clear framework for exploring the city. If you are interested in a route that extends beyond the city center, the Złoty Szlak offers a different experience: This combined hiking and cycling route begins at the Pomeranian Dukes’ Castle and passes through city parks and forests to the heart of the Puszcza Wkrzańska.

Jasne Błonia is also a good place for walking and cycling. It is home to 213 London plane trees—the largest concentration of this tree species in Poland. Kasprowicza Park is the largest park in Stettin. These green spaces are among the options described for getting to know the city beyond its museums and historic buildings. The city walking route and the Złoty Szlak differ primarily in their courses: one connects places in the city center, while the other leads from a castle through parks and forests and onward into the Puszcza Wkrzańska.

Architecture and views of the Oder

Wały Chrobrego is 500 meters long and lies 19 meters above the level of the Oder’s banks. From here, the view extends across the Oder and the harbor. At Wały Chrobrego 3, the National Museum building forms the architectural centerpiece of the riverside complex. The site is also known by its former name, Hakenterrasse. Its dimensions, riverside location and architecture give this stretch a distinct character within the city tour.

Another prominent site is the Renaissance Pomeranian Dukes’ Castle. It sits on a hill near the Oder and is one of the most important historic monuments in West Pomerania. The Princes’ Terrace on the roof of the north wing offers an impressive view over Stettin. The castle complex also has its own exhibition galleries, the Kino Zamek cinema, the Piwnica przy Krypcie theater and the Centrum Informacji Kulturalnej i Turystycznej (CIKiT). Architecture, views and a range of cultural institutions come together here in one place.

Museums, history and science

The National Museum in Stettin houses and displays one of Poland’s largest collections of non-European cultural artifacts. The Centrum Dialogu Przełomy offers another way to explore history: The underground pavilion lies beneath Plac Solidarności in the city center and presents an interactive permanent exhibition on the history of 1939 to 1989. Exhibition materials include films, photographs and recorded accounts from eyewitnesses and participants. The entire visitor exhibition is wheelchair-accessible and can be used without architectural barriers.

The Morskie Centrum Nauki im. Prof. Jerzego Stalmacha is located on Łasztownia. Its permanent exhibition includes numerous interactive science and technology exhibits, with a focus on the sea and sailing. This complements the city center’s historic themes with a look at science and maritime topics. The Philharmonic im. Mieczysława Karłowicza offers a guided tour of the foyer, chamber music hall, Poziom 4 and Galeria przy Cerkwi galleries, symphony hall and museum shop. The tour offers a way to discover the building’s architecture.

More destinations

Discover Gwda Wielka, Nowe Gonne, Malechowo, Dziki and Pogodno too.

Back to the main travel overview: Stettin.