Things to do and see in Torun Poland

Unlike most major Polish cities, Torun was not destroyed during World War II and still preserves in very good condition a Gothic old town that has been named a World Heritage Site for its architectural richness. This city is one of the most beautiful in the country, you will not be disappointed by how many things to do in Torun Poland, city where Copernicus was born.

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What things to do in Torun Poland?

The city of Torun is famous for its gingerbread, however, the most characteristic must-see is the old town. Among the sights to see in Torun are the market square, the castle of the Teutonic Knights, the city walls and gates, and several museums that receive thousands of visitors each year.

Gingerbread Cookie Museum

It’s been more than 600 years since ginger arrived in Torun, and since then they have not stopped making cookies that were once a delicacy only for wealthy families and today have become a symbol of the city. In the museum they explain how the cookies are made and how their formula has evolved over the years. You can also bake your own gingerbread. It’s a great activity to do with kids.

The museum costs 6€ for adults and just 1€ for children and students. It is open daily from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm and at around 2:00 pm there is an interactive show translated into English.

House of Copernicus

The Copernicus House is a museum that reviews the life and work of the astronomer. The building is a medieval house in keeping with the architecture of the area. The facade alone invites you to enter. Inside you will find an interactive museum and a collection of books, paintings and other everyday objects of Copernicus.

The museum is open from May to October from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, and the rest of the year from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. It is closed on Mondays and admission is free on Wednesdays. The rest of the days of the week the entrance fee is 4€.

Cathedral of St. John the Baptist

It is the most important temple of the city and a must-see place in Torun Poland. Work on the cathedral began in the thirteenth century and was not completed until two centuries later, therefore, in its interior we can appreciate the artistic influence of different eras, although the most predominant is the Gothic. The cathedral also houses the third largest bell in Poland. A curious fact is that in this cathedral Copernicus was baptized, and in fact, the baptismal font is still preserved.

The cathedral can be visited every day of the week and admission is free, but to climb the tower you have to pay €2.

Market square, one of the best things to do in Torun Poland

The market square is probably the most beautiful place in the city, as there are the most spectacular buildings. It is also a very lively area, with a multitude of restaurants and stores. Two well-known statues are located in the square, one of Copernicus and the other of a donkey in bronze.

The most characteristic feature of the square is the old town hall, which was built in the 14th century and today serves as a museum. The museum is called Okregowego and has collections of handicrafts, Gothic art and period objects. It is also possible to climb the clock tower to enjoy the view of the square from 40 meters high. The entrance to the museum costs €4 and another €4 to climb the tower. Opening hours are from 10:00h to 20:00h in the summer season, and until 18:00h in summer.

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What things to do around Torun Poland

The medieval town of Torun is very well located if we are touring Poland. In the surrounding area, there are other medieval cities with charm and history, such as Warsaw and Bydgoszcz.

Warsaw

Warsaw is almost three hours by car or train from Torun, so it’s worth spending at least one night there. In fact, the city has a lot to offer. Warsaw, as the capital of the country, is a cultural and historical hotspot, with plenty of street life and things to see. The city was virtually destroyed during World War II, but most of it has been rebuilt true to the original plans.

In Warsaw, you must visit the Market Square, the Palace of Culture and Science and the Royal Castle. The Old Town is the part that suffered the most damage during the war, but today it is completely rebuilt, and you can appreciate the typical Polish architecture. The Jewish quarter of Warsaw is also an impressive place that you can visit on your own or with a guided tour.

Bydgoszcz

A few kilometers from Torun is Bydgoszcz, a beautiful medieval town famous for its Gothic, Baroque, Art Nouveau and Art Nouveau architecture. It is an ideal city for a day trip, when you have no more to see in Torun Poland. There you can see the old market square, the Mill Island and the famous Bydgoszcz barns. It is also very pleasant to walk along the river.

From Torun it takes 1h by road and 45 minutes by train. Departures are fairly regular as the towns are close together.

Things to do in Torun Poland in a day?

The medieval city of Torun is not particularly large, and you can visit practically all the tourist attractions in one day. We recommend you follow this tour so that you don’t leave out anything to see in Torun Poland.

Start at the market square. There you’ll find the town hall building and the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. Also, remember that in the square there are several sculptures to see such as Copernicus or the bronze donkey. After lunch you can take a walk along the wall and look for the leaning tower. If you go with children, the most fun is to visit the gingerbread cookie museum, or the Copernicus museum house.

If you have time to spare you can stop by to see the university which is right across the street from a prison, and to see the Fontana Cosmopolis, a fountain where there is a light show every day at 21:00h.

How to get to Torun?

Torun has no airport, only train station, so if travelling from another country the easiest option is to fly to another nearby city and from there take the train, a bus or rent a car. The nearest cities are Kraków, Warsaw and Bydgoszcz. We only recommend Bydgoszcz airport if you are renting a car, as there is no good connection to Torun by public transport.

From Warsaw you have to take the PKP intercity train, which takes just over two hours and costs between €10 and €20. Another cheaper option is the bus, although it takes 4h. But probably the easiest, especially if you are going to make route through the country, is to rent a car at the airport.

From Kraków, you can also get there by intercity train, but it takes about 7h, so it is preferable to fly to Warsaw. In Torun there is a central station, but for some reason most trains stop at another one which is three kilometres from the centre. From there, it is recommended to take a cab to the centre.

Where to eat in Torun?

In Poland in general you can eat very well and cheaply everywhere, however, Torun is even cheaper than other tourist cities like Warsaw or Krakow can be. Here we leave you a selection of restaurants to see in Torun Poland and their specialties. You are sure to enjoy Polish gastronomy like never before.

• Pierogarnia Stary Mlyn: is one of the most famous restaurants in Torun. Its specialty is baked pierogui, dumplings with different fillings. They also serve the traditional pieroguis, a bit smaller and steamed. You can eat well for between €2 and €8.
• Manekin: is a very cheap fast food restaurant, both international and Polish. It also has vegan and vegetarian options, but you have to go early because it gets crowded.
• Bulka: this is the best place for breakfast in Torun. For less than 4€ we can have breakfast like kings, varied and abundant dishes. It is also a good option for a snack.

Best accommodations in Torun Poland

Torun is not a particularly large city, however, being a very touristic city, we found quite a few alternatives when it comes to accommodation. Here are some of our favorite hotels and hostels.

• B&B Hotel Torun: this is a very well located two-star hotel, 500m from the town hall. They have breakfast buffet, 24h reception and garage. The night costs less than 40€.
• Hotel filmar: is a 5-star hotel very close to the center. It has a very modern design and offers all the amenities, including fitness room and spa. You can sleep from 60€.
• Hostel Torun Gówn: is a much more affordable hostel than the previous hotels. It has 24h reception and is next to the train station.

Torun travel tips

• The currency in Torun is the Polish zloty (PLN).
• If you are traveling from a country with another currency, we recommend that you make the currency exchange in advance.
• The best time to visit Torun is from May to September, when temperatures are milder.
• There is no Rooming in Poland, you can use internet on your mobile phone without any problems
• The city is safe, but as in any tourist place, you’d better be careful with your belongings.
• Hedge yourself against possible medical emergencies: travel insured.
• It’s frowned upon not to tip in restaurants.
• No drinking in the street

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Frequently asked questions before travelling to Torun