Name: Toruń
Item: Toruń
Author: Magda Piasecka

How to get to Toruń from Warsaw

By car: about 250 km and 2,5-hour drive via A2 and A1 highways
By train: direct trains depart every 1-2 hours, travel time from 2h48m to 3h34m, click here to see the timetable in English
By plane: the nearest airport is located in Bydgoszcz (about 50 km)

Example hotels in Toruń

Bulwar Hotel, located just a few steps from the Old Town, 1,9 km from the Railway Station, no swimming pool
Copernicus Toruń Hotel, located about 600 m from the Old Town, 2,1 km from the Railway Station, indoor and outdoor swimming pools
Ibis Budget Toruń, located about 700 m from the Old Town, 2,2 km from the Railway Station, no swimming pool

Parking & public transport in Toruń

Toruń city center is a paid parking zone (free on weekends) Monday – Friday, 8 am – 6 pm. Click here to see the paid zone map. You can pay in parking meters with cash (the machines does not give change), chip cards or through mobile payment systems (mobiParking and moBilet)
There are trams and buses, no metro. There are single ride tickets and time tickets (30, 60 and 90-minute time tickets). Click here to read details in English

Attractions for kids in Toruń

The Living Museum of Gingerbread (Rabiańska 9 Street, the Old Town area). The Museum tour includes three parts: 1. Learning about rituals connected with baking gingerbread (In a funny way, visitors – especially kids – are involved in the story. Visitors can mix ingredients, smell the spices etc.); 2. Preparing the dough and then baking it (Each visitor gets a piece of raw dough, rolling pin, traditional wooden molds and prepares his/her own gingerbread that is taken to stove.); 3. Visiting the exhibition of historic baking equipment and decorating gingerbread with icing (Decorating is optional and costs additional 10 PLN). The show is also available in English (1 pm and 4 pm), or in German (you need to call or email the Museum to make a reservation in advance). Since there happen to be long lines, it’s recommended to buy tickets online (for a particular time), no need to print your tickets, it’s enough to show them on your smartphone.
The Planetarium in Toruń (Franciszkańska 15-21 Street, the Old Town area) offers a small exhibition “Geodium” and shows for children and adults (some of them are available with headphones with English audio). You can pay with cash only.
Center for Modernity “Mill of Knowledge” (“Młyn Wiedzy”, Władysława Łokietka 5 Street, 3,5 km from the Old Town) is very similar to Warsaw Copernicus Science Center. A few modern interactive exhibitions featuring science dedicated to families with children. It’s open Tuesday – Friday 9 am – 3 pm, Saturday – Sunday 11 am – 5 pm. You can buy tickets online (at least one day before your planned visit).
Town Hall Tower (the center of the Old Town) offers a great view of Toruń (40 m).
Teutonic Knights’ Castle Ruins (Przedzamcze 3 Street, the Old Town area). There is not much left of the castle, however, kids will love the underground chambers and fortifications.
The Zoo-botanical Garden (Bydgoska 7 Street, 1 km from the Old Town). Torun Zoo-botanical Garden is open every day, including weekends and holidays, with the exception of November 1. It’s not big but it can be its advantage if you are with kids – the Zoo is a nice destination if you want to take a break from sightseeing.
The Leaning Tower (Pod Krzywą Wieżą 1 Street, the Old Town area) is a medieval defensive tower known for its unintended tilt (most probably due to sandy subsoil). It is fun for children to try to stand by the tower and not fall forward.
The Bell Tower of SS. Johns’ Cathedral (Żeglarska 16 Street, the Old Town area) – the oldest Gothic church in Toruń (Copernicus was baptized here in 1473, you can visit a chapel with his baptismal font). It’s worth visiting the tower with kids not only because of a fantastic view. Kids will love the magnificent Tuba Dei bell (God’s Trumpet) on the top – the largest medieval bell in Poland. The tower is 52 m high (over 200 steps). You can visit the tower from April 1 – October 31, working days 9 am – 5.30 pm, Sundays and holidays 2 pm – 5.30 pm. Regular tickets 8 PLN, reduced tickets 6 PLN.
Cosmopolis Fountain Park (Fosa Staromiejska 1A Street, the Old Town area). Water, lights, and music (e.g. Love Story and Gladiator movies soundtracks) shows. The show schedule changes depending on the season (in 2017, September 1 – October 31 the night shows are between 7 pm and 11 pm, the fountains start operating at 10 am).
The Medieval Old Town is one of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Poland. Most of the important architectural monuments are originals, not reconstructions (Toruń, unlike many other cities in Poland, avoided substantial destruction during the Second World War).

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