Plan your visit in Poland, it is one of the geographically largest countries in Europe. That being said, it is one of Europe’s most underrated country.
There’s not a lot that your average Joe knows about Poland. Aside from the typical ‘jak sie masz’ Borat accent, and something to do with WW2, Poland hasn’t really left a lasting impression on the world.
And then you scratch the surface.
Like nearly all countries in Europe, Poland is steeped in history with a culture that goes back thousands of years. The difference is that, being right in between Russia and Germany, Poland has always been picked on by it’s bigger neighbours. And there’s not a Pole alive that won’t hesitate to tell you about that.
As a foreigner (Australian) that’s lived in Poland for the better part of the last 5 years, I’ve fallen in love with my adopted homeland. In my time here, I’ve travelled to most (but not all) corners of this almost perfectly circular country, and started a blog about Polish culture and life.
In this article I’m going to show you where (and why) you should check these places out. Bonus points: As a ‘local’ that’s gone off the beaten path a few times I’ll include some of the best hidden gems as well as how to pronounce some of those weird Polish names!
Places to visit Poland: The typical Polish hotspots for tourists
Every country has them – the absolute ‘must see’ cities of those countries. And sure, they’re important, those cities are arguably the most important places in that country.
However, there’s more to the country than just that. It’s always best to explore outside to really get a taste of authentic Polish culture. That being said, here’s my take on the most popular travel destinations in Poland:
Visit Warsaw Poland
Warsaw is the capital of Poland and the city I call home. It was absolutely oblitterated by the Nazis after it was home to one of the only uprisings against Nazi occupation.
Today, there are small remnants of pre-war Warsaw around, such as Zigismund’s column, Wilanow Palace and parts of Zoliborz. Other attractions include the Palace of Sciene & Culture, Lazienki Gardens, Warsaw Old Town and my favourite, the top-notch bars and cafes that are popping up!
Visit Krakow Poland
Krakow is Poland’s cultural capital. One look at the old town and Wawel Castle and you’ll easily see why. Wawel Castle is the resting place of Old Poland’s royalty, as well as heroes of modern times such as Adam Mieskiewicz. Adam is the poet that kept Poland alive when Poland ceased to be a country.
Krakow came out of the war relatively unscathed, and it’s World Heritage Listed Market Square is truly a sight to behold. The Jewish Quarter is another must-see part of the city.
Troj Miasto
(Troy meow-stow) This one is a hard one to name – sometimes translated to the ‘three cities’ or individually known as Gdynia, Gdansk and Sopot, these three cities on the northern coast of Poland are a beautiful place to be all time of year. A true tourist hotspot because of the beach, the three cities offer history, fun and fantastic nightlife for travellers.
Wrocław
(Vrots-wav). Wrocław is a very old and very up-and-coming Polish city, popular for travellers of all ages.
A city that’s well known for it’s old town, but also having one of the largest market squares in all of Europe, the Oder river which runs through the heart of Wroclaw creates a stunning ‘cathedral island’ in the heart of the city with churches and cathedrals that date back to the 1500s.
Keep an eye out for the hundreds of bronze gnomes hidden all over the city – a proverbial middle finger to the former communist authorities.
Visiting Poland: The ‘lesser know’ Polish destinations
So now that you’ve seen all the Polish hot-spots, it’s time to take a look at some of the lesser known places to check out. It’s worth noting that these places are truly off the beaten track, but that doesn’t mean you’ll struggle to get by.
Poles on average speak exceptionally good English, thanks to the fact that almost 90% of high school students go on to graduate university.
Kazimerz Dolny
(Kazi-merz Doll-knee). Imagine the beauty of an old, historical European city that’s nestled in the middle of a forest with all the stunning beauty of greenery. That’s Kazimerz Dolny. Situated 2 hours south of Warsaw at the crossroads of the visual river and a larger mountain range, Kazimerz Dolny was a former trade hub hundreds of years ago.
Today, the city is completely untouched by age, and is a fantastic place to spend a weekend. This is one of those places where the ‘traditional art’ is truly made locally by locals, rather than a factory in China.
Be sure to check out the stain glass of Kazimierz Dolny, as well as the slavic art galleries!
Torun
(Tor-un) Located almost in the exact centre of Poland, Torun is a really mixed bag of attractions. Firstly, Torun is the birthplace of Nicholaus Copernicus, the astronomer who discovered that the earth revolves around the sun.
Monuments are on every street corner. However, no monument is more famous than his actual residence that’s been restored and turned into a museum in his honour.
Torun is also home to the ruins of an ancient castle, once belonging to the Teutonic Knights – a fantastic place to check out for history nerds like me. Torun is home to a much loved gingerbread museum, where visitors can make gingerbread the traditional polish way!
Rzeszow
(Rzeh-shoov). This place is in the deep south of Poland, where not a lot of tourists get to. Capital of the ‘Sub Carpathian’ voivodeship, Rzeszow is the gateway to the absolutely stunning Bieszczady (Bess-char-dee) Mountain Range.
This part of Poland is one of the most untouched and unspoilt parts of the country, if not Europe. If you time it right, you can see a super-rare Eurasian Lynx.
Regardless, you’ll always see the absolute best that the Polish Wilderness has to offer.
Hel
Yes, you read that right. Hel, pronounced just like Hell. This quaint little down is at the end of the Hel peninsula. It is a narrow piece of land that juts out into the Baltic.
The town is a small seaside getaway, with a seal sanctuary, great fishing and generally a really nice place to relax.
The vibe of a laid back, slow, easy going seaside town is not one you’d expect to find in Poland.
However, you can find it in Hel. Bonus points, you can get the ferry from Gdansk to Hel.
Łódź
Łódź (pronounced Would-dz) is bang in the geographic centre of Poland. During communist times, the city was the textile capital of the country producing garments for all parts of the country. Now, the city has one of the highest rates of feminisation in the EU.
This is thanks to the textile industry attracting female workers.
Łódź is well known in Europe for having some of the best street art in the country. Giant murals adorn the side of buildings and add a massive splash of colour.
Home to both the Book Art Museum and the National Film School, Łódź has loads of little hidden gems. Are you ready to discover it?
Best time to visit Poland
The best time to visit Poland is in May to June and September to October. The weather is great to do a number of outdoor activities and the weather will not really bother you.
Reasons to visit Poland
There are many reasons to visit Poland. It is a country full of culture and history, and most importantly it is a country that is open to the world.
Not to mention, you can explore authentic Polish cuisine and immerse yourself into local food.
The price is great and for every 1 USD you have 4.06 Esloti (polish currency). You can easily enjoy a holiday in Poland and not have to worry about breaking the bank!
Known as one of Europe’s most welcoming countries, Poland is waiting to welcome you with open arms and show you why it’s one of the continent’s most popular tourist destinations.
Poland has everything from scenic towns and cities with rich history, to idyllic beaches and mountains perfect for hiking or skiing.
With beautiful castles located in every region of the country, it would be unfortunate to not experience this unique country.
Visiting Poland for the first time: A little on Polish people
Poland has a high level of education. Something like 96% of high school students go on to graduate university. As a result, Poles are generally very good with their English skills.
Of course, some gas stations and smaller cities have a harder time, but Poles will always do their best to help, language barriers or not.
Poles are also proud of the country they’ve built – and one visit here and you’ll see why.
Poland offers a lot for all types of tourists. Those that want a relaxing vacation, those that want adventure in hidden places, as well as those that are looking to step back in time and learn the rich history of a country that many have forgotten existed!
Let us know in the comments below. When will you be visiting Poland? Where will you go?
If you are looking for other European destinations, make sure you learn more about visiting Spain.
This guest post was written by Phil Forbes. A blogger at Expatspoland.com. Head over to Phil’s website to learn everything you need to know about expat life in Poland and Poland culture.
