AT A GLANCE
Why go?
Perched 56 meters above the cobblestones of Szczecin's Old Town, the observation deck on the Archcathedral Basilica of St. James the Apostle delivers the definitive panoramic view of this historic port city on the Oder River. Rising from a tower that stands 110 meters tall — the second-highest church spire in Poland — the deck offers a sweeping 360-degree vista that, on clear days, stretches up to 40 kilometers into the Pomeranian countryside and across the border into Germany.↗↗↗
This is Szczecin's only elevated public viewpoint, and the experience is made accessible by two elevators that carry visitors up through the tower's medieval brickwork. Photo panels at the top identify key landmarks visible from the deck, making it an ideal orientation stop for anyone wanting to understand the city's geography before exploring below.↗↗↗
The View from the Top
At 56 meters above ground — and 72 meters above sea level — the observation terrace sits within the Gothic spire's upper section, enclosed behind glass panels. The panorama sweeps across Szczecin's red-tiled rooftops, the Oder river and its harbors, the modern high-rises of the city center, and out into the flat, green expanses of West Pomerania. On days with excellent visibility, visitors can pick out the towns of Stargard Szczeciński and Gryfino to the south and even glimpse territory across the German border to the west.