Sandomierz is a picturesque town in south-eastern Poland, located on the Vistula River, on seven hills (hence sometimes called “little Rome” or “Polish Tuscany” because of its vineyards and beautiful landscapes). Sandomierz has the unique atmosphere and charm of a small historic town surrounded by beautiful nature. The perfect destination for a weekend trip in Poland!

Jump to how to get to Sandomierz by train, by car
Jump to the main attractions in Sandomierz

How to get to Sandomierz by train, by car

The town of Sandomierz is located in south-eastern Poland, in the Świętokrzyskie voivodship. Sandomierz’s location on Google Maps.

How to get to Sandomierz by car

Approximate (depending on traffic) travel time from: Warsaw 3 hrs, Wrocław 5 hrs 30 mins, Poznań 5 hrs 40 mins, Kraków 2 hrs 40 mins, Gdańsk 6 hrs 40 mins, Katowice 3 hrs 20 mins, Lublin 1 hr 40 mins, Toruń 5 hr 15 mins, Łódź 3 hrs 40 mins.

How to get to Sandomierz by train

The railway station in Sandomierz on Google Maps (address: Sandomierz, Dworzec PKP, Lwowska 35 Street). There are not many direct train connections to Sandomierz from major Polish cities (e.g. Warsaw – the shortest travel time: 3 hr 10 mins). You can check train connections from your location in the train timetable.

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Main attractions in Sandomierz

Old Town, Market Square, picturesque streets

The Old Town in Sandomierz is one of the most beautiful in Poland – it is a place where it is worth taking a stroll, immersing yourself in history, and relaxing in one of the cafes. The gothic town hall, tenement houses dating from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, and historic streets. Around Market Square, you will find cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops, and art galleries. Sandomierz Old Town Market on Google Maps.

Sandomierz seen from above – observation deck on the 14th-century fortification gate

The gate is called in Polish Brama Opatowska and it is the main entrance to the historic part of the city (location on Google Maps). At the top of the gate, there is an observation deck available to tourists (paid admission, website in Polish). Five floors lead to the top, from where the view extends for approximately 50 km in good visibility.

Underground Tourist Route in Sandomierz’s Old Town

The 47-meter-long route consists of 34 interconnected rooms, located at a depth of 4 to 12 meters underground. These are merchant cellars and warehouses from the 14th and 15th centuries. The route is available to tourists all year round, entry is paid. Website in Polish. Address: ul. Rynek 10, entrance from Oleśnickiego Street. Location on Google Maps.

One of the most frequently photographed spots in the Old Town of Sandomierz

It’s co-called Needle’s Eye (Ucho Igielne in Polish) – a very narrow 14th-century stairway and gate. Location on Google Maps.

Royal Castle in Sandomierz

Walking from the Old Town towards the Vistula River you will reach the Castle (location on Google Maps). The Castle houses a museum (website in Polish). From the castle courtyard, there is a wonderful view of the cathedral and the Vistula River.

The original brick castle was built in the fourteenth century on the site of an earlier fortress. The castle was destroyed in the 17th century, but one wing survived and was restored.

For those who want to take a break from the sights in surprising nature – gorges

One of the attractions of the town of Sandomierz are impressive gorges (a gorge in Polish: wąwóz) – they are very interesting hiking trails. The most popular and impressive is the Queen’s Gorge (Wąwóz Królowej Jadwigi, location on Google Maps) – its steep walls are up to ten meters high, and you can admire the fantastic shapes of the roots and walk under the lush canopy of trees. Another interesting gorge in Sandomierz is the Wąwóz św. Jacka Odrowąża gorge (location on Google Maps).

Walk and photo opportunity – panorama of the Vistula River, breathtaking sunrise and sunset – Góry Pieprzowe / Pepper Mountains

The Pieprzowe Mountains are considered the oldest Polish mountains – they rose about half a billion years ago. They are rather hills – their height reaches less than 200 m above sea level.

You can get there on foot along the Vistula embankment or by car. The parking lot is located 5 km from the Sandomierz Old Town (location on Google Maps). You can also leave your car on the other side of the trail, near Willa Dzika Róża (location on Google Maps). You will see that the trail is neither long nor very demanding. The trail goes up, then goes down steeply again, and so on for about three kilometers.

These mountains are also called the Rose Mountains – they are famous for 12 naturally growing wild rose species! The most beautiful time on the trail is in late spring when the roses begin to bloom and in autumn with amazing fall foliage.

What to bring from Sandomierz – local delicacies

What is Sandomierz famous for? Apple juice pressed from Sandomierz apples, apple cider, several types of fudge (krówka in Polish), podpiwek – sparkling drink with low alcohol content below 2%, made from barley malt.

Other attractions

A boat cruise on the Vistula in Sandomierz. More in Polish.
Playgrounds in Sandomierz (locations on Google Maps).
Biking in the Sandomierz area. There are interesting bicycle paths in the area around Sandomierz. Info about the GreenVelo bike route around the town of Sandomierz. Info about several biking routes in and around Sandomierz, from 5 km to 70 km, e.g. Apple Bike Trail.
The Polish crime series “Father Mateusz” (Ojciec Mateusz), the equivalent of the Italian series “Don Matteo”, is filmed in the Old Town of Sandomierz. This is a very popular series among Poles, hence a museum/exhibition dedicated to this series and its characters was established in Sandomierz (more in Polish).
Don’t be surprised if, while walking around Sandomierz, you come across a monument… of a ring! The whole thing weighs as much as 80 kg, and the ring’s decorative stone (striped flint – krzemień pasiasty) weighs 30 kg. Location on Google Maps. In Poland, striped flint occurs near Sandomierz, and according to archaeologists, it was mined there already in Neolithic times and was used to produce tools, decorations, etc. Today, Sandomierz is the only place in Poland and in the world where striped flint for jewelry is collected. It’s an idea for a souvenir from Sandomierz:)
Are you brave enough to try Polish wine?;) Many people believe that the best wines in Poland are produced near Sandomierz.
If you would like to visit the city of Sandomierz and the surrounding area with a guide, here are some links to websites where you can book a guide in Sandomierz: https://przewodnicy.sandomierz.pl/, https://www.pttk-sandomierz.pl/, https://www.przewodnik-sandomierz.eu/.

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An idea for a weekend trip in Poland: the town of Sandomierz

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