Szczecin Underground Routes (air-raid shelter)

Szczecin's Underground Routes take you into a World War II air-raid shelter hidden beneath the city's main railway station, Szczecin Główny. It is one of the largest civilian shelters in Poland, and in about an hour you can follow three self-guided routes: the bombing of Stettin in WWII, the Cold War and civil defense, and everyday life under communism. It's a top rainy-day pick and great with teenagers.

Where it is

Szczecin (say "SHCHEH-cheen") is in northwest Poland, about 150 km (93 mi) from Berlin – two hours by car or regional train – and five to six hours by train from Warsaw. Because the entrance is right on platform 1 of Szczecin Główny station (ul. Kolumba 2), it is easy to visit straight off the train: from the main hall walk onto platform 1, turn right and take the stairs down inside a glass shelter. The ticket desk is at the bottom.

History in brief

The shelter was completed by the Germans in 1941 to protect civilians from air raids, possibly reusing older underground passages. It has reinforced concrete walls about 3 m (10 ft) thick and a total area of roughly 2,500 m² (27,000 sq ft). In the 1970s, communist Poland adapted it as a nuclear fallout shelter for civil defense. It has been open to visitors since 2006.

Three routes, one ticket

You follow colored arrows at your own pace:

• Red – World War II: two levels of tunnels with light and sound effects, a UV-lit mural and archive cockpit recordings from a British bomber over Szczecin; themes include shelter life, forced labor, Allied air raids, the end of German Stettin and postwar expulsions and resettlement;
• Blue – Cold War: original civil defense equipment and uniforms, propaganda broadcasts over the shelter's PA system, the station's command post, and a short film in an underground cinema;
• Yellow – "Selfie with the Polish People's Republic": 11 themed rooms on the absurdities of daily life in communist Poland, with retro photo spots.

The website has an English version; groups can book guided tours seven days a week by email.

Opening hours and tickets (as of October 2026)

• Individual visits: Thursday–Monday 12 pm–4 pm, last tickets at 3 pm; no individual visits on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
• Tickets: 55 PLN standard, 45 PLN reduced (ages 6–18, students under 26, seniors, visitors with disabilities), 10 PLN for children under 6. No reservation needed for individuals.
• Contact: +48 605 433 433, info@schron.szczecin.pl.

The operator does not publish a separate winter schedule and may change hours, so check the website before visiting in winter 2026/27.

Tips: is it worth it?

Yes, if you're interested in WWII or Cold War history. Bring a sweater – it's about 14°C (57°F) inside year-round, though free blankets are available. Photos are allowed but filming is not, and food and sugary drinks are not permitted. Access is by stairs, so it is not wheelchair-accessible, and the dark tunnels and sound effects may frighten small children.

From the station it's a 15-minute walk to the Port Gate, St. James Cathedral and the Old Town.