10 Things to Do in Torun – Gingerbread, Copernicus and the Old Town

Torun wins you over on your very first stroll. Gothic townhouses, brick walls along the Vistula, the house where, according to tradition, Nicolaus Copernicus was born, and gingerbread in the shop windows – the best things to do in Torun are close together, so you can see most of them on foot, at a relaxed pace and without a car.

We’ve picked 10 places worth visiting on a first trip: from the Old Town Market Square, through the gingerbread museums, to the city panorama from the far bank of the Vistula. At the end you’ll find practical tips and answers to the questions groups ask us most often.

Torun in a nutshell

The medieval town of Torun has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1997. The listing covers the Old Town with Rynek Staromiejski (the Old Town Market Square), the New Town with Rynek Nowomiejski (the New Town Market Square) and the ruins of the Teutonic Castle between them. It all lies within walking distance on the right bank of the Vistula, so leave the car outside the centre and explore on foot.

10 things to do in Torun

1. Old Town Market Square and the Town Hall tower

The heart of the city is Rynek Staromiejski, with its Gothic Town Hall, home to a museum. Start by climbing the tower, around 40 metres tall – from the top you get the best view of the Old Town’s layout and the Vistula. Next to the Town Hall stands the Nicolaus Copernicus Monument, and in front of the neo-Renaissance Dwór Artusa (Artus Court) you’ll find Piernikowa Aleja Gwiazd (the Gingerbread Avenue of Stars) – plaques shaped like katarzynki, Torun’s best-known gingerbread.

2. Nicolaus Copernicus House

At Kopernika 15/17 stand two Gothic merchants’ townhouses, and according to tradition the famous astronomer was born in one of them. The museum presents his life and times in interiors arranged like an old Hanseatic house. The most impressive part is a model of medieval Torun combined with an audiovisual show.

3. The gingerbread museums

A visit to Torun without gingerbread doesn’t count, and there are two places to choose from. Muzeum Toruńskiego Piernika (the Museum of Torun Gingerbread) on Strumykowa Street is housed in the former Weese family factory and displays, among other things, a collection of wooden gingerbread moulds – and in its workshop you can bake your own decorative gingerbread. At Żywe Muzeum Piernika (the Living Museum of Gingerbread) on Rabiańska Street, the show is hosted by the Master Gingerbread Baker and the Witch, and every participant shapes gingerbread in a wooden mould and takes it home. With a larger group, book a slot in advance.

4. Cathedral of Saints John and the Tuba Dei bell

Katedra Świętych Janów (the Cathedral of St John the Baptist and St John the Evangelist) is the largest church in Torun, built in stages over more than two centuries. Copernicus was baptised here, and its tower houses Tuba Dei – a Gothic bell cast in 1500 and one of the largest in Poland. Look out for the single-handed clock on the tower and the monumental interior.

5. The Leaning Tower and the medieval gates

Krzywa Wieża (the Leaning Tower) was once part of the old fortifications and tilts almost one and a half metres off vertical. Legend has it that anyone who has sinned can’t keep their balance beneath it – a fun test for the whole group. Carry on along the walls on the Vistula side and you’ll pass the Gothic gates: Brama Żeglarska (Sailors’ Gate), Brama Klasztorna (Monastery Gate) and Brama Mostowa (Bridge Gate), which is marked with the water levels of historic floods.

6. The Teutonic Castle ruins

The castle built by the Teutonic Knights in the 13th century was burned and dismantled by the townspeople in 1454. The surviving ruins lie between the Old Town and the New Town and today serve as a stage for concerts and tournaments, while the cellars hold an exhibition on the daily life of the Order’s knight-monks.

7. Bulwar Filadelfijski and the panorama from the left bank of the Vistula

Named after Philadelphia, Torun’s twin city, the riverside boulevard is the best place for a walk with river views. In season, sightseeing boats depart from here, and barges with beer gardens are moored along the quay. The most famous view, though, is from across the river: from the left bank, around Majdany Street, the panorama of the Old Town looks its best just after sunset, when the monuments are already lit up.

8. The planetarium and the Orbitarium

Copernicus’s city could hardly be without a planetarium. Housed in a former gasworks tank on Franciszkańska Street, it screens space shows under its dome. In the interactive Orbitarium you become a mission control team piloting a space probe – great fun for a group, including on a rainy day. Fans of experiments should also look in at the Młyn Wiedzy (Mill of Knowledge) science centre.

9. Old Town sculptures and the Cosmopolis fountain

A walk around the Old Town is also a hunt for sculptures: on the Market Square there’s a raftsman playing the violin, on the corner of Żeglarska and Szeroka streets a donkey, and along the way you’ll also meet Filuś the dog in a hat. After dark, head to the Planty park by Fosa Staromiejska (the Old Town Moat), where in the tourist season the Cosmopolis fountain, inspired by Copernicus’s heliocentric system, puts on shows of water, light and music.

10. Torun from the windows of a party tram

Finally, an idea for groups who want to see the city from a different angle. A private tram with a professional sound system, club lighting and a dedicated party host turns a ride around Torun into a party on wheels. The route can loop around the Gothic Old Town – through Rapacki Square and along the Sikorski Embankment – and through the green Bydgoskie Przedmieście district. You’ll find the details on our Torun tram party page, and for a special occasion, see our birthday tram parties.

Practical tips

• Order of sights – start with the Town Hall tower to get your bearings, and save the panorama from the left bank of the Vistula for the evening.
• Bookings – check museum opening hours and gingerbread workshop dates before you travel; with a larger group, book your places early.
• Comfortable shoes – the Old Town’s cobbles soon take their toll, especially after a whole day on your feet.
• Rainy-day plan B – the Orbitarium, Młyn Wiedzy and the gingerbread museums work whatever the weather.

Frequently asked questions

How much time do you need to see Torun?

One full day is enough for the Old Town, Copernicus House and one of the gingerbread museums. If you want to add the planetarium, a workshop and an evening walk to the viewpoint, plan for two days.

What is there to see in Torun in the evening?

After dark, head to the left bank of the Vistula for the illuminated panorama of the Old Town and, during the tourist season, to the Cosmopolis fountain show. You can also spend the evening on a private tram, then move on to the Old Town’s pubs and clubs.

Is a party tram in Torun only for large groups?

No. We prepare offers both for smaller groups of up to 30 people and for larger groups of over 30. Prices and event details are agreed individually, depending on your preferences – you’ll find more information on the TramParty Torun page.