Company picnics by the Vistula and among the forests of Torun
Torun is one of the most heavily forested cities in Poland and at the same time a city spread along the Vistula, which is why company picnics in Torun have two distinct outdoor settings at their disposal. On one side the forest clearings of Barbarka with barbecue spots and campfire places, on the other the riverside boulevards and open ground by the water - two different outdoor moods within the bounds of a single city. For HR departments and companies planning a family day, this means a real choice of setting to fit the character of the team and the season, rather than a compromise.
The most versatile base for a larger outdoor event is the Barbarka Forest Settlement complex. Upper and lower clearings, stone barbecue spots, designated campfire places, a rope park and a zip line, plus a network of nature trails, form a ready foundation for a team picnic - all that needs adding is a stage, covered marquees, a catering zone and activities for children. The site is run by the Tilia Association from the Forest School, so the clearing is booked through the operator, which is worth planning ahead for with a large workforce.
Barbarka and the amphitheatres: a stage and the forest in one place
When a ready stage with seating comes into play, we reach for amphitheatres. The open-air amphitheatre by the Ethnographic Museum in the centre has a stage with its own sound system and a picturesque rural setting of historic cottages, and the site itself is fenced and monitored - a comfort at a family day with families and children. A second amphitheatre awaits in the historic City Park in the Bydgoskie Przedmiescie district, the oldest and largest park in Torun, laid out in the English style by the Vistula meadows; sweeping lawns, playgrounds and ponds with a little bridge make room for both a stage and a relaxed picnic zone.
For teams looking for activity alongside the picnic, the rope park and zip line operate in the same Barbarka forest, with cycling trails leading off from it. We add the stage and sound system ourselves, since the forest has no facilities of its own, and we keep safety in focus around the stone barbecue spots and designated campfires.
The water gives team building a setting of its own
The watery character of the city is a separate asset when organising team building. From the Bulwar Filadelfijski boulevard, boat cruises and traditional raftsmen's vessels set off along the UNESCO-listed panorama of the Old Town, and willing teams head out on kayaking trips on the Vistula - a ready module that joins a picnic with activity on the water. For an open-air event right by the water, the grassy and sandy beaches of Kaszczorek on the Drweca river work well; the Wood Port, the largest body of water within the city and an arm of the Vistula, is also an option, used today mainly as open space by the water.
For an extended family day just outside the city there are atmospheric open-air museums - the central Ethnographic Park and the Olender Ethnographic Park in Wielka Nieszawka, with picnic spots under a shelter. Around the outdoor core, Torun offers a rich catalogue of attractions: paintball and airsoft in Papowo Torunskie, a shooting range, and field games in the post-military interiors of Fort IV within the Torun Fortress.
Frequently asked
The most versatile is the Barbarka Forest Settlement - it has two clearings, upper and lower, so with a large workforce you can separate the stage from the campfire and children's zone, while the rope park and zip line provide a programme without bringing in equipment. Just bear in mind that the clearing is managed by the Tilia Association and is booked in advance. If the stage part of the day with on-site sound matters most, the choice simplifies to the amphitheatre by the Ethnographic Museum, which is fenced and monitored.
The most options come from late spring to early autumn, when the cruises from the Bulwar Filadelfijski, the water equipment at Kaszczorek and the full range of Barbarka attractions are running. Summer is also the time of city events such as the Bella Skyway Festival, so riverside dates are worth booking early. Whatever the season, we secure the outdoor space with covered marquees in case of rain.
We build the children's part from entertainers and inflatables on the site itself, and round it off in the surroundings with the Zoo-Botanical Garden, the Planetarium that nods to the heritage of Copernicus, the Open-Air Entertainment Centre in Papowo Torunskie and an indoor play park as a covered option. Older guests are drawn by field games around the Old Town with the Leaning Tower and by raftsmen's boat cruises.
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