Car Hire in Szczecin

About Szczecin

Szczecin (Stettin) is a city in Poland, more precisely in the northwestern part of the country. It is the capital and the largest city of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship. It is the seventh largest city in Poland and, thanks to its location near the Baltic Sea, it is also an important Polish port city. The city was founded in the eighth century on the Oder River. In this area, there is also Lake Dabie, which has influenced the quality of life in the city. The city is located near the border with Germany and has a very good strategic position.

Thanks to its long and rich past, it is a very attractive city with strong character and tradition. You can visit many different cultural, historical, and religious sights here, which makes Szczecin a popular destination for tourists and travelers from all over the world. There is really something to discover here for every kind of tourist and traveler. Moreover, there are some very good and popular faculties in this city and the fact that many students live in Szczecin also makes this a very lively city with vibrant nightlife.

So, there are more than enough reasons to put Szczecin on the list of cities where you should stop and spend a few days during your road trip through Poland, you will definitely not regret it. Since 1999, Szczecin has been home to the headquarters of the Multinational Corps Northeast of NATO. The city was a candidate for the European Capital of Culture 2016.

Basic info and car hire in Szczecin

• Location:  West Pomeranian Voivodeship, northwestern Poland
• Population: 395,513
• Official language: Polish
• Currency: Polish Złoty
• Weather: Szczecin has an oceanic climate
• Internet coverage: Hotels, bars, restaurants, and cafés offer Wi-Fi.
• Road conditions:  Most roads in Szczecin are in good condition.
• Car hire in Szczecin:  The most common pick-up point for vehicles in Szczecin, is at Szczecin Goleniow Airport. Please note that prices vary frequently. It is best to book a car 3 to 8 weeks in advance of your desired pick-up date - this will ensure you get the cheapest rental rate. Alternatively, it is also possible to find cheap last-minute car hire. Find the best deal on car hire in Szczecin!

 Driving in Szczecin

If you want to explore Szczecin and the surrounding area on your own, it's best to rent a car and explore the city at your own pace and according to your own preferences. The roads here are generally in good condition, the landscapes are breathtaking and the signage is clear. So, if you do not want to have any problems on your trip through Poland, just follow the traffic rules, follow the signs, and drive carefully. Fasten your seat belt and drive safely!

If you want to explore the city center of Szczecin, it is best to park your car in one of the many parking lots in the city and explore the city center on foot or combine walking with using public transportation. Traffic jams can often occur in the city center, especially during rush hours. So if you do not want to spend too much time in your car, it's best to park it. Before you park your car, make sure you know the rates and how to pay. It is almost impossible to find free parking in Szczecin.

• Age limits: The minimum age to drive a car in Poland is 18 years old. The minimum age to rent a car is 21 years old and with some suppliers for people over 75 years of age, you must also have held a driving license for a minimum of 12 months. Young driver surcharges may apply to many car rental companies for people under 25 years of age. This information is visible in the search engine with Orbit Car Hire.
• International Driving Permit: An International Driving Permit is required in addition to a National Driving License if the National Driving License you or any of the Additional Drivers hold is not clearly identifiable as a Driving License, eg, it is in a non-Latin alphabet (eg Arabic, Chinese, Cyrillic, Japanese). It can also depend on the country or car rental company you are renting with. If you have found a car on our website, you can press the rental terms link from the supplier for more information about driving license requirements. 
• Additional papers: A credit card in the name of the main driver needs to be presented. A security deposit may be required while renting a car so the credit card must have sufficient funds. You can find details about the security deposit listed while booking the vehicle as well as on your voucher. It is important to have a valid driving license with the name of the main driver as well as additional drivers when it applies. An International Driving Permit is required in addition to a National Driving License if the National Driving License you or any of the Additional Drivers hold is not clearly identifiable as a Driving License, eg, it is in a non-Latin alphabet (eg Arabic, Chinese, Cyrillic, Japanese). It can also depend on the country or car rental company you are renting with. If you have found a car on our website, you can press the rental terms link from the supplier for more information about driving license requirements. You will need to have identification with you such as a passport and ID cards. When you pick up your rental car you need to have your voucher with you.  
• Additional requirements: Warning triangle (compulsory in every vehicle with four wheels or more), headlamp beam deflectors (depending on your car, you will either need deflector stickers or have to adjust the beam manually), crash helmet for motorcyclists or moped riders and their passengers (a child up to the age of seven may ride a motorcycle or moped as a passenger without a helmet if the speed does not exceed 40km/h), reflective jacket (although not mandatory to carry, you could be fined for walking on the side of a road outside a built-up area at night or in reduced visibility if not wearing one), fire extinguisher.  
• Children in the car: Children under the age of 12 and less than 150cm in height must be restrained by a seat belt adapted to their size or seated in a special seat. If the car is equipped with airbags at the front, it is prohibited to place a child in a rear-facing seat on the front passenger seat 
• Driving side of the road: Right hand
• Lights: You must turn your lights on any time you can't see at least 1000 feet ahead. Use your low-beam headlights whenever it is raining.
• General speed limits: The national speed limit on motorways in Poland, unless otherwise indicated on local signage, is 140km/h (87mph). On a main road outside a built-up area, it's 90 km/h to 120km/h (according to local signs). For built-up areas, it’s 50km/h (between the hours of 05:00 and 23:00) or 60km/h (between the hours of 23:00 and 05:00).

Popular day trips from Szczecin

Meissen, Poznan, Kreuzberg, Bundestag, Berlin, Holocaust Memorial, Brandenburg Gate,...

What to see in Szczecin

Szczecin is a very popular destination among tourists and travelers from all over the world. There are many interesting cultural-historical and religious sights worth visiting here. Szczecin is also a perfect destination because it is not as popular as other major Polish cities, so there are not so many tourists crowding around every attraction here in Szczecin.

One of the attractions that you should definitely visit here is the Castle of the Pomeranian Dukes. This castle was built in the 14th century but was not finished until the end of the 16th century. The castle was mainly Renaissance in style but was heavily destroyed during World War II. After the war ended, the castle was restored and renovated and today you can admire some outstanding works of art here.

Another fascinating piece of architecture is the Szczecin Philharmonic Hall. This majestic structure was awarded the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture in 2015. Many concerts and other cultural events are held here throughout the year, and if you attend a concert, you will definitely enjoy it. There is a high-quality program, great acoustics, and fascinating architecture.

Other things to do and places to visit in Szczecin: Wały Chrobrego (Chrobry Embankment), Stare Miasto (Old Town), Szczecin Cathedral, Szczecin Underground, Park Kasprowicza, National Museum, "Upheavals" Dialogue Centre, Museum of Technology and Transport, Puszcza Bukowa, Kamienica Loitzów, Różanka Rose Garden, Central Cemetery, Tram Line 0,...

Drive your rental car beyond Szczecin

The Republic of Poland is a country in Central Europe. Poland is divided into 16 administrative provinces, the voivodeships, and is the fifth most populous country in the European Union with 37.7 million inhabitants. There are several major cities in the country, the largest being: Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław, Łódź, Poznań, Gdańsk, and Szczecin. Poland covers a large area stretching from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and the Carpathian Mountains in the south. The country borders Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukraine to the east, Slovakia and the Czech Republic to the south, and Germany to the west. It also shares maritime borders with Denmark and Sweden. Poland is a member of the European Union, including the Schengen area. It is also a founding member of the United Nations, as well as a member of the World Trade Organization and NATO. Poland has a temperate transitional climate, and in addition to many impressive cities, there are also many breathtaking natural sights that you should definitely visit if you are planning a road trip through Poland. This country has beautiful nature and also offers many outdoor activities that you can do all year round, from rafting on the rivers (the longest Polish river is the Vistula), climbing, hiking (Poland's highest mountain is Mount Rysy), cycling, mountain biking, swimming, skiing, snowboarding, sailing, etc. Moreover, this is a country with a long and rich past and also with a very strong tradition, so you can visit many different historical, cultural, and religious sights that will give you a different view of this interesting and beautiful country. The country has 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, 15 of which are cultural. There are numerous museums that will give you the opportunity to learn more about the history of Poland. The first evidence of people living on this soil dates back to 10000 BC. The country experienced several ups and downs in the past, and there were also many different civilizations that passed through and dominated this area in the past. Today's modern Poland was established in 1989.

When traveling through Poland, you will have the opportunity to meet very hospitable locals, enjoy delicious Polish cuisine, discover wonderful nature, vibrant cities, many cultural events, sporting events, and much more throughout the year. The roads are generally in good condition, so you will really enjoy driving. If we add the great landscapes you can experience on the roads of Poland, this is really a perfect country for a good road trip. There is something for every kind of tourist and traveler, it's up to you what kind of vacation you prefer, but you can be sure that you will not be bored in Poland. Besides many attractions, you can also experience very lively nightlife in Polish cities.

These are some of the most popular places to visit in Poland: Wroclaw, Warsaw, Gdansk, Gdynia, Sopot, Cracow, Szczecin, Poznan, Torun, Malbork, Rzeszów, Lodz, Zakopane, Mikolajki, Swinoujscie.

Where to eat, drink, and party in Szczecin

Like all other modern cities, Szczecin has a lot to offer in the field of gastronomy. There are many different restaurants in the city, from those where you can order traditional and authentic local food to those where you can enjoy modern Polish cuisine and also order menus from all over the world. You will really find a great culinary offer here in Szczecin.

BEST PLACES FOR PARTY IN SZCZECIN:

Grey Club Szczecin

Pawilon 48 Cocktail Bar

Holiday-Club

Free Blues Club

Pinokio Club

Patio Club

Gay club Skandal

Bar Czysty

Best restaurant in Szczecin

Spizarnia Szczecinska

Karkut Restaurant

Brasileirinho Brazilian Cuisine & Bar

17 Schodow Cocktail bar

Paprykarz Fish Market

Radecki Restauracja Zbigniew Radecki