Beyond the well-known tourist destinations of Warsaw and Kraków, Poland has a wealth of exciting travel opportunities.
interested in culture and history? With more castles, churches, palaces, and museums than you could ever imagine, this European gem delivers. Are you more of an outdoors person? Choose from thousands of lakes, snow-capped mountains, meandering rivers, Baltic beaches, and 23 national parks.
And forget about the vodka, pickles, and potatoes that you may have associated with Polish cuisine and drink. That trio of bite-sized treats is the appetiser for a full-course meal that includes everything from blueberry-filled dumplings to liquors infused with gold leaf.
Continue reading for our list of the top Polish experiences.
One of the most vibrant cities in Europe is Warsaw, whose current economic boom is embodied by the EU’s tallest skyscraper, the 310-meter-tall Varso Tower. The 240-meter (787-foot) observation deck atop the Varso is expected to open in 2025. While waiting, take in the vintage atmosphere of the 1955 Palace of Culture & Science’s observation terrace, the breathtaking view of Warsaw’s rebuilt Old Town from St. Anne’s Church’s bell tower, and the views of the Vistula from the Warsaw University Library’s rooftop garden.
Side note: Fabryka Norblina used to make metal products. Now the largest of Warsaw’s industrial makeovers, it boasts the largest food hall in the city as well as a plethora of other entertaining dining and drinking options.
Rynek Główny, Europe’s largest public square, is the focal point of Kraków’s charming Old Town and is dominated by the magnificent Cloth Hall. For a subterranean look into the market of six centuries ago, enhanced by 21st-century audiovisual effects, head beneath the square to Rynek Underground.
Once you are back above ground, you can hear the bugle call, or hejnał, coming from the taller of St. Mary’s Basilica’s two towers on the west side of the market square on the hour. Inside, Poland’s greatest Gothic masterpiece, the high altar, is flanked by the polychromatic murals by Jan Matejko.
Detour: About 14 km (9 miles) southeast of Kraków is the Wieliczka Salt Mine, one of the oldest salt mines in the world. It’s a 300 km (186 mi) underground maze of tunnels, lakes, and chambers with some pretty amazing
Street art has found a home in Łódź, a Polish city that rose to extraordinary wealth through manufacturing in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Walking around, you’ll come across well over 200 public works of art, such as Wiedźmin (Witcher), designed by Jakub Rebelka and covering the 70m-high (230ft) sides of an apartment block, and Pasaż Róży by Joanna Rajkowska, a magical courtyard completely covered with mirror fragments arranged in swirling rose patterns.
The real deal is available in Zamość, the beautifully proportioned “Pearl of the Renaissance,” an original late-16th-century Old Town centered on a stunning arcaded plaza surrounded by residences of Armenian merchants. The town, which is located in the southeast of Poland, is also surrounded by defensive bastions that repelled the Swedes when they easily overran other Polish towns in the 17th century.
Side trip: The Old Town of Lublin also made it through WWII largely unharmed. The city’s lively festival scene, coupled with its main square encircled by Renaissance and baroque townhouses, create an evocative swirl of legend-filled cobblestone lanes that attract a lot of tourists.
The Tatra Mountains have more different types of landscapes than any other region in Poland. The 212 square kilometers (82 square miles) Tatra National Park, which starts just south of Zakopane, Poland’s most upscale mountain resort, is the most well-liked hiking destination. Dolina Strążyska’s densely forested valleys make for a lovely short walk. As an alternative, aim for Mt. Giewont’s summit, which is 1894 meters (6214 feet).
About fifty ski lifts and tows in Zakopane come online when the snow starts to fall. Everyone can find their ideal skiing experience here, ranging from easy cross-country routes to challenging black diamond runs for extreme skiers.
