Poland Travel Guide – Places to Visit, Best Time to Visit, and facts about Poland

If you are a travel buff who loves world-class museums, visiting UNESCO World Heritage Sites, inexpensive delicious food and beer, wild nightlife, and the beauty of nature, book your tickets to Poland right away! The country is a budget-travel paradise and has everything you might ever find in Western Europe for just half the price! Now, how awesome is that?

Though Poland should be on the top of your travel list, unfortunately, the country is usually not on the list of most European tours, and only a few people venture to the shores of Poland. Just take a stroll through the grand streets of Warsaw and Krakow to enjoy the beauty of this land. You can learn about the history and interesting facts about Poland, and the culture of this beautiful country!

When visiting Poland, make sure you visit Krakow’s vibrant main square, Gdansk’s colorful Royal Way, and Warsaw’s lively Old Town amongst other fascinating experiences. Modern Poland offers vibrant urbanity, enticing food, and dynamic history combined with the kind-hearted natives who are ready to help tourists and make them feel comfortable.

 One of the best things about visiting Poland is that it is less crowded with tourists. Therefore, you can have an authentic and local experience. To help you fall in love with this beautiful and amazing country, we have compiled various places to visit in Poland, the best time to visit, and interesting facts about Poland to ensure you see and experience Poland in its entirety.

 

Interested in Poland City Tour?

 

Must-visit Cities in Poland

•         Warsaw: This is the capital city of Poland and rose from the ashes following World War II. This city was mostly destroyed during the war but was re-built into a flourishing historical and cultural center with a restored old town. Warsaw is home to classical composer Fryderyk Chopin, famous footballer Robert Lewandowski, and various other famous personalities. Travelers of all ages enjoy a visit to the Copernicus Science center which is one of the most famous places to visit in Poland where you can enjoy various interactive activities.

• Krakow: Krakow is the cultural capital of Poland. This city is best known for its medieval core and Jewish quarter. Krakow is centered on Rynek Główny (market square) and is one of the largest markets in Europe. Here, you can find well-planned streets and pedestrian avenues that make it an enjoyable experience to take strolls through the city. Check out the Jagiellonian University or Wawel Castle that was the home of Polish kings for almost 600 years! Don’t forget to visit the old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, 14th century St. Mary’s Basilica, and Cloth Hall which is a wonderful renaissance-era outpost.

 

• Gdansk:  The city of Gdansk is a fascinating combination of history and modernity. It is the dynamic capital of the Pomorskie Province and a unique metropolis that offers plenty of leisure and cultural options. Gdansk is a large port city on the Baltic Sea and the maritime capital of Poland. This city along with Sopot and Gdynia is known as Tri-city. One of the most popular places to visit in Poland, Gdansk has something to offer all tourists! Since the city is compact all the attractions can be visited in the Old Town. Walk along the mythical Mariacka Street, visit the amber galleries and museums or enjoy an evening stroll along the Gdansk Embankment!

 

•    Wroclaw: This is the fourth largest city in Poland and was built in the medieval period. The city has various islands and maintains beautiful bridges and stunning architecture. Recently, the city was named as one of ‘the best cities to live in.’ When you are in Wroclaw, don’t miss out on visiting the Salt Market Square, Centennial hall that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and St. Magdalene Church that was built in the 13th century.

 

Best Places to Visit in Poland

 Poland is known for its medieval style of architecture, culture and heritage, and tasty cuisine. This country is located on the banks of the Baltic Sea with mountains; it is a mix of urban life and retains most of its history.

 

•         Białowieża Forest: This forest is a highly preserved UNESCO World Heritage Site. The stunning forest covers an area of around 3,000 square kilometers. It stretches as far as the eastern border of Poland, Western Belarus, Lithuania, and Ukraine. This is one of the most untouched Polish forests and is one of the few remaining virgin woodlands in Europe. Bialowieza houses a huge variety of exotic trees including the 500-year-old oaks. The forest has more than 800 European bison, deer, wolves, lynx, and even golden eagles. However, the forest is a protected area and you can visit the forest while accompanied by a tour guide who can encourage you to enjoy the endless hiking trails that would take you to the deep, dense, and untouched forest.

 

•         Wilanow Palace: This is Warsaw’s top palace, located 10 kilometers from the city center. In the year 1677, Wilanow Palace was commissioned by King Jan III Sobieski. This palace is a telling example of baroque and neoclassical architecture due to different rulers. King Jan III Sobieski considered this palace perfect for his country’s estate. The ground floor of the palace houses many baubles and creative treasures. Though this palace survived World War II untouched, restoration work is currently underway. However, it is open to visitors, and the last entry is just an hour before closing time. The Wilanow Palace is usually explored by two different routes and both routes include equally fascinating collectibles and antiques like portraits of the successive owners, beautiful 17th-century frescoes, and so on.  

• Malbork Castle: Located in a small town in Poland, this castle is one of Europe’s most enthralling medieval ruins. If you are a fan of history and architecture, this is the best place for you. This architectural creation is the perfect example of a brick-built Gothic complex characteristic of the Teutonic unique style. Malbork Castle was damaged during World War II and fell into decay but was restored accurately in the 19th and 20th centuries. Extensive construction methods of the medieval period were utilized to build this castle which was a 13th -century fortified monastery that belonged to the Teutonic Order. 

•         Wieliczka Salt Mine: When touring Poland, never miss out on the chance to visit the Wieliczka Salt Mine! The mine has been open since the middle ages and it is another Polish UNESCO Heritage Site. This salt mine would keep you busy for over two hours and help you to burn a few calories on the hundreds of stairs. The adventure would take you on a tour to a 140 feet underground oasis. You would come across various passages and crystal chambers. The journey would make you feel like you are heading for the center of the Earth. You can even find majestic churches, unique salt monuments, and breathtaking underground lakes here!

•         Tatras Mountains: This stunning destination in Poland forms a natural wall between Poland and Slovakia. The mountains dominate a landscape that looks like it’s from a fairy tale! You can explore the mountain but are restricted to the designated paths due to the perils of the terrain. The ridge can be crossed only by foot or skis during the winter and the land is rigorously protected. It’s not vast but the peaks are monumental with wide biodiversity. The polish domain sustains over 10,000 botanical and animal species that include the lynx, brown bear, and golden eagle, dwarf mountain pine, fir, and crocus. The highest peak of Polish fragments ascends 8200 feet above sea level.

 

•         Pieniny National Park: This scenic beautiful spot looks like vertical walls that plunge to the Dunajec River within the basin of Pieniny National Park. This park is small and supports masses of life that includes around 640 varieties of mushroom. The human carved meadows are the most fruitful of all of Poland that produce around 0 to 40 species of flowers for each square meter. Various species of 6500 animals roam around on the land and most of the animals remain still unseen! Aside from mammals, there is a great diversity of birds, fishes, reptiles, and amphibians. Other than the walking trails, you can also grab the opportunity to go down the Dunajec by raft, which is a soothing means of transport.

 

•         Chocholowska Valley: This is the largest valley in the Tatra Mountains also known as the vacation spot for families of all ages. You can reach the valley by bus from Zakopane. You can even take a bike or car to reach here. The hiking trails can be easy and apt for everyone from small children to the elderly. The length of the trail runs from the entrance to the national park at the Siwa Polana-Chocholowska Valley mountain shelter on Chocholowska Glade. The views from the valley are spectacular from the small lakes surrounded by towering pine trees of shades from dark emerald to fields of mountain flowers of sunshine yellow!

 

•         Crooked Forest: This mysterious forest looks like it’s out of a Grimm Brothers story. It is a unique site that is worth a visit with around 400 pine trees that grow with an almost perfect 90-degree curve at their base. This forest is also known as Krzywy Las and has been around since the 1930s. Some people believe that they are due to the gravitational pull in the area and they are likely to be mutated by the local farmers in the area when they were planted back in the day. You can reach this destination by taking a 1-hour ride on a bus from the town of Gryfino in the west of the country. The town was evacuated during the war.

 

•         Zalipie Village: The houses in Zalipie village are beautified with hand-painted artistic flower patterns. You can find a very special atmosphere that makes this the most unique and colorful village in Poland. It’s not just the trees, houses, and furniture but almost all the household items are painted especially. Some houses are extra special and worth seeing like The House of the Woman Painters. All of the paintings in the villages look matchless and everyone has their take on the traditional designs. The village is very peaceful and is a perfect break from the city with lush greenery and fresh air all around. If you would like to see how the paintings are made, visit the folk museum which is located in the center of the town. You can also visit Saint Joseph Church which has a beautifully painted interior.

 

•         Chapel of Skulls: The Skull Chapel located at St. Bartholomew’s Church in Czermna district of Kudowa was made by Vaclav Tomasek, a Czech priest in the late 1700s. He had envisioned this place as a sanctuary of silence. The chapel ceilings and walls are decorated in a Jolly Roger style with the bones and skulls of 3000 people! However, you can find the remains of another 21,000 in a crypt below the church. Tomasek took around 18 years to clean, collect and arrange all the bones in the church. This chapel is worth a visit for its eerie and rare nature.

 

•         Lake Morskie Oko: This is one of the largest and most beautiful lakes in the Tatra Mountains with majestic reflections. In the past, Morskie Oko was known as ‘Rybie Jezioro’ (Fish Lake) due to the natural stock of fish that is usually uncommon in the ponds and lakes. In deep water, one can easily notice the ‘famine’ trout that lives in the lake. The name of this lake is derived from a legend based on which the lake was connected to the sea via an underground passage.

 

•         Kamieńczyk Waterfall: Poland might not be famous for many spectacular waterfalls but Kamienczyk Waterfall is worth a visit. It is very close to Karpac too.

 

•         Bieszczady Mountains: The Tatra Mountains gain the most attention from tourists that visit Poland but Bieszczady Mountains is a lovely place to visit for enjoying the beauty of nature and also for hiking. Some of the animals found in the mountains include wild wolf packs, brown bears, and even the endangered European bison.

 

•         Czocha Castle: This castle is one of the best places to visit in Poland as part of your Europe tour. If you are an ardent Harry Potter fan, you would instantly fall in love with this place! You can attend a wizard school and live out your dreams from the famous movies and books that have gained worldwide fans in millions!

 

•         Zamek Książ: It is the most attractive and the largest castle in the Silesia region. This castle is obscured by the lush woodland of the Owl Mountains and looks like it is made of the threads of legend. This place was destined to function as Hitler’s headquarters and the fort was seized by German Nazis during World War II. They had forced the prisoners to build an extensive and subterranean network beneath the castle grounds that extends throughout the Owl Mountains.

 

The underground labyrinth was part of an enigmatic construction project known as Project Reise (Giant). Though the tunnels and chambers are magnetic in their appeal, what remains above the ground is worth exploring. It combines the Baroque, Gothic, and Neoclassical elements. The interior and exterior are equally awe-inspiring and the Palm House within the castle’s complex is home to around 250 species of plants. 

 

Best Time to Visit Poland

The most popular time to visit Poland for sightseeing is during the warmer and drier summer months of June-August. However, if you wish to avoid the summer crowds, then the spring season (March-April) and autumn season (September- October) would be ideal. The weather would be pleasant and the rates would be lower for visiting various tourist attractions.

People usually avoid visiting Poland during colder months (November-February) which is characterized by sub-zero temperatures and snowfall pretty much across the entire country. However, the cities and towns look very pretty covered in snow, and ski resorts are open for business during this time. If you don’t mind the chilly temperature, you can visit Poland during Christmas time. The country is very famous for its Christmas markets with cities like Warsaw, Krakow, and Gdansk bursting into life at this time of the year! The ski resorts in Poland are gaining popularity slowly with the country having a place for itself as an alternative to the Alps. The best time to ski would be between November and April. However, bear in mind that this might vary by resort and region.

 

Interesting Facts about Poland

•  Poland has the ninth position in the list of the largest countries in Europe. More than 30 percent of the land in this country is covered with forests. This is also the fourth country with the highest green cover!
•  Poland shares its borders with almost seven countries! This includes Germany and Russia.
•       Poland in the Polish language is known as Polska that roughly translates to people living in open fields.
•     Poland has the richest geothermal water resources in Europe which are spread across one-third part of the country.
•       Poland is one of the countries in the world that has fought for freedom more than any other country. It amounts to around 40 times! The country was non-existent for many decades as it was under German, Russian and Austro-Hungarian for 123 years! The three countries made a dissection together. . 
•       The capital city of Poland, Warsaw is the largest in the country.
•       Polish history is complicated. If you are a history buff, take a peek into the history where the country was invaded or fought for its freedom many times. The medieval era was very complicated for Poland and almost disappeared from the world map for a period in the 1700s.
•       Nicolaus Copernicus was the first Polish astronomer who had proposed that the Earth is not the center of the universe.
•       Following the United States, Poland had adopted its constitution in 1791. Thus, it became the second constitution in the World. However, Poland’s first constitution was short-lived and only lasted around a year.
•       Poland houses the second oldest university in Europe. King Casimir III the Great in 1364 had founded the Jagiellonian University. This means that it is the second university in Europe as the first one was created in Prague around sixteen years before this university was established. The university operates until today. There are around 43,405 students, hence, it shouldn’t be surprising that many well-known people like John Paul II, Nicolaus Copernicus, and Bronislaw Malinowski have graduated from this university!
•         Poland witnessed the biggest mass murder the world has ever seen during World War II. This is a sad fact but it is hard to forget what happened in the Auschwitz Birkenau Concentration camp. The camp was a mass extermination camp that was led by German Nazis and around a million people from around Europe were killed here. The labor camps had various gas chambers and a crematorium was the largest Holocaust tool ever in history. Currently, this place is a testimony of the horrors of World War II. You can go on the Auschwitz-Birkenau Tour if you would like to see this place.
•         Poland makes some great vodka! Vodka is an important beverage in this country. A lot of the best vodkas that are available in the world come from Poland. There is some debate but the experts strongly believe that vodka was invented in Poland. This was originally used as a medicine.
•         Polish people celebrate their name days. Many people in Poland celebrate their name day rather than a birthday and all of the most common Polish names are associated with a particular day of the year. These are the feast days for particular catholic saints.
•         Polish is a tough language to learn. It consists of one of the most complicated languages in the world due to the letters, tenses, and difficult pronunciations.
•         Poland is home to around 15 UNESCO World Heritage sites. The country has a complicated and long history and is home to several culturally significant monuments. One of the most famous UNESCO sites in Poland is the Auschwitz Birkenau German Nazi concentration camp.