This cheap medieval city without crowds is one of Europe’s best-kept secrets

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We’ve all been there: booking a flight to Europe on a whim after seeing a dreamy cobblestone town on Instagram that seems straight out of another era, only to find out it’s something But the storybook atmosphere you expected.

Disneyland-like crowds making public spaces unbearable, standing shoulder to shoulder with strangers while waiting for an astronomical clock to do its 30 second trick, an insane amount of litter that your favorite influencer has conveniently cut out of its roll, and of course the crazy prices.

We don’t blame you for falling for the propaganda of ‘fairytale Europe’: it’s the same four or five cities that are relentlessly hyped by influencers, while the real gems of the continent remain off the radar.

Luckily for you, we’re not here to stroll through crowded Prague in a flying dress and pretend it’s the premier travel destination in Eastern Europe. If you are still hunting for the Realunspoilt Europe this year you should go here:

A fairytale medieval city, unspoilt by mass tourism

On the banks of the fast-flowing Vistula, in north-central Poland, lies Toruń (yes, with a stressed N) is one of the best preserved medieval towns in the country, and one of the most beautiful, if we say so ourselves, except…

There are hardly any tourists!

If you’re a Pole, before you scroll straight to the comments section to denounce our ignorance, and that Toruń is in fact one of Poland’s most important cultural centers, have you ever heard of this funny concept called the ‘burden of knowledge’?

Toruń may be as famous among Poles as popular destinations like Paris or Rome are in the circles of casual travelers, but when it comes to foreignersif they have vaguely heard of Krakow or Warsaw, you can consider yourself lucky.

To our American readers, you may be wondering what the fuss is about this unheard of city in the borders of a Central (Eastern?) European country.

A UNESCO World Heritage Treasure

As those of you who have visited Polish cities will know, most of what you see in their overly polished, neat, picture-perfect historic centers was in fact reconstructed after World War II.

With the exception of perhaps Krakow, popular Polish destinations such as Warsaw, Gdańsk and Lublin suffered serious damage during the Nazi occupation. In the case of Warsaw, more than 90% of the city was completely wiped out.

Medieval walls, elegant 19th century boulevards with graceful decorative edges fin de siècle world-class buildings and museums were all looted, looted and in most cases reduced to rubble. Have you ever wondered why (most of) Warsaw looks so modern and almost American these days?

Well, we’re happy to report that it’s modest Torun escapes same fate.

Founded in the 13th century by the Teutonic Knights as a riverside fortress, it outgrew the castle walls to become one of Poland’s most photogenic medieval towns, dotted with centuries-old monuments, historic stepped-gabled mansions and towering Gothic churches.

The best part? Everything you see as you stroll through the timeless cobbled streets of Toruń is original. It largely survived the Second World War unharmed.

What you should not miss in the old town

Toruń is a World Heritage City, and trust us, it is no shortage of man-made wonders as you wander the maze-like streets.

Start at St. John’s Cathedral, a sturdy Gothic church with a huge, squat red-brick tower, tall, slender columns inside and beautiful stained glass. Moreover, Copernicus himself was baptized here.

For something unique, visit the nearby St James’s Church, a 14th-century brick Gothic gem with twin towers fused at its base.

No complete castle remains – the castle built by the Teutonic Knights is a ruin of the Vistula – but on the edge of the old town stands Krzywa Wieża, the Leaning Tower of Poland:

Tilted forward for seven centuries, like that of Pisa, and connected to mighty city walls. But wait: there is So much more.

Visit the birthplace of Nicolaus Copernicus

The heart of the old town is without a doubt Rynek Staromiyski. Sounds like Polish gibberish, but it means something Market Square in the Old Town.

It is dominated by the Old town halla 14th-century civic building that now houses a museum and is flanked on all sides by colorful, medieval merchant houses – and of course the odd quirky cafes and Polish milk bar that serve delicious food pierogi on the daily.

Unlike the Main Square in Krakow, or Warsaw’s overly compact Old Town, you won’t see any of the usual bustling crowds, and surprisingly, the handful of tourists looking up in awe at the palatial Gothic buildings are likely domestic visitors.

Crazy, right? Especially since Nicolaus Copernicusthe man who in 1543 dropped the heliocentric model, which proved that the sun (not the earth) is at the center of our solar system, was born here.

You can visit his factual house in Mikołaja Kopernika 15/17, where he spent his early years, and take an obligatory selfie with the gigantic Copernicus statue right in front of the Town Hall.

How affordable is Toruń?

It’s a crazy economy, and it’s not like the dollar is getting stronger against a hypervalued euro, so let’s talk about the budget.

How actually affordable is Poland?

While it is true that Eastern Europe is no longer as cheap to travel as it used to be, especially the countries that have joined the European Union, and Poland is no exceptionit is still not on par with Western counterparts such as France or Italy.

In general, sitting down for a meal in a Polish milk bar in the center of Toruń will cost you an average of €10 (to be more precise: €9.71 according to Numbeo estimates).

Of course, the reality on the ground is always a little different, especially if you regularly visit restaurants in the Old Town with a view of the rooftops. Even then, it is not the case that your wallet bleeds dry: for a three-course meal in a mid-range restaurant, washed down with a jug compote, we’re talking $18-21.

A reasonable question.

However, accommodation is where you really get your money’s worth: three-star hotels in the heart of the old town range from $69 to $80 – an elegant 19th-century gem within walking distance of the main square, Hotel Polonia has a starting price of $80 per night.

Average prices in Toruń, Poland