POZNAŃ – general information

Location, area and population

Poznań is a city located in Western Poland, the capital of the Wielkopolska Province . It is located half way between Berlin and Warsaw . The city extends over 261,3 square kilometres and is home to a population of some 600 000.

Poznań is Poland 's second largest banking and business centre after Warsaw . It has attracted substantial domestic and foreign investment. Poznań is also a major industrial hub and service centre. The city prides itself on the Poznań International Fair which offers over 30 international events in a variety of fields and industries.

Cultural life

Poznań ’s opera house, philharmonic and its numerous theatres and galleries have made it a true cultural centre. Each year many unique international events and held here including theatre and music festivals, exhibitions, musical contests, concerts and more. The most popular cultural event is The Malta International Theatre Festival. It is the biggest open-air stage in the country and the numbers confirm that it is the greatest theatre festival in Central Europe . The Malta Festival takes place in June and it lasts for five days and five nights. It offers over one hundred performances which take place in parks, factory halls, lawns, pavilions of the Poznań International Fair, or in the Old Market. The city of Poznań has, among others: 7 theatres, the Opera House, the State Philharmonic Hall, 28 choirs, 21 museums, 64 galleries of art, 12 cinemas, 21 scientific and public libraries.

http://www.poznan.pl/mim/public/turystyka/index.html?lang=en

Sport and recreation

Poznań is a perfect place to pursue of active sports and recreation. Its ski slope open year round, regatta course on a lake located in the city centre, sled track, numerous bike paths, tennis courts, recreation centres, swimming pools, conservatory, zoo, botanical gardens and many other facilities are a part of an extensive offer available to active recreation enthusiasts.  

Poznań is a major scientific and academic centre. With a student population of some 120,000, the city ranks among the country's leading academic hubs. Poznań is home to over a dozen institutions of higher education specializing in a wide range of fields and disciplines.

Poznań prides itself on its trade fair traditions, which date back to the 13 ^th century. Before the breakout of World War II, the Poznań Fair had grown to become one of Europe 's most prominent fair events.

Public transport

Poznań is served by an extensive public transport system operated by the Municipal Transport Company (MPK) which makes it possible to reach the desired part of the city reasonably quickly. The city transport system operates 24 hours a day (from 11 pm to 5 am a reduced night service is in operation) and comprises bus and tram routes and the Poznań Fast Tramway (PST).

Taxis:

There are many taxi corporations operating in Poznań . It is advisable to use only the services of radio-taxis (ordered by telephone) and to avoid taxis waiting at taxi ranks or hailed in the street as their fares tend to be substantially higher.

The following are the numbers of several radio-taxi corporations:  

96 22 , 96 29 , 061 8 216 216