Cheap flights to Poznan from GBP14*

 

Poznań may have been founded back in 1253, but it’s the kind of city that never gets old. Swarms of students and businesspeople keep the city’s colourful squares, cobblestone streets, restaurants, shops, cafés, bars and museums full of energy. Stroll the Renaissance old town to the charming Old Market Square – be sure to watch the goats play – cross a bridge to an island full of churches, relax by a lake, or pop into one of the many museums, classical and quirky. Have a croissant and coffee every afternoon for a sweet city break.

 

A sweet city break

Poznań stakes its claim to the foundation of the Polish state, since Mieszko I, the first recorded ruler of the Polan tribe, built his headquarters and began constructing Poland’s first cathedral here. The history of Poland continues through the medieval castle, Renaissance Market Square, a university founded in 1611 and an ornate Baroque church, all the way to glass office towers, shiny shopping centres and trade fair venues, making for a vibrant and colourful city with plenty to explore.

 

Old town charms and museums

Poznań’s Stary Rynek, the Old Market Square, is home to a row of houses painted in bright colours and patterns, as well as to the Town Hall, the Ratusz. Of course, the square also hosts the city’s Christmas market. Be sure to be there at noon, when two billy goats in the Town Hall’s clock tower butt heads to mark the hour. Why? Well, suffice it to say it’s about goats who managed to escape their dinner-table fate thanks to a merciful governor… Completed in 1560, Poznań Town Hall is in Mannerist style with an ornate loggia, unusual for Poland but the architect was Italian. Now home to the city’s historical museum, it’s worth a visit for the richly ornamented Renaissance Hall. The building and much of the square were reconstructed after heavy damage in 1945. At the western end of the Old Town, you’ll find the medieval Royal Castle, which dates from 1249. Next, head to Ostrów Tumski, Cathedral Island, the oldest part of the city, where Poznań was founded and with it, the Polish state. Poznań Cathedral has seen Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque and Neoclassical iterations, but was rebuilt in the Gothic style after heavy damage in 1945. Another church you shouldn’t miss on the island is the Parish Church of St. Stanislaus, completed in 1732 in Baroque splendour. Next, choose among the plethora of museums: Porta Posnania, a multimedia history of the birth of Poland; a museum about the Wielkopolska Uprising of 1918-1919, when Polish soldiers fought for independence from Germany; museums of musical instruments, applied arts and armaments; an ethnographic and an archaeological museum.

 

Croissants and pierogi

Poznań is proud of its sweetest product, rogale świętomarcińskie, or St Martin’s croissant, filled with white poppy seeds and covered in a sugary glaze. The real ones are only available from bakeries certified to produce them and call them by that name, such as Cukiernia Kandulski and Cukiernia Elite. Or try an authentic one at the Croissant Museum dedicated to them on the main square. On St. Martin’s Day, 11 November, 1.25 million are sold and eaten! Another must-try of course is pierogi, the famous Polish savoury dumplings, at Pierożak Pierogarnia, for example, where you can also watch women make them. For a wider range of hearty country fare, try cosy Wiejskie Jadło in the old town. For Polish food in elegant, new ways, A Nóż Widelec is a bit out of the way, but worth the trip for new takes on beet soup, leg of duck and ginger cake – heck, go for the tasting menu to have it all. Cybina 13 is a bright, modern restaurant with nouveau Polish dishes in the cute neighbourhood of Śródka, not far from Ostrów Tumski. While you’re there, see the amazing 3D mural depicting Śródka in the 1920s.

 

Quality shops and quality beer

Believe it or not, Poznań has two award-winning shopping centres, one an artsy renovation to an old brewery, Centrum Stary Browar, the other the supermodern Avenida. In Poznań you’ll find all the international brands, even Burberry, Versace and the like, but if you’d prefer something local, discover the beauty of Polish ceramics, glass, amber, linen, lace and wood carvings. The shop simply called Handmade is a great venue for quality creations, including the well-known blue-patterned Bolesławiec pottery, and Cepelia is another option for folk art. If you prefer to do your own digging for treasure, enter the long striped tent of the Dolna Wilda Market, with 6,000 square metres’ worth of junk or gems – you decide. As for nightlife, Poznań is hopping, with craft beer bars such as Piwna Stopa, or the oldest in Poznań, Ministerstwo Browaru Pub. For something completely different, Wiśniewski is a bar that serves only cherry vodka. Poles love their cherries, sweet as well as sour, so there are plenty of types to try. Mustang Live Music Club is the place to go for jam sessions on several levels, while Projekt LAB is a club with a great sound system that runs into the morning.

 

Great escapes

Jezioro Maltańskie, or Lake Malta, is a favourite with locals in summer for picnicking, boating and swimming, and in winter for skiing and sledging. Take a miniature train here from the centre and get off along the shore, perhaps at the city zoo. Speaking of trains, enthusiasts won’t want to miss the Wolsztyn Steam Depot, constructed between 1896 and 1905 with an impressive station hall, roundhouse and water tower, with everything working as perfectly today as it did then. See Piękna Helena, Beautiful Helena, a 1937 Pm36-2 locomotive, and you can even stay in the roundhouse dormitory. Admire Kórnik Castle, a family residence built in the 19th century in a strange amalgam of Italian and German architectural plans. Unusual furnishings of the Działyński family include a piano once played by Chopin, interlocked antlers of a pair of a deer, a 16th-century Spanish chest with 13 locks and a portrait of a lady in white who emerges on occasion to haunt the grounds. About two hours from Poznań, you can visit the site of the prison breakout memorialised in the 1963 Hollywood film The Great Escape. At the Nazi prisoner-of-war camp here in Żagań, 250 Allied POWs dug elaborate tunnels and staged an ill-fated escape in 1944. Take a souvenir photo of yourself as Steve McQueen in the poster to the film.

  

Poznań weather

Poznań has warm summers, with temperatures often at 30°C, and cold winters with plenty of snow and temperatures around 0°C, perfect for the Christmas market. Poznań has more hours of sunshine than most of the rest of Poland, so visit anytime.

 

Poznan Airport

Henryk Wieniawski Airport Poznań-Ławica is one of the oldest airports in Poland, dating back to 1913. It is about 5 km from the city centre and represents the most important entrance to the city of Poznań and the Greater Poland region.Poznan Airport offers flights to most European and international destinations, such as London, Paris, Berlin, Warsaw, and Kraków. Services at the airport include business and VIP lounges, shops, restaurants, and even features a grand piano. The city centre is easily accessible by several bus lines and taxi facilities. Car rentals of various ranges and a sufficient number of parking spaces are available. Historical significance blended with modern facilities makes Poznań Airport a perfect starting point for exploring the city and its surroundings.

 

 

Port Lotniczy Poznań-Ławica (poznanairport.pl)

 

FAQs for booking flights to Poznań

How to get cheap flights to to Poznań?

Use FareFinder to compare fares and discover the cheapest Poznań flights for the next 6 months, helping you to plan ahead and save. Frequent flyers can save even more by joining the Wizz Discount Club, which gives you and your companions access to an instant €10.00 discount on fares from €19.99 and further discounts on checked-in baggage purchased online.

When is the best time to visit Poznań?

Located in the heart of Poland, Poznań has warm summers and cold, snowy winters. It's a year-round destination, with temperatures reaching up to 30°C. The ideal times to visit are June to August for outdoorsy activities like hiking and festivals, and December to February for winter sports enthusiasts who want to experience its vibrant Christmas market. Spring and autumn are milder and with beautiful foliage, and there are fewer tourists and cultural events. If you don't like the cold, then your best months to visit are between April and October. Be advised that renovation works are currently ongoing in Stary Rynek, and they expect them to be completed by early 2025. For those on a limited budget, think of March to May when accommodation costs are lower.

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