Lublin hides a fascinating world beneath its streets, which is best explored by starting with the Lublin Underground Route. This unusual attraction leads through a labyrinth of corridors under the Old Town, where history mixes with legend. The route, which is about 280 meters long, begins in the former cellars of the Rynek 1 tenement house, leading through medieval cellars and dungeons. During the tour, you'll hear fascinating stories about the great fire of Lublin in 1719, which almost completely destroyed the city, as well as about the legendary Spirit of Lublin, which is said to still haunt some corners of the underground.

While exploring the underground route, guides share stories about the city's merchant traditions, secret passages used by residents in times of danger, and mysterious signs left on the walls by ancient builders. The temperature in the underground remains constant at around 8-10 degrees Celsius throughout the year, creating a unique microclimate and adding an extra element of adventure to the tour. It is advisable to bring warmer clothing with you even on summer days.

From the underground, it's worth heading to the House of the Lublin Goat - a place that, though small, tells one of the city's most distinctive stories. This charming establishment is dedicated to the symbol of Lublin - the goat, which, according to legend, saved the city from a Tartar invasion by warning the residents with its loud bleating. In this intimate museum you will not only learn about the legend, but also see how the image of the goat in the city's coat of arms has changed over the centuries. Of particular interest is the collection of memorabilia and everyday objects with the image of this symbol, from medieval seals to modern gadgets.

The Goat House is a place particularly beloved by the youngest explorers, who can take part in interactive workshops to create their own goats from various materials. For adults, there is a fascinating exhibition showing how the symbol of the goat has influenced the culture and identity of Lublin over the centuries. The site, though small, is an excellent starting point for understanding the spirit of the city and its rich symbolism.

It is worth noting that both the Lublin Underground Route and the House of the Lublin Goat are located in close proximity to each other, which makes it convenient to visit both attractions during one walk in the city center. The Lublin Underground Route offers a more historical and mysterious experience, while the Goat Man's House introduces an element of local folklore and legends, creating a more complete picture of Lublin's cultural heritage.

Lublin surprises with its abundance of green spaces, which provide the perfect counterbalance to the historic architecture. One of the most fascinating yet little-known places is the Didactic Water Garden. This unique educational space presents a variety of aquatic ecosystems in miniature. Walking along carefully designed paths, you will discover cascades, streams and ponds that not only delight the eye, but also educate on the importance of water in the environment. Of particular interest is the water plant filtration system, which demonstrates natural purification processes. The garden is home to a variety of aquatic and marsh plants that are difficult to see in one place, making it a true paradise for lovers of botany and nature photography.

Not far from the city center are the picturesque Chekhov Hills, a vast area of about 150 hectares that is a true enclave of wildlife. This natural complex of loess hills offers not only breathtaking panoramas of the city, but also the opportunity to observe rare species of plants and animals. In spring, the hills are covered with a colorful carpet of flowers, including protected species such as anemones and pasqueflowers. Chekhov Hills is also a place associated with history - during World War II there were German defensive fortifications here, and in some places you can still see the remains of trenches and bunkers. For lovers of active recreation, the hills offer excellent routes for running, Nordic walking or bicycle rides.

A true gem among Lublin's green spaces is the UMCS Botanical Garden. Founded in 1965, it covers an area of more than 20 hectares and houses an impressive collection of some 6,500 plant species from different climatic zones. The garden is divided into thematic sections, among which the most noteworthy are the arboretum with a collection of trees and shrubs, the alpinarium with mountain plants, and the rosarium with more than 100 varieties of roses. One of the most charming corners is a pond with a footbridge, surrounded by lush marsh and aquatic vegetation, where turtles, ducks and other aquatic animals can be observed. In the greenhouses of the botanical garden you can admire exotic tropical plants, including an impressive collection of orchids and carnivorous plants.

The ICU Botanical Garden is not only a place for relaxation, but also an important scientific and educational center. Botanical workshops, thematic exhibitions and classes for schools are regularly held here. The garden is especially worth a visit in spring, when the magnolias and ornamental apple trees are in bloom, and in autumn, when the trees' leaves turn spectacular colors. Unlike the wilder Chekhov Hills, the Botanical Garden offers carefully designed spaces with comfortable paths and rest areas, making it accessible to people of all ages.

When comparing these three green attractions, it's worth noting that each offers a completely different experience. The Didactic Water Garden is a compact educational space focused on aquatic ecosystems, ideal for short but cognitively intensive visits. The Chekhov Hills is a vast wilderness area perfect for active explorers looking for space and contact with nature in its almost untouched form. The UMCS Botanical Garden, on the other hand, is where nature meets science, offering both relaxation and the opportunity to expand botanical knowledge in a pleasant, orderly environment.

For those who wish to immerse themselves in the history and culture of the region, Lublin offers two unique museums that take visitors on a fascinating journey through time. The National Museum in Lublin, housed in the impressive Lublin Castle, is a treasure trove of knowledge about the region and its rich past. While the castle itself is a popular attraction, few tourists know that its interiors house one of the most valuable art collections in eastern Poland. Particularly noteworthy is the Holy Trinity Chapel, with its unique Byzantine-Ruthenian frescoes from the 15th century, which are an unusual combination of Eastern and Western artistic traditions. These priceless paintings, commissioned by King Wladyslaw Jagiello, depict biblical scenes and are one of the best preserved examples of Byzantine art in this part of Europe.

The museum also displays an impressive collection of Polish paintings from the 16th to the 20th centuries, including works by such masters as Jan Matejko, Józef Chełmoński and Jacek Malczewski. A unique exhibit is the painting 'Union of Lublin' by Jan Matejko, commemorating the signing of the Act of the Polish-Lithuanian Union in 1569, which took place in Lublin. Lovers of regional history will find fascinating the archaeological exhibition presenting finds from excavations carried out in the Lublin region, including objects of daily use, weapons and jewelry from various eras.

The Lublin Village Museum, on the other hand, is a true journey back in time to the former village of the Lublin region. This vast open-air museum, covering an area of 27 hectares, presents authentic buildings relocated from various parts of the Lublin region, forming complete village complexes characteristic of the regions of Lublin Upland, Roztocze, Powiśle and Podlasie. Walking through the museum, you can see what life in the countryside looked like from the 18th to the middle of the 20th century. Of particular interest is the landed gentry mansion from Żyrzyn, completely furnished with original furniture and objects of daily use, which gives an idea of the life of the wealthy nobility.

The open-air museum also features a windmill-kosher from Zygmuntow, a watermill from Turkowice and a unique Greek Catholic church from Tarnoszyn, a testament to the region's multicultural character. The museum comes alive especially during folklore events, when traditional crafts such as blacksmithing, pottery and weaving are presented, and in the historic interiors one can taste dishes prepared according to old recipes. A unique experience is a visit to a village school, where you can see what children's education was like in the early 20th century.

Comparing the two museums, it's worth noting that the National Museum offers a more classical museum experience, focused on high art and the political history of the region, while the Lublin Village Museum allows for an immersive experience of the daily life of the former inhabitants of the Lublin region. The National Museum is more compact and can be visited in 2-3 hours, while the open-air museum requires at least half a day to fully appreciate its vastness and wealth of exhibits. The National Museum is easily accessible from the city center, while the open-air museum requires driving to the outskirts of Lublin.

For a full understanding of the culture and history of the region, it is worth visiting both places, as they complement each other - one shows the life of the elite and high art, while the other shows the everyday life of ordinary people and folk culture. It is particularly interesting to compare how the same historical events affected different layers of society - while at the National Museum you can see how major political events were depicted in official art, at the open-air museum you can see how the same events reflected on the lives of ordinary villagers.