Cultural cities of Poland

Spring has arrived! And with spring, many of us feel more inclined to engage in various outdoor activities. One such activity could be exploring the offerings of theaters, museums, or concert halls in a given city. Undoubtedly, the pandemic was a challenging time for the cultural and entertainment sector in Poland. Many theatrical performances and concerts had to be canceled, museums and operas had to close, and all forms of entertainment and culture were significantly restricted. The good news is that the cultural and entertainment offerings across Poland are returning, so let’s see where to go for a dose of culture! Holidu, a search engine for apartments and holiday homes, decided to analyse which cities in Poland are the most popular when it comes to cultural attractions. Which places do we prefer to visit for cinema, theatre, museums, opera, or concerts?

1. Warsaw

Our ranking is topped by Warsaw. Undoubtedly, the capital has much to offer those seeking a solid dose of culture, art, history, or entertainment. Here, we have many theaters to choose from, such as Teatr 6.piętro, Teatr Capitol, or Teatr Współczesny. Everyone will find an interesting show to watch. Additionally, the National Museum boasts a unique collection of paintings and crafts from all eras, while the Royal Castle allows visitors to admire some of the most famous paintings in the world. Younger generations will be delighted by the unique atmosphere of street art at the Neon Museum. It is also worth mentioning the numerous concerts held in Warsaw, both intimate and world-class, as well as interesting vernissages, photo exhibitions, and film marathons at Warsaw cinemas. Events planned in Warsaw this spring include: Chopin Concerts in Łazienki Park, the opening of the season by the Vistula River, Night of Museums, and the Orange Warsaw Festival.

2. Kraków

In second place in our ranking is Kraków. The number of tourists visiting this city demands a rich cultural offering, which is visible at every turn. This month, Kraków invites all comic fans to the Kraków Comic Festival and fashion enthusiasts to Cracow Fashion Week. In the summer, the city will come alive with the 35.ULICA Festival, featuring theatrical performances, improvisations, happenings, and incredible spectacles on the most beautiful streets and squares of Kraków. Speaking of theatrical performances, we recommend attending the play A Midsummer Night's Dream, created with the help of virtual reality technology, at the National Old Theatre. Film buffs will find interesting cinematic proposals at the Mastercard Off Camera Festival - a festival of independent cinema, which is one of the largest of its kind in Europe.

3. Wrocław

Wrocław closes the podium. In 2016, this city was awarded the title of European Capital of Culture, attracting vast numbers of tourists with its numerous cultural and entertainment attractions. It is now 2022, and Wrocław continues to surprise with its offerings in the fields of culture, art, and entertainment. In the upcoming months, events in Wrocław include stand-up performances, a concert by the excellent Polish vocalist Sanah, and a concert of film and epic music at the Centennial Hall in Wrocław. After a pandemic break, the St. John's Fair will also return to Wrocław's market square, where unique products (industrial, gastronomic) from the region and abroad can be found. If you are looking for attractions completely free of charge, the best place in Wrocław is the Wrocław Multimedia Fountain at Pergola. Here, during the summer, exceptional shows are organized every hour on the hour, combining music, lights, lasers, and, of course, an amazing water spectacle.

4. Gdańsk

Just behind the podium in our ranking of the most popular cities for cultural attractions is Gdańsk. In Gdańsk, it is worth visiting the monumental Museum of the Second World War, which incredibly brings history to life and educates about what happened during that period. Another place on the cultural map of Gdańsk is the European Solidarity Centre, which hosts cyclical debates, exhibitions, conferences, seminars, workshops, and a special offer for school youth. If we are looking for entertainment, fun, and a big dose of laughter in Gdańsk, Ergo Arena will soon host dazzling concerts by well-known Polish musicians and the Polish Cabaret Night. The Baltic Philharmonic also invites you to atmospheric acoustic concerts.

5. Poznań

In the next position in our ranking is Poznań. Yoga courses, dance lessons, or author meetings? Regardless of your interests, Poznań has many intriguing cultural and entertainment events to offer. Those that take place regularly here include the Malta Festival Poznań, a music and spectacle festival, and the International Animated Film Festival, which will be held in Poznań this summer. Theatre and cinema enthusiasts will be enchanted by the Apollo Kinoteatr, whose interiors retain their pre-war style, and the stage hosts the best actors from across the country. Unique places on the cultural map of Poznań include Meskalina Cafe where intimate concerts and film and theatre screenings are organized, as well as Klub u Bazyla, which hosts excellent music events.

6. Katowice

Another city offering a solid dose of culture, art, and entertainment is Katowice. This is where the largest student festival in this part of Poland takes place - the Silesian Juwenalia. This year, students will also enjoy this highly attended music party in Katowice, frequented by youth from all over Poland. Another event taking place in the summer at the Valley of Three Ponds is the OFF Festival Katowice - an event featuring international music stars, multiple stages, film and theatre shows, and much more. For rap music fans, the long-awaited concert of Taco Hemingway is planned at the International Conference Centre.

7. Lublin

Lublin has also made it into our ranking. This city also offers interesting cultural venues. One of them is the Musical Theatre in Lublin, which provides a wide range of entertainment: from opera and musicals to ballet, concerts, fairy tales, and educational performances. This summer, the Lublin Jazz Festival, which has been held for almost 10 years, will be hosted in Lublin, ideal for fans of jazz music and beyond. Another interesting event is the International Street Art Festival "Meeting of Styles" - a festival showcasing graffiti art in an intriguing light.

8. Gdynia

The next city on our list of cultural cities in Poland is Gdynia. This coastal city is another in our ranking. An exciting upcoming event in Gdynia’s calendar is the KARUZELA GNA Concert - a concert of the biggest hits of Polish pop music at the Musical Theatre in Gdynia. It’s also worth visiting the local museums: the Gdynia City Museum, the Emigration Museum, and the Gdynia Motorization Museum.

9. Łódź

Łódź has also made it into our ranking. This city boasts a really rich cultural offering. An interesting event here is the Light Move Festival - a Festival of Kinetic Art of Light, an incredibly creative spectacle. Additionally, a unique event reflecting the multicultural roots of this city, the Four Cultures Festival in Łódź, is planned for this autumn. For design enthusiasts, the Łódź Design Festival is organized. It is one of the most important events related to various types of design in this part of Europe (industrial design, art and craft, graphics, architecture, fashion).

10. Bydgoszcz

Our ranking concludes with Bydgoszcz. What interesting cultural events will we find in the coming months in Bydgoszcz? The Bydgoszcz Music Festival, organized by the Pomeranian Philharmonic, the 5th Bydgoszcz Hackathon, organized by the Bydgoszcz IT Cluster, and the legendary Bydgoszcz Opera Festival, which will take place in October.

Methodology

The study considered all Polish towns with a population of over 100,000. The order of cities in our ranking was determined based on the number of Google searches for the keywords "museum" + city name, "cinema" + city name, "theatre" + city name, "opera" + city name, and "library" + city name. The number of searches for these keywords was then summed to create a total monthly search figure for each city, forming the TOP 10 ranking of the most popular cities concerning cultural, artistic, musical, and entertainment attractions. The data was collected in March 2022.