Top Things to do in Bialystok
- 1. Branicki Palace
- 2. Kosciuszko Market Square
- 3. Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- 4. St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
- 5. Akcent ZOO
- 6. Holy Spirit East Orthodox Church
- 7. Parafia Rzymskokatolicka Sw. Rocha
- 8. Museum of the History of Medicine and Pharmacy
- 9. Podlachia Museum
- 10. Hagia Sophia Orthodox Church
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The 10 Best Things to Do in Bialystok, Poland
A small city with big appeal, Bialystok is a charming Polish town. Visit the impressive Branickis' Palace or admire the beautiful 19th-century architecture of Warszawska Street or follow the historic Jewish Heritage Trail. Performances at the Białystok Puppet Theater are fun for the whole family, as is the dining experience at a local milk bar.
Restaurants in Bialystok
1. Branicki Palace
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 344 reviews
Reviewed By Ryjones - Toronto, Canada
I spent a portion of the afternoon wandering around the Branicki Palace grounds - they are beautiful. The university offers a bit of a medical tour as well, which I took advantage of. The tour guide was great - a young man that spoke several languages and was able to conduct the tour in all of them. You go through several old medical rooms with old equipment - it's interesting for the short time provided to view them. The final part of the tour is the best - the grand foyer, staircase and balcony overlooking the Gardens.
Great for an hour or more, if you explore the grounds. Really quite a beautiful spot in the centre of the city.
2. Kosciuszko Market Square
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 214 reviews
Reviewed By azafiris - Athens, Greece
This very nice square reminds me Esterern Europe. Old marvelous buildings with new ones but in harmony... Nice cafe and galleries...
3. Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 68 reviews
Reviewed By hoosainnarker - Cape Town Central, South Africa
The Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Maryin Bialystok is a monumental complex comprising a neo-Gothic Cathedral, an adjacent parish church built in late Renaissance (the oldest brick building in Bialystok) with a baroque presbytery built in 1761. It consists of two interconnected buildings - an old church from the early seventeenth century and the early twentieth century church. This connection is the result of the unusual history of Bialystok. When in the mid 19th century the church's capacity became insufficient because of the increase in number of parishioners – the church officials applied to the Tsar's authorities for permission for building a new church. After a wait of 40 years, permission was granted in 1899, but only for an “annexe” rather than a separate temple. The works commenced in 1900 and after six years the building was accomplished. Due to the combination of the two different styles, a new building was created which seems to be a very interesting architectural solution.
In the church there are sarcophagi containing hearts of Stefan Mikołaj Branicki and his mother – Katarzyna Aleksandra Branicki nee Czarniecka, a headstone of Jan Klemens Branicki's heart (marble mausoleum) and an embroidered epitaph for J.K. Branicki's third wife – Izabela Branicka nee Poniatowska. The latter one was buried in a crypt – a stone vault beneath the floor of the church.
4. St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 60 reviews
Reviewed By Ola B - Łódź, Lodz, Poland
I visited the place on Friday afternoon. It is a very beautiful orthodox church. I guess one of the oldest in Białystok. The only disappointment is that you are not allowed to take pictures inside of the church as neither cameras nor cell phones are allowed in.
5. Akcent ZOO
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 47 reviews
Reviewed By wolfblitz116 - Turin, Italy
The small Zwierzyniecki Park is in the southern part of Bialystok, in the Zwierzyniec area (where there is the also the Zwierzyniecki Forest Reserve).
A small but nice zoo, composed by wooden paddocks and fences, which host mostly local animals (some protected species among them), such as wolves, boars, mouflons, bears, bisons ("zubr" are symble of the region).
There is a pond for acquatic birds and fishes, reached by a platform for visitors.
6. Holy Spirit East Orthodox Church
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 36 reviews
Reviewed By PawelAdam - St. Petersburg, Russia
One of the most interesting modern Orthodox Churches of Podlasie. Nice architecture project of the team linked to Bialystok TU under coordination of Mr. Kabac, characteristic for eastern tradition, the same time linked with modern trends. From year to year getting reacher interiors (wall paintings, "iconostas", wooden decorations) giving great impression.
Excellent acustics. Great for visiting especially during Concerts of International Orthodox Music Festival, very interesting as well during Sundays' mess performance!
Bell tower built by side of the Church, not completelly fits to the concept; makes mixed impression .... Check it!
Do not miss it in Bialystok.
7. Parafia Rzymskokatolicka Sw. Rocha
Overall Ratings
4 based on 27 reviews
Reviewed By hoosainnarker - Cape Town Central, South Africa
The church in its current form began on 2 February 1925, when Bishop George Matulewicz, allowed the priest Adam Abramovich to establish a second parish and build a new church in Bialystok. The church is located in the centre of the City and is currently undergoing restorations.
Construction work began in 1927, but it was a slow process and at the outbreak of the war the church was ready in the raw state, with mounted dome and the completed tower. In September 1939, it was briefly confiscated by the Germans and used as a barracks. In 1941, the first service was held and construction was completed by 1945.
The church was/is built in the modernist - expressionist style in the shape of an octagon and consists of three progressively increasing solids. The monumental building was built using a new material - reinforced concrete and using new technology. The main altar was made by Anthony Masłonia.
The Church plays a special role in the landscape Bialystok, due to its artistic looks. Plans are afoot to have the church declared a monument of history. From far afield one can see the tall 78 m tower and in front is a 3-meter figure of the Virgin Mary (1936.) The church has three sculptures done by Stanislaw Horno-Poplawski: Christ on the main altar, Madonna and Child in the outer altar and Christ the Good Shepherd in the gallery courtyard.
The church is surrounded by a wall (plans were two floors) with four corner turrets, referring to the defensive towers, which had symbolically unite the entire premise of the typical Borderlands ecclesiastical architecture defensive.
On January 16, 2011 a memorial plaque (built at the initiative of the parish priest and Social Committee) was unveiled in honour of the victims of the crash of the Polish Tu-154 near Smolensk.
8. Museum of the History of Medicine and Pharmacy
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 17 reviews
9. Podlachia Museum
Overall Ratings
4 based on 30 reviews
Reviewed By cookiesworld - Manchester, United Kingdom
As part of a walking tour of Bialystok we stopped in at this museum. There was an exhibition charting the history of the Jewish population of Bialystok and how the invasions by Germany and Russia affected it.
Following the pogroms in 19 century Russia the Jewish population of Bialystok had mushroomed to around 50% of the population, one of the largest in Europe. They clearly had a large and varied affect on Biaystok though following the Nazi occupation the Jewish population is now a small minority.
The exhibition was very poignant as you could see the rise and fall of a large part of the cities populous.
There was also another exhibition of glassware unfortunately our tour did not have time to take this in. There is a fee for entry however this is included in the walking tours.
10. Hagia Sophia Orthodox Church
Overall Ratings
5 based on 10 reviews
Reviewed By Libor N - Prague, Czech Republic
We were lucky to meet in front of the Church most probably its orthodox priest who offered us an enter of the temple that was locked at the time of our visit.
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