If you’ve ever considered visiting Poland, you’ve probably heard all about why you should go to Warsaw, Krakow, and maybe Gdansk. But Poland has a lot more to offer than just those three cities. One place you’ve probably not considered visiting, or even heard of in Poland, is Poznan in the west of the country. Actually one of the biggest cities in Poland with a population of just over half a million, there are some great reasons to make a trip there.

Like much of Poland outside the capital and tourist hotspots, Poznan is pretty cheap. It’s quite common to find bars that will serve half-litres of beer for as little as €1.60, and public transportation rarely costs more than €0.90 per journey. So, it’s an easy place to make your money go a long way.

Poznan is actually a very walkable city, so it would be entirely possible to see everything it has to offer in the old town without using public transport at all, saving you even more money! It also has some cool modern public art, which adds to the joy of wandering around, as you never know what you’ll stumble across. In contrast with its medieval, baroque, classical, and art nouveau architecture, some of this can make for quite striking and photogenic scenes.

The city also has a well-developed and thriving alternative scene, mostly spearheaded by its large student population. This means independent shops, quirky bars, and an abundance of vegan food.

For an independent record shop experience, check out Fripp, which has an enormous range of jazz, blues, classical, and world music for sale. If you feel like drinking local Polish beer while playing board games, head to Lot Chmiela to browse a nice selection of lefty books while enjoying some vegan sushi. Or for just a drink, pop by Zemsta w Kuchni.

One of Poland’s largest breweries, Lech, is situated in Poznan. Here, you can get a tour of a real, working brewery, as well as the chance to taste several of the beers they make. Definitely worth it if you’re a fan of the amber brew!

When it comes to more options for vegan eats in Poznan, start off with Je Sus for a super-hipster setting, serving up deliciously fresh and generous portions of hearty porridge and other healthy breakfast options. Then, try out Misa Lisa for their simple but beautifully presented lunch menus; and for dinner, don’t miss the party in your mouth that is Vege Pizza, with its massive range of vegan pizzas made to order that will leave you both satisfied and craving more!

The good news is that Poznan is very well connected to other parts of Poland by train and bus, and it’s only three hours east of Berlin, making it a good stopping-off point on a trip between the German capital and Warsaw, for example. So, consider making a trip to Poznan as part of a longer Central European trip, or as a easy weekend getaway from Berlin or Warsaw.

Have you ever been to Poznan? If so, what’d you think? If not, would you like to go? Any suggestions for things to see and do? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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