Did you know that, since October 2023, Bydgoszcz has held the title of a UNESCO City of Music? It is one of only two Polish cities that have been included in the prestigious UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the music category. The city was honoured for its rich musical heritage, the activity of its cultural institutions, numerous festivals, and the engagement of residents and artistic communities in the development of music education. This distinction places music at the heart of Bydgoszcz’s development strategy, both in cultural and tourism terms.
City of Bydgoszcz in Poland
During my recent visit to the city on the Brda, you could literally feel that Bydgoszcz lives and breathes music. The city authorities clearly treat culture as one of their development priorities, and music is becoming a key element of local identity. For event and conference organisers, this is a clear signal to consider Bydgoszcz as an attractive alternative to larger centres.
Although it is often described as a “third-tier city”, it is precisely such distinguishing features as music, the river and the Bydgoszcz Canal, history, the culinary scene and modern infrastructure that may soon change that perception.
Opera Nova in Bydgoszcz is one of the most important music venues in northern Poland. Its building, with three stone circles embedded in a bend of the Brda, has become one of the city’s symbols. The main auditorium of Opera Nova has 803 seats and has already hosted many major events. The ongoing extension of the Opera will create a fourth circle, complementing the existing architecture and bringing new possibilities.
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The heart of musical Bydgoszcz beats in the Music District (Dzielnica Muzyczna), home to several cultural and educational institutions. This is where the Ignacy Jan Paderewski Pomeranian Philharmonic is located, renowned for its exceptional acoustics. A tender has just been announced for the extension and modernisation of the building, with costs exceeding PLN 400 million. The project provides for the creation of a new concert hall, educational facilities, a recording studio, rehearsal rooms and modern technical back-of-house areas.
Close to the Philharmonic stands the modern campus of the Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music, officially opened on 1 October 2025. The university trains musicians in four faculties, and the new complex serves not only educational functions, but also operates as a concert and event venue. Bydgoszcz owes its musical identity also to Andrzej Szwalbe – a visionary, cultural animator and long-standing director of the Pomeranian Philharmonic. His statue, standing in front of the Philharmonic in the Music District, is a symbol of this tradition.
Palace in Ostromecko
Continuing a journey in his footsteps, it is also worth heading to the Palace in Ostromecko (the so-called “Bydgoszcz Wilanów”), located several kilometres from the city centre. It is a true architectural gem and at the same time a museum of sound, housing more than 50 pianos and grand pianos from the 18th and 19th centuries. A guided tour, during which the guide not only talks but also plays the instruments, is an extraordinary experience and a perfect addition to an incentive travel programme. The palace complex also offers a restaurant and accommodation.
Brda River
Bydgoszcz is also a city that has successfully turned back towards the river. Today, the Brda forms the backdrop to social and cultural life. A walk along the boulevards, the famous Bydgoszcz Venice, a cruise on the “Wenecja” boat – all this builds the atmosphere of a riverside city. The sight of rowers and kayakers brings to mind Cambridge, where my wife and I lived for two years. Beyond the Bernardyński Bridge, there are expanses of greenery and, on the left bank of the river, historic and modern marinas.
During my visit, the 17th Great Rowing Regatta (Wielka Wioślarska) was taking place, with a record number of crews taking part. This year, in the Oxford–Cambridge Race for the Mayor of Bydgoszcz’s Cup, the crew from Oxford beat the team from Cambridge (sadly, from my perspective), yet the very presence of these teams shows how prestigious this event has become and how skilfully Bydgoszcz combines sport with city promotion.
Nearby, on Mill Island, lies the revitalised Rother’s Mills complex – a venue with strong potential for events and conferences.
Bydgoszcz for Foodies
One of the buildings houses “Woda”, the first club–bakery in Poland. By day it is a bakery and café, and in the evening it turns into a club with live music. The cosy interior design refers to the symbolism of water and the industrial heritage of the mills.
In 2024, “Woda” won the prestigious Restaurant & Bar Design Award in the café category, being recognised as the most beautiful café in Europe. Did you know that?
On Bydgoszcz’s culinary map, it is impossible to overlook places such as Monka – a restaurant within Rother’s Mills – Meluzyna, Kuchnia by Marcin Szukaj, the Sowa restaurant and patisseries, or Lulu bistro. These venues create a diverse gastronomic scene that perfectly complements the city’s overall offer.
In Bydgoszcz, they like to say that nothing is impossible. The evening before the opening of the “Van Gogh & Friends” exhibition was the best proof of this. A dinner co-organised with the Monka restaurant was held in the hall of the Bydgoszcz Trade and Exhibition Centre. Surrounded by the aromas of the dishes and lively conversations, guests could watch masterpieces come to life on the walls around them.
Top “third-tier city” in Poland
For event organisers, Bydgoszcz is becoming an increasingly attractive destination. The development of musical and cultural infrastructure, the atmosphere of a city on the water, excellent cuisine, a diverse hotel base and ever-better transport links with the rest of the country make it an appealing alternative to other Polish destinations.
It is not just a “third choice” – it is a city that can surprise and inspire, and one that is well worth immersing yourself in.
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