Two Days of Adventure and Culture in Torun – 2024 Visitor’s Guide
Welcome to the charming city of ToruĆ, Poland! We enjoyed exploring its rich history and stunning architecture. It’s a medieval town that will take you back in time. Whether you’re a history buff, an art enthusiast, or simply looking for a weekend getaway in Poland, Torun has much to offer. In this article, we’ll share our itinerary for spending two days in Torun – covering the must-see attractions, delicious food options, and exciting activities.
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Torun – A UNESCO Site
ToruĆ is a magnificent historical medieval town established by the Teutonic Knights in the 13th century. It sits on the banks of the Vistula River in north-central Poland and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is one of the oldest cities in Poland – first settled in the 8th century and later expanded by the Teutonic Knights in 1233.
UNESCO granted World Heritage Site designation to ToruĆ in 1997. The main criterion that promoted the town to UNESCO status was preserving the medieval way of life. We can learn about the ancient lifestyle from the town layout, an authentic footprint of substantially medieval origin. The surviving structures represent outstanding architectural achievements and span styles ranging from Brick Gothic to Mannerist and Baroque. Notable buildings include monumental churches, the Town Hall, and many burgher houses.
In 2007, the Old Town of ToruĆ joined the list of Seven Wonders of Poland – and we had a chance to visit five of the seven wonders during our travels in Poland.
Medieval ToruĆ
One unique aspect of the Old Town is that the footprint is virtually unchanged after more than 700 years. We love visiting new geographies but also places that take you back in time. That’s what happens in ToruĆ.
The Medieval Town of ToruĆ has three main parts: The ruins of the Teutonic Order Castle, The Old Town, and the New Town area. A collection of defensive walls surrounds all these areas. Even centuries ago, there was an area called the New Town since the first place settled by the Teutonic Knights kept flooding, so they built a castle between the two areas (old and new).
Itâs known as a city of peace because two separate peace treaties signed in ToruĆ during the 1400s ended conflicts of the Polish-Teutonic wars.
A Two Day Itinerary for Torun, Poland
We spent two fantastic days in Torun, Poland. With a lot of research before our visit, we crafted a plan to see the best parts of this charming city in just 48 hours. Let’s dive in and make the most of your two days in Torun.
Day 1 – Explore Medieval ToruĆ
Private Walking Tour
We chose the “Walking Tour of Medieval ToruĆ.” There are several options available, spanning 2 to 6 hours. Karolina Rucinska, our tour guide, continues her familyâs guiding traditions by showcasing the sights of her city to visitors. Curiosities, myths, and fun facts all feature in the commentary. Tours start at $100. Walking tours are a great way to get familiar with a new location.
Easygoing and informative, Karolina explained the meanings of symbols on buildings and medieval ruins. Much of our tour concentrated on the old town area. The advance provided by Karolina of places scheduled on our tour numbered just under twenty.
Explore the Old Town
The Old Town sector offers so much history. A vast original architectural collection of churches, museums, shops, and restaurants exists.
The Town Hall is attention-grabbing. It dates back to 1274. This famous building expanded several times over the centuries. Today, it ranks as one of Central Europe’s most monumental town halls.
When you visit Torun, check out the incredible Town Hall Museum. This hidden gem is home to a vast collection of stunning Gothic art, ancient crafts, and captivating Polish paintings. As you explore the museum, take the chance to climb the tower, standing tall at an impressive 40 meters. From the top, you’ll be treated to a breathtaking view of the entire old town complex, with its fascinating blend of architectural wonders.
The cityâs symbol is found over its gate – an angel that holds a key and a gate with three towers. A half-open door in the gate signifies that the city does not welcome cruel enemies but does open its door to friendly visitors.
Living Museum of Gingerbread
Renowned for its gingerbread making, ToruĆ keeps this tradition alive after nearly 1,000 years. According to TripAdvisor, this museum is the #1 place to visit in ToruĆ. Located in the middle of the city center, this interactive experience takes place in a Medieval Bakery under the watchful eyes of a Gingerbread Master.
In the main interactive experience, you can prepare gingerbread dough and bake a sample yourself. Presented as a show, visitors play an active role in this experience. The museum cast dresses in period costumes. They all got into their medieval characters and took us back to the medieval ages.
We all got our hands dirty with the dough and its wonderful aroma of gingerbread spice. We made our own gingerbread, although here, itâs not so much about eating your creation as it is about putting yourself into the experience. Itâs all presented in a humorous atmosphere that is fun for all ages – young to old.
The shows last about 90 minutes. There are shows available in English – we attended a performance that was in Polish.
Another floor showcases how gingerbread is decorated and more medieval cultural lessons devoted to the tradition of baking gingerbreads in ToruĆ.
Krzywa WieĆŒa (Crooked Tower)
The legend here says that crookedness was punishment for sinful Teutonic Knights. When you visit the leaning tower of Torun, youâre supposed to stand with your entire backside from head to heels, touching the wall and stretching out your arms. If you can keep standing in this position without wobbling, then this is a sign you have a clear conscience.
Teutonic Castle Ruins
We recommend spending more time visiting the Teutonic Castle ruins. The original castle was built in a horseshoe-shaped plan surrounded by a curtain wall and moats. Today, the castle survives as a ruin.
Enjoy a Panoramic View of the Old Town
Walk across the river for a spectacular panoramic view of the old town. Thereâs an observation deck that is an excellent place for photos. The view itself is considered one of the wonders of Poland.
We crossed the Wisla River one afternoon (Vistula in English). The walk over the bridge was much longer than we expected, and we put in well over 10 miles of walking on this day. But the reward of the view was spectacular. You see the town in a nearly unaltered display, highlighted by the silhouettes of the Gothic churches and old Town Hall in the skyline.
As you look at this view, you can see the defensive walls that aimed to protect against invading forces from Sweden and Prussia, among various enemies. Nearly 200 defensive structures were built on the banks of the river. Defending the city was taken extremely seriously.
An observation deck on the other side of the river is a great place to take in the panoramic view. The view itself is considered one of the wonders of Poland.
Day 2 – Monuments, Churches, and History in ToruĆ
Monuments and Statues
We saw so many monuments in ToruĆ – monuments of people, legends, and animals. There is, of course, a monument to Nicolaus Copernicus. In this town, which is famous for gingerbread, there is a monument to a gingerbread maker.
ToruĆ also has several monuments to animals:
- Frog Fountain: Located in front of the town hall, legend says you’ll have happiness if you stroke its back.
- Cat: Just overhead, a black cat statue is said to be the city’s defender.
- Donkey: Near the market square stands a donkey – this animal symbolizes a former punishment site where unruly guards were sat on a donkeyâs back with a metal rod to inflict pain and weights tied to their feet to make the punishment even worse
- Dog: Also located in the town square, the flappy-eared dog FiluĆ sits by a lamppost with its masterâs hat in its mouth. Legend says patting the dogâs head will make you wiser. And with a tug on the dogâs tail, youâll be lucky in love.
There are several additional monuments in this town. Many make for fun photos.
House of Nicolas Copernicus Museum
The city has a museum devoted to the astronomer in the Gothic tenement house that was the birthplace of Copernicus. Stepping inside is another way to get immersed in the medieval architecture of the former burgher residences. Nicolas lived in this home for the first seven years of his life.
ToruĆ is famous as the birthplace of Nicolaus Copernicus. He was the first to develop a complete heliocentric theory of the universe with the sun at the center. He successfully demonstrated that the motions of celestial bodies did not require an explanation with the earth at the center.
Inside the museum, exhibits highlight the life of Copernicus in medieval Poland and his scientific work. The astronomy-related exhibits show the types of astronomical instruments he used, a recreation of his study room, and there is a first edition facsimile displayed of his seminal work âDe revolutionibus orbium coelestiumâ (On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres).
There are also some historic exhibits regarding the city itself. A scale model of ToruĆ, as it was in the year 1500, has a computer-controlled depiction of war simulations and ancient historical events.
Copernicus was an important scientific figure who helped set in motion the Scientific Revolution of the 15 and 1600s.
Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist and John the Baptist
This Gothic-style cathedral hails from the early 13th century. We attended mass here – a great experience at a historic cathedral. The pipe organ sounded magnificent as a piece by Widor accompanied the entrance procession.
Inside are Gothic sculptures and many paintings depicting biblical scenes. The church also has the most significant medieval church bell in Poland and one of the largest in Europe. Weighing over seven tons, Tuba Dei means The Trumpet of God in English.
The walls inside were mainly white – a reflection of the city’s prior Protestant and German control. Still, we saw many elaborate and ornate side altars and ceilings here.
Also inside, you can see a Gothic font from the 13th century over which Nicholas Copernicus was baptized. It is located in the chapel of the Guardian Angels and holds a portrait of the astronomer and his bust sculpted in marble.
There are many other beautiful churches to visit in the city. Among the additional churches we saw were the Church of the Holy Spirit and the Church of the Assumption of Our Lady. These are almost like entering a museum and are lovely to visit in ToruĆ.
Planetarium
ToruĆ is home to a planetarium and an astronomical observatory with the largest radio telescope in Central Europe.
Try Baked Pierogis in ToruĆ
Pierogarnia Stary MĆyn – Pierogies are indeed a traditional Polish culinary staple. This is where we tried baked pierogies for the very first time. And what a unique and enjoyable experience this was for us. They reminded us of an Italian Calzone or even an Empanada. These oven-baked pierogi follow an old traditional recipe, always made fresh in-house. The restaurant offers ample fillings, including meat options, vegetarian versions, and sweet dessert pierogi. If you’re competitive, order the 22-piece pierogi bowl. If you can finish the bowl in less than 38 minutes, you’ll save 50% off the total price.
Drink Gingerbread Beer in ToruĆ
In this town famous for its gingerbread, we did get our share of gingerbread baked goods, including gingerbread cookies. But we also found some gingerbread beer. We stopped to drink at Jan Olbrachet Browar Staromiejski – Old Town Brewery after our long day of walking. The cold beer hit the spot with Gingerbread spice aromas in our brew. We sat in the basement of the brewhouse located in a 15th-century Gothic building. The location was great, as it was nice and cool downstairs. The beer was sweet and spicy, unique, and refreshing.
This brewery is named after a king whose heart lies at rest in one of the city’s basilicas. The beer here is brewed on-site. Tours are available by arrangement.
Take A Tour in ToruĆ
Walking Tour of Medieval ToruĆ
Rated 5 stars from 26 reviews on Viator
Join a private walking tour of Medieval ToruĆ and immerse yourself in this charming city’s rich history and stunning architecture. This tour is led by knowledgeable and passionate local guide Karolina Rucinska and guarantees a personalized experience for your group. As you stroll through the cobbled streets, Karolina will captivate you with fascinating stories, myths, and fun facts about the city. Take advantage of the opportunity to explore ToruĆ from a more intimate perspective, accompanied by a passionate local who truly loves this extraordinary place. The tour even offers a convenient hotel pickup option to start your tour hassle-free.
We took this tour when we visited Torun and highly recommend Karolina Rucinska as a tour guide.
Where to Stay in ToruĆ
We stayed at Hotel Filmar during our visit to ToruĆ. We did need a taxi to get here from the train station, but that only came up to about $4 US. The location was very walkable to the main/medieval city.
Is ToruĆ Worth Visiting?
Absolutely. It offers a wealth of original medieval buildings, beautiful churches, and great places for food and drink. Don’t leave without trying some of ToruĆ‘s famous gingerbread.
The town offers two drama theaters, two music theatres, and over ten major museums. There is plenty of history to take in here. We recommend a minimum of two days to take it all in.
Oh, and we also saw several Camino markers in ToruĆ – so if you want to walk a version of the Camino de Santiago that will test you, thereâs always the route that makes its way through Poland.
Know Before You Go – ToruĆ
- âïž Airport: Warsaw Chopin (code: WAW)
- â° Time Zone: Central European Time (UTC+1)
- đ° Currency: Polish ZĆoty
- đŁ Language: Polish
- đ Electricity Socket: Poland uses types C and E plugs. Plug type C has two round pins, and plug type E has two round pins and a hole for the socket’s male earthing pin. Poland operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz. For visitors from other countries, Use this universal travel adaptor.
Listen to our Torun Podcast
In episode 81, we recap our two days in Torun, Poland. This episode is the middle of our multi-part series, which takes you to multiple cities in Poland. We spent 23 days traveling through western Poland and shared the highlights on our podcast. Click the podcast player link below to listen to this episode.
Plan your Trip to Poland
DK Eyewitness Poland – We referenced this book to help craft our three-week Poland itinerary.
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Thanks for reading this article about spending two days in Torun, Poland. We hope to see you at the places where we go!
Julie & Art
#torun #visitpoland
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