Torun, one of the oldest cities in Poland, is largely known for two things: Nicolas Copernicus and gingerbread but there is plenty more to do and see in this lovely medieval town. The city earned the UNESCO status for its preserved street pattern and well maintained 13th-century brick buildings. The old city center makes a perfect spot for people watching and relaxing with a cup of coffee or glass of wine. The mix of culture, science, architecture and amazing history attracts thousands of tourists every year. If you want to spend your weekend somewhere amazing Torun is definitely worth your consideration.
Things to do and see in Torun:
1. Town square & old city center:
Imagine seating in the middle of a lovely medieval old town, surrounded by beautiful buildings and vibrant cafes, bars and restaurants. You can relax completely and immerse in the Torun’s atmosphere or be a bit more adventurous and climb about 180 steps to the top of the Town Hall Tower and see the city from the above. The city center it’s quite compact, but the side streets hide many exciting buildings and monuments so you will need at least 2-3 hours to fully experience the old town. If you love your coffee and snacks you may need the whole afternoon. Either way, it’s going to be time well spent.
2. Medieval Defensive City Walls:
First of all, to explore this attraction wear comfortable shoes as most streets are paved in cobble stones (which itself is a medieval feature!). Take a stroll through the Old Town’s narrow streets and admire the defense walls that deterred the enemy from conquering the city and protected Torun for centuries. This activity is especially enjoyable at night when the buildings are nicely lit.
3. Bunker:
Prepare yourself for something different but only if you have a sense of fun and adventure. If ever wondered how people felt during II WW this is your chance to explore it on your own skin. Yes, it does involve going into a bunker and yes it’s going to be scary. It’s quick and fun activity, but not for the faint-hearted.
4. Cultural Centre “Teutonic castle”:
From the outside, it may seem that there is not much remaining of the castle, but don’t be deceived by the looks! The castle is larger than it first appears and there are “underground” rooms and an upstairs gallery.
The history of the castle and its Knights is shown in the underground chamber in the form of a film (in Polish with English subtitles). It is a must-see attraction.
5. Town Hall Tower building:
If you are looking for a nice view over the old town the Town Hall Tower building is your best bet. A word of warning, you will have to climb 187 steps of this impressive 14th-century building, but it’s absolutely worth it. Once you get to the top spend some time to look at the fine brickwork and beautiful stained glass windows. And if you can’t be bothered to go to the top just stay outside and admire the building itself, it looks equally good in the day and illuminated at night.
6. The leaning tower:
The Leaning Tower is one of many architectural delights that can be spotted during a walk in the medieval part of the city. The building has a long and interesting history. It was built as part of the defensive city walls to be later used as women’s prison and at some point, it became a… shop. Now it’s one of the main city landmarks, visited by thousands of tourists a year. So why go to Pisa when there is a perfectly good leading Tower in Torun?
7. Monastery Gate (Brama Klasztorna):
The Monastery Gate is your chance to see well maintained an impressive entry to the old town. For many, it’s just a gate but it is also one of the main landmarks of Torun and it doesn’t take much time or effort to see it. While you are taking a walk by the Vistula river watch the city walls and you will be able to spot the gate with no problem. Take a picture, walk through it and move on.
8. Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist:
Even if you are not religious the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist is a place worth visiting for its architecture and beauty. This is a magnificent house of worship with a number of altars and works of art. It’s possible to club the tower and photography is permitted.
9. Esken Family House – Torun History Museum:
If you are going to visit just one museum in Torun this should be on top of your list. Torun History Museum covers the past of the city and surrounding area from the earliest days to the modern times in visual presentations, artifacts and films. There are multiple different exhibits with Polish, English and German captions and audio-visuals. The museum is perhaps better suited to adults, but children can also find something for themselves as there is a special room where they can build houses of different epochs and enjoy opening drawers to find household artifacts from various eras.
10. House of Nicolas Copernicus Museum:
House of Nicolas Copernicus Museum is the actual place where Nicolas Copernicus was born. Nowadays this beautiful building is a reconstruction of a medieval house of Copernicus’s days. If you are a fan or a student of science, mathematics or history you should definitely visit this museum. If not, then perhaps you may find this attraction quite boring. In the end, it is just a period house that happens to be the place of birth one of the most famous astronomers of all times.
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