Białystok

This charming city in eastern Poland is rarely visited by tourists, making it easier to experience the real pace of life in the Polish province. Start your visit to Białystok with the Old Market Square, the Cathedral Basilica, shopping on Lipowa Street, and the city's main modern attraction – the Art Nouveau St. Roch's Church, with its tall bell tower and stained glass dome.

Be sure to take a stroll through the gardens of Branicki Palace – a Baroque masterpiece and a vivid demonstration of the Grand Hetman's ambitions. Admire the understated beauty of the wooden houses in the Bojary district – the only residential area preserved from the outskirts after World War II.

Białystok offers much to learn about the complex history of the 20th century. The Jewish Heritage Trail through the streets of Białystok is dedicated to the tragic fates of the Jewish community. The exhibitions at the Museum of the Siberian Deportations, dedicated to the deportation of 300,000 Poles, leave an incredible mix of emotions.

The main attractions of Białystok include a visit to the legendary Białowieża Forest Reserve with the Nature Museum, enclosures with bison and noble deer. Nature lovers are drawn to Białystok for eco-trails in the periodically flooded Zwieryniec Forest and water activities on the Doylidy, Jurowce, and Wasilków lakes, as well as at the "Czarna" and "Petrare" recreation centers.

The top restaurants and cafes in Białystok offer classic Polish dishes: rye soup żurek, potato dumplings with meat filling, and the Polish poppy seed roll makowiec.

A train or bus trip along the E67 route from Warsaw to Białystok takes 2 hours. The historical, cultural, gastronomic, and ecological highlights of Białystok are worth including in the plans when exploring the most interesting cities of Eastern Poland.

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