Poland, also called The Land of the Fields, is amazing to visit during every season, and its rich history makes it a true bucket list destination. The country is truly the gem of Eastern Europe. Have we mentioned how affordable it is? Follow this guide to Poland to make the most of your time in this wonderful country.
1. Explore the Gdansk Old Town
This is the oldest part of one of Poland’s most beautiful towns, Gdansk. You can take a walking tour called the Royal Way, which starts at Brama Wyżynna and ends at Zielona Brama. It takes you on a scenic trip down one of Poland’s most beautiful districts.
2. Visit Branicki Palace
The Branicki Palace is a museum located in Bialystok, Poland. There are three of these palaces with the same name, but the one in Bialystok stands out for its beauty. It was built in the Rococo style, and its gardens, sculptures, and pavilions make it well deserving of the nickname Versailles of Poland.
3. Don’t Miss the Royal Castle Warsaw
This museum residence is one of the most significant landmarks in the country as it depicts the turbulent history of Poland and the Polish people. Here, you can also enjoy art collections commissioned by the last King of Poland, Stanislaw August, or paintings by Rembrandt and Canaletto.
4. Learn Something New at POLIN Museum
The POLIN is a museum of Polish-Jewish history located in a former Warsaw ghetto. The museum opened in 2013 and showcases the thousand-year-old history of Jews in Poland. The Core Exhibition uses multimedia narratives and interactive devices to take you through eight galleries full of history.
5. Visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum
The Jews in Poland suffered the most horrific fates and had more casualties than any other group of people during World War II. Today, the former concentration camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau is open to visitors. Its walls and barbed wire remind visitors of the tragedies that occurred, and educational tours raise awareness, making sure that the genocide of Jews is never forgotten.
6. Check out Rynek Glòwny (Main Market Square)
Rynek Glowny, also known as the Main Market Square, is the largest European medieval city center. Be sure to pay attention to the Renaissance Cloth Hall as well as the unique Gothic Basilica of the Virgin Mary.
7. Enjoy Westerplatte
This peninsula near Gdansk is historically significant as it’s where World War II began. The Malbork castle is located here, as well as the North Harbour Lighthouse and a small stone monument dedicated to the Polish defenders.
8. Take a Trip to the Masurian Lake District
This natural reserve is located in the northeast of Poland, in the region of Masuria. There are more than 2,000 lakes along this Poland-Russia border, and they’re well connected to the Baltic Sea by the Masurian Canal.
9. Enter Wieliczka Salt Mine
The Wieliczka Salt Mine is unique because it’s the only mining facility in the world that has been continuously active for the past 700 years. It’s one of the oldest of its kind in the world. It has passages filled with salt carvings representing famous people, historical events, and religious paintings.
10. Dive Deep Into Bialowieza Forest
Located on the border between Belarus and Poland, this forest has one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. With 250 animals and 900 plant species, it has enormous biodiversity and is one of Europe’s most important forests.
11. See the Poznan Cathedral
The Poznan Cathedral is the Archcathedral of the Apostles St Paul and St Peter. It’s one of the oldest churches in Poland and the oldest historical monument in Poznan. The baptism of Mieszko I, Poland’s first historical ruler, took place here, and since then this has been regarded as one of the most important places during the Christianization of Poland.
12. Discover Wawel Castle
This castle has long been considered the most important site in all of Poland. It now functions as the National Museum of Art, with all of the major European architectural styles represented on the castle itself—medieval, renaissance, and baroque. Some of its elements that stand out are the Sigmund’s Chapel and the Silver Bell Tower.
13. Visit the Croissant Museum
The Croissant Museum is one of the travelers’ top choices when visiting Poland. It’s situated in the heart of old town Poznan, and it’s known as the Museum of St Martin’s Croissants, which has been dedicated to baking the perfect croissant for the past 150 years.
14. Explore the Beskids Mountains
A part of the Carpathian Mountain Range, the Beskids stretch through the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, and Ukraine. You must visit Babia Gora National Park or the Gorce Mountains, as they offer some of the most scenic walking routes in Poland.
15. Admire St Mary’s Basilica
Just off the Main Market Square in Krakow, you’ll find the Basilica of Saint Mary. Its walls are adorned by paintings of Jan Matejko. You’ll find yourself in awe of the stained glass windows and the medieval pentaptych, as this brick church is truly one of a kind.
16. Have Some Fun at Energylandia
If you’re looking for family fun, 30 miles outside of Krakow, you’ll find the best theme park in Poland, called Energylandia. Full of rollercoasters and wild adventures for you to embark on, we would single out Zadra- the world’s tallest hybrid roller coaster. Energylandia even has a water park!
17. Visit the European Solidarity Center
Located in Gdańsk, this center is a museum and a library dedicated to various movements throughout Polish history, most notably the civil resistance groups that advocated against communism in Eastern Europe. It contains educational and research departments and more than 100 thousand documents and books.
18. Stroll Through Dluga Street
The Long Lane in Gdansk leads from Zlota Brama to the Long Market (Dlugi Targ) and is one of the most popular tourist attractions. Full of old, colorful, burgher houses, this avenue provides visitors with amazing views. We particularly love the Ferber’s House, which dates back to 1560!
Also known as muWi, the Museum of Stained Glass is in Krakow. It’s free of charge to visit, and it still serves as a live glass-staining workshop. Their most famous exhibition, called “Gallery of Young Poland’s Stained Glass Masters,” takes you through their best works of the 20th century.
20. Walk Around Castle Square
Castle Square is at the heart of Warsaw, making it a popular meet-up spot for locals. It overlooks the former residence of historic Polish monarchs and its striking layout is made complete by Sigismund’s Column. It marks the beginning of the “Royal Route” to the south.
21. Enter the Museum of King Jan III’s Palace
Dedicated to King Jan III, this museum is inside Wilanow Palace. Things you should watch out for inside the palace include the Grand Vestibule, the Statue of Jan III, The North Gallery, and the Etruscan Cabinet.
22. Relax at Oliwski Park
The perfect place to get away from the city crowd and find some peace for recreational activities is Oliwski Park. With French-style gardens, this park was part of a Cistercian monastery. Its unique feature is the highly acoustic section called “Whispering Caves.”
23. Take Pictures at Mariacka Street
Often regarded as the most beautiful street in Gdansk, this picturesque avenue is one you shouldn’t skip when walking around town. Its cobbled stones lead to the Motlawa river and it’s overflowing with cafes and souvenir shops.
24. Hike the Tatra Mountains
We decided that the last item on our list should be a special one, so we’re bringing you the highest mountain range between the Alps and the Caucus—the Tatra Mountains. It has the most wonderful lakes and hundreds of miles of hiking and skiing trails. We recommend staying in the town of Zakopane for a taste of the local culture!
Our First-Timer’s Guide to Poland
Poland is one of the countries which you have to pay a visit to before it gets overcrowded with tourists and while it’s still affordable. Whether you choose some of the major cities like Warsaw or Gdansk or opt for an adventure in nature, we hope our guide to Poland will help you make the most of your visit.
