Close to 300,000 residents make Bialystok the largest city of northeastern Poland and the capital of the Podlasie province. The city is the administrative, commercial, scientific and cultural center in this part of Poland, which because of its exceptional ecological value, is called the Green Lungs of Poland. The position of the city, in a region of clean ecology that is full of tourist attractions with a well-developed infrastructure, make Bialystok and its surroundings an attractive place to live, relax and to develop tourism.

Bialystok is an academic and scientific center of national importance. At several dozen universities, academies and colleges about 45,500 students pursue their studies. The state institutions of tertiary education, which have operated for decades may boast considerable academic achievement, among them: the Medical Academy- one of the leading medical academies in Poland; Bialystok Polytechnic and Bialystok University. The city is also home to artistic academies: the Department of Pupper Art of the A. Zelwerowicz Theatrical Academy in Warsaw and the Branch of the F. Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw. Among the private higher schools and colleges one might mention: the Higher School of Public Administration, winner of the vote Rzeczpospolita 2007 for the best school in Poland among the licentiate higher schools; the Higher School of Finance and Management, the Higher School of Economics and also the Higher School of Mathematics and Information Use. The oldest center of tertiary education in the city, established after the II World War, is the Archdiocesan Higher Seminary, which continues the tradition of the Department of Theology of the Stefan Batory University in Wilno. The highly developed tertiary education and very good accommodation resources give rise to the growth of conference tourism in the city.
Nine road and rail routes of national and international importance intersect in Bialystok. The international railway line Berlin – Warsaw – Saint Petersburg – Moscow runs through the city, so does the Via Baltica route from the Baltic countries continuing on towards Warsaw. The location of the Bialystok in the vicinity of the frontiers with Belarus, Lithuania and Russia creates good conditions for the development of commercial and cultural contacts between the countries of Eastern and Western Europe. In the neighbourhood of Bialystok 9 frontier crossing points operate – at Kuznica Bialostocka, Bobrowniki, Siemianowice, Czeremsze, Polowce, Ogrodniki, Trakiszki and Budzisko.
The history of Bialystok teaches back several centuries, and its specific nature was formed in a climate of coexistence of many nationalities, religions, cultures, customs and traditions. The city was and is a place, where Poles, Belarussians, Jews, Germans, Russians and Tatars meet. This factor among others was the reason that the locally born Ludwik Zamenhof began work on the creation of a universal language – Esperanto. In Bialystok there are several hundred historic buildings, and around 150 among them have been registered in the register of historic monuments of the Polish, Jewish, Orthodox and Muslim cultures.

Within a radius of a few dozen kilometers from the city are many historic and natural conservation areas of European importance. Among them, primarily is the Bialowieski National Park – the bastion of the European bison – included in the World Heritage List recognized by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve; adjacent to the city are the Knyszyna Forest Landscape Park; and the Narwinski National Park – the stronghold of very rare species of water birds and waders; Biebrzanskie Bog – the greatest complex of low peat bogs in Central Europe and the largest national park in Poland and the “Tatar Trail”, which is unique.
The last decade has been distinguished as a period of rapid development of the tourist infrastructure of the city. Currently Bialystok offers its guests a hotel and restaurant infrastructure that is second to none in Poland.

Curiosities

Bialystok is a significant center of students and science, where about 45,500 students study
The largest population of bison Europe live in Podlasie province, which is why Bialystok – the capital of the province – is increasingly associated with bison
Bialowieski National Park together with part of the Bialorussian National Park constitutes one of three European trans-frontier World Heritage sites
Ludwik Zamenhof, born in Bialystok created the universal language – Esperanto
The Bialystok dialect is called sledzikowanie
The multi-culture of the city is emphasized by the numerous religious groups: Roman Catholic, Orthodox (approx. 25% of the city residents), Greek Catholics, Jews, Evangelists and Muslims.

Practical information

Bialystok is very well connected with other cities of Poland and with the region of the capital – Warsaw. One may travel here by car, bus and train, which stops at the new, recently modernized railway station. On the edge of the city is the sports-training airfield Krywany. It is planned to modernize it and build an airport and a runway. The existence of an airport will lead to the improvement of service for the growing tourist traffic.
Lovers of organized outings may benefit from the wide range of suggestions offered by the local travel agency.
There is a General Consulate of the Republic of Belarus, where one may obtain all essential information concerning our eastern neighbor (the consulate is at 9 Elektryczna St.).
The city has a well-developed municipal transport network. The public transport system in the city is operated by a public transport company, which owns approximately 300 buses. The buses are known for their punctuality and tickets may be bought at numerous kiosks and food shops.
In Bialystok many competing taxi corporations operate due to which the prices are not exorbitant. In practice one does not hail a taxi or look for a taxi rank. Taxis are called by telephone – and should appear within a few minutes. The drivers know the street system perfectly and with no problem will convey to the indicated address.
In contrast to other large cities in Poland, in Bialystok traffic jams are still rare. They only occur at peak hours. With a car, even at these times, one may drive from one edge of the city to the other within a maximum of 45 minutes. Apart from peak hours, the same route takes us an average of 20 minutes.

In the city one may hire a car. Depending on the class of car prices begin from 100 PLN per day. Normally a returnable deposit is required. When parking in the center it is necessary to remember to buy a parking ticket – the center of the city is within the Pay Parking Zone. Tickets can be bought in kiosks and nearby shops in the zone.
In the city there are around 90 pharmacist shops, half of them only offer pre-prepared medicines, chosen pharmacies are open at night. Night duty is also worked by: the emergency rescue ambulances at 89 Poleska St.; surgical ambulances at 2 Radzyminska St.; dental service at 13A Boh. Monte Cassino St.
Within the city there are 35 post offices. One of them – at Kolejowa St. – is open practically the whole day but for an interval from 6 to 7. News may also be sent by electronic post, sitting comfortably in an Internet café.
Access to cash – due to numerous bank cash dispensers normally operating the entire day – is normal. One may also change foreign currency easily – due to the considerable number of operating money changers shops.
The trading network of the city is well developed. In the city center – in the vicinity of Lipowa and Kilinski St. – there are many boutiques with clothing and larger shops offering, besides Polish products also the products of known international producers. In the city center, one may also find galleries of functional art and antiques also there are shops selling traditional handmade products.
Food products may be bought with no difficulty 24 hours a day. Not only in the center but also in each residential complex there is at least one, and frequently more, all day shops. Food shops in residential areas are very plentiful and nowhere in the city does it take more than a few minutes to reach a shop.
In Bialystok there are several supermarkets. On Produkcyjna St. there is “Auchan”, on Al. Ja Pawel II is “Makro” (entry only to cardholders), on Anders St. there is “Galeria Kwadrat”, “Bazantarnia” is on Skladowa St., Shopping Center “Aneks” is at Przedzalnia St. and there is “Stokrotka” on Paderewski St.. To finish there are retail complexes – such as “Galeria Biala” (with several cinemas, bowling alleys and restaurants) on Mickiewicz St., CH :Carrefour” on Zielone Wzgory and also “Galeria Podlaska” at Wysocki St.. It is practically the rule that generally used payment cards are accepted in Bialystok.

• the official website of Bialystok

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