Szczecin

Travel Guide Europe Poland Szczecin

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Introduction

Szczecin seen from the Lasztownia Island (on Oder river)

Szczecin seen from the Lasztownia Island (on Oder river)

© aidni

Szczecin is a port city along the Baltic coastline of Poland, on the Oder river (in Polish: Odra). Formerly known as Stettin, the city is located in the northeastern part of the country, not far from the border with Germany. The city has about 400,000 inhabitants, making it the 7th largest city in Poland.

The two names of the city - Szczecin and Stettin - are the Polish and German equivalents of the same name, which is of the old Slavic origin and means probably 'the hill peak' (Polish: szczyt). The place was first mentioned in written history in 1st century when West-Roman historian Tacitus located East Germanic tribe of Rugians somewhere in the area; the Rugians left in 5th Century during the Great Migration. Sometime in the 8th century Western Slavic tribe of Pomeranians built their stronghold here. In the Middle Ages the area around Szczecin was inhabited by Ukrani - their name in Polish Wkrzanie (area of Police, Torgelow-Ukranenland and Prenzlau), Rani - in Polish Ranowie (the island of Rugia), Prissani - in Polish Pyrzyczanie (area of Pyrzyce) and Wolinians - in Polish Wolinianie (Wolin island). In 10th century Szczecin was mentioned as "one of major in Pomerania" in Abraham ben Jacob's chronicle. In approximately 1080 its area was incorporated into Poland, but within eight years, the town was controlled by the Dukedom of Pomerania, and five years later, Denmark. In 12th century when its competitor, Wolin (also known as Veneta in medieval chronicles) declined Szczecin began to prosper from trade and became one of the major Baltic sea harbours. Its name was first recorded as "Stetin" in 1133.

In 1181 Pomeranian dukes joined Holy Roman Empire. In 1243 Szczecin got city rights before it became member of the Hanseatic League in 1278. Until early 17th century the city was the capital of Pomeranian Dukedom, then in 1630 when local dukes died out it became part of Sweden, then Kingdom of Prussia, then for a brief period, due to Napoleon's conquests, the French Empire. Beginning in the 18th century, the city was a part of Germany and served as the "port of Berlin". During World War II the city was hit hard by Allied bombers - city centre, Old Town and industrial areas were totally ruined. After the Soviet forces invaded Nazi Germany in 1945, according to Potsdam Conference agreements, Poland annexed all lands up to the Oder river, expelling the native German population and extending the border to include Stettin. Poland thus gained control of the city.

Winston Churchill mentioned Szczecin delivering his speech on March 5, 1946 in Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri (USA):

From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the Continent. Behind that line lie all the capitals of the ancient states of Central and Eastern Europe. Warsaw, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest and Sofia, all these famous cities and the populations around them lie in what I must call the Soviet sphere, and all are subject in one form or another, not only to Soviet influence but to a very high and, in many cases, increasing measure of control from Moscow.

In more recent history, the city was (with Gdansk) one of the birthplaces of Solidarity movement. Pope John Paul II visited Szczecin only once, in 1987, together with Mother Teresa from Kolkata (Saint Teresa of Calcutta), and celebrated Holy Mass on Jasne Blonia Square. The last leader of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, spoke in Pomeranian Dukes' Castle to Szczecin residents before political changes in the Warsaw Pact. Nowadays National Museum in Szczecin presents these events in its part called the Dialogue Center Upheavals (Polish: Centrum Dialogu „Przełomy”) in the underground building at Solidarności 1 Square, nearby Szczecin Philharmonic House, not far away from the castle.

An unusual feature of Szczecin is its urban planning - many roundabouts and wide avenues. Some parts of Stettin was developed in 1880s using designs by Georges-Eugene Haussmann, who also did the urban planning for Paris. His design style is still being used for newly-built (or modified) city areas. Many of representative buildings were designed by a German architect Wilhelm Meyer-Schwartau (1854-1935). The appearance of post-war Szczecin, after rebuilding from ruins, was created, among others by Helena Kurcyusz (1914-1999), Polish urban-architect and painter.

The maritime industry is still strong with a busy port and repair shipyard, and it is a center of service industries in Poland. Since the 1940s higher education and science is developing in several public universities and scientific societies. The culture of various Polish regions and culture specific to Pomerania is cultivated here. Szczecin is sometimes considered one of the most liberal Polish cities.

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Sights and Activities

Pomeranian Dukes' Castle in Szczecin

The castle is the seat of the rulers of the former Duchy of Pomerania - dukes of the House of Pomerania (Griffins), who ruled the country from 1121 to 1637. It is a pearl of the European Renaissance. There are, among others opera and operetta, museum, tourist and cultural information center and restaurant. The most valuable monuments include the dukes' sarcophagi. Details of the tour are available on the castle's website - Pomeranian Dukes' Castle in Szczecin.

Other castles of Pomeranian Dukes are situated in Darlowo, Ueckermünde (see below) and Slupsk.

The Cathedral Basilica of St James the Apostle

One of the highest churches in the world built in a Gothic style in the 14th century. The building was quite faithfully rebuilt after World War II. A panorama of the city stretches from the tower.

National Museum in Szczecin

The National Museum in Szczecin possesses six branches for the history of the city of Szczecin, the history of Pomerania and the maritime history and the themed exhibitions, among others African culture and ancient Greek culture. The branches are spead in a few separated buildings, five of them in the center of the city:

Maritime Museum, Wały Chrobrego 3 Street.
The Szczecin's History Museum, Old City Town Hall in Szczecin, Księcia Mściwoja II 8 Street.
The Old Art Gallery of the Muzeum Narodowe w Szczecinie, Staromłyńska 27 Street.
The Museum of Contemporary Art, Staromłyńska 1 Street.
The Dialogue Center Upheavals in Szczecin (Polish: Centrum Dialogu „Przełomy”), Solidarności 1 Square.
The Narrow Gauge Railway Exhibition in Gryfice.

The building of the Dialogue Center Upheavals in Szczecin has a title the best building in the world by Forbes. On its roof stands the figure of the Angel of Freedom.

Embankment on the Odra River and marina

The embankment on the Odra River is adorned with sculptures and plaques in memory of persons associated with the sea and stately buildings as Pomeranian Dukes' Castle in Szczecin and Maritime Museum on Wały Chrobrego Street mentioned above. There is a marina and postiche beach on the river on the opposite of Maritime Museum.

Napoleon Hill

Napoleon's Hill is an artificial earth mound built by French soldiers in honor of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte on the occasion of his thirty-ninth birthday in 1808 (in the years 1814–1945 the hill was called in German as Deutscher Berg). It is located near streets Unii Lubelskiej and Klonowica, but during the French occupation of Szczecin in 1808 this place was outside of the town (now the city is much more bigger contains this area within its borders).

One of Europe's largest cemeteries

Normally cemeteries are places people tend to stay out of, considering the constant reminders of death that surround you when you are in one. Central Cemetery, however, is different. It’s the third largest cemetery in all of Europe (number 4 in the world) and it has more of a park feel to it than a creepy cemetery feel. There are many monuments throughout, memorial fountains, and historical significance throughout. If you want to see the entire cemetery, you might consider renting a bike for your exploration efforts. The main gate is at Ku Słońcu street.

World's oldest cinema

Certified as the world’s oldest cinema in the Guinness Book of World Records, the Pionier Cinema first opened its doors for customers in September of 1909. Of course it is a cinema, so it’s going to be showing movies that may or may not suit your fancy. There are coffee shops next door and the cinema offers a fully operational snack bar. It has been renovated for modern functionality as it is a full working cinema, but you can still get some flavor of what it would have been like to watch a silent movie with orchestra accompaniment. If you want to see a movie while in Szczecin, this would be the place to go (Wojska Polskiego 2 Street).

Szczecin Philharmonic

Philharmonic Orchestra founded in 1948 is based in a new building that was awarded the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture (Szczecin Philharmonic).

Monument of the Hungarian Boy

Monument of the Hungarian Boy by Richard Juha in Kasprowicz Park, unveiled on December 9, 2016. It was funded by the Council of the 21st District of Budapest (Csepel) on the 60th anniversary of the Hungarian Uprising of 1956 as a sign of solidarity and gratitude of the Hungarian people for the help given to the inhabitants of Budapest by the inhabitants of Szczecin. The monument was created on the initiative of Szilárd Németh, member of the Hungarian National Assembly; in Csepel there is another one, identical.

Różanka Rose Garden

The garden was established in 1928 to commemorate the World Gardening Exhibition, which took place in Szczecin - at this time Stettin. In 1935 it was decorated with the sculptures of flying geese by Kurt Schwerdtfeger. Różanka is a public recreational place with over nine thousand roses of 99 varieties. Apart from the flowers, the garden contains exotic trees and shrubs. Cultural meetings and wedding ceremonies take place there. This is situated closed to Kasprowicz Park, near streets Zaleskiego, Papieża Pawla VI, Slowackiego and Wojska Polskiego Avenue.

Emerald Lake

Emerald Lake (in Polish: Jezioro Szmaragdowe, in German: Kreide See) is an artificial lake located in Szczecin-Zdroje, in the "Puszcza Bukowa" Landscape Park. It owes its name to the characteristic water color due to the content of calcium carbonate as it began to exist after a disaster which consisted in the fact that the chalk mine was flooded by groundwater in 1925. At the bottom of the lake there are still mining machines and at the shore there is a railway bridge for trains that formerly exported chalk. The whole lake is surrounded by a forest landscape park. It looks the most beautiful when the weather is sunny, especially in spring, summer and autumn.

Other Sights and Activities around the city

  • Szczecin Lagoon (in Polish: Zalew Szczeciński, in German: Stettiner Haff) with small marinas e.g. in Stepnica, Trzebież, Nowe Warpno and Ueckermünde, is a good and popular place for initial learning of water sports thanks to usually quiet water. The eastern part of Szczecin Lagoon is in Poland and the western part in Germany.
  • Wolin National Park - protected area with forests with wisent (European bison) sanctuary, sea cliffs and unique reverse - regressive delta of Świna river.
  • Swidwie nature reserve - nature reserve protecting one of the most biologically diverse habitats of water and wetland birds on the lake of the same name. It is one of a set of places to protect under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat. The access to this area is possible from the village Zalesie between the towns Police and Nowe Warpno.
  • Crooked Forest with oddly-shaped pine trees in Nowe Czarnowo near Gryfino.
  • Towns in the area (Poland and Germany) as below:

Police - district town with Gothic churches, ruins of Augustinian abbey (14th century), small old town and ruins of the Nazi synthetic fuel plant Hydrierwerke Pölitz AG (sightseeing possible after prior contact with SKARB Museum, www.skarb.police.pl/kontakt.html), lapidarium built of tombstones of former German residents in Old Town Park near St. Mary's Church, marina on Odra river, access by bus (https://www.zditm.szczecin.pl/en?setlang=en).
Nowe Warpno - teeny old town with Gothic church and town hall with timber framing construction from 1697 on the peninsula on Szczecin Lagoon, promenade, interesting street sculptures (e.g. the winged mother monument dedicated to all mothers and the monument of Hans Hartig) and boats to Altwarp in Germany, marina on Szczecin Lagoon.
Swinoujscie - district town and sea resort with many sightseeings, harbour, access by train (https://rozklad-pkp.pl/en).
Miedzyzdroje - spa town on the sea coast near Wolin National Park, with its museum (www.wolinpn.pl), access by train.
Wolin - historic town with Festival of Slavs and Wikings each summer, in the middle of the Middle Ages the most important harbour on the southern shore of the Baltic Sea, Wolin Museum (www.muzeumwolin.pl), access by train.
Dziwnów - spa town on the sea coast with marina.
Kamien Pomorski - district town with historic old town, mainly known from the famous cathedral of St. John the Baptist from 12th century, Museum of Stones (kamienpomorski.sokolowski-muzea.pl/), access by train.
Goleniow - district town with a few medieval buildings with a part of defensive walls and the airport in the area of the town, access by train.
Stargard - district town called 'the pearl of Gothic architecture in Pomerania', old town and defensive walls (including unique Mill Gate on Ina river) partly rebuilt from the destruction of World War II, renaissance town hall from 16th century, expiatory cross from 1542, Museum of Archeology and History (www.muzeum-stargard.pl) and monument of the 15th meridian (on Szczecińska Street in western outskirts), easy access by train.
Pyrzyce - district town with Gothic buildings with defensive walls and remains of primeval medieval city and the well in the place from which Otto of Bamberg drew water during the baptism of Prissani (Pyrzyczanie) in 1124.
Cedynia - town, reconstructed monastery with hotel and restaurant „Klasztor Cedynia” and the Monument of the Battle of Cedynia when in 972 German attack on Pomerania was not in accordance with the earlier treaties between Mieszko I of Poland and Holy Roman Emperor Otto I.
Gryfino - district town with Gothic church and city gate, marina on Odra river, access by train.
Pasewalk - town in Germany with a few Gothic buildings in cosy old town with defensive walls, access by train (www.bahn.de).
Torgelow- town in Ueckermünde Heath in Germany, with archeological old Slavic village-museum Ukranenland.
Ueckermünde - town in Germany with stylish old town with local Pomeranian Dukes' Castle, Haffmuseum Ueckermünde (ueckermuende.de) and fishing port and the zoo on the outskirts.

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Events and Festivals

  • Pyromagic - international festival of fireworks on the Oder river (August).
  • Pekao Open - international tennis tournament (September).

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Weather

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg Max2.3 °C3.6 °C7.9 °C13 °C18.8 °C21.2 °C23.3 °C23.2 °C18.3 °C13 °C6.7 °C3.6 °C
Avg Min-2.7 °C-2.2 °C0.2 °C3.1 °C7.6 °C11 °C13.1 °C12.6 °C9.4 °C5.6 °C1.7 °C-0.9 °C
Rainfall36 mm28 mm36 mm35 mm48 mm62 mm65 mm53 mm44 mm37 mm40 mm45 mm
Rain Days161414121213131213141617

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Getting There

By Plane

Szczecin-Goleniów "Solidarność" Airport (SZZ) offers limited choice, with flights to Warsaw, Krakow, Copenhagen, Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, Dublin, Liverpool and London.

By Train

There are frequent connections with train to Stargard, Poznań and Berlin as well as long-distance e.g. to Swinoujscie, Kolobrzeg, Zielona Gora, Wroclaw, Wielun, Czestochowa, Katowice, Bielsko-Biala, Krakow, Przemysl, Lodz, Warsaw, Lublin, Bialystok, Suwalki, Gdynia, Gdansk, Malbork, Olsztyn and German Lübeck. Timetables of trains in Poland and some in other countries of Central Europe are available on the website of the Polish State Railways, with the possibility to by many tickets for many lines online.

Most of the train connections to Berlin involve about 5 minutes change of train in German town Angermünde. Please note that there is big savings buying a local "Brandenburg ticket" in Germany, with this ticket you can go-as-you-please on the German trains. Check out the actual conditions and actual offers on Deutsche Bahn.

By Car

Fast national roads and highways to Gryfino, Gorzow Wielkopolski, Zielona Gora, Legnica, Prague, Poznan, Lodz, Warsaw, Stargard, Bydgoszcz, Gdańsk, Gdynia, Koszalin, Kolobrzeg, Goleniow, Swinoujscie, Pasewalk, Greifswald, Neubrandenburg, Lübeck, Hamburg, Berlin, Gartz/Oder and Schwedt/Oder.

By Bus

There is a lot of domestic bus connections from Szczecin to all major cities in Poland (e.g. PKS Szczecin, www.pksszczecin.info/index.php?lang=en), the bus terminal is just next to the railway station.

The cheapest connections to and from Berlin Alexanderplatz is by minibus, there is a large number of companies operating, most of these minibuses operates to and from the bus stops opposite the railway station (booking possible, among others, on the website www.interglobus.pl).

By Boat

There is no passenger ferries docking in Szczecin harbour. Passenger terminals are in Swinoujscie (100 kilometres from Szczecin). There is a lot of minibuses going to and from the ferry terminal in Swinoujscie, starting from opposite the railway station. There is local trains between Szczecin and Swinoujscie. From Swinoujscie you have ferry connections to Ystad in Sweden and Copenhagen in Denmark (with a break in Ystad and then by bus to Copenhagen). There are two companies sailing to and from Swinoujscie, Polferries and Unityline, the prices are more or less the same. Before buying a ferry ticket check the websites for actual offers since now and again there is some really good bargains on ferry tickets. Polferries and Unity Line have many options.

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Getting Around

By Car

Streets in Szczecin are easy to navigate and not congested (except in the morning and afternoon communication summit).

Parking within the centre during business hours (8:00 - 17:00, from Monday to Friday - after 17:00 and on weekends it is free) is paid; the pay depends on the zone and parking time. You can buy tickets from vending machines. Most of malls have free parking, and no one will check if you visited the mall or just used free parking opportunity.

DUI is serious criminal offense (up to 3 years in prison) and the police have no mercy for drunk drivers - many of "zero tolerance for drunk drivers" programs ongoing in Poland have started in Szczecin.

Because of major renovation works in the city centre and Niebuszewo district held this yearTemplate:When expect detours and/or traffic jams, especially during rush hours. If you stay in the city consider leaving your car on parking and using public transport.

By Public Transport

Urban public transport is shared by Szczecin with its bordering town called Police (this is the name of this town, not the police). Szczecin has a network of tram lines, buses and urban and regional trains - they are connected with each other - Roads and Public Transport Authority in Szczecin and Polish State Railways.

By Foot

Most of the historic attractions can be seen while walking around the city center.

By Bike

Szczecin has a net of paths for bikes, with the possibility to rent a bike - Szczecin City Bikes.

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Eat

You will easily find global favorites like hamburgers, hot dogs, kebabs, pizza, etc., but for unique Szczecin twist on fast food try paszteciki (plural, singular is pasztecik) - which are kind of deep fried cake with meat or cheese and mushrooms filling. They taste best hot and combined with a cup of barszcz czerwony (red beetroot soup).

Turysta Milk Bar, Obrońców Stalingradu 6a (open 7:30-18:30).
Zacisze Bar, Asnyka 19 (Niebuszewo district).
Akademia Kulinarna, Mickiewicza 45 (open 9:00-17:00).
Amar, Śląska 9 (open Monday-Friday 11:00-19:00, Saturday & Sunday 12:00-17:00) - vegan & vegetarian. If you are on limited budget, order their "danie dnia" (dish of a day) and/or "zupa dnia" (soup of a day) which are always very affordable.
Camarillo, Mściwoja 8 - fusion.
Green Way, Krzywoustego 16 (open Monday-Friday 10:00-21:00, weekends 11:00-19:00) - vegetarian.
Bombay, Partyzantów 1. Indian food.
Chief, Rayskiego 16 - all kinds of sea food.
Ładoga, Jana z Kolna - Russian.
Sake, Piastów 1 - Japanese.
Columbus - On Waly Chrobrego by Marine Academy.
Chrobry, Waly Chrobrego 1B (by Provincial Government building), ☏ +48 914880163, ✉ [email protected]. Good Polish food. Chrobry is located under a dome supported by pillars. There is a bar and a two-story restaurant below ground and also serving upstairs between the columns with a view over the Oder. 40 zł for a main course.
Colorado - on Waly Chrobrego by Polski Theatre.
Karczma Polska - Lotnikow Square.
Pasztecik - Wojska Polskiego 46. A bar with Szczecin-yeast dough usually stuffed with a meat or vegetarian filling (You can find a description of 'pasztecik szczeciński' in Wikipedia).
Filipinka - Witkiewicza 1b. Bio-bakery and bio-confectionery with Szczecin piernik - gingerbread (www.pierniki-szczecinskie.pl/en).

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Drink

The majority of pubs and bars can be found in the old town (Stary Rynek) or around ul. Bogusława in the middle town area. Expect to pay between 6 zł and 8 zł for a large beer and around 6 zł for a 50ml shot of vodka.

Alter Ego, Pl. Batorego 4 (under the red town house, near bus and rail stations). 11:00-until the last client. Restaurant during the day, live music and/or DJs on weekend nights.
Boston Pub & Club, Niepodległości 22 (city centre). Every day parties! Music: 70s, 80s & 90s. Karaoke Nights, Student Nights, Every Weekend Parties & Afterparty till 6AM
City Hall, ul. 3 maja (near the railway station). 21:00-last client. Funk, hip-hop, house, etc.
Free Blues Club, Powstańców Wielkopolskich 20 (Pomorzany District, trams 4, 11, 12), ☏ +48914853161. 19:30-until the last client. Something for blues (and rock) fans - live music, jam sessions, etc.
Hormon, ul. Piłsudskiego (middle town area), ☏ +48914341303. 19:00-until the last client. Very popular among the students; rock/alternative party every day, live music from time to time.
Mezzoforte, ul. Bogusława (pedestrian area). Italian food restaurant during the day, DJ parties on weekends.
Piwnica Kany, Plac Piotra i Pawła 4/5 (across the main street from Pomeranian Dukes Castle, near Wały Chrobrego). 15:00-last client. Pub belonging to Kana alternative theatre, popular among students and artists (and theatre visitors). Has free wireless Internet (ask the bartender for the password).
Rocker Club, Partyzantów 2 (The very city centre). 19:00-last client. Live rock music, karaoke, you name it.
Royal Jazz Club, Mariacka 26 (near the Pomeranian Dukes Castle). 12:00-until the last client. jazz, all that jazz. Often live.
Tiger Club, Felczaka 9 (under the City Council Building, near the city park). Restaurant during the day, disco on weekends, live jazz every Monday.
Bosman beer is made by local brewery. There are variants with red (czerwony) and green (zielony) label, both of them are lager. You can buy it at most of general stores and some pubs.
Taverna pub has its own microbrewery making lager and porter type beers.
Nowy Browar, ul. Partyzantów 2 (above the Rocker Club), ☏ +48 91 4335484. Nice beer hall with good beer and cheap food. TVs on the wall show sports. (updated Oct 2018 | edit)
Starka is a special kind of seasoned vodka made by Polmos Szczecin distillery. There are variants which are 10, 18, 25 and 50 years old. You can buy them at Polmos store (situated corner of Jagiellońska and Bohaterów Warszawy streets); as you can guess, Starka is rather expensive (especially the 50-year-old one) and available only in limited amounts. You can also tour the factory [18], which is quite interesting, tasting Starka is included with the tour (email them for booking and information).

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Sleep

CUMA youth hostel (Szkolne Schronisko Młodzieżowe), Ul. Monte Cassino 19a, ☏ +48 91 4224761.
HoHo Hostel, Ul. Wyszyńskiego 39, ☏ +48 790 490 824.
Hotel Albert, Piesza 11, ☏ +48 91 4623137.
Hotel Migrand, Robotnicza 28/29, ☏ +48 914420960.
Campanile Hotel Szczecin, Ul. Wyszyńskiego 30, ☏ +48 91 4817700.
ibis.
Hotel Park, Ul. Plantowa 1, ☏ +48 91 4340050.
Atrium Hotel, Al. Wojska Polskiego 75, ☏ +48 91 4243532.
Radisson BLU.
Novotel.
Hotel Dana, Aleja Wyzwolenia 50, ☏ +48 91 820 7711, ✉ [email protected]. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00.
Hotel Bończa, Anieli Krzywoń 18, in Szczecin-Dąbie, ☏ +48 91 469 35 04, in a stylish building built on the river Płonia

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Learn

The biggest universities are:

University of Szczecin (Polish: Uniwersytet Szczeciński).
West Pomeranian University of Technology (Polish: Zachodniopomorski Uniwersytet Technologiczny).
Pomeranian Medical University (Polish: Pomorski Uniwersytet Medyczny).
Art Academy of Szczecin (Polish: Akademia Sztuki).
Maritime University of Szczecin (Polish: Akademia Morska w Szczecinie).

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Keep Connected

Internet

In the cities there are more and more Wifi Hot Spots, so if you have your own mobile device, you can connect. Best chances of finding one are at airports, railway stations, in cafés, shopping malls and universities. Places like McDonald's and Starbucks usually have unlimited free wifi. In some hotels you can find free wifi, though you might have to pay as well or maybe just use it for a limited amount of time. Internet cafes become less popular recently as people prefer to use internet at homes.

Phone

See also: International Telephone Calls

To call to Poland from abroad, dial the Polish country code,48, then the number without the leading 0, as if calling from a domestic mobile phone.
The general emergency number is 112. Police (997), Ambulance (999) and Fire (998) have phone numbers as well, and municipal police has 986 as a number.

Mobile phones work almost across the whole country. There are four mobile phone operators in Poland: Plus, T-Mobile, Orange and Play. About 98% of the country is covered by the standard European GSM 900/1800 MHz network, the remaining 2% are wildlife reserves or high mountains. 3G is available in almost every town.
Domestic call rates are roughly the same across all services. Prepaid starter kits with SIM card (called starter in Polish) are widely available in reasonable prices (PLN5-20, most of which is available for calls), in most of the shops, supermarkets and news agents.

Just about every shopping centre has at least one independent cellphone shop, the guys who run them are usually knowledgeable and have a range of cheap handsets which you can use as a local / travel phone. This may be a good option since juggling SIM cards is always a pain.

Post

Poczta Polska is the Polish public post service. Post offices are generally open from 8:00am to 6:00pm Monday to Friday. Some offices are open on Saturday until 2:00pm and the main post offices in major cities are open daily, 24 hours. Services are generally ok, but don't expact it to be fast and it is not always reliable, though most letters, postcards and parcels will arrive at its destinations after a week or two. You can find the red post boxes dotted throughout the country. You can check this postal website to see how much sending a letter, postcard or parcels costs, both domestically as well as internationally. For sending packages internationally, you can also check FedEx, TNT, DHL or UPS, as they have fast and reliable services and generally competitive prices as well.

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Accommodation in Szczecin

We have a comprehensive list of accommodation in Szczecin searchable right here on Travellerspoint.

Contributors

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This is version 130. Last edited at 3:47 on Jul 11, 23 by FondOfProvince. 54 articles link to this page.

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