Last Updated on 26/04/2024 by kami
Bialystok might not be on top of my list of best places to visit in Poland but the capital of the Podlasie region is still worth visiting. While it doesn’t really have many major monuments it is a pleasant city worth your time.
The list of things to do in Bialystok isn’t very long and one day in Bialystok should be enough to get to know the city and feel the vibe of it.
If you think of exploring the Podlasie region (definitely recommended!) plan some time for visiting Bialystok too. Or you can visit Bialystok as one of the day trips from Warsaw, it’s only around 2 hours by train away.
Below you can find my favorite reasons to visit Bialystok.
Reasons to visit Bialystok, Poland
Branicki Palace
Branicki Palace is an absolute highlight of the city and a very good reason to visit Bialystok. This is actually one of the most beautiful palaces you can find in Poland, often called “Polish Versailles”.
The beautiful palace you can admire today dates back to the beginning of the 18th century and was built where the Gothic castle used to stand. As the name indicates, it belonged to one of the wealthiest Polish aristocracy families and you can clearly see the splendor in the building and its surroundings.
Today the local Medical University is located here but it is possible to visit the interior of the palace.
The baroque gardens surrounding the Branicki Palace are pretty spectacular too – well-maintained, organized, and simply the prettiest. Wandering around is a pure pleasure.
Branicki Palace and gardens are one of the favorite areas for locals to go for a walk but even if there are many people around you can appreciate the beauty of the place. And when you go there in the morning you might have the gardens all to yourself.
Street art
Bialystok has one of the best street art scenes in Poland. You can find some really amazing murals all over the city, including the famous girl with the water can.
It was once considered to be among the most beautiful murals in the world. What makes it special is the tree in front of the building – it looks like the painted girl is watering it.
Unfortunately, many of the murals are located on the blocks of flats a bit away from the central part of the city but even in the center of Bialystok, you can find some nice works (like the mentioned above girl with the water can).
On this website (in Polish though) you can see where to find some of the murals in Bialystok.
Multicultural past
Bialystok is known for its multicultural past.
Due to the location, the city has been on the crossroads between east and west. In fact, in the 16th century, the border between the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania went through Bialystok. The cultures, religions, and influences mingled in the city.
The creator of the Esperanto language, Ludwik Zamenhof, was born in Bialystok. You can visit places connected to this famous persona, including his birth house.
Still today you can find many remnants of the multicultural past around the city, such as Orthodox churches (including the largest one in Poland) or the monument where the synagogue used to be located.
Vibrant atmosphere
When I visited Bialystok in the summertime I was really impressed by how vibrant the city was. Until late hours the center was packed with people, all the outdoor bars ad restaurants were full and everyone seemed to have a good time.
Sure, with almost 300.000 inhabitants it is one of the largest cities in Poland but still, I was really impressed with the cool, laid-back atmosphere of Bialystok.
I recommend visiting Bialystok in the warm months too so you can fully enjoy and appreciate the place.
Getaway to the Podlasie region
The Podlasie region is among the most interesting in Poland. It’s known for its pristine nature, various cultures coexisting, and old-times vibe.
That’s where you will find beautiful wooden houses, numerous picturesque Orthodox churches, the only Tatar villages in Poland, or the UNESCO-protected Białowieża Forest. The Podlasie region also offers a unique culinary experience so if you are a foodie this area will be a treat for you.
And there is no better place to start exploring the Podlasie region than Bialystok, its capital. If you use public transport during your travels there are numerous buses and trains that can take you around the area.
Some of the best places to visit in Podlasie include Tykocin, Supraśl, Białowieża, Kruszyniany, or villages along so-called the Land of Open Shutters.
Bialystok pictures
To prove to you that Bialystok is a really fine place to visit here are a few more pictures to show you how pleasant this city is.
Further reading
I published many articles about Poland that you might find useful when planning your trip there. Here are some of them:
- 37 Amazing Things to Do in Krakow, Poland
- 20 Great Places to Visit As Day Trips from Warsaw, Poland
- Visiting Auschwitz – How to Plan the Auschwitz Tour
- 17 Amazing Things to Do in Lublin, Poland
- The Complete Guide to Visiting Slownski National Park, Poland
- Visit Grudziadz – One of the Hidden Gems of Poland
- 19 Amazing Things to Do in Gdansk, Poland
- Visit Sandomierz, Poland – One of the Prettiest Towns in the Country
- Visiting Malbork Castle, Poland – the Largest Castle in the World
- 25 Amazing Things to do in Wroclaw, Poland
- and many more!
If you are looking for articles about a specific destination – check out the map with all the articles I’ve published (and their locations). You can also join my Facebook group about traveling in Central Europe and ask your questions there.
Travel Resources
You can find the best accommodation options at Booking. They have many discounts and excellent customer service. Click here to look for the place to stay in Poland
Never travel without travel insurance, you never know what might happen and better safe than sorry. You can check the insurance policy for Poland here.
I recommend joining organized tours to get to know the place better and to visit more places during your trip. You can find a great selection of tours at Get Your Guide – click here.
Make sure to have the offline map always installed on your phone, they can save you so many troubles. I always use the free app Maps.Me.
For the end I left a few announcements that might interest you:
- Sign up to my newsletter or follow me on Bloglovin to get updates about the new posts
- Join my Facebook group about Eastern Europe, the Balkans and former USSR and connect with fellow travellers and enthusiasts of these regions – just click here!
- I’ve included a few handy links of services and products I personally like and use so you can plan your own trip to Poland too. They are often affiliate links. This means I will get a small commission if you book/purchase anything through my links, at no extra costs for you. Thank you!
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8 Comments
Tomek
26/10/2021 at 11:43The city fragment between Botaniczna, Piłsudskiego, Poleska streets and Biała River is really underrated and neglected in official guides.
There are 5 old manufactures there, as well as the Bialystok ghetto was located there during II World War.
There is a park and a monument commemorating those times and Bialystok ghetto uprising.
Also when you have a chance it’s great to take a walk to old Chanajki district (Młynowa street and the neighbouring ones: Mohylowska, Kochanowskiego, Bema).
The bad thing is that this region is barely protected by the registers and developers keep changing its character.
One more thing I’d recommend is Dojlidy with its park and two residences. It’s a bit hidden one and quite remote, but nicely located and there is local brewery right next to. :)
kami
25/11/2021 at 18:20Thank you for these great tips! All the best!
Riina
29/10/2021 at 19:44Thank you Kami so much for this post! I think Bialystok is one of the most fascinating cities in Poland and certainly worth visiting :) Even though Bialowieza National Park will be my main destination, I’d love to spend some time in Bialystok too.
P.S. Sorry I couldn’t find how to type the place names correctly, it’s a Friday night and am busy chatting with friends ;)
kami
25/11/2021 at 18:23Both, Bialystok and Bialowieza NP are great places, I’m sure you will enjoy them when you visit :) Happy travels!
Ovidiu
23/01/2022 at 22:35The mural painting/graffiti with the old lady looks awesome, it has such a great home vibe. Could you please translate what is writen on it? Congrats Kami for your great articles!
kami
03/02/2022 at 19:55Thank you! This mural is so cute, isn’t it? :) The writing says “send a postcard to your grandma” :)
Zygmunt Ziółkowski
04/11/2022 at 18:37Thank Kami for the information!
kami
26/11/2022 at 21:20I’m glad you liked the article!