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Rzeszów – a brief overview
Rzeszów is southeast Poland’s largest city. With a pretty Old Town and some impressive architecture, including unique churches and synagogues, it’s easy to while away few days in this relatively unexplored corner of Eastern Europe. Despite being the area’s main metropolis, it’s a breeze to cover the city centre on foot, making it ideal for getting lost and discovering hidden streets and alleyways.
With plenty of history and some terrific museums and galleries, there’s plenty in Rzeszów to put it right up there with other Polish cultural gems such as Poznań and Wrocław.
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Top 10 sights in Rzeszów

Old Town
Rzeszów
Poland
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In the heart of the city centre, Rzeszów’s Old Town is the first place you’re likely to come on a visit. With small, pretty streets, impressive squares and striking architecture, it’s one of Poland’s most beautiful urban areas.
Lubomirskich Castle
Rzeszów
Poland
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Opening times:
Various
This distinctive structure dates back to the 16th century and was home to the Lubomirski noble family. Reconstructed over the centuries, it is Rzeszów’s most distinctive building, easily accessible from the Old Town. It plays host to regular concerts and exhibitions. Check local listings for details.
Old Town Synagogue
Rzeszów
Poland
Tel: +48 17 853 2684
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First built in the 17th century and rebuilt after countless fires, this pretty synagogue is a lasting symbol of what was once a large Jewish community in Rzeszów. Today it is used by the Jewish History Research Centre in Kraków and as such the interior isn’t open to the public.
New Town Synagogue/BWA Gallery
35-002 Rzeszów
Poland
Tel: +48 17 853 3811
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Opening times:
Tue-Sun 1000-1900
The so-called ‘Big Synagogue’ (compared to the smaller one found in the Old Town) was first built in the early 18th century. It was used by the Nazis as a stable during WWII and destroyed towards the end of the conflict. Today it is home to the BWA (Biuro Wystaw Artystycznych) gallery, which is well worth exploring.
Communist Monument
Rzeszów
Poland
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This huge monument was built during the dark days of Polish communism, remembering those who had committed ‘revolutionary acts’. Today its grandiose style is a reminder of the tough times endured by Poles during the latter half of the 20th century.
Ethnographic Museum
35-064 Rzeszów
Poland
Tel: +48 17 862 0217
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Opening times:
Tue-Thu 0900-1530
Fri 1000-1730
Sat 1000-1600
Anyone interested in Polish social history should head to this excellent museum. Found on the main town square, it has a vast collection of traditional costumes and artefacts, explaining how tradition continues to thrive in the far corner of this beautiful country.
Rzeszów Regional Museum
35-030 Rzeszów
Poland
Tel: +48 17 853 5278
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Opening times:
Tue-Thu 0900-1530
Fri 1000-1730
Sat 1000-1600
With a focus on Polish art from the last few centuries, this pretty museum is Rzeszów’s major cultural attraction. Its home, in an old monastery, is worth visiting even if you only have a passing interest in art. There are also pieces from other European countries, giving the place a more international flavour.
Bernardine Church and Monastery
35-010 Rzeszów
Poland
Tel: +48 17 853 3495
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Opening times:
Various
A Renaissance period building, this old monastery and church is home to some stunning effigies of the Ligęza family, who ruled the city during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Not to be missed.
Rzeszów Cellars
35-064 Rzeszów
Poland
Tel: +48 17 875 4774
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Opening times:
Tue-Fri 1000-1900 (May-Sep)
Sat-Sun 1100-1800 (May-Sep)
Tue-Fri 1000-1800 (Oct-Apr)
Sat-Sun 1100-1700 (Oct-Apr)
Take a guided tour through this fascinating underworld. The 45-minute trip takes you through cellars dating from the 15th century until the last, all connected via a dedicated route. A cool and different way to see a whole new side of Rzeszów.
Museum of the City of Rzeszów
35-030 Rzeszów
Poland
Tel: +48 17 875 4198
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Opening times:
Tue-Thu 0900-1530
Fri 1000-1730
Sat 1000-1600
The permanent ‘six centuries of Rzeszów’ exhibition here is absolutely superb. Historical artefacts such as armour, weapons and key documents help tell the story of the town from its beginnings in 1354 right through to its role in WWII. A must-see.
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Country information
Country overview
One of Europe’s most underrated countries, Poland offers a huge amount for travellers of all stripes, from the wild scenery of its mountainous south, with its great skiing and hiking, to the stunning Old Towns of Cracow, Zamość and Gdańsk, and the wilderness of the Białowieża National Park and the Great Masurian Lakes in the country’s north. Poland’s scenic beauty is as varied as it is extraordinary.
The Baltic coast has some excellent sandy beaches, as well as the Słowiński National Park with its ethereal forests, bogs and sand dunes. The Cracow-Wielun Upland with its limestone areas, caves and medieval castles is another highlight, while perhaps most beautiful area of all is around the Carpathian Mountains in the far south.
Geography
Poland shares borders to the east and northeast with Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Lithuania and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, to the south with the Czech Republic and Slovakia and to the west with Germany. To the north lies the Baltic Sea. The Baltic coast provides almost 525km (325 miles) of sandy beaches, bays and steep cliffs; between Gdańsk, and the port city of Szczecin to the west there are many seaside towns offering unpolluted water and some fine beaches, with sunbeds and umbrellas available for hire. These sand and gravel deposits also form the shifting dunes of Słowiński National Park, the sand bars of Hel and the Vistula Lagoon.
Northern Poland is dominated by lakes, islands and wooded hills joined by many rivers and canals. The Masurian Lake District to the northeast is a patchwork of lakes and forests with Lake Hańcza, the deepest lake in Poland, located here. The longest river, the 1,090km (675 mile) Vistula, or Wisła, rises in the Tatra mountains and empties into the Baltic, cutting a wide valley between the capital, Warsaw in the heart of the country, to Gdańsk on the coast.
The rest of the country rises slowly to the Sudety mountains, which run along the border with the Czech Republic, and the Tatra mountains, which separate Poland from Slovakia.
To the west, the River Oder, with Szczecin at its mouth, forms the northwest border with Germany.
Poland counts almost two dozen national parks, covering an area of 3,200 sq km (1,235 sq miles), and including the oldest, Białowieża National Park, east of Warsaw on the border with Belarus, and one of the largest, Bieszczady National Park, part of the Carpathian mountain range. These parks are home to European bison (the largest mammal in Europe), brown bears, lynx, wolves and even some wild horses. And Białowieża contains a fragment of the forest that once covered Europe in prehistoric times, with some oaks dating back half a millennium. Polish forests are largely pine though, accounting for two-thirds of the total.
General knowledge
Key facts
Population: 38.42 million (2017)
Capital: Warsaw
Language
Polish is the official language. There are a few small German-speaking communities primarily in the southwest. English and, increasingly less so, Russian are also spoken. French is also popular.
Currency
Złoty (PLN; symbol zł) = 100 groszy. Notes are in denominations of zł200, 100, 50, 20 and 10. The coins are in denominations of zł5, 2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 groszy.
Electricity
230 volts AC, 50Hz; continental plugs with two round pins.
Public holidays
Listed below are the public holidays for the period January 2020 to December 2021.
2020
Nowy Rok (New Year’s Day): 1 January 2020
Święto Trzech Króli (Epiphany): 6 January 2020
Pierwszy dzień Wielkanocy (Easter Sunday): 12 April 2020
Drugi dzień Wielkanocy (Easter Monday): 13 April 2020
Międzynarodowe Święto Pracy (Labour Day): 1 May 2020
Święto Narodowe Trzeciego Maja (Republic Day): 3 May 2020
Pierwszy dzień Zielonych Świątek (Whitsun): 31 May 2020
Dzień Bożego Ciała (Corpus Christi): 11 June 2020
Wniebowzięcie Najświętszej Maryi Panny (Assumption): 15 August 2020
Wszystkich Świętych (All Saints’ Day): 1 November 2020
Narodowe Święto Niepodległości (Independence Day): 11 November 2020
Pierwszy dzień Bożego Narodzenia (Christmas Day): 25 December 2020
Drugi dzień Bożego Narodzenia (Second Day of Christmas): 26 December 2020
2021
Nowy Rok (New Year’s Day): 1 January 2021
Święto Trzech Króli (Epiphany): 6 January 2021
Pierwszy dzień Wielkanocy (Easter Sunday): 4 April 2021
Drugi dzień Wielkanocy (Easter Monday): 5 April 2021
Międzynarodowe Święto Pracy (Labour Day): 1 May 2021
Święto Narodowe Trzeciego Maja (Republic Day): 3 May 2021
Pierwszy dzień Zielonych Świątek (Whitsun): 23 May 2021
Dzień Bożego Ciała (Corpus Christi): 3 June 2021
Wniebowzięcie Najświętszej Maryi Panny (Assumption): 15 August 2021
Wszystkich Świętych (All Saints’ Day): 1 November 2021
Narodowe Święto Niepodległości (Independence Day): 11 November 2021
Pierwszy dzień Bożego Narodzenia (Christmas Day): 25 December 2021
Drugi dzień Bożego Narodzenia (Second Day of Christmas): 26 December 2021
All information subject to change.
Flight and accommodation
Nightlife in Rzeszów
Rzeszów has a large student population, meaning that nightlife options are plentiful. As with most of Poland, the big focus is on bars selling strong, tasty, cheap beer.
However, there are lots of places to head if you fancy a dance or a stronger drink.
Stary Browar Rzeszowski
35-064 Rzeszów
Poland
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Head here for some of the tastiest home brew in Poland.
Stara Drukarnia
Rzeszów
Poland
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One of Rzeszów’s coolest pubs, the focus here is on the laid-back jazz, on the stereo and played live.
Club Akademia
35-001 Rzeszów
Poland
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One for the night owls, this club plays banging tunes until well into the wee hours.
Chilli Klub
35-002 Rzeszów
Poland
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This is one of Rzeszów’s hottest spots, with an eclectic playlist and decent cocktails.
Graciarnia U Plastykow
35-064 Rzeszów
Poland
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You can’t get more central than this great pub, which has sharp décor to match its impressive drinks list.
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Restaurants in Rzeszów
Hearty Polish meals are not hard to come by in Rzeszów.
The large student population also means that there are plenty of cheap eats to be had, as well as a growing number of more internationally flavoured spots to grab a bite after a day’s sightseeing.
Grzesznicy
35-030 Rzeszów
Poland
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Price: Expensive
Fine-dining joint with super fresh ingredients and creative dishes.
Loft
35-315 Rzeszów
Poland
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Price: Expensive
One of Rzeszów’s higher-end eateries, Loft is big on fresh, local ingredients and unique dishes.
Pablo Picasso
35-005 Rzeszów
Poland
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Price: Moderate
A spread of Italian and Spanish dishes make this a good go-to restaurant if you’ve had enough of rich meats and dumplings.
Saigon
35-002 Rzeszów
Poland
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Price: Moderate
A Pan-Asian place, with a focus on Vietnamese dishes in particular.
Grotesque
35-065 Rzeszów
Poland
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Price: Cheap
Don’t be put off by the name: this lunch spot is great value and serves mainly classic Polish meals.
Flight and accommodation
Calendar of events
Rzeszów Run
Runners battle it out in this annual race through the streets of Rzeszów. Usually held around Easter, the race draws huge crowds of clapping and cheering spectators who come out in force to support the adult and youth events. The day usually rounds off with live entertainment.
Łańcut Music Festival
For over 50 years, this world-renowned classical music festival has been attracting an impressive line-up of international soloists and ensembles. Concerts take place in the ornate ballroom and rococo palace theatre of 17th-century Łańcut Castle, a 20-minute drive east of Rzeszów.
Carpathia: International Song Festival
Aiming to promote young musical talent, this competition features soloists and groups performing original compositions written especially for the event. It’s a wonderful opportunity to hear up-and-coming musicians from across Europe. Don’t miss the opening ceremony, which usually includes a song and dance show staged by Rzeszów’s Vocal Arts Centre.
Cieszanów Rock Festival
A classic camping rock festival, this four-day music bash is held in Cieszanów, east of Rzeszów near the Ukrainian border. It’s a head-banging, moshing affair featuring some of Poland’s biggest mainstream and alternative rock bands, with plenty of other distractions including sports and adrenaline rides.
All information subject to change. Please check the dates on the relevant event organizer’s website.
Flight and accommodation
Hotels in Rzeszów
For a relatively small town, Rzeszów is blessed with a number of good hotels, most of which fall into the moderate, business-style category.
There is plenty of value to be found in every part of the market, with modern places rubbing shoulders with old-world establishments.
Bristol Tradition & Luxury
35-064 Rzeszów
Poland
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Category: Expensive
A 5-star spot with slick design flourishes and décor that’s sure to leave you wowed.
Hotel Rzeszów
35-001 Rzeszów
Poland
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Category: Moderate
Smart, luxurious rooms mark this city centre spot out from the crowd, and great rates round off an impressive package.
Hubertus
35-064 Rzeszów
Poland
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Category: Moderate
Traditional style is the order of the day at this conveniently located hotel.
Fryderyk
35-055 Rzeszów
Poland
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Category: Moderate
Small, homely and highly rated. Fyderyk is all about old-style Polish hospitality in an Old Town location.
Hetman
35-085 Rzeszów
Poland
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Category: Cheap
A business-style hotel for budget-conscious travellers, with cosy and spacious rooms.
Flight and accommodation
Best time to visit
Today: Friday, 15.01.2021 03:00 UTC

modest snow
temperature
-5°C
wind speed
11.25 mph7 days forecast
Saturday
16.01.2021
-5°C / -15°C
Sunday
17.01.2021
-12°C / -23°C
Monday
18.01.2021
-14°C / -25°C
Tuesday
19.01.2021
-10°C / -17°C
Wednesday
20.01.2021
-5°C / -9°C
Thursday
21.01.2021
-2°C / -5°C
Friday
22.01.2021
2°C / -1°C
Climate & best time to visit Poland
Poland has a temperate climate, with warm summers and winters that are not extremely cold. However, rain showers occur all year round, particularly to the west of the Carpathian Mountains and in the Masurian and Pomeranian Lake Districts. The far east of Poland is the exception: The climate here is continental, with hot summers and cold, snowy winters – ideal conditions for winter sports enthusiasts!
The best time to visit the High Tatras and Karkonosze Mountains is January and February, when the high altitudes around Zakopane and the Śnieżka peak (1,602 meters) offer excellent snow conditions.
Outdoor sports enthusiasts enjoy the moderate temperatures in May, June, and September.
City trips – to Gdańsk, Wrocław or Krakow, for example – are recommendable year-round. The vacation spots in the mountains and near the lakes tend to be booked up during the Polish summer holidays (from the last Friday in June until the last Friday in August), while the hotels in the cities are more affordable during this period.
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Phone calls & Internet
Telephone
Country code: +48
Mobile telephony and Internet
Since June 2017, EU citizens traveling within the EU, and also in Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein have been able to use their cell phones and surf the Net without incurring any extra charges: In other words, customers pay the same price for phone calls, text messages and data volume as they do at home. Restrictions do apply to the constant use of SIM cards abroad, however, and caps may be set on data packages. For full details, contact your mobile telephony provider in your country. Travelers using a SIM card from a non-EU state do not benefit from the new arrangement.
Free Internet access via Wi-Fi is possible in many busy tourist spots. When using public Wi-Fi networks, it is a wise precaution to ensure encryption of all passwords, credit card details and banking TANs entered. Use of a VPN app or security software to check the safety of a hotspot is recommended.
Flight and accommodation
Shopping in Rzeszów
Key Areas
Around the main town square (Rynek), there are a good number of small shops selling traditional Polish toys and handicrafts, perfect for souvenir hunters. The city centre also has a pedestrianised shopping area, centred on 3 Maja, with an array of excellent local boutiques and stores.
Markets
Rzeszów has one of the most vibrant flea markets in Poland. It takes place every Saturday and is ideal if you like trawling through bric-a-brac for hidden treasures. Just remember to show up early, as stalls tend to wind up around noon.
Shopping Centres
Galeria Graffica (Lisa-Kuli 19) is where you can find leading global brands, as well as luxury items. Pasaż Rzeszów (Słowackiego 16) is also a good bet if you’re looking to pick up high-street treats for yourself or anyone back home.
Flight and accommodation
Traveller etiquette
Social conventions
There are major differences between city life and life in the countryside. Rural communities are often more religious (Roman Catholic), and their lifestyles are much more traditional. People greet one another with a handshake; women will often receive a kiss on the hand.
The standard pleasantries are also expected, and hosts always appreciate a bouquet of flowers.
Clothing should be modest, but can also be casual. More elegant clothing is expected at good restaurants or for special occasions.
Smoking is prohibited in some public buildings, such as train stations.
Photography
Photography is not permitted at military facilities, industrial buildings or important junctions marked with a camera with a line through it.
Tipping
Tips are not included in restaurant prices; a 10-15 percent tip is customary.
Flight and accommodation
Health
Main emergency number: 112
There is the risk of contracting Lyme disease from ticks from April to October throughout Poland, especially in grasses, shrubs and undergrowth. The risk can be minimized by wearing clothing that covers the skin and by using insect repellent.
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is also transmitted by ticks. The main provinces affected are Bialystok, Olsztyn, Suwalki, and Masuria, as well as the regions from Siedice to the Belarusian border, west of Krakow, and east of Poznan, Szczecin, and Gdansk. A vaccination is available for this disease.
Cases of hepatitis A and hepatitis B occur in Poland. A vaccination to protect against hepatitis A is generally advisable. For longer visits or visits involving close contact with the local population, or with children and young people, the hepatitis B vaccine is recommended.
Whooping cough occurs in Poland.
A combined vaccine to protect against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) is advisable for travelers who are planning a longer visit, who have not been sufficiently vaccinated, or who did not have these illnesses as children.
Rabies is present throughout Poland. Carriers include dogs, cats, forest animals and bats. Vaccinations are advised for backpackers, children, those at risk for vocational reasons, and those staying in Poland for longer periods. Victims of animal bites should seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Flight and accommodation
Visa & Immigration
IATA Travel Centre
The IATA Travel Centre delivers accurate passport, visa and health requirement information at a glance. It is a trusted, centralized source for the latest international travel requirements. The IATA Travel Centre is the most accurate source available because it is based on a comprehensive database used by virtually every airline, and information is gathered from official sources worldwide, such as immigration and police authorities.