The Chrobry Embankment (Wały Chrobrego) is a terrace above the Oder where many visitors start getting to know Szczecin – and rightly so, because it brings together history, architecture and the best view of the river in one place. In this guide we round up the sights of the Chrobry Embankment in Szczecin and the nearby quays: from the monumental staircase and the museum, through the boulevards with the Sailors’ Avenue, to Łasztownia island with its Craneosaurs and Grodzka Island.
At the end you’ll find a ready-made afternoon walking route and a tip on how to combine it with a cruise – because Szczecin’s waterfront is best seen from two perspectives: from the terrace and from the water.
The Chrobry Embankment – a potted history
The earth terrace was built in 1901–1907 on the site of the demolished Fort Leopold. The idea came from Lord Mayor Hermann Haken, which is why until 1945 the place was called the Hakenterrasse. The layout was designed by Wilhelm Meyer-Schwartau. The promenade is about half a kilometre long and rises 17 metres above the West Oder (Odra Zachodnia).
The buildings on the terrace went up in stages. Today’s National Museum building opened in 1913 as the City Museum. The present Maritime University of Technology building was built in two parts: the southern wing in 1902–1905 and the northern wing in 1914–1921 – in German times it housed, among others, the offices of the regional social insurance institution and the customs directorate. The building that is now the West Pomeranian Voivodeship Office was once the seat of the Prussian regional government.
Fun fact: after the war the terrace was renamed in honour of Bolesław Chrobry (Bolesław the Brave, the first King of Poland), and the old German inscriptions were partly plastered over or replaced with the names of Polish port cities.
Chrobry Embankment in Szczecin – sights on the terraces and at their foot
- National Museum – the central building houses permanent exhibitions, and there’s a paid viewing terrace on the museum tower. The same building is home to the Teatr Współczesny (Contemporary Theatre).
- Monumental staircase and pavilions – the central viewpoint and, at weekends, a favourite meeting place for locals.
- Fountain with figures – below the stairs, in niches on either side, stand the figures of the sailor Jan of Kolno and the Pomeranian corsair Wyszak.
- Two lighting towers – in front of the fountain; they look like lighthouses and make a great photo backdrop.
- Bulwar Chrobrego – the quay at the foot of the embankment, with views of the Voivodeship Office building and Łasztownia.
From the promenade you can see the right bank of the Oder and three islands: Grodzka, Bielawa and Łasztownia. At both ends of the terrace, where semicircular viewing squares used to be, there are now restaurants – a good spot for dinner with a view.
Szczecin’s boulevards – the Sailors’ Avenue, Nabrzeże Starówka and around the castle
From the Chrobry Embankment, the riverside boulevards lead towards the Old Town. Bulwar Piastowski is in practice the Sailors’ Avenue (Aleja Żeglarzy) – an open-air exhibition about the sea and Szczecin, with sculptures of famous captains, a ship’s cat, navigation instruments and a bronze plaque on the region’s ties with the sea. There’s also a sculpture of herring barrels – a nod to the days when the herring trade was vital to the city.
The boulevards by Most Długi (the Long Bridge) and Trasa Zamkowa (the Castle Route) draw walkers, anglers, cyclists and sailors, and they also host smaller outdoor events and food truck festivals. On the little square at the end of Nabrzeże Starówka (the Old Town quay) stands the nautical-style “SZCZECIN” sign – a must for a group photo.
From the quay it’s an easy walk to Podzamcze, nicknamed the “New Old Town”. The Pomeranian Dukes’ Castle (Zamek Książąt Pomorskich), former seat of the House of Griffins, has terraces and a viewing deck, and from the Bell Tower, once you’ve climbed more than 200 steps, you get a panorama of the city centre and the Old Town. If you’d like an even higher viewpoint, head for the terrace on the tower of St James’s Cathedral, open all year round. The Philharmonic on Małopolska Street, winner of the Mies van der Rohe Award, can be visited on guided tours in summer.
Łasztownia and Grodzka Island – sights on the other side of the Oder
Łasztownia is an island of around 33 hectares opposite the Old Town. For centuries it served as Szczecin’s port quarter, and today its quays have become a promenade. The best-known sight is the Dźwigozaury – roughly “Craneosaurs” – three historic port cranes from the 1930s, owned by the National Museum since 2009. After restoration they regained their original colours, and after dark they are lit up. You can see them well both from the Chrobry Embankment and from Trasa Zamkowa.
Next door is the Maritime Science Centre (Morskie Centrum Nauki), with a planetarium, an interactive exhibition and a terrace overlooking the Oder. In summer there’s a food truck zone by the quay, a city beach a little further on, and at the tip of the island you’ll find the “boss of all bosses” monument and the biggest tin of paprykarz (Szczecin’s famous fish-and-rice spread) – Szczecin humour at its purest. As you walk, you’ll often catch the smell of chocolate from the factory on the island.
Grodzka Island lies opposite the Chrobry Embankment. In summer there’s a beach with a bar, and after dark it hosts DJ parties and open-air film screenings.
A walk along Szczecin’s waterfront – an afternoon route
The plan below takes roughly 2–3 hours, depending on your pace and how often you stop. From Szczecin Główny, the main railway station, you can walk to the Chrobry Embankment in under half an hour.
| Stage | What to see | Approx. time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Chrobry Embankment | Staircase, fountain, lighting towers, the buildings on the terrace | 30–45 min |
| 2. Bulwar Chrobrego and Bulwar Piastowski | Sailors’ Avenue, herring barrel sculpture | 30 min |
| 3. Nabrzeże Starówka and Podzamcze | The “SZCZECIN” sign, Pomeranian Dukes’ Castle | 30–45 min |
| 4. Łasztownia | Craneosaurs, Maritime Science Centre, the tip of the island | 45 min |
| 5. Back to the embankment after dark | The illuminated Craneosaurs and Maritime Science Centre | 15–20 min |
If your visit coincides with the annual sailing festival held along the Chrobry Embankment and on Łasztownia, expect crowds and traffic restrictions. Remember too that drinking alcohol in public places – including on the boulevards – is generally prohibited in Poland. Up-to-date event information is published on the Visit Szczecin portal.
The waterfront from the deck of a boat
From land you see either the embankment or Łasztownia. From the water you see both sides at once. BoatParty organises private boat parties in Szczecin: the cruise lasts 2 hours, and the route, departure time and boarding point are agreed when you book. Packages start from €16 per person (groups of 30 or more; smaller groups get an individual quote) – you’ll find the details on our boat parties in Szczecin page. What you can see from the deck, depending on the route, is covered in our article on what you’ll see on an Oder river cruise in Szczecin, and before you leave, check our list of what to bring on a party cruise. If you’re the one organising an outing for the whole group, you’ll also find our step-by-step boat party checklist useful.
FAQ – the Chrobry Embankment and Szczecin’s boulevards
When was the Chrobry Embankment built?
The terrace was built in 1901–1907 on the site of the former Fort Leopold. The buildings on the embankment went up in stages – the last part of today’s Maritime University of Technology building was completed in 1921.
Where is the best viewpoint around the Chrobry Embankment?
The whole terrace is a viewpoint over the Oder and the islands. For a higher view, go up to the paid terrace on the National Museum tower, the viewing terrace of St James’s Cathedral or the Bell Tower of the Pomeranian Dukes’ Castle.
What is worth seeing on Łasztownia?
Above all the Craneosaurs – three historic port cranes lit up after dark – the Maritime Science Centre and the tip of the island with the “boss of all bosses” monument and the biggest tin of paprykarz. In summer there are also food trucks and a city beach.
Can you see the Chrobry Embankment from the deck of a boat?
Yes, the embankment stands right on the West Oder. On a private BoatParty boat party the route is agreed individually – if the view of the embankment matters to you, mention it when you book.
The Chrobry Embankment and the boulevards – Szczecin from land and water
The Chrobry Embankment, the Sailors’ Avenue, Łasztownia and Grodzka Island together make a great walking route along the Oder. See them first from the terrace and then from the deck – just give us a date and the number of people, and we’ll prepare an initial cruise offer for your group.
Book your private boat party
A private cruise in Szczecin just for your group: two hours on the water, music and views. Send us an enquiry and we’ll prepare an offer.
