Szczecin, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland

🇵🇱 Szczecin [Szczecina] is the capital and largest city of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship in north-western Poland. Located near the Baltic Sea and the German border, it is a major seaport and Poland's seventh-largest city. Szczecin is located on the river Oder, south of the Szczecin Lagoon and the Bay of Pomerania. The city is situated along the south-western shore of Dąbie Lake, on both sides of the Oder and on several large islands between the western and eastern branches of the river. Szczecin is adjacent to the town of Police and is the urban centre of the Szczecin agglomeration, an extended metropolitan area that includes communities in the German states of Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

The city's recorded history began in the 8th century as a Lechitic Pomeranian stronghold, built at the site of the Ducal Castle. Following World War II the city became part of Poland again in accordance with the Potsdam Agreement, resulting in a nearly complete population exchange.

Szczecin is the administrative and industrial centre of West Pomeranian Voivodeship and is the site of the University of Szczecin, Pomeranian Medical University, Maritime University, West Pomeranian University of Technology, Szczecin Art Academy, and the see of the Szczecin-Kamień Catholic Archdiocese. Szczecin serves as the site of the headquarters of NATO's Multinational Corps Northeast. The city was a candidate for the European Capital of Culture in 2016.

Szczecin is served by Solidarity Szczecin–Goleniów Airport, which is 47 km (29 miles) north-east of central Szczecin. There is also a grass airstrip within city limits, the Szczecin-Dąbie Airstrip. Szczecin has a tram network comprising 12 tram lines serving 95 tram stops and measuring 110.77 km (69 mi) in length. Tram transport is operated by the Tramwaje Szczecińskie (TS). Szczecin has a bus network of 70 bus routes. Bus transport is operated by 4 companies: SPA Dąbie, SPA Klonowica, SPPK and PKS Szczecin. Of all bus routes, 50 lines are designated as normal. At night time, Szczecin is served by a night bus network of 16 routes. There are also 7 express bus lines, which do not serve all stops on their route.

The recently upgraded A6 motorway serves as the southern bypass of the city, and connects to the German A11 autobahn, from where one can reach Berlin in about 90 minutes (about 150 km; 93 mi). Szczecin also has road connections with the rest of Poland.

The main train station – Szczecin Główny railway station – is situated in the city centre on Kolumba Street. Szczecin has good railway connections with "Solidarity" Szczecin–Goleniów Airport and the rest of Poland, e.g., Świnoujście, Kołobrzeg, Poznań, Wrocław, Warsaw and Gdańsk. Szczecin is also connected with Germany (Berlin Gesundbrunnen and through Pasewalk to Neubrandenburg and Lübeck).

The Port of Szczecin is the third largest port in Poland and handles almost 10 million tons of cargo annually. The harbour serves the Baltic Sea and the Oder river.