Lublin is the ninth-largest city in Poland and, although it is largely unknown to many, it is a city with a beautiful historic centre and many interesting sights to see. It is located in the east of the country and is the capital of the voivodeship, the regions of Poland, which bears the same name. In the Middle Ages, when it began to develop commercially, it was a strategic point for the country, being located between the route to Vilnius and Kraków. Today it is one of the most important university cities in Poland, attracting Erasmus students every year. Find out what things to do in Lublin and create your itinerary to this beautiful Polish city with Passporter.
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Things to do in Lublin, Poland
Castle Lublin
The Lublin Castle is one of the city’s must-see sights. It is one of the oldest Polish royal palaces in the country, built on a hill in the 12th century. One of the main features is its thirteenth-century brick tower, which can be seen as soon as you enter. Another must-see in the vicinity of the castle is the Chapel of the Holy Trinity, decorated with Byzantine frescoes.
Hours: T-S: 9:00-16:00; Sun: 9:00-17:00
Historic Centre of Lublin
The historic centre of Lublin is one of the most beautiful in Poland. Its cobbled streets and colourful houses give the city a cheerful and welcoming appearance. Highlights include Lublin’s main square, which houses the Crown Court, and the Kraków Gate, among others. Strolling and wandering through the streets is a real treat that you cannot miss on your trip to Lublin.
Crown Court
A beautiful building to see in the historic centre of Lublin is the Crown Court. Today, it houses various city institutions, such as the Civil Registry Office. The building dates back to the end of the 16th century and was erected on the site of the former town hall, which was completely destroyed in a fire in 1389. In addition to the beauty of the building, the Main Crown Court is also representative of a legend: the legend of the Devil’s Paw.
The legend tells that around 1600 a trial was held against a widow in which the litigant bribed the judges. The widow raised her hands to a crucifix in the courtroom and cried out, “If only the demons had judged, they would have given a fairer verdict”. At that moment, three black-robed figures, including the devil, appeared and pronounced sentence in favour of the woman.
Kraków Gate, an essential sight in Lublin, Poland
In the 14th century the city of Lublin was a walled city and one of its gates was this beautiful gate, which today is one of the most beautiful sights in the city, with its original architecture and brickwork. It was once the route to Kraków, which gave it its name, and today houses the Museum of the History of Lublin.
Trinitarian Tower
One of the most representative buildings in Lublin is the Trinitarian Tower. It is a 40-metre-high neo-Gothic tower located in the historic centre of the city. Like the cathedral, it was built by the Society of Jesus. Its bell tower is one of the most interesting sights in the city, as you can climb it and enjoy one of the best possible views of Lublin.
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
Built between 1592 and 1617, this cathedral is one of the first Baroque churches in Poland. It is modelled on the church of Il Gesù in Rome and like it was built by the Society of Jesus.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
What to see around Lublin?
Natural Park Roztocze
An hour and a half’s drive from the centre of Lublin is one of the most beautiful places in Poland and one of its lungs in the east of the country. It’s Roztocze National Park, a protected 85km2 park that combines beech and spruce forests (some of which are considered monuments) with hills and ravines – a natural spectacle. But the park is not all about flora, it also has a wonderful fauna with more than 190 species of birds, including eagles and woodpeckers. You can also pay a visit to the Tarpan horses, the symbol of the park.
Majdanek Concentration Camp
Near the Ukrainian border and 4 kilometres from Lublin, you can visit one of the concentration camps of Nazi Germany in Poland. This is the Majdanek concentration and extermination camp, which is preserved as it was when it was built. It housed thousands of Polish prisoners of war who had to work in ammunition production and weapons manufacture.
It should be noted that the visit is not suitable for all sensibilities. Not only that, but it is a very shocking place, and the tour takes in sites such as gas chambers.
The tour is free and open to the public. Opening times: 9:00-16:00
How to get to Lublin, Poland?
Despite having an airport, there are no direct flights from Spain. They all make at least one stopover in different European cities such as London, Dublin or Eindhoven. Flight prices vary enormously, but can be found from around €50 and the stopovers are usually quite long, so if you decide to fly to Lublin, be prepared to wait.
That’s why it’s often more convenient to travel first to Poland’s capital, Warsaw, and from there to Lublin by bus. The journey takes about two to two-and-a-half hours and costs around €3.5 with the Flixbus company, which runs several services a day.
What to do in Lublin in 2 days?
First day of travel in Lublin:
- Walk through the historic centre
- Lublin Castle
- Krowleska
- Old Theatre
- Cracow Gate
Second day in Lublin:
- Roztocze Nature Park
- Walk through the historic centre
- Return home
Where to eat in Lublin?
- Mandragora Restaurant: One of the best restaurants in Lublin is a restaurant serving traditional Israeli Jewish cuisine. The food is delicious, and the portions are plentiful, but perhaps the best thing about this restaurant is the feeling of being at home. Price range: €3 – 14.
- 16 Sto?ów Restaurant: A nice and cosy restaurant serving Polish cuisine. The dishes are delicious with seasonal products and the service is warm and professional. Price range: €3 – 13.
- Stó? i Wó?: One of the richest and most popular restaurants in Lublin. Its speciality is meat, and its dishes include delicious burgers and grilled meat, among other delicacies. Price range: €10 – 25.
Where to sleep in Lublin?
- Vanilla Hotel: Just 150 metres from the centre of Lublin, this fantastic 3-star hotel is housed in a beautiful historic building dating back to the 17th century. It offers elegant and comfortable rooms, a restaurant, a café and a fabulous breakfast included. Average price per night: €63
- Folk Deluxe: In an enviable location, right in the centre, are the bright, comfortable and spacious Folk Deluxe flats. Average price per night: 38-52 €
- Hotel Victoria: A little further from the centre, 1 km away, but still in one of the best locations, the 3-star Hotel Victoria offers rooms with city views, buffet breakfast and an elegant restaurant. Average price per night: €51
Tips for your trip to Lublin, Poland
- The currency in Lublin is the Polish Sloti (€1 = 4.50 PLN).
- If you are travelling from a country with a different currency, we recommend that you exchange currency in advance.
- The best time to visit Lublin is from May to September, when temperatures are milder.
- There is no Roaming in Poland, you can use the internet on your mobile phone without any problems.
- The city is safe, but as with any tourist destination, it’s best to be careful with your belongings.
- Be prepared for medical emergencies: travel with insurance.
- It’s frowned upon not to tip in restaurants.
- You can’t drink in the street.
How to organize your itinerary to Lublin, Poland
Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.
- Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers.
- Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions to it.
- Add the stops that interest you most, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
- Organize your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can take inspiration from the routes we present in the post)
- Check the travel budget that the app calculates according to your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make the modifications you need, and you’ll be all set for your trip.
- Share your experience. Upload photos of the places you visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travellers what to see in Lublin, Poland.
If you have any doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.
Frequently asked questions about Lublin
Two days is more than enough time. Even if you make the most of your time, you can see the most characteristic elements of the city in one day. However, in two days you can take a trip to the Roztocze Nature Park or the Majdanek Concentration Camp, or simply enjoy the city’s young, university atmosphere in a relaxed way.
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