Attractions in Tarnow - the best places and sights to visit

Tarnów, located in the picturesque valley of the Wisłoka River, is a city that delights with its rich history and unique architectural heritage. Its old town, dominated by a beautiful market square surrounded by Renaissance townhouses, is a real showpiece of the city. The Cathedral Basilica of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Ethnographic Museum are a must-see.

When in Tarnow, be sure to visit the main square with its beautiful Renaissance townhouses. Right next door is the Cathedral Basilica of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, an impressive building with a rich interior. These are the places to see in Tarnow. And if you fancy something more original, visit the Ethnographic Museum, where you can learn about Roma culture.

Tarnów, is a city that can enchant both history lovers and those looking for quiet moments surrounded by monuments in a single day. We start our journeyfrom📍Tarnów's railway station, located on Dworcowy Square. The station's elegant architecture, is often compared to palatial buildings. From here we set off in the direction of 📍BramySeklerskiej⤵️

🕚 11 min 🚶750 m

Seklerska Gate is a symbol of Polish-Hungarian solidarity, commemorating the figure of Józef Bem. The gate was donated to the city by the Hungarians on the 170th anniversary of the Battle of Ostroleka, in which Gen. Bem proved himself. Hungarians often commemorate special relations with other nations in this way. The richly decorated wooden structure is a masterpiece of carpentry and an example of the traditional style of the Seklers, an ethnic group living in the eastern part of Transylvania (now Romania) who cherish their Hungarian roots. The inscription "Peace to those entering, blessing to those leaving" carved on the arch of the gate best conveys this message. From the gate we set off tothe📍Ethnographic Museum ⤵️

🕚 3 min 🚶170 m

This museum houses a remarkable collection dedicated to the Roma, their culture and history. It is the first museum in Poland dedicated to this community. It is housed in a historic building of a former Jewish ritual bath (mikvah), which further emphasises its multicultural character. A curiosity is the exhibition of traditional gypsy carts, which attract visitors' attention. While at the museum, be sure to take a look at the nearby📍 Cafe Tram ⤵️.

Cafe Tram is not just a café, it is a journey back in time and an extremely interesting attraction in Tarnów. The historic tram, standing in Sobieski Square, is a faithful replica of Tarnów's "ladyboys", which will take you back to the beginning of the 20th century. Its interior retains the atmosphere of the old times - wooden seats, handles and details remind you of the glory days of city trams. Here you can enjoy a delicious coffee surrounded by authentic elements that tell the city's history. After a break, off we go, on to see the📍Mausoleum ofGen. Joseph Bema⤵️

🕚 15 min 🚶1 km

The mausoleum of General Józef Bem in Tarnów is more than just a tomb. It is a symbolic place of remembrance of one of the most eminent Polish military commanders, whose remains are laid to rest on an islet in Strzelecki Park. Interestingly, General Bem's ashes, which were brought to Tarnów in 1929 from Aleppo, Syria, where the general died in 1850, were deposited here. The mausoleum's unique architecture, alluding to Bem's military career, makes it one of the city's most recognisable landmarks. The next place on the map of our tour isthe📍Jewish Cemetery ⤵️

🕚 19 min 🚶1.3 km

The Tarnów cemetery is one of the oldest and best preserved Jewish cemeteries in Poland. Established in the 16th century, it covers more than 3 hectares and hides thousands of tombstones that testify to the fact that Tarnów was one of the most important centres of Jewish life in Galicia. Within the cemetery is a symbolic monument, a fragment of the destroyed synagogue, which commemorates the tragic events of the war. The original entrance gate to the cemetery was donated by the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC. Staying on the theme of the city's Jewish heritage, we head to the📍StarejŁaźni⤵️

🕚 13 min 🚶1 km

Situated on Auschwitz Prisoners' Square, Tarnów's mikveh dates back to the early 20th century and is one of the few surviving traces of the Jews who lived in the city. The Old Bathhouse was an important part of the everyday life of Tarnów's Jews. In those days, public baths were not only places to bathe, but also to socialise and exchange information. You may remember the building of the Old Bathhouse from the TV programme "Kitchen Revolutions" - one of the episodes was about the restaurant located in this very building. From here, it's only a few steps away from Tarnów's 📍Market Square ⤵️.

🕚 6 min 🚶450 m

Established in the Middle Ages, Tarnów's market square has retained its regular rectangular layout with four main streets leading to the four corners of the world. The square is dominated by the Renaissance town hall, with its characteristic tower. In the building you can see the exhibition of the Tarnów Museum focused on the representation of Polish noble culture. Historic townhouses, including those with beautiful arcades, testify to the city's wealth - Tarnów, situated on major routes, was one of the most important trading centres in the region. The last two places we will visit are unusual religious buildings. The first is the nearby📍CathedralBasilica ofthe Nativity NMP⤵️

🕚 2 min 🚶150 m

Tarnów Cathedral is a must-see on the tourist map of the city. Its monumental structure and rich interior delight every visitor. What can you see here? Historical tombstones of the magnate families of Tarnowski and Ostrogski, considered to be among the most beautiful in Europe. The interior of the cathedral is decorated with numerous works of sacred art - the main altar, one of the finest Baroque works in Tarnow, is worth noting. The last place on our map is📍The Church ofMB Szkaplerznej⤵️

🕚 7 min 🚶550 m

It is one of the oldest wooden churches in the region. Situated picturesquely on the Wątok stream, it has attracted worshippers for centuries and is an interesting site in Tarnow. Its interior, although rebuilt over the centuries, has retained traces of various eras. The characteristic tower and the beautiful interior with its polychrome and Rococo altar will certainly impress you! Don't forget to see the miraculous image of the Virgin Mary. This is where our walk around Tarnów ends, back to 📍DworzecGłówny⤵️.

Most convenient - by train! Tarnów is well connected by rail to many cities in Poland. The main railway station itself is only a few minutes from the city centre. The most popular direct connections are: Kraków-Tarnów, Przemyśl-Warsaw or Wrocław-Tarnów. An InterCity train takes only 40 minutes from Krakow.

If you are keen to save money, buy your ticket in advance - especially during busy tourist periods or weekends. On our EuroPodróże.pl website, you can easily compare ticket prices and choose the most convenient offer. Faster connections, such as InterCity, have a higher price, but guarantee the shortest possible journey time and therefore more time for you. Trains to Tarnów run from most cities in Poland and you will easily find the right connection.

Before you set off on your journey to Tarnów, make sure you have your ticket with you and follow the announcements to find out about any changes to the timetable. By booking through our service, you will receive your ticket both by email and SMS, plus we will remind you of your journey 30 minutes before departure. On the train, you can use sockets, Wi-Fi, toilets and a dining car. There are adapted seats for those with special needs. If you have questions, our helpline is open every day until 23:00.