Poznan

Poznan, a small city within the Eastern European country that is Poland. Sitting close to the Germany border, and yet somehow completely immersed in its own culture. It’s one of the more colourful cities to visit in Europe. My own adventure took me right into the heart of the old town, the focus of the post.

First impressions of Poland were good, however after a somewhat security process after landing in the country I did feel a bit drained. The journey from the airport to the old town takes about 30 minutes via a convenient bus that stops right outside the arrival terminal. From the main bus station in Poznan it’s about a 10 minute walk into the heart of old town. In fact, you are already in the old town area once you depart the bus station. But if you want to head to the old town square its a good walk, so you could be better hopping on another bus or getting a taxi (the taxis were cheap).

Poland’s accommodation was very modern in the heart of old town and I would recommend staying there – Old Town Hotel Stare Miasto (Poznan) which is literally within walking distance of everything; cafés, museums, big library, main town shops, old town square, restaurants, tours and parks.

I had the pleasure of seeing Poznan old town square with brand new tiles down. I walked for five minutes toward the square to be met along the way by historically beautiful buildings, unique European architecture reminiscent of the post-soviet states, and colourful walls and a generally good vibe. After extensive works, Poznan old town square no longer has cobblestones but had been replaced with a sort of cobblestone mimic which was more like concrete slabs, which nonetheless were a pleasure to walk on.

The highlight of the square is both the incredibly beautiful style of European buildings in the rectangular square area, the churches, the fountains and the museum in the centre. There is a large variety of decent cafes and restaurants at reasonable prices. Poland was one of the cheapest places I’ve been both accommodation, transport and food wise. The museums were varied, and just off old town square is the croissant museum.

I found myself drawn around to the castle, and toward other magnificent buildings like the library and the opera house – all of which were maintained to a high standard, as was the old town in general. The streets were clean – people were constantly cleaning them, including the use of power washes for the floor – the people were very friendly. Like most European cities the centre of Poznan offered 24/7 convenience stores offering everyday items and cafés to pharmacies.

It was however a lot colder, which was a surprise as I’d already been to Eastern Europe and the weather was never this bitterly cold. I did enjoy exploring the parks and admiring the different landmarks.

is a bit more liberal minded that a lot of other places, as Poland has fully embraced ideologies like the LGBTQ movement, so expect to see those flags around. Personally I found this off-putting, because of my previous experiences in Eastern Europe had not had these flags on display, suggesting that Poland is very much a westernised nation and probably comes under mid-Europe as opposed to Eastern. But despite my difference in opinion on this I would return to the country, with the hopes of exploring Krakow, Warsaw and Gdansk.

You should try it, as part of your next trip to Poland. But given how much there is too see elsewhere I suggest incorporating it into another trip rather than focusing entirely on this city.

Prague

Ahoy. You’re in Prague. You’ve been stumped. You’re in Europe. You’ve been taken for a fool. No, wait a second, Prague is more like a developed country with an amazingly beautiful city. It’s the best in Europe, so stay tuned for an overview of what could be 2024’s best city to visit.

Home to serene cobblestone streets, artists, post-soviet architecture, delicious cuisine, a lively social scene, and incredibly stunning attractions, Prague is easily one of the best cities in Europe. It’s also home to the infamous writer Franz Kafka. I had to see for myself what all the hype was.

It turned out that early 2024 was an ideal time to visit the city of Prague. My itinerary consisted of arriving, and exploring and nothing more. I had read a little about the main attractions, like Prague castle, but decided to wing it upon arrival. It has to be said that right from the beginning the experience was a pleasant one, the border control were very friendly and the ease of which I navigated the airport to the bus was stress-free. (By the way, if you want to take the bus to Prague city centre you can do so right from exit of the arrivals terminal building.)

I’d arrived to cold, but not overly uncomfortable weather. Generally people were very happy to help me navigate and find my hotel. The hotel itself turned out to be bigger than expected; high ceilings, balcony, en-suite, amenities etc; which is now what I’ve learned to be the typical style of building. Old, but maintained to high standards. It’s restaurant served a typical European breakfast; consisting many cured meats, cheese, tea/coffee, breads, jams, and fruits. At this point, things seemed to be on par with what one would expect from such a European capital.

Having chosen to stay on the new side of the river in Prague (Nové Město) – founded in the fourteenth-century by Charles fourth, I soon realised that I’d chosen the golden egg of locations. It wasn’t in the hustle and bustle of downtown or old town, and yet wasn’t so far that commuting would be a pain. In fact walking by foot was a joy. Some might say I was happy-go-lucky in my adventure across the city. The hotel was 20 to 30 minutes to the Prague castle on foot at a decent pace. So I explored.

Old buildings and a general post-soviet vibe did dominate the streets to some extent but there was also other more interesting things to look at. Simply admiring the buildings architecture and size could keep me entertained for hours, as you get lost in this good-feeling of the complete realisation of what it means to take pride in your work. Moving toward old town you encounter the main strip which is renowned locally as a meeting spot; including for tourists and prostitutes (allegedly). Here you will also come across a variety of modern brands, clean wide pavements and the museum. Anybody coming by bus will have to transfer to the metro, and the stop is outside the museum, saving considerable time.

When entering old town it’s like stepping into a fairy tale. You become surrounded by smaller, older buildings, cobblestone pavements weaving among and through the medieval vibe that is so apparent in this city. As you approach the old town square, as is typical of a lot of European and especially Eastern European capitals you will see a variety of eye-candy. The Monument dedicated to the war, the old town astronomical clock, and a beautiful cathedral. Prague in particular takes excellent care of its various churches, which is in stark contrast to some other places. People generally seemed happy, and smiling seemed to be given freely. The array of restaurants among the old town square were hospitable and welcoming, with friendly prices.

The old town is a gem but it’s also the highlight of Prague for many people. So, I headed toward the legend that is Charles Bridge and basked in the sun, watching people and boats pass on the river. In the distance, the little town, the Prague castle and more possibility. I don’t want to talk about everything because I want you to experience the magic yourself. You will not be short of places to go or things to eat, you will probably find little town full of locals, and as you dive deeper into the urban areas, you will start to become aware of just how incredibly easy it is to navigate.

Entry to the castle isn’t free, but it is worth the money. Expect to pay for the entrance fee, and then addon additional costs for anything else inside that you might want to visit but haven’t otherwise paid for. On a sunny day, you will be able to stare out across the city, hopefully in the heat and see most of it. It’s an amazing view. On this somewhat fairy-tale adventure into this medieval city, you’ve encountered friendly locals, beautiful cathedrals, amazing architecture, clean streets, safe and easy travel, tons of various restaurants (including medieval dungeons, train themed, arcade style, nightmare bars, 80s restaurant, Peklo!) at affordable prices, museums, galleries, parks, trams and finally, for me, a sense of peace.

It’s an amazing city with a lot to offer. You can venture as far as you want to, and probably should, without ever feeling like it’s too far, or too unsafe. There’s so much variety, giving you the choice of either a quite city break in Prague or making it into an unforgettable bachelor weekend (Goldfingers). Whatever your choice I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. It’s easy to use and cheap public transport is one of the best in Europe if not the world. It’s people have to be some of the kindest in Europe. The food is absolutely delicious (Svíčková, Shunkofleky, fruit dumplings). It’s atmosphere is one of joy and happiness. The people are happy it seems. It’s also considerable cheaper than alternatives like France or Germany.

In conclusion the Czech Republic is worth a visit and is in this narrators humble opinion one of the best destinations in Europe to visit. Considering that it was once a soviet state you’d expect it to be quite daunting, but in reality they’d made it as European as it can be, whilst still retaining its important and interesting historical roots.