The city's three major squares are modeled after those in the beloved French capital and are bound by a radial pattern of streets. The alignment of the pyramids of Giza in relation to the Nile and the Orion constellation in relation to the Milky Way are mirrored in their architecture. And that's just the beginning of the city's many attractions...

Many tourists wrongly think that Szczecin is situated on the coast – a fair belief for the capital of a province with 185 kilometres of coastline – but this is not the case. It does, however, lie on the River Oder, a river that can only be identified as magnificent in its majesty. To appreciate it for yourself, stand on the terraces of the Chrobry Embankment, or better yet, go on a cruise, maybe stopping at the wreck of a 90-meter reinforced concrete German tanker along the way. Although it may take a second look to remember the Ulrich Finsterwalder, the tanker sunk in Lake Dbie during World War II. This tranquil, photogenic lake is Poland's fourth-largest inland reservoir, with beaches and a swimming park. Beaches can be found on Lakes Gbokie, Dziewoklicz, and Miedwie, which are all within the city limits (but no tanker!).

The romantics among you should visit Szczecin Venice, where you can access either by water or on foot by crossing a narrow bridge from Kolumba Street onto Jaskólcza Island, using the facilities of Municipal Kayak Tours. The tenement facades and 19th-century buildings of the former distillery and yeast factory, reflected in the Oder, bear more than a passing resemblance to the iconic Italian city.

The vastly transformed Lasztownia Island, whose name refers to the location where goods are loaded or unloaded in port cities, is now more dynamic than ever before and completely brimming with activity. The ancient cranes on the Old Quay serve as a daily reminder and poignant emblem of the past; illuminated at night, they have more than just a primitive air about them, earning them the unofficial moniker of "craneosaurs" (you can see why right?). The mast of the SS Kapitan K. Maciejewicz, a general cargo carrier named after the “captain of captains” of oceanic sailing, Konstanty Matyjewicz-Maciejewicz, can be seen in the distance. It sailed under different names and flags until being scrapped in 1985. The attractive, open modern boulevards, lined with atmospheric cafés, ships moored at the wharf, and the gorgeous red-brick Euroregion's Culture Centre, which also goes by the less-appealing name of the Old Slaughterhouse, are attracting pedestrians, hikers, bikers, and even anglers (for obvious reasons).

The translation of Lake Szmaragdowe's name, which is situated in the Zdroje district, reveals its striking colour: The Emerald Lake. It was formed during the excavations of an old chalk mine, and there are still bits of mining equipment at the bottom. It is situated within the lush, enchanting Beech Woods Landscape Park in the Bukowe Hills. Many endangered wildlife species, including bats that winter in nearby bunkers, call the area around the lake home. Inhale the warm air, the magic, and the quiet. And, for the love of God, don't lose your camera.

The City Tourist Route is a great way to get a quick overview of Szczecin, with stops at the iceberg-like Mieczyslaw Karlowicz Philharmonic, the Pomeranian Dukes' Castle, and Solidarity Square, which reminds visitors that Szczecin was the first city to sign the 1980 August Accords (even before Gdansk); St. James' Church, the Royal Gate, the Port Gate, and the birthplaces of two women who went on to become Russian tsarinas: Catherine the Great and Maria Feodorovna; the Breakthroughs Dialogue Centre with an exhibition on the city's post-war history; and the birthplaces of two women who went on to become Russian tsarinas: Catherine the Great and Maria Feodorovna.

The mission of the National Museum in Szczecin, which includes the Museum of Traditional Traditions, is to "develop the regional, national, and European identity of Western Pomerania and its inhabitants in the spirit of multicultural, cross-border dialogue and collaboration."

Are you a car enthusiast? The exhibition at the Museum of Technology and Transport will show you what vehicles manufactured in Szczecin looked like and how they travelled. Pre-war Stoewer bicycles and trucks, the unforgettable Junak motorcycles, and the prototype of the Smyk passenger car are among them.

Szczecin is known as the city of greenery, and with good reason: the city has over 500 hectares of urban green areas, including 15 parks covering 142 hectares, 90 green squares covering 55.2 hectares, and cemeteries covering 193.87 hectares. That's not even taking into account the city's woodlands! They're all worth seeing, but if we had to choose just a couple, we'd go to Jasne Blonia Square near the Municipal Office and Kasprowicza Park, the city's largest park. The incredible Rózanka botanical garden, with 9,000 fragrant roses of 99 varieties, many kinds of trees, and a striking brick bird fountain, is located at the park's edge.

Szczecin's Central Cemetery is Poland's largest necropolis, covering 170 hectares and serving as a memorial "garden of the dead." A few hundred species of trees, many of them rare, stand among the gravestones, many of which are the work of great artists. It leaves a lifelong impression. Osiedle Pogodno, Szczecin's second-largest housing estate, may not sound like the sort of spot that you'd fall in love with, but that's exactly what it is. Former German villas with conspicuous turrets dominate the park-like greener.

It's time to reward your taste buds for all of your sightseeing. Make a point of trying the local specialty, pasztecik (a deep-fried pasty or pie), at the cult-status Pasztecik bar on Wojska Polskiego Street, which is the oldest location selling these delectable treats. Its big red letters are impossible to skip!

Oder Days, Sea Days, the Tall Ships Races, St. James' Fair, the Pyromagic International Fireworks Festival, Spoiwa Kultury (Bonds of Culture), Szczecin Jazz, the Szczecin Music Fest, and the Kontrapunkt Review of Small Form Theatres are among the most interesting activities on the cultural calendar.

Warszawa (Warsaw):

It is the capital of Poland with an estimated population of 1.7 million people. The majority of Polish people migrate to the city for business and education. This is due to the higher education institutions with a vibrant spirit, and it is an important center for culture and sciences. 

After the city was destroyed entirely by World War II, it gained steady progress with years of communism. This helped the city recover in terms of its architecture and commercial structure, both of which are signified by the Palace of Science and Culture and the skyscrapers. 

Kraków (Cracow):

The city has stunning architecture and fine works of art which is a major tourist attraction. It was the ruling place of the royal family and the capital of Poland until 1596. 

As the first university of Poland, the Jagiellonian University, founded in 1364, is located in Kraków and is regarded as the cradle of Polish science. Kraków has more than 730,000 residents, and it is an important cultural and academic center. 

Wrocław:          

It is the fourth largest city in Poland and the capital of Lower Silesia (Dolny Śląsk). There is a beautiful Old Town with a unique atmosphere that describes its history and location. It spreads across several islands and is surrounded by the Oder River and its tributaries on all sides. 

Gdańsk:

It is a major seaport in Poland and forms the Tricity Metropolis with Sopot and Gdynia along with a population of 750,000 people. Gdansk was an important Hanseatic city, owned by Poland and Germany alternately. This where World War II and the Polish Solidarity Movement began. 

Poznań:

It is among the oldest and largest Polish cities, and due to its Paris-Moscow route, Poznań is an important transport and trade center. Poznań has been the venue for the International Trade Fair since 1925. It also has a good number of universities and research institutes that contribute to its development. 

Łódź:

Łódź is an important city in Poland, and it was the textile-manufacturing hub. It has a Central Museum of Textiles with 19th-century machinery, fabrics, and handicrafts that were once a prominent part of the city’s trade and commerce. The Manufaktura complex, which was once a factory, was restored into a lively arts and culture center. 

Poland has numerous cities and universities that can make your time there worthwhile. Moreover, the value of a degree acquired from any university in this country is far greater than in other European regions.