Whether you're on the lookout for a unique mini-break, adventurous getaway, the perfect place for a stag, hen or other celebratory trip, or just fancy exploring somewhere new, there's a new destination you can fly to from our very own Bristol Airport. The canal city is a bit of a hidden gem and is known for its stunning canal, culture, history and even a few legends if you know where to look.
You can now fly to Polish city Bydgoszcz from Bristol Airport and, what's more, a flight one way will set you back as little as £17.99 with Ryanair. Located in northern Poland and the eighth-largest city in the country, it boasts bars, museums, sporting events and more and has been dubbed one of Poland's best kept secrets.
Nicknamed the 'Venice of Poland', it'll also be a photographer's dream and is full of picturesque river banks and unique architecture among other idyllic scenes. And to top it all off, it's also known for its budget friendly price tags, making for a cheap, cheerful and culture-fuelled getaway - here's a taste of what you could expect...
One of the most popular spots - and possibly the most photographed sight in Bydgoszcz - is the tightrope walker, or Przechodzacy przez rzeke in Polish. The statue stretches across the Brda river and portrays a man holding a pole and two arrows while traversing a tightrope, creating the perfect balancing act illusion.
The focus of many a photograph of the city centre, this iconic landmark (created by Jerzy Kedziora) was unveiled to the city in May 2004 as a reminder of the day Poland joined the European Union.
Another must-see landmark of the city - and sitting right in the middle of it - is Mill Island, Bydgoszcz's central industry hub from Medieval Times. It sits on an island surrounded by wide open green spaces and a few old mill buildings which have been transformed into a series of museums - you can rent out a rowing boat, potter around the shops and tuck into a delicious meal.
Then you have Old Market Square, where regular concerts and public gatherings are held, surrounded by outdoor seating for the many bars and restaurants and making for the perfect setting in warmer months. Ringed in by tenement houses dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries, the picturesque square is also home to the City Hall as well as St Martin and St Nicholas Cathedral.
Museums to visit in Bydgoszcz
Museums in Bydgoszcz include the Canal Museum, located inside the city's secondary school, which features an array of exhibits such as paintings, sailors' uniforms, old photographs and other canal-related items. Then you have the Museum of Soap and History of Dirt, which is an entire museum devoted to preserving the history of soap and hygiene and paying tribute to the city's ties with, would you believe it, the first production of Persil laundry soap.
Here you'll be asked to wash your hands in a tub before a workshop in the art of soap making. And, if that wasn't weird and wonderful enough, how about a visit to the 'Exploseum' - a museum highlighting the history of military technology in the city - or even the Museum of Waterworks?
Sports in Bydgoszcz
Among the seemingly never-ending list of names for the city, Bydgoszcz is also nicknamed the 'city of sport' and has plenty of sporting action all year round. The Woda Bydgoska is an annual swimming competition that attracts people from all over the world to watch as participants battle it out on the river Brda.
Bydgoszcz is even home to the biggest triathlon in Poland, which attracts around 5,000 competitors each year and there's even a Water Festival and Great Rowing Regatta in the city, too. What's more, the Sports Gallery offers a unique opportunity to wander through the city’s active hall of fame.
Depicting the roots of its sporting heritage, the gallery is located in an office building of the Zawisza Stadium and is managed by the ZAWISZA Sports Complex.
To find out more about travelling to Bydgoszcz from Bristol Airport, click here.
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