Plock, located in the central part of Poland, is one of those places that aren’t very often on tourists’ radar. This is, however, one of the oldest cities in Poland and a former capital (it held this title between 1079 and 1138). I’ve been there a few times, and I admit that I’ve had bigger expectations, but after digging deeper into Plock attractions, I quickly understood why this is a place of such big significance.

My two main reasons for visiting Plock recently were to see the Art Nouveau Museum and the copy of the Plock Door (originally from the 12th century). But I also found so many other cool things to do in Plock that I can definitely recommend visiting the city to everyone.

You can visit Plock as one of the day trips from Warsaw or stop here when exploring central Poland. Either way, it’s a nice place to add to your Poland itinerary. Below, you can read more about Plock and what to see and do there.

Why visit Plock

Even if at first Plock doesn’t look like the most beautiful or interesting place to visit in Poland, the city is actually packed with attractions and sites of big significance. This is one of the oldest cities in Poland, dating back to the 10th century.

Due to its location high above the Vistula River, on the crossroads of trading routes, it has always played an important role in local history. Two of the dukes ruled the country from Plock, making the place the capital of Poland between 1079 and 1138.

Over the centuries, the city was developing nicely, being the center of the region until, in the 17th century, a series of bad events (including the fires and the landslide of the slope above the river) led to the decline of the Plock’s importance.

After World War 2, the city became an important economic center again, thanks to the local refinery plants. Even if the city isn’t on the radar of many tourists, it’s still an interesting place to visit, offering a great mix of attractions.

How to get to Plock

If you use public transport during your trip, buses are your best option for reaching Plock smoothly. There are numerous direct connections from Warsaw (with a travel time of around two hours) as well as other cities in Poland.

You can also take the train, but there are fewer connections, and if you travel from Warsaw, Lodz, Torun, Poznan, or any other place in Poland, you will most likely need to change the trains in Kutno (less than one hour away from Plock). You can check both bus and train connections here.

How to get around Plock

Most of the Plock attractions are not far from each other, and you can easily walk between them, especially the historical center, which is mostly pedestrian and pleasant to wander around. The train station is a bit further away (a bit over 2 km from the center), while the bus station is just outside the center.

Where to stay in Plock

If you decide to stay overnight in Plock, there are some decent accommodation options to choose from. Here are the recommended ones:

• Sempre B&B (9.3/10)
• Hotel Tumski (9.0/10)
• Kamienica (8.4/10)
• and more!

What to see in Plock

The heart of the city, where you should start your Plock sightseeing, is the Old Market Square. Originally from the early 14th century, the place you see today is surrounded by townhouses, mainly from the 18th and 19th centuries. It’s a pleasant place, with trees all over the square (which, unfortunately, is not so common in Poland anymore) and numerous cafes and restaurants to stop in.

The most important building here is the Town Hall from 1825, which played an important role in Polish history (this is where the last session of the Sejm of the Kingdom of Poland was held before the outbreak of the November Uprising in 1831). Twice a day, at 12:00 and 18:00, you can listen to the bugle call played from the town hall tower.

From Market Square, it’s a short walk to Tumskie Hill, the oldest part of Plock. This is such a lovely place, perfect for a stroll in the local park, with stunning views over the Vistula River and its surroundings.

Here, you will also find the most important monument of Plock – the Cathedral. Originally from the 12th century, this is one of the oldest sacral buildings in Poland. Over the years, it was redesigned and rebuilt a few times, and at one point, it was also called the largest Renaissance building north of the Alps. It’s a beautiful place, and it is worth visiting even if you are not a religious person.

During my last trip to Plock, it took me four attempts to finally see its interior due to numerous wedding ceremonies. It was definitely worth the wait. Not only is the Cathedral stunning inside, but it is also another place in Plock with significant historical value. In one of the chapels (located near the main entrance on the left side), you can find graves of Polish dukes Wladyslaw I Herman and Bolesław III Wrymouth, as well as Masovian dukes.

When entering the Cathedral, be sure to take a closer look at the main door – the copy of the famous Plock Door. Originally made in 1154 in Magdeburg, the door showed 26 scenes from the Catholic religion. What happened with the original door isn’t confirmed; there are numerous versions of their history, but currently, they are in the Cathedral of Saint Sophia in Veliky Novgorod, Russia. What you can see in Plock is a very detailed copy, placed in the Cathedral in 1982. Next to the Cathedral, you can also visit the Diocesan Museum, with some of the most valuable artifacts dating back to the 12th century.

Still on Tumskie Hill, near the Cathedral, you can see the remnants of the Plock Castle, built in the 14th century in the Gothic style. Only the impressive clock tower survives to this day, but it gives you an idea of how grand the castle must have been in its glory.

From Tumskie Hill, you can go down to the riverside—a pleasant area along the Vistula with a long pier and small marina. Most of the local cultural events take place here and in the nearby amphitheater. But even without the events, it’s worth coming here for a slow walk along the Vistula.

Plock is also home to some interesting museums. One of them was the reason why I wanted to visit the city again. Masovian Museum, founded in 1821, is one of the oldest museums in Poland, with various locations in the center of the city as well as beyond. You can see exhibitions about Plock and its history, art-nouveau (the highlight for me), art deco, or ethnographic artifacts. If you are visiting Plock by car, be sure to go also to nearby Wiaczemin Polski and visit the open-air museum of the Vistula settlement, part of the Masovian Museum from Plock.

Once you are done visiting the highlights of Plock, you can simply wander around the city and enjoy its vibrant atmosphere. There are also some more attractions you might stumble across: beautiful churches, great murals, the oldest school in Poland, part of the city walls, and more.

Tumska Street is a nice pedestrian lane where not only will you find the Art Nouveau Museum but also some nice sculptures and good cafes. Plock also has its own zoo if you wish to visit it – apparently, it’s a good one.

For the best view of the Tumskie Hill with the Cathedral, head across the Vistula River – the best spot to watch the panorama of Płock is near the bridge.

Further reading

I published many articles about Poland that you might find useful when planning your trip there. Here are some of them:

• 37 Amazing Things to Do in Krakow, Poland
• 20 Great Places to Visit As Day Trips from Warsaw, Poland
• Visiting Auschwitz – How to Plan the Auschwitz Tour
• 17 Amazing Things to Do in Lublin, Poland
• The Complete Guide to Visiting Slownski National Park, Poland
• Visit Grudziadz – One of the Hidden Gems of Poland
• 19 Amazing Things to Do in Gdansk, Poland
• Visit Sandomierz, Poland – One of the Prettiest Towns in the Country
• Visiting Malbork Castle, Poland – the Largest Castle in the World
• 25 Amazing Things to do in Wroclaw, Poland
• and many more!

If you are looking for articles about a specific destination – check out the map with all the articles I’ve published (and their locations). You can also join my Facebook group about traveling in Central Europe and ask your questions there.

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