Poznań Palm House

The Poznań Palm House (Palmiarnia Poznańska, say "pahl-MYAR-nya") in Wilson Park is the largest palm house in Poland and one of the largest in Europe: more than 4,600 m² under glass, about 1,100 plant species and an aquarium with some 170 fish species. Important: it has been closed to visitors since September 1, 2026, for a major rebuild. According to the city, part of the pavilions should reopen at the end of 2028, with the full modernization finished in 2030. The surrounding Wilson Park stays open.

Is the Poznań Palm House open? Closure details

As of October 2026, the palm house website states that it is temporarily closed for reconstruction, and every day on its schedule is marked closed. The city calls it the biggest renovation in 40 years, split into stages:

• End of 2028: planned reopening of the rebuilt pavilions on the Matejki Street side.
• 2030: completion of the whole project.

The work includes new glazing for the pavilions, a raised walkway at canopy height, and rebuilt aquarium, café and back-of-house areas. The construction tender is run by the city's investment company, Poznańskie Inwestycje Miejskie. No exact reopening date has been announced, so check the official website before planning a visit after 2028.

A short history

• 1910–1911: the first brick palm house, 534 m², was built in what was then the botanical garden of the German city of Posen.
• 1922: Poland's first public exhibition aquarium opened here.
• 1929: a larger seven-pavilion building by architect Stefan Cybichowski opened just before the Polish General National Exhibition.
• 1941: an air raid shattered the glass, and many plants died during the winter of 1941–42.
• 1945: about 90% of the complex was destroyed in the battle for Poznań; most pavilions reopened on April 20, 1946.
• 1978–1992: closed for structural problems and rebuilt in stages, reopening on October 1, 1992.

What you'll see when it reopens

The complex has 12 pavilions, some used only for propagation. Before the closure, visitors could walk through subtropical and Mediterranean plants, succulents from the Americas, desert and savanna plants, tropical pavilions with tall palms, a pavilion of aquatic plants including giant Victoria water lilies, and the freshwater aquarium. The layout may change after the rebuild, and the canopy walkway will be new.

The collection in numbers

The palm house grew with the city: from 534 m² in 1911 to 1,694 m² in 1929, then 2,528 m² after the Poznań International Fair donated a greenhouse in 1961, and finally over 4,600 m² after the 1983–1992 rebuild. Besides around 1,100 land plant species, the collection includes about 50 species of aquatic plants. Several groups came as donations, including agaves from the local university and palms, dracaenas, laurels and cycads from the town of Sulechów.

What to do instead right now

Wilson Park on Matejki Street remains accessible (5:00–22:00). This 7.2-hectare historic park grew out of a 19th-century tree nursery and served as Poznań's first botanical garden. Since 1926 it has carried the name of U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, honored in Poland for supporting Polish independence after World War I. A Wilson monument funded by the pianist-statesman Ignacy Paderewski was unveiled on July 4, 1931, and destroyed during the German occupation; a bust from 1994 stands in the park today. Look for the 1891 sculpture of Perseus Freeing Andromeda, the 1928 fountain and the 1936 brick concert shell; the fountain and shell are also being modernized. For plants and families during the closure, consider the Adam Mickiewicz University Botanical Garden, the Dendrological Garden or the New Zoo, and check their winter 2026/27 hours before you go.

Getting there

The address is Jana Matejki 18, about a 10–15-minute walk from Poznań Główny station and next to the Poznań International Fair grounds. Poznań lies in western Poland, roughly 2.5–3 hours by direct train from Berlin or Warsaw, and Poznań Ławica Airport is about 7 km from the center. Contact: information line +48 61 646 33 44 (Mon–Fri 7:30–20:00).

Is it worth planning around?

Not until it reopens. In the meantime, Poznań has plenty of other things to do: the Old Market Square with the noon goats, Ostrów Tumski and the cathedral, and a cluster of museums in the Old Town. Bookmark the Palm House for a return trip after 2028.