Szczecin has one of the most extensive urban park systems of any Polish city — a legacy of German city planning from the late 19th and early 20th centuries that ringed the growing city with green belts, tree-lined boulevards, and public gardens. The Aleja Różana (Rose Avenue) is one of the finest of these, a grand boulevard lined with mature oaks and beeches that stretches north from the city centre.
The park system includes several interconnected greenways, rose gardens, and forest areas that can be cycled or walked for hours. The Arboretum Dendrologiczne in the southern part of the park belt has an impressive collection of rare trees and is a popular destination for local families. In a city that can feel grey and post-industrial in places, these green spaces give Szczecin an unexpected generosity of spirit.