Poznan
About Poznan
The western Polish city of Poznan has a tranquil position on the Warta River and it's a place of Renaissance architecture, Gothic and Baroque buildings and historical museums. Thanks to its colourful market square, the city has a flavour of old-world Europe – very old, in fact, as it was founded in the 10th century. Nowadays, it has a distinctly modern side too, with cute courtyard cafés, top-class restaurants and a thought-provoking graffiti art scene.
Hostels in Poznan include a boutique-style space in an early-1900s townhouse and a retro option with a games room and a Wii. Experience the city's historic side with a stay in a 15th-century tenement building minutes from the picturesque Old Market Square. There's also a quirky berry-themed Poznan hostel decorated with purple ornaments and furniture. Spots with free linen mean more zloty to spare for an artisan vodka or two. Look out for places with en-suites and private rooms if you like your own space.
Formerly a walled neighbourhood, the Stare Miasto (old town) is Poznan's centre and an official Historic Monument in Poland. Polwiejska Street, the main shopping area, is a 10-minute walk south with a host of shops, cafés, and restaurants. To the west, Jezyce is grittier but cooler: head here for cutting-edge bars and health-focused vegetarian restaurants. Wilda is a quiet, more residential area to the south with an open-air market and green spaces right by the river.
One of the main attractions in Poznan is the brightly painted multi-storey buildings in the Old Market Square with a liquid nitrogen ice cream in hand. At noon, people gather here to see the billy goat figurines in the clock tower clash horns. During the summer months, beaches open up along the Warta River. On Polwiejska Street, the Old Brewery shopping mall is more than just retail. It's also a cultural space hosting regular artistic events from film to sculpture.
Poznan has its own airport 8km outside the city, with regular bus connections into town. Poznan Glowny railway station is in the centre of the city and has frequent trains to and from other European destinations. The city itself is walkable, especially in the central area where you'll find most of the sights. It also has a convenient public transport network made up of 118 bus routes and 19 tram lines, so it's easy to explore further afield. You can pay by card using automated machines at most stops or onboard. The city is really bike-friendly, too.
Accommodation in Poznan
There are many different options for arranging student accommodation in Poland. They vary depending on the city and higher education institution you choose. Many Polish HEIs have their own dormitories, which are usually the cheapest option available. However, most Polish students prefer to rent a room in a private apartment.
Student houses and dormitories
The pricing of the student houses depends on the particular HEI. Usually, the cost of accommodation in a dormitory ranges is around EUR 60-80 monthly for a shared room and between EUR 100-150 for a single room. However, the standard of the dormitories may differ greatly even between various student houses of the same HEI, so it’s good to do some research before the final decision. What doesn’t differ is the friendly and helpful atmosphere in the student houses.
Private housing
It is quite common in Poland to rent a room in a bigger apartment. Most of the out-of-town students share flats in this way. The cost varies between cities and it depends greatly on the location of the apartment as well as the size and quality of the room. The monthly rent is usually between EUR 150 and 200. Some landlords may require a deposit of a similar amount. Don’t worry if you don’t have friends to live with. Sharing a flat with locals is an amazing opportunity: you can pay for the accommodation and get great friends for free! And if you really don’t like to share, you can find an independent apartment. The rent for the smallest, one-room apartment starts from about EUR 300 (in Warsaw).
Visa and residence card costs
This applies only to those students who come from the countries whose nationals are obliged to get a visa before coming to Poland. If you come from the European Union, you can skip visa fee charges. For those requiring it - there is no uniform fee, but it should not exceed EUR 70. When applying for a visa, please remember about other costs which are not stated directly - you need to have health insurance of at least EUR 30,000 and be in possession of sufficient funds to cover your entry, stay and departure - which is minimum PLN 543 for each month of studies and PLN 200, 300 or 2,500 for securing a return journey for people from neighbouring countries, EU countries or non-EU countries respectively.
Even if you do not need a visa to come to Poland, bear in mind that every foreigner staying in Poland for a period longer than 3 months has to apply for a temporary residence permit, so for visa holders, it is also the next step to plan in their budget. The cost of issuing a temporary residence permit for students is PLN 390 in total.