Four national parks within day-trip distance. Vilnius in 4 hours. Warsaw in 2.5. The Baltic coast for a weekend. Białystok puts you at the center of adventures most exchange students never discover.
Białystok combines the convenience of a compact city center with genuine cultural offerings. Everything is walkable or a short bus ride away.
The most modern cultural center in Eastern Europe. Opera, ballet, musicals, symphonic concerts. Student tickets from 40 PLN (~9 EUR). The rooftop terrace offers panoramic city views.
Baroque "Polish Versailles" with manicured gardens, free to visit. Perfect for afternoon walks, study breaks, or impressing visiting friends.
Contemporary art space with rotating exhibitions. Free entry on Thursdays. The city also has a thriving street art scene in unexpected corners.
Local football club with passionate supporters. Match tickets are cheap and the atmosphere is electric. A genuine Polish sports experience.
Lipowa Street is the main artery: Pub Fiction (rock classics, Tarantino decor), Rokoko (dance music), Wall Street, and quieter wine bars. Student-friendly prices.
Cozy cafés dot the center. Try the historic Rynek Kościuszki square for people-watching, or escape to Planty Park when weather permits.
Powerful, immersive museum about Polish deportations to Siberia. Opened in 2021 in a converted military warehouse next to the original railway siding where deportations happened. Free admission on Wednesdays.
Small zoo near Branicki Palace focusing on regional wildlife: wolves, lynx, bison, elk, and European wildcats. Set within Zwierzyniecki Forest, perfect for combining with a palace visit and forest walk.
Up To Date Festival (September): Electronic music in the opera building. Halfway Festival: Alternative music. Podlasie Octave of Cultures: Folk music and multicultural heritage. International Book Fair: Biggest literary event east of the Vistula.
Podlasie is called "The Green Lungs of Poland" for a reason. Four national parks, countless nature reserves, and landscapes that feel untouched by time. All within easy reach.
Europe's last primeval forest and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Home to 800+ European bison, the continent's heaviest land mammal. Ancient oaks, untouched wilderness, and a chance to see wildlife you won't find anywhere else.
Called the "Polish Amazon." An anastomosing river system where water splits into dozens of channels through marshland. Best explored by kayak. 155 bird species breed here. Silence, water, and absolute peace.
Poland's largest national park and Central Europe's biggest natural marshland. Spring flooding creates a paradise for migrating birds: 270+ species, including rare waders. Wolves, elk, and beavers roam the area.
Charming spa town with a 16th-century Orthodox monastery. The Museum of Icons houses hundreds of works of Eastern Christian art. Surrounded by Knyszyn Forest. Perfect half-day escape.
Preserved small town with Poland's second-largest Baroque synagogue (after Kraków). Jewish heritage trail, charming architecture, and the region's only castle ruins. Step back in time.
Villages of Trześcianka, Puchły, and Soce with colorful wooden houses and Orthodox churches. Russian influence preserved in architecture. Feels like stepping into another century and culture.
Lake resort town and gateway to the 19th-century Augustów Canal, an engineering marvel with original hand-operated locks. Top kayaking destination in Poland. Paddle through pristine forest, pass through historic locks, camp by the water.
Lake Wigry is the region's largest and deepest lake (73m), with a spectacular 17th-century Camaldolese Monastery on a peninsula. The Czarna Hańcza River is Poland's most famous kayak trail. Stay overnight in former monk cells.
2,000 km cycling route through Eastern Poland passes through Podlasie. Rent a bike and explore sections through national parks, along rivers, and past wooden villages. City bike sharing (BiKeR) in Białystok: first 30 minutes free.
The students who get the most from Erasmus are the ones who say yes. Yes to the weird-sounding trip ESN organizes. Yes to the kayaking invitation even though you've never been. Yes to the seminar in a field you know nothing about. Białystok rewards curiosity. The primeval forest, the marshlands, the multicultural history, the student community. It's all here, waiting for you to explore.
Białystok's location makes it a launching pad for exploring the Baltic states, Poland's major cities, and beyond. Cheap buses and trains make everything accessible on a student budget.
Baroque old town (UNESCO), vibrant nightlife, Užupis artist republic, and excellent coffee culture. A different country, a different vibe. Cross the border for a weekend that feels like real travel.
Poland's capital: museums, history, modern architecture, and serious nightlife. The rebuilt Old Town, Warsaw Uprising Museum, and vibrant Praga district. Direct trains every 2-3 hours.
Medieval port city with stunning architecture, amber shops, and access to Baltic beaches. Combine with Sopot (beach resort) and Gdynia (modernist port). Perfect summer weekend escape.
Poland's cultural capital: Wawel Castle, Kazimierz Jewish quarter, and legendary nightlife. Further away but worth the journey. Combine with Auschwitz memorial or Wieliczka Salt Mine.
View larger map | Białystok sits at the crossroads of Poland, Lithuania, and Belarus
You won't be alone. The university has active organizations specifically for international students, plus opportunities to connect with Polish students who share your interests.
Erasmus Student Network at the University of Białystok. They organize trips, parties, cultural events, and integration activities throughout the year. Your instant social network. Follow them for event announcements and to meet other exchange students.
Student research group at our Faculty. They organize academic events, workshops, and the "Mindgames" cognitive games showcase. A way to engage with your field beyond coursework and prepare for conference presentations.
Mgr Olgierd Borowiecki
o.borowiecki@uwb.edu.pl
Faculty of Philosophy and Cognitive Science
Erasmus Student Network
uwb.esn.pl
facebook.com/ESNUwB
"I came for philosophy, stayed for the forest, and left with friends from twelve countries."
- Erasmus student from Germany
