With tragic recent history due to its part in World War II, fascinating cities home to picturesque squares and great nightlife – apple wodka, anyone? – and costs far below that of neighbouring countries, Poland is an ideal destination for those looking to experience authentic Europe on a shoestring.
Tour comparison Poland features history, renowned cities and culture
Poland tour packages start and end in Warsaw and Krakow, where travellers benefit from knowledgeable local guides on walking tours of these cities rich with culture and history, along with free time to explore the picturesque old towns in both. There are plenty of cheap holidays to Poland available, but if the country alone is not enough there are itineraries combining with the Baltics, Scandinavia, Russia and the entire Eastern Europe region.
Travellers will make the most of their time in Zakopane, Wroclaw and Poznan thanks to orientation walks upon arrival, not to mention the nightlife scene in Krakow with organised tours that ensure you visit the best venues and keep safe.
In our tour comparison Poland itineraries show an appreciation for Polish culture, with authentic dinners in Jewish heritage restaurants with folkloric entertainment, guided tours of Lech Brewery, stop overs at Malbork Castle and Czestochowa, and pre-reserved tickets for Chopin concerts. Optional excursions on Poland tour packages include guided tours of one of the world’s most infamous WWII concentration camps, Auschwitz-Birkenau, Oskar Schindler’s Factory Museum, and Wieliczka Salt Mine Entrance.
Itching to plan your trip? Take a look at our tour comparison Poland and find the right itinerary for you.
Want a taste of that insider Poland tourism knowledge we mentioned before? We have collected the best facts from real life tour guides. Impress them on tour with how much you already know.
- Warsaw is nicknamed the ‘Phoenix City’ due to its ability to recover from war, invasion and conflict, all of which it has sadly experienced more than once throughout its history. 85% of the city’s buildings were destroyed during WWII, and the old town that stands today is therefore largely a replica – albeit a very picturesque one.
- Poland’s Baltic Sea coastline is dotted with white sandy beaches and quaint seaside towns that make it a popular summer destination. Sopot is one of the most favoured, with a scenic pier that offers views of the coastline.
- Krakow is the capital of Poland and dates to the seventh century. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Listed site and its main square is one of the largest medieval town squares in Europe – you could say there is some historic architecture to be enjoyed here!
- Prior to WWII Poland was one of the biggest centres of Jewish culture in the world, before 90% of the country’s Jews – amounting to one fifth of the entire country’s population – were killed.
- Auschwitz-Birkenau is one of the most well-known WWII death camps, where 1.3 million were sent and up to 1.1 million were murdered from 1942 to 1944. The camp is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site that stands as a sombre reminder of the atrocities humans are capable of, and serves as a valuable lesson for all that choose to visit.
- Warsaw and Krakow are certainly the best-known Polish cities, but others such as elegantly-bridged Wroclaw, Poznan, with its cathedrals and breweries, industry-heavy Łódź, and the port city of Gdansk are all worth a visit.
- The resort town of Zakopane offers prime access to the Tatra Mountains – the highest range in the Carpathian Mountains, which form a natural border between Poland and Slovakia – from its position at their base.
- The Great Masurian Lakes are home to over 2,000 lakes, surrounded by lush forest, and are a popular spot for outdoor activities like hiking, kayaking and fishing.
- Jasna Góra Monastery in Częstochowa is a renowned pilgrimage site and one of the official Historic Monuments of Poland.
- Famous leaders from Poland include Pope Jean-Paul II Karol Wojtyla, politician and Nobel Peace Prize winner Lech Wałęsa.
- Poland’s Solidarity trade union was the first labour union in a Soviet-bloc country, after it was established in the early 1980s.
- Poland was the first country in Europe to pass a constitution, adopted in 1997.
- The Warsaw Uprising took place over 63 days in 1944 in an attempt to liberate the city from German occupation. It was the largest single military operation by any resistance movement in Europe during WWII.
- Red brick Malbork Castle was built in the 13th century and remains the largest castle in the world by area.
- Directors Roman Polanski and Krzysztof Kieslowski are both Polish.
- Two of the most recognisable movies filmed in Poland, both of which won multiple Oscars, are Schindler’s List and The Pianist.
- Musical contributions from Poland include the works of celebrated composer Frederic Chopin, and Polka music.
- Poet Czesaw Miosz, Nobel Prize-winning scientist Marie Curie, astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, beauty businesswoman Helena Rubinstein and tennis star Angieszka Radwanska were all Polish.
- Poland is home to the ethnographic Goral highlander group, who also inhabit parts of Slovakia, Czech Republic and Ukraine.
- Amber gemstones are native to Poland, predominantly along the Baltic coast and near Gdansk.
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
