Bydgoszcz City Guide: How to Visit Poland’s Hidden Gem
While Bydgoszcz is typically overlooked on a typical Poland travel itinerary, I’m hoping to change all that with this blog post — and show you why Bydgoszcz is Poland’s cozy and best-kept secret!
Located right in the middle of the country, Bydgoszcz is the perfect city to chill out and enjoy a leisurely atmosphere. Here you can meander along cobbled lanes adorned with traditional houses, enjoy Mill Island’s old-world charm, or visit a very unique museum.
Bydgoszcz is particularly popular if you’re looking for a one-day city for a stopover, especially if you’re coming from a place like Ponzan, Gdansk, or Warsaw (it’s located right in the middle of all three cities!)
This Bydgoszcz city guide will highlight the city’s top attractions, offer helpful tips, and show you the best accommodations in Bydgoszcz.
From the stunning historic Old Town to the modern and revitalized Mill Island, Bydgoszcz is a delightful destination that combines traditional charm with modern delights.
Let’s travel to Bydgoszcz!
How many days do I need in Bydgoszcz?
Bydgoszcz is a small city, and 1 to 2 full days will be enough to see the main sights, enjoy the food, and walk around without feeling rushed.
Of course, if you have more free time, you can extend your stay and enjoy a bit of slow travel by exploring neighborhoods outside of central Bydgoszcz, as well as going on day trips around the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship (Bydgoszcz is the capital of this voivodeship, along with Torun!)
HOW TO GET TO BYDGOSZCZ
By Plane
Bydgoszcz has its own airport called Bydgoszcz Ignacy Jan Paderewski Airport (or with the airport code BZG). Although the city may look small, Bydgoszcz Airport was the 11th busiest airport in 2022 and served more than 250,000 passengers!
Bydgoszcz Airport has flights to and from more than a dozen cities in Europe, and it’s also a popular stop for budget airlines. Enter Air (a Polish budget airline) offers flights from Antalya, Burgas, Heraklion, Rhodes, Zakynthos, while LOT Polish Airlines flies from Warsaw and Krakow. Ryanair has routes from the United Kingdom, including Birmingham, Bristol, Dublin, London (Luton and Stansted), while Wizz Air also offers London Luton flights.
After arriving at the airport, getting to Bydgoszsz city center is very easy. You can take a taxi (both Uber and Bolt work here), which is a 4-kilometer ride (about 8 minutes). Likewise, the number 80 bus runs every 30 minutes between the airport and city center.
By Train
Bydgoszcz is well-connected to other cities in Poland, as well as international destinations. You can get by train to Bydgoszcz from major cities like Kraków, Poznań, and Gdansk, among others. Likewise, there is a direct train from Berlin, Germany.
Best of all, Bydgoszcz train station is conveniently located close to the city center, which you can reach by taxi (5 mins), tram (14 min), or walking (20 mins).
By Bus
Bydgoszcz can also be reached by bus! There are regular routes via Flixbus from various cities in Poland and Europe, including Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, and many other European capitals. Click here to check all of the routes to Bydgoszcz from Flixbus.
Just like the train station, Bydgoszcz Dworzec autobusowy (central bus station) is conveniently located near the city center, albeit on the other side. It takes 4 minutes to reach the center via taxi, 8 minutes by tram, or 15 minutes by walking.
TRANSPORTATION & GETTING AROUND BYDGOSZCZ
While Bydgoszcz is fairly spread out, most of its tourist attractions are conveniently located in the center. Here is how to get around Bydgoszcz:
Public transportation
Bydgoszcz has a well developed public transportation system thanks to its buses, trams, and even water trams! Tickets can be bought on the Jakdojade app or at transport stops via a ticket machine.
Taxi
Another convenient and fast way to get around Bydgoszcz is via taxi. Uber and Bolt both work in Poland (including Bydgoszcz), and are a quick and convenient way to get a ride. I recommend hailing a cab via one of the latter apps, as traditional taxis near train and bus stations may trip to inflate the actual price.
Bicycles
Great news for cyclists — Bydgoszcz has a fantastic cycling infrastructure, and you’ll be able to easily find stations with bikes for rent. Just type in Bydgoski Rower Aglomeracyjny (or simply BRA) into Google Maps to find the locations. Be sure to register on their website beforehand — it’s 10 PLN for the initial fee, and the first 30 minutes are free.
WHERE TO STAY IN BYDGOSZCZ
Hotels
Focus Hotel Premium Bydgoszcz — One of my personal favorites, Focus Hotel has a very modern and colorful design — you can even see Bydgoszcz’s skyline above the beds! :)
The hotel has everything you need, including a fitness center, sauna room, and breakfast salon (including gluten free options).
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Bohema Boutique Hotel & Spa — If there were only two words to describe this hotel, they would be absolutely gorgeous. Bohema is a boutique hotel in the entire sense of the word — just look at that regal Art Nouveau atmosphere and design! Bohema Boutique Hotel also has the most room options, including classic Double and Twin, Junior Suites, rooms with a balcony, Family Rooms, Apartments, and even specially-marked quiet rooms!
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Rezydencja Sowa — This gorgeous aparthotel (apartment hotel) has super spacious rooms that are inspired by nature — think lots of wood accents, natural tones, marble and more. It’s also located right at the entrance of the Old Town!
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Apartments
Dom na wodzie — Definitely one of the most unique hotels in Bydgoszcz! Like the name says, it’s a ‘house on the water’ that’s docked right in the center of the city. Once you step inside, it feels as if you’re in a futuristic hotel with a chic minimalist design.
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Katarynka Stary Rynek — Situated right on the Stary Rynek (Old Market Square), Katarynka perfectly blends the traditional architecture of the house it is located in with modern and comfortable amenities.
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Sansara Apartments — Honestly, the price to quality ratio of Sansara Apartments is unmatched! The rooms are beautifully designed in rich velvet colors, lush amenities, LED-backlit beds, and soundproof walls (!!)
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Apartament Dluga 6 — Similar atmosphere to Sansara above, Dluga 6 offers modern and minimalistic style with pops of color that feel as if it’s a home away from home.
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THINGS TO DO IN BYDGOSZCZ
Stroll Around the Old Town
Like many Polish cities, the best way to get to know Bydgoszcz is by starting with a walk through its Old Town. Stroll along its narrow streets, enjoy the beautiful architecture, and stop by a cozy cafe or restaurant to enjoy the local fare.
Of course, don’t forget to stop at Stary Rynek (Old Market Square), which is considered to be the heart of the city. It’s also the place where events and festivals are held — for example, we visited during the winter and the square was full of decorations, a huge Christmas tree, and Christmas markets. :)
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See the Man Crossing the River
Not an actual person, but still pretty cool! One of Bydgoszcz’s most famous attractions is the “Man crossing the River” sculpture, which was unveiled in 2004 to commemorate Poland’s entry into the EU.
Depending on the season, the sculpture will have different ‘outfits’ — on Poland’s Independence Day, he wears a shirt with the national colors, while during December, he has a Santa hat. :)
Walk to the Water Tower
A popular symbol of Bydgoszcz is the colorful Old Water Tower. The walk up to the tower takes about 15 minutes from the city center, and inside you’ll find a small museum dedicated to the history of the tower.
While the climb up the hill is moderate, it’s worth it, as you’ll be met with a beautiful view of the city from the top.
Mill Island
Mill Island, also known as Wyspa Młyńska in Polish, is a picturesque island located between two branches of the Brda River, making it a unique and scenic spot to explore.
Aptly named, the island once served as the center of the city’s grain and flour production, but over time, it was revitalized and turned into a recreational hub. Nowadays, visitors can stroll through the gardens, check out the traditional houses (Młyny Rothera is my favorite), and take a river cruise.
There are several museums on the island, as well as a gallery of the famous Polish artist Leon Wycholkowski.
Clean Up at the Soap Museum
One of the most unique museums in Poland is located right here in Bydgoszcz! This museum, whose full name is Museum of Soap and History of Dirt, goes into detail about soap making and how this essential household item came to be.
Your visit to the museum begins with a soap making workshop (about 10 – 15 minutes), and then the guide will take you through the museum and tell you about each exhibit and its history. The museum starts at the very beginning and goes chronologically until the present day.
The exhibits are interesting and authentic, such as 19th-century cast iron bathtubs, washing and bathing utensils, vintage advertisements for detergents, soaps from all over the world, and even a replica of a medieval bathhouse. All of the exhibits are interactive — open the soap drawer to discover even more artifacts inside! Best of all, tours are conducted in both English and Polish — just be sure to book via their website ahead of time.
Eat Pierogi!
What good is a trip to Poland if you haven’t tried their delicious national cuisine? 😉
Pierogi are a type of dumpling with dozens of different fillings, including potatoes, meat, spinach (vegetarian-friendly!), cottage cheese, cherries, and much more.
My personal favorite is Pierogarnia Stary Młyn (Old Mill Pierogi Restaurant), which, as you guessed, is located right across Mill Island. :)