There are so many pretty towns in Poland, we don’t know which to choose! We’ve selected five cities to help you discover Poland’s diverse landscapes.
Warsaw
An old cultural and industrial center, the city was for a long time one of the most sophisticated capitals of old Europe. But it’s a city that has suffered a lot. By the end of the Second World War, it had been reduced to a heap of ruins. The Old Town Square and the Warsaw Historical Museum are therefore essential stops on any visit to this booming city.
The city can be divided into two parts. The western shore, the most attractive, is where tourists go. The east has no particular cultural or historical interest. If you love architecture and history, this is the city for you. The city’s main thoroughfare, the Royal Way, is lined with palaces, museums and galleries. It is considered one of the most beautiful avenues in Europe.
If you’re going away for 2/3 days and don’t know what to focus on, we’ve selected 7 must-see places for you, in addition to those listed above.
- The royal castle
- Wilanów Palace
- Frédéric Chopin Museum
- The Palace of Culture and Science
- Copernic Science Center
- The Insurrection Museum
- The former Jewish quarter (Warsaw ghetto) and all the memorial sites
Krakow
Unlike Warsaw, this city was spared the fighting of the last war. Its architecture is particularly noteworthy, especially the Old Town, which exudes an undeniable charm. The Market Square is lined with historic buildings, museums and churches. Krakow is home to one of Poland’s most interesting museums: the Czartoryski Museum, with its fine collection of European art and Asian crafts. It’s easy to find your way around the city: the Old Town is home to most of the monuments and museums, as well as hotels and restaurants within a 500-meter radius.
We recommend a minimum stay of 3 days. Places not to be missed beyond those listed above include the Basilica of Our Lady of St. Mary, the Wyspiański Museum, Wavel Castle, the Jewish quarter of Kazimierz, Oskar Schindler’s former factory and the Wieliczka mine.
The Tatras
The Tatras are the highest peak in the Polish Carpathians. It’s the only place in Poland where you can see something other than flat! This is the realm of cliffs, rocky peaks and glacier lakes. Winters are long and summers are too short and not warm enough to melt all the snow.
The best time to discover this region is in late spring or early autumn.
A must-see is the Podhale region, dotted with dozens of small traditional villages. If you like hiking, this is the ideal region, especially in the towns of Gizycko and Mikolajki.
Gdansk
A lively seaside resort and seaport, it’s known as “the triple city”. It’s a city that invites you to stroll through its mysterious streets and fantastic stores. The magnificent architecture of the Old Town is dominated by an impressive Gothic cathedral, the largest brick church in Europe. It’s a city that attracts as many tourists as Krakow!
Wroclaw
According to tourists, it’s the most fascinating and wonderful of Polish cities. It’s one of Poland’s oldest cities. It has a lively nightlife, as well as a multitude of festivals during the day. We recommend that you stroll through the streets of the old town, which is built on several islands connected by a hundred bridges!
