Lublin: attractions, restaurants, itineraries

Lublin

The largest city on the Vistula River is an excellent choice for a weekend getaway. The main attractions of Lublin are within walking distance; a pleasant stroll from the multimedia fountain to the Krakow Gate theoretically takes just a few minutes. In practice, tourists often linger in cafes and browse the souvenirs in the many shops of Krakowskie Przedmieście.

Be prepared to spend hours walking through the ancient streets of Lublin, admiring the Byzantine frescoes of the Chapel of the Holy Trinity and the architectural illusions of the Cathedral. Find the best selfie angle against the Gothic splendor of the Crown Tribunal and the donjon of Lublin Castle. Enjoy the views of the Old Town from the Trinitarian Tower; take a moment of silence at the Memory Lantern.

Lublin's public transport is necessary for a challenging visit to the Majdanek concentration camp and exploring the traditional folk architecture at the Open-Air Village Museum.

Feel free to plan a visit to Lublin at any time of year. In winter, temperatures drop to -5°C. Lublin's winter wonderland is complemented by Nativity scenes, Christmas markets, and an ice rink. Medieval streets shine with illuminations, and carols are sung every evening at the Dominican Basilica.

The Lublin Botanical Garden, with its unique collection of plants, welcomes visitors from April to October. The most curious tourists are recommended to stroll among the wildflowers and apple trees of the apiary on the roof of the Centre for the Meeting of Cultures.

The best time to visit Lublin is summer: there’s little rain, no wind, and daytime temperatures reach +24°C. During warm summer days, the best Lublin activities are outdoors. Tourists and Lublin residents enjoy Zemborzyce Lake with Słoneczny Wrotków water attractions, rope park, and yacht rentals. In the Dąbrowa forest complex, there are bike trails and picnic areas.

Lublin’s underground trail beneath the Market Square is open in any weather, filled with mystical legends, and incredibly popular with adult tourists. The Perła Brewery, located underground, is also a favorite.

Lublin’s top restaurants and cafes offer tourists Izbicki golasa—a variation of cabbage rolls made with potatoes, buckwheat flour, and curd wrapped in horseradish leaves. Visitors are surprised by Zamojski duck, stuffed with another duck. Lublin's version of street food is cebularz, a wheat flatbread with onion and poppy seeds.

In the city of students and startups, there’s a vibrant nightlife: dance clubs on Krakowskie Przedmieście, the Jewish quarter, and the Zana district are popular among the youth; hipster pubs and bars line Grodzka Street. Exciting shopping in Lublin is guaranteed at Sunday antique markets and shopping centers like VIVO, Lublin Plaza, and Diamentowa Park.

To see Lublin, head east from Poland; it's 171 km from Warsaw, along route E72. It’s convenient to reach Lublin by train or bus from any major Polish city.

Lublin, Poland

Lublin