What does Opole remind most of us of? Of course, Polish music. It is present here in many different forms and accompanies visitors at almost every turn. You will encounter it in countless ways—quite literally, with a song in your heart. But the city on the Oder River has much more to offer.
Opole enchants visitors with the charm of its picturesque streets, over 800 years of history preserved within its historic walls, fascinating legends, and lush green islands. And when you add a visit to the dinosaurs of nearby Krasiejów, it becomes the perfect idea for a relaxed weekend getaway or a short family trip.
It certainly sounds tempting—so let’s set off on our adventure!
Photos by: Monika Kaczmarczyk
Opole – the city that sings
For everyone arriving by train at Opole Główne railway station, musical inspiration begins right here. The square in front of the beautiful historic station is named after Olga “Kora” Sipowicz. This special tribute to the artist was chosen by the city’s residents themselves.
And from then on, music accompanies us constantly. The first obvious stop is, of course, the amphitheatre – because a visit to Opole simply cannot be complete without it. It can be visited free of charge every day when there are no concerts or other events taking place. The place makes a huge impression, especially when we imagine ourselves performing on the stage beneath the characteristic roof shaped like a falling fig leaf.
From the amphitheatre, it is just a short walk to the Museum of Polish Song. It is so unique and interactive that you can completely lose yourself here. Both children and adults will spend their time singing and having fun. At the entrance, every visitor receives a device with headphones. Equipped this way, at our own pace and according to our preferences, we can immerse ourselves in a musical adventure.
Above all, we can sing along to famous hits with our favourite artists and listen to stories from journalists, lyricists, and critics connected with the music industry… There is no shortage of gossip, anecdotes, and fascinating facts here. Those who wish can also use a virtual fitting room to see whether they would look good wearing, for example, a dress inspired by Reni Jusis or Justyna Steczkowska. The fun is guaranteed for everyone!
Time passes quickly here, and one visit is not enough to see everything… You simply have to come back and make sure to book your ticket in advance, as the museum attracts many visitors. As a souvenir, in a special booth you can record your own version of a hit song and send it to yourself by email, or send a photo of yourself wearing a star-style outfit.
To cool down a little after all these emotions, while still staying in the same atmosphere, let’s relax near the amphitheatre by the musical fountain, which also plays some of the most beautiful songs. The shows take place every day during the summer season at 1:00 p.m., 5:00 p.m., and 9:30 p.m. – as stated on the information board. The best time to come here is in the evening when the beautifully illuminated fountain shines with countless colours. Next to the fountain stands a monument to Ewa Demarczyk. Since 2025, the legendary artist has been standing here in her characteristic pose, listening as if she came from another world – a truly exceptional artist in every sense of the word…
Opole is also home to music-themed murals. It is worth following their trail. On the building at 6 Rzemieślnicza Street, we are greeted by a smiling Anna Jantar. At 4 Krupnicza Street, Zbigniew Wodecki plays his favourite instruments. There is also a mural of Krzysztof Krawczyk (at 34A Krakowska Street) with an American-inspired atmosphere, as well as one showing Andrzej Nowak from the band TSA with his inseparable guitar (at 7A Ściegiennego Street). His famous raised-hands gesture can be seen on a mural at 36 Oleska Street, featuring Michał Bajor.
The Opole Market Square is also musical. Since 2004, the Avenue of Polish Song Stars has been created here. Bronze stars bearing artists’ names and signatures can be found here, including those dedicated to Edyta Górniak, Maryla Rodowicz, Kayah, as well as bands such as Zakopower and Lady Pank, along with many other famous Polish musicians.
Two scenic towers
The first one is the well-known Piast Tower, familiar to everyone from the opening sequence of the Opole Festival. It is a remnant of the former castle and one of the oldest defensive architecture structures in Poland. What is more, it is slightly crooked, climbing it is not easy, and it reaches 35 metres in height. Here, we are accompanied by a guide who, at the beginning of the visit, unexpectedly… turns off the lights. This element of suspense and the sounds accompanying it remind us that the tower also served as a dungeon. On the way to the top, we can see photographs showing an Opole that no longer exists, including views of the city with the castle and the New Synagogue. And the view?! It takes your breath away! How green everything is around us, how beautifully the Oder river boulevards look, almost like… Venice. And doesn’t the tower of the city hall resemble Palazzo Vecchio in Florence?! We will go there in a moment…
The City Hall Tower in Opole is a new attraction of the city. Tickets can be purchased right next door at the Municipal Tourist Information Centre at 23 Rynek Street. Visits take place on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at specific times, as we are entering the seat of the city authorities. From the very entrance, we are welcomed by colourful stained-glass windows. Then, part of the route is covered by elevator, while the rest is climbed by stairs. And at every stop along the way, there are surprises waiting for us.
Does anyone know that there used to be a theatre inside the City Hall?! And does anyone know what the pre-war Market Square in Opole looked like?! This is shown by a beautiful, incredibly detailed and absolutely amazing model of the Market Square. On the ground floors of the carefully recreated historic townhouses, there are shops and service establishments, while above them everyday bourgeois life takes place. Curtains in the windows, flowers, tables prepared for dinner, the subtle glow of lamps, small decorations displayed in cabinets… Everything is tiny and fragile, just like something from a dollhouse. The shop signs tell us where “coats, overcoats and ready-made costumes” were sold, where the best rum in Oppeln could be found, and who worked here as a merchant… The names are a picture of the multicultural, pre-war Opole that has disappeared into the past… A moment of reflection and a touch of nostalgia… When we finally reach the top, let’s walk around the tower and admire it from all four directions. Has anyone spotted the mural with Krzysztof Krawczyk?! So colourful, isn’t it!
At the foot of the City Hall, let’s find the equestrian monument of Kazimierz I of Opole. He was the founder of the city who, out of love for his chosen one, Viola, built a castle here and surrounded it with a moat. He brought his beloved back after returning from a crusade. Viola was a Bulgarian princess, 25 years younger than the duke. She was, of course, beautiful, but also brave and strong-willed. After her husband’s death, she refused to give up power over the duchy and ensured that her two sons ruled here one after another. She was also the grandmother of King Władysław Łokietek. Such is the Opole herstory…
Stingrays swim on Bolko Island
Here, surrounded by greenery, you will find the Opole Zoo, which is visited by 300,000 people every year! And it is not difficult to understand why – the place is beautiful, well-maintained, and perfect for a relaxed afternoon with the family. In the Water World pavilion, we can admire colourful fish species, and perhaps we will be lucky enough to see the feeding of the stingrays. They swim in an open pool, occasionally approaching the glass walls with their slightly surprised-looking little faces – or rather, their mouths…
In the Odra Aquarium, we can discover the life of the Oder River, including the European sturgeon, which once lived in its waters. There are tigers born here, seals that are always eager to play, numerous monkeys and birds, such as pelicans. One of them is well known to the zoo staff… it is a pelican on the run, which likes to escape and ended its longest adventure on the waters of the Oder River. What do the youngest visitors want to see the most? Of course, the animals that are currently popular in children’s fairy tales and imagination – capybaras, lemurs, lions… They are all waiting here for young explorers. In the Land of Biodiversity, we can get lost in the atmosphere of a tropical jungle, watched over by a curious toucan that likes to accompany visitors and is not afraid of them at all. Perhaps it is the one who really rules this place! And when we feel like relaxing, we can simply enjoy some time on the grass and savour treats from a picnic basket. You just need to order it in advance at the Dżungla Bistro. This is Opole-style chill out at the zoo…
A journey into prehistory
More than 200 dinosaur models recreated in a 1:1 scale are waiting at JuraPark Krasiejów. This place, located less than 30 kilometres from Opole, is like a journey through time, and nobody will get bored here. We start with… the Time Tunnel. Wearing 3D glasses, we will learn about the history of the universe from the moment the Earth was created, travel back millions of years in our imagination, and experience a magical journey. We enter the tunnel in a small carriage, but it feels more like a voyage on a space shuttle. The information presented in a fascinating way will remind us of things we no longer remember from school lessons or things that completely escaped our attention. And there is a lot to discover.
We will find out, for example, why a certain asteroid wiped out three-quarters of all living creatures on Earth and why we humans are… so closely related to reptiles. Afterwards, we will visit the Palaeontological Pavilion, where behind glass we can see around 500 bones of aquatic animals that once lived here. There are even their… droppings in one of the displays. Then it is time for a walk along the paths and wooden footbridges, next to which dinosaurs are standing. This is what everyone is waiting for! Huge and slightly smaller ones, arranged in a way that allows us to admire their shapes, enormous size, and colours… Some are frightening, while others look almost like domestic pets… The largest one is Amphicoelias, the largest dinosaur in the world, which measured 40–60 metres. There are well-described tyrannosaurs, phytosaurs resembling crocodiles… Young experts on the subject will find plenty here to admire. A new attraction at JuraPark Krasiejów is the seismograph. Let’s stand next to it for a moment – when a train passes nearby, we will be able to see it on the flashing scale.
Let’s go to the multimedia Oceanarium and make sure to stand on the special platform and wait for the attack of a predator. It is quite an experience! Here, we may also meet the charming Tuptosaurs – remote-controlled dinosaur models that make the visit to Krasiejów more enjoyable for both children and adults. They happily give high-fives and make funny sounds. Finally, there is also a ride on a Viennese-style carousel with horses.
On the other side of JuraPark Krasiejów stands the Park of Science and Human Evolution. Here, we can follow the history of humankind from the moment we… came down from the trees, moving from one station to another and listening to the narration through headphones. What were the beginnings of walking on two legs? How did the first family come into existence? How did competition emerge? There is so much to discover that it is impossible to remember everything. But Krasiejów is waiting all year round – we simply have to come back here again…
