Located on the Vistula River in northern Poland, this city is known for its 500-meter suspension bridge from 1895 and a 14th-century castle with public gardens.
Tczew sits along the Vistula River, 30 kilometers south of Gdańsk. You can walk across the city's 19th-century bridge, an engineering landmark that stretches 837 meters across the river. In the Old Town, you'll find the 13th-century Parish Church of the Holy Cross with its painted ceiling decorations and carved altars. Spend afternoons strolling the Vistula Boulevard, learning about river navigation at Poland's first river history museum, or listening to summer concerts in the Municipal Park's amphitheater.
The Vistula Waterfront
Walk or cycle along the paved Vistula Boulevard while watching cargo ships and pleasure boats navigate the river. Inside the Museum of the Vistula River, housed in a former agricultural machine factory, you'll discover exhibits about river navigation, trade history, and traditional boat-building techniques. The museum's interactive displays and historical artifacts explain the Vistula's role in Polish commerce and culture.
Municipal Park Life
The 15-hectare Municipal Park stretches between Kołłątaja, Bałdowska, and Sienkiewicza streets, with shaded paths winding through mature trees. Listen to weekend concerts at the park's amphitheater from June through August. Children can play in several playground areas with climbing structures and swings, while adults might enjoy the chess tables or morning tai chi sessions. The park connects to the Old Town through pedestrian streets lined with cafes.
Churches of Tczew
The brick tower of the Parish Church of the Holy Cross rises above the Old Town center as Tczew's oldest building. Inside, you'll find painted ceiling decorations and carved altars from the Baroque period. The Post-Dominican Church of Saint Stanislaus Kostka, built in the 14th century, has an octagonal tower and Gothic pointed arches throughout its structure.
The Historic Vistula Bridges
The road bridge across the Vistula River, completed in 1857, stretches 837 meters. Engineer Carl Lentze designed this massive structure using innovative truss technology. The American Engineering Association later designated both the road bridge and its 1890 railway companion as international engineering landmarks. During World War II's opening days, Polish defenders tried to prevent German forces from crossing these strategic bridges.
Transportation Connections
Direct trains run to Gdańsk every 30-60 minutes, with a journey time of about 30 minutes. From Tczew's railway station, you can also catch trains to Warsaw, Bydgoszcz, and other major Polish cities. Local buses operate regular routes throughout Tczew, though you can walk across the city center in about 20 minutes. A dedicated cycling path runs along the entire length of the Vistula River, connecting the bridges to the waterfront museum.
