Poznań
Poznań is one of the historic birthplaces of the Polish state, home to the earliest rulers and the roots of Poland’s first Christian institutions. Its medieval roots are still visible - the city layout granted under Magdeburg Law in 1253 still shapes parts of the centre today, a reminder of its long urban continuity. It’s also the only Polish city mentioned in the national anthem.
And yet - the city has been shaped for generations by Prussian rule and ultimately the site of the only Polish uprising that actually succeeded.
Poznań is extremely walkable - everything you may want to see is within walking distance, and is very easy to navigate.
It’s one of the gems that are yet to be discovered - craft beer bars, wine spots and restaurants that feel more local than touristy.
This year, we start our tours in Poznań in March - stay tuned!
My tours in Poznań
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The island of kings: the birth of Poland
Ostrów Tumski in Poznań is one of those places that genuinely makes you feel as if you’re stepping into the beginnings of the Polish state. Starting at the cathedral sets the tone straight away – it’s where the first rulers anchored themselves and where the early story of Poland took shape.
From there, the Golden Chapel is the next natural stop. It’s such a striking space and a clear reminder of how strongly Poznań held onto its identity during the partitions. A short walk away, Genius Loci gives you a really tangible picture of the early settlement: the traces of everyday life of a community forming on this island a thousand years ago.
Crossing the Jordan Bridge opens everything up: the view of the cathedral behind you, Śródka ahead of you, and that moment where the medieval and the modern sit almost side by side. Śródka adds a different texture with its murals, small streets and echoes of its trading past.
The route finishes at Brama Poznania, which ties the whole walk together.
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Designed for all budgets, this is a tip-based payment tour. At the end of the tour you will be able to pay in cash (any currency) or card. Please feel free to tip as appropriate, depending on the quality of your experience with our tour, and the size of your budget. We have no expectations or guidance around the typical amount, we trust our guests are best judges in this respect.
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This tour is typically 90-minutes. The schedule will be confirmed once we start this tour end of March.
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The tour will start at the Cathedral and conclude at Brama Poznania.
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The route will present challenge to wheelchair users, due to cobblestones and slopes.
We are happy to accommodate different disabilities by adjusting the pace, route and tweaking the content.
Erasing identity: Poznań under the Prussian rule
Starting at the Adam Mickiewicz statue I begin the story with explaining what a partition actually was – not an occupation with soldiers everywhere, but a long, steady attempt to change language, habits and identity through schools, administration and culture.
Walking toward the Zamek Cesarski makes that clearer. The castle was built for the German emperor as a statement of who was meant to be in charge here. But life around it didn’t simply bend to that idea. People worked, raised families, went to church, organised cooperatives, taught their children Polish at home and found small ways to hold on to who they were.
Finishing at the Hotel Bazar brings the whole story full circle. It became the starting point of the only successful uprising in history of Poland. Ending there makes it clear how this chapter closed: after decades of pressure, the community that had been protecting its identity in small, steady ways finally stepped forward and won.
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Designed for all budgets, this is a tip-based payment tour. At the end of the tour you will be able to pay in cash (any currency) or card. Please feel free to tip as appropriate, depending on the quality of your experience with our tour, and the size of your budget. We have no expectations or guidance around the typical amount, we trust our guests are best judges in this respect.
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This tour is typically 90-minutes. The schedule will be confirmed once we start this tour end of March.
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The tour will start at the Adam Mickiewicz statue and finish at Hotel Bazar.
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The route is accessible to wheelchair users, with an inconvenience of traffic lights and some cobblestones.
We are happy to accommodate different disabilities by adjusting the pace, route and tweaking the content.
Old Town in 90 minutes
Plac Kolegiacki is a great starting point. It used to be the centre of the old cathedral quarter, so it’s a good place to explain how this area was shaped by canons, church institutions and the early layout of medieval Poznań.
From there, the walk flows naturally to Fara, one of the best Baroque examples in Poznań with impressive façade, and it shows how wealthy and influential the Jesuits were when they arrived here.
A short stroll brings you straight into the Old Market Square. Standing by the Ratusz, the Renaissance façade and the rhythm of a square that was once the centre of trade, gossip and celebrations. Right next to it is the pręgierz, the old pillory, which adds a nice touch of everyday medieval justice.
Cutting through the middle of the square takes you past Bamberka, the statue that opens the door to the story of the Bamberg settlers and how they shaped the region. On both sides you have small museums and colourful merchant houses, which makes it easy to talk about guilds, trade and how the city rebuilt itself after fires.
From there, the route heads toward Hotel Bazar. It’s a key place for understanding Poznań’s modern history – a Polish-owned hotel and meeting point during the partitions, and the starting point of the successful Wielkopolska Uprising.
The walk finishes by climbing up to Góra Przemysła. The Royal Castle reconstruction gives you a moment to touch on the city’s royal past, but the real highlight is the view. From the top, the whole Old Town layout suddenly becomes clear with the square in the centre and the radiating streets.
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Designed for all budgets, this is a tip-based payment tour. At the end of the tour you will be able to pay in cash (any currency) or card. Please feel free to tip as appropriate, depending on the quality of your experience with our tour, and the size of your budget. We have no expectations or guidance around the typical amount, we trust our guests are best judges in this respect.
-
This tour is typically 90-minutes. The schedule will be confirmed once we start this tour end of March.
-
The tour will start at Plac Kolegiacki and conclude at Góra Przemysła.
-
The route will present challenge to wheelchair users, due to cobblestones and a hill.
We are happy to accommodate different disabilities by adjusting the pace, route and tweaking the content.
