Poland is a rare treat offering a long, rich history – including some of the most notable recent events in human record, beautiful cities with architecture rivalling the greatest in Europe, and prices that favour your wallet. Sip some wodka, soak up the hustle and bustle of modern life in medieval squares, and visit some of humanity’s most sombre reminders in the form of museums and memorials – we challenge you to leave this country untouched.
Check out our list of the best things to do, then visit our tour comparison Poland to find the right tour for you!
Soak up the scene in Rynek Główny
Sit wide-eyed in Europe’s largest medieval square, amidst elegant chariot horse rides accompanied by street violinists and the coo of excited pigeons. If you can manage to leave your seat of cultural bliss, walk up the hill to Wawel Castle, the throne to Polish royalty for over 500 years. Protected by UNESCO, Kraków rivals Czech Republic’s Prague when it comes to splendour.
Appreciate Jewish Heritage
The horrifying WWII persecution of Polish Jews is never forgotten, but locals are encouragingly optimistic for the future, as witnessed in the renewed neighbourhood of Kazimierz – Krakow’s largest Jewish Quarter. Stroll the winding alleyways and ancient synagogues, and be sure to catch a restaurant performance of soulful Klezmer music.
Remember and learn for the future at Auschwitz-Birkenau
A brutal but essential visit. Poland suffered indiscriminately during the holocaust of WWII, with over 90% of its Jewish population murdered. Auschwitz-Birkenau, by the small town of Oswiecim, was the most notorious Nazi extermination camp in Europe with over 1.1 million deaths. The state museum will give you sobering perspectives on the tragedy and may challenge your belief in humanity – few leave unmoved by the experience.
Historic Wieliczka Salt Mine
Take an elevator down to the world’s oldest operating mine, and see the eerie subterranean rock salt world of miner-made cathedrals, lakes and chandeliers in a labyrinth of chambers. It’s a tremendously popular half-day trip from Krakow, so make sure you take a guided tour to avoid the painstakingly long lines.
Schindler’s Factory
Oskar Schindler was made famous in Steven Spielberg’s movie for his industrialist role in saving the lives of over 1,200 Jews during the Holocaust. Visit his factory-turned-museum in Krakow to learn more about his role.
Gnome spotting in Wroclaw
The old Silesian city of Wroclaw (pronounced Vrotz-waf) has over 150 bridges and canals connecting its historic 12 islands and collection of flower markets. Scattered around the city are over 300 amusing bronze gnomes, originally erected as a tribute to local protests against the former communist regime. Download a dwarf-tracking app to find them!
Warsaw Rising
Determined to represent a heroic revival from WWII devastation and Communist bore, the capital’s makeover is said to be inspired by Canaletto paintings. Visit the Warsaw Uprising 1944 Museum, for telling insight into the Poles’ resilience – one of the major resistance movements against Nazi terror. Warsaw’s comeback courage and ambition as a major European city is telling.
Pay your respects at Black Madonna
Millions of Catholic Poles and tourists join the pilgrimage to Jasna Góra Monastery in an effort to view the miraculous ‘Black Madonna’. Reputedly painted by St. Luke, the work has journeyed far from the Holy Lands to the small provincial town of Czestochowa. The cult shrine and complex is busy but special and deserving of its place as an interesting stopover, even for non-believers.
Sobering history meets sandy coastline in Gdansk
A morning in the Baltic seaport gives life to Poland’s historical timeline, with locations such as Westerplatte in Danzig, the site of Hitler’s first attack and the trigger of war in 1939, alongside Lech Wałęsa’s 1980 breakaway from Soviets in the form of Solidarity. Nearby Sopot is a pleasant afternoon beach town where you can contemplate the lessons learnt from history.
Pause for a beer in Poznan
Cathedral Island buries the legends of Polish kings of past, and after all the exploring it’s time to taste Poland’s other drink speciality – not vodka, but beer. The Lech brewery will show you Poles know how to recipe a crisp golden nectar.
Malbork Castle
Role play your inner knight or maiden on a quest to Polish Camelot – the imposing red brick fortress of Malbork, officially named The Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork. The Castle has been defended by the Teutonic Order since the 13th century, and is decorated brilliantly in Gothic style.
The last remains of the Warsaw Ghetto
Only a fragment of the Warsaw Ghetto wall remains, but this powerful reminder that such atrocities occurred so recently is a must-visit. The wall was constructed in 1940, and at its peak up to 400,000 Jews were kept in this area that comprised approximately 2.4% of Warsaw’s area, yet kept 30% of the general population.
Communist Era Memorabilia
There are a number of museums dedicated to the communist era, which focus on a different part of Poland’s history and therefore offer the chance to gain a thorough understanding of the events that shaped the country today.
Dine like a local in a milk bar
Bar mleczny, which translates directly to ‘milk bars’, are traditional-style Polish cafes where you can sample staple dishes and drink beer through a straw like a local – all for astounding prices.
Enjoy a Chopin concert
Celebrated composer and piano virtuoso Frederic Chopin was born and raised in Warsaw, completing his first works there. Warsaw is therefore the best location in the world to take in a live concert, with various options throughout the year that ensure you will have the opportunity no matter when you travel to Poland.
Sip some Polish wodka
Poland has been producing its own kind of vodka – wodka in Polish – since the Middle Ages. Local varieties are diverse, with notable brands including Zubrowka, Goldwasser and Starka.
Courtney Gahan is a serial expat, traveller and freelance writer who has bartered with Moroccan marketeers, seen the sun rise at Angkor Wat and elbowed her way through crowds on NYE in NYC
