Bydgoszcz and Torun in One Weekend – Plan for a Group of Friends

Looking for a trip with friends that combines sightseeing, good food and a proper party? A weekend in Bydgoszcz and Torun is a plan that’s easy to pull off: the two cities are a short journey apart, and a direct train usually covers the route in under an hour. Riverside Bydgoszcz on Saturday, Gothic Torun on Sunday – two completely different atmospheres in one weekend.

Below you’ll find a ready-made two-day plan, the most interesting places in both cities, an idea for Saturday night and practical tips on accommodation and getting there.

Why combine Bydgoszcz and Torun

The two cities lie close together, but each has a character of its own. Bydgoszcz is a city on the Brda river: half-timbered granaries, the green Wyspa Młyńska (Mill Island), Wenecja Bydgoska (Bydgoszcz Venice) and some unusual museums. Torun tempts you with its medieval Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, reminders of Nicolaus Copernicus and its famous gingerbread. Together they make a programme in which nobody in the group gets bored.

• One base – stay in one city and take the train to the other for the day.
• Two nights – Saturday night in Bydgoszcz and Sunday night in Torun, if you want to stay longer and not rush home.
• Party on Saturday – plan the evening in the city where you’re staying, so you can walk back to your hotel afterwards.

Saturday – Bydgoszcz

1. Morning: Old Market Square, Mill Island and Bydgoszcz Venice

Start at Stary Rynek (the Old Market Square) and the Gothic cathedral, then cross to Mill Island, which lies between the Brda and its side channel, the Młynówka. The island is home to museums, the restored Młyny Rothera (Rother’s Mills) and an amphitheatre overlooking the river, and its footbridges give you the best view of the Bydgoszcz Venice tenements, which stand right at the water’s edge. A few minutes away you’ll find the half-timbered granaries on Grodzka Street and the sculpture Przechodzący przez rzekę (The Man Crossing the River), balancing on a rope above the Brda.

2. Afternoon: the Exploseum, a river cruise or the Soap Museum

For history and technology fans, the highlight of the day will be the Exploseum – a museum in the forest on the outskirts of the city, set in the former German explosives factory DAG Fabrik Bromberg. The guided tour takes about two hours and leads through buildings connected by underground corridors. If you fancy something lighter, take the solar-powered water tram from Rybi Rynek (the Fish Market) in season, or drop into the Muzeum Mydła i Historii Brudu (Museum of Soap and History of Dirt) on Długa Street, where everyone makes their own bar of soap.

3. Evening: a tram party and the Old Town

Saturday night is party time. For two hours, a private tram with a professional sound system and club lighting carries your group through Bydgoszcz by night – along Gdańska Street, through Rondo Jagiellonów (Jagiellonian Roundabout) and near the Old Market Square, among other places. The ride can start from almost any tram stop, and we usually agree the final stop in the centre, close to the pubs on Długa Street and the bars by the Brda. You’ll find the details on our tram parties in Bydgoszcz page, and if the trip is a stag weekend, see our stag do in Bydgoszcz offer.

Sunday – Torun

1. Old Town Market Square and the town hall tower

After a short train ride, start at Rynek Staromiejski (the Old Town Market Square), with its Gothic town hall and the Copernicus Monument. It’s worth climbing the town hall tower, around 40 metres high, for a panorama of the Old Town rooftops. The square is also home to Dwór Artusa (Artus Court) and the baroque Kamienica Pod Gwiazdą (House Under the Star).

2. Nicolaus Copernicus House

A Gothic merchant’s house on Kopernika Street, where tradition says the astronomer was born, is now a museum devoted to his life and work. While you’re there, you’ll also see how wealthy townspeople lived in medieval Torun.

3. Gingerbread workshops

A visit to Torun doesn’t count without gingerbread. At the Muzeum Toruńskiego Piernika (Museum of Torun Gingerbread) and the Żywe Muzeum Piernika (Living Gingerbread Museum), you can shape and bake your own gingerbread to traditional recipes and take it home with you. It’s great fun for a group and the best souvenir of the trip.

4. The Leaning Tower and the Teutonic castle ruins

Krzywa Wieża (the Leaning Tower), a medieval tower in the town walls, tilts about one and a half metres off the vertical and is one of Torun’s best-known curiosities. Nearby are the ruins of the Teutonic Knights’ castle, which the townspeople destroyed in the 15th century.

5. Bulwar Filadelfijski and the view from across the Vistula

Finish with a stroll along Bulwar Filadelfijski (Philadelphia Boulevard) beside the Vistula, with views of the city walls and the bridges. The most beautiful panorama of Torun is from Kępa Bazarowa on the opposite bank – especially after dark, when the Old Town is lit up. If you’re staying in Torun overnight, take a look at our tram parties in Torun as well.

Sample weekend plan

Saturday – Bydgoszcz

• 10:00 – Old Market Square, the cathedral and Mill Island
• 12:30 – Bydgoszcz Venice, the granaries and lunch in the Old Town
• 14:30 – the Exploseum or, in season, a water tram cruise
• 19:00 – dinner near the Old Market Square
• 20:30 – two hours on a private party tram
• 22:30 – pubs on Długa Street and by the Brda

Sunday – Torun

• 11:00 – arrival, the Old Town Market Square and the town hall tower
• 12:30 – Nicolaus Copernicus House
• 14:00 – lunch, then a gingerbread workshop
• 16:30 – the Leaning Tower, the castle ruins and Bulwar Filadelfijski
• 18:30 – the panorama from Kępa Bazarowa and the journey home

Practical tips

• Getting there – trains between the two cities run from morning until late evening, but check the timetable before you travel, especially for your Sunday return.
• Bookings – reserve the Exploseum tour, the gingerbread workshop and the tram in advance; the tram must be booked at least 5 working days before the party.
• Luggage – if you’re changing hotels, leave your bags at the hotel and collect them after sightseeing.
• Comfortable shoes – both cities are best explored on foot, and Sunday involves a lot of walking.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the journey from Bydgoszcz to Torun take?

A direct train usually takes around 35 to 50 minutes, and there are connections throughout the day. That makes it easy to plan one day in each city without losing time on long journeys.

Does the party tram run in both cities?

Yes – we organise private tram parties in both Bydgoszcz and Torun. It’s most convenient to plan the party in the city where you’re spending the night, so you can walk back to your hotel afterwards.

Is there an offer for a smaller group of friends?

Yes. Our Bydgoszcz offer includes options for smaller groups of up to 30 people as well as for larger groups. We agree the price and details of the party individually, depending on what you’re looking for.