Top 10 Places to Visit in Poland
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Poland or the Republic of Poland, located in Central Europe, has a rich history and is one of the best countries for tourists in the region. Primarily known for its ancient forests, bison, delicacies like Pierogi, and more, Poland is filled with multiple interesting tourist destinations that can make for a truly enriching vacation. Whether you want to try out adventurous activities, explore historical sites, or have a good mix of all, you can certainly have an enjoyable time in the country.
So if you’re wondering ‘Is Poland a good place to visit?’, you can certainly start planning for a nice holiday in the country today! Let’s go through the article below to know the top 10 best places to visit in Poland.
Best Places to Visit in Poland - An Overview
Check out the table below for our handpicked list of the 10 best places to visit in Poland -
| Best Places to Visit in Poland in Summer | Best Places to Visit in Poland in Winter | Best Places to Visit with Family |
|---|---|---|
| Poznań | Zakopane | Krakow |
| Warsaw | Krakow | Gdansk |
| Gdynia | Bieszczady | Wroclaw |
| Lublin | Spisz | Warsaw |
1. Poznań
It is a popular city in Poland that mainly attracts tourists who visit this country between May and September. Poznań is among the best places to visit in Poland and should be on your bucket list if you are willing to explore a fun, youthful, and energetic area.
It is filled with multiple historical sites and museums while offering a wide range of restaurants, pubs, and bars. The transport links to the rest of Poland are also impressive from this city.
Here are some of the popular sites in this city -
- Old Market Square: If you wish to explore the history and culture of Poland, this is the right place to visit. A tour of the Old Market Square can help you spot multiple landmarks, monuments, museums, and mementoes related to the rich history of this country. Although the elaborate Town Hall at the centre is a top highlight, you can also pay a visit to the Historical Museum of Poznań for exploring the country’s traditions.
- Park Cytadela: It is a 19th-century fortified area now turned into a large park located on the site of Fort Winiary. You can find a military museum, cemeteries, and remains of a few fortifications here. Moreover, it is surrounded by multiple monuments and stunning promenades, which attract tourist attention. As of 2008, it has been listed under the official National Historical Monuments of Poland. As you can see from the list above, this park is one of the best places to visit in Poland if you wish to stroll in history.
- Ostrow Tumski: It is a stunning island located between two branches of the river Warta, marking the origin of Poznań. This is a historically-important site, as the first Polish bishopric was established here in 968. Currently, it is a three-aisle Gothic basilica with its pre-Romanesque and Romanesque relics and surrounding chapels attracting the attention of tourists. You can also explore the tombs of the first sovereigns of Poland here.
2. Warsaw
Poland’s capital and its largest city, this is one of the most popular places in Poland to visit in the summer. The period from May to June is the ideal time if you wish to enjoy it to the fullest.
Warsaw is a great site for history buffs, particularly due to the remains of the former glory despite the destruction caused during World War II. It stands out with a combination of different kinds of Gothic churches, architectural styles, and unique museums.
Here are a few popular tourist destinations you can explore in Warsaw:
- Warsaw Uprising Museum: This museum is located in the Wola district in Warsaw and dedicated to the Warsaw Uprising in 1944. You will find permanent exhibitions here focusing on the commitment of the people to gain freedom for Poland. It also covers the issues of the previous occupation in Poland and the international context of this uprising. Warsaw Uprising Museum is among the best places to visit in Poland if you wish to understand the country’s circumstances in World War 2.
- The Royal Castle: Don’t forget to check out this castle in the old town of Castle Square if you wish to explore the royal side of Poland! During the 16th-18th centuries, it used to be the official residence of the Polish Monarchs. Although the original castle was destroyed during the war, it was later restructured around the 1980s.
- Lazienki Park: It is one of the largest parks in Warsaw and is located on the Royal Route, which links the former residential places of rulers. Back in the 17th century, this park was designed as a baths park, which later turned into a centre for various monuments, villas, and palaces. This is a popular tourist destination for those who wish to spend lazy afternoons strolling in parks, spotting monuments, or going on boat trips.
- Palace of Culture and Science: Earlier known as Stalin Palace of Culture and Science, this iconic building attracts both history and art lovers. Built around 1955, it is one of the tallest buildings in the European Union. Currently housing numerous cinemas, theatres, sports clubs, university faculties, libraries, and more, it is a popular place for tourists who wish to enjoy concerts, theatre performances, film shows, and other cultural events.
3. Gdynia
Next on the list of the top 10 places to visit in Poland for tourists is Gdynia. Its recent history goes back to 1920, when a deep-sea port developed here and enhanced its popularity, giving it a modernist feel in its architectural styles.
The period between May and September is ideal if you wish to truly explore this city. It offers a huge beach and a long seashore along with various promenades and waterfronts, making this area more picturesque.
Some popular tourist attractions in this area are listed below -
- Gdynia Beach: If you are a beach lover, you should add the main beach of Gdynia to your checklist. Although it is not a large one, its location below Marina and Kamienna Góra alone makes it worth your visit. Its sandy beach along the shore continues for nearly 300m, with a long promenade surrounding this beach adding to its beauty as well. This beach is perfect for swimming and sunbathing, and you can use a sunbed here.
- Emigration Museum: Located in the Maritime Station facilities, it upholds the details of Polish emigration amidst the wars. Here, you can find more about the fate of people who left Poland via a wide range of archive footage, sound recordings, and firsthand testimony.
- ORP Błyskawica: It is one of the few existing destroyer-class ships in the world. Built in 1937 by Samuel White, it has since participated in multiple wars, including the famous evacuation at Dunkirk in 1940. Currently, it is a museum ship where you can explore its various rooms and parts with guided tours.
- Orlowo Pier: It is an iconic wooden pier in the coastal area of Gdynia. Built during World War I, it used to be 430 m long before getting reduced to 180 m due to storms. You should add a stroll on this pier to your plan to savour stunning views of the coastline and the surrounding Orłowski Cliffs. You can also rest in the whitewashed timbers and benches or explore restaurants and cafes in the surrounding area.
4. Lublin
Lublin is among the best places to visit in Poland in the summer (ideally in the May-September period). It was one of the most heavily bombed areas during World War II, due to which you can explore many post-war communist-era buildings here. Furthermore, you can spot various cultural sites here besides bars and cafes in bustling towns that make it one of the top 10 places to visit in Poland.
Here are a few tourist attractions of this area -
- Lublin’s Old Town: You can take strolls in the small but picturesque old town of Lublin, located between Lublin Castle and Market Square. It is almost like taking a walk back in time, with multiple mediaeval architectures and churches at the Po Farze square. Its alleys are filled with pretty pastel-coloured houses with old gates. Moreover, during summer, ice cream shops and terraces of bars and restaurants open up for tourists.
- Lublin Castle: High Duke Casimir II the Just established this castle in the 12th century, with stone walls, a 20m high keep, and sturdy architecture. Among its highlights is the classic Romanesque bifora window near the top. In its Renaissance body, you can also catch exhibitions for the Museum of Lublin.
- Crown Tribunal: It is a stunning Neoclassical building located in the centre of the Rynek. It was founded in 1578 by King Stephen Báthory and was one of the courts for the highest appeals in this country. Redesigned by Domenico Merlini in 1780, it is one of the best places to visit in Poland to check out the country’s history.
5. Zakopane
If you are looking for the best places in Poland to visit in winter, don’t forget to check out Zakopane! The September-December period is ideal for visiting this city, which is a popular mountain resort in Poland with facilities for hiking and skiing. The picturesque city is filled with charming wooden villas in which you can have a luxurious stay.
- Tatra Mountain Range: The Tatras, located on the southern edges of Zakopane, serves as a boundary between Poland and Slovakia. Besides being popular for hiking, they are also popular for accessing the Tatra National Park of Poland. Alpine peaks, rock formations, and jagged edges enhance the natural beauty of the park.
- Morskie Oko Lake: Also known as the ‘Eye of the Sea’, Morskie Oko Lake is one of the biggest lakes around the Tatra Mountains. You can bike across the broad road of Palenica Białczańska to Morskie Oko Lake and revel in its lush green surroundings and crystal clear lake water.
- Krupowki Street: One of the most popular historical centres of Zakopane, you can take guided tours to discover Polish culture and history. This street is also great for simply relaxing, owing to its numerous restaurants, clubs, and shopping facilities.
6. Krakow
Krakow is another city among the best places to visit in Poland in winter. It is also an ideal place for visiting with family. Full of ancient and magnificent monuments, Krakow’s highlights include one of the biggest market squares in Europe and Wawel Castle.
Here are some popular tourist attractions of Krakow -
- Krakow's Old Town: A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1978, one of its highlights is the maze of cobblestone streets which make it almost an adventure to find your way out to the centre. Another attraction here is the Cloth Hall, which is a Renaissance-style structure with various souvenir shops.
- Wawel Castle: Located on the Wawel hills, it is one of the most culturally significant sites in Poland. Built under the order of King Casimir III the Great, the architecture shows influences from the Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods. You can take guided tours across multiple exhibition sections to explore various aspects of the castle, like the Crown Treasury and Armoury, Royal Apartments, State Rooms, and so on.
- Rynek Glowny: Located in the old town, it is the Grand Square and home to multiple historic buildings. Reportedly the largest mediaeval square in Europe, it is also the home to Rynek Underground Museum, which gives you access to the remains of the mediaeval city.
7. Bieszczady
If you are seeking the best places to visit in Poland in winter, Bieszczady should be on your list. It is a stunning mountain range starting from the south of Poland to the north of Slovakia. You should consider visiting this area if you are into hiking or skiing. Just keep in mind that January is the coldest!
- Bieszczady National Park: Located in the southeast corner of the country, it is one of the biggest national parks in Poland. Covering a major area of the Bieszczady Mountains, this park has lush green natural forests surrounding it as well as species of animals like wild cats, bears, grey wolves, bison, deer, moose, and so on.
- Memorial and Museum Auschwitz: It is a museum of the Auschwitz concentration camp in Oświęcim, which attracts tourists for its historical significance. A few highlights of this area are the remains of the concentration camp at Auschwitz I and the extermination camp at Auschwitz II-Birkenau. You can visit this museum and take guided tours to find out more about the infamous Nazi rule in Poland.
- Polonina Wetlinska: It is a vast forestless mountain ridge with various sharp peaks, with its highest parts being a must-visit for nature lovers. With various marked trails here, you can easily hike and be awestruck by the mountains!
8. Spisz
This is a major tourist attraction and one of the best places to visit in Poland in winter. It is a stunning land between Pieniny and Podhale and has 14 villages to explore for a better understanding of the country’s rural side. Visiting this place between January and March can be ideal.
- Łapszanka: It is a small village in Southern Poland, perfect for a short outing on lazy afternoons. You can also take a stroll along the pass over this village to catch a stunning view of the Tatra Mountains.
- Krempachy: Apart from natural beauty and serenity of the environment, this area is also of historical significance. You can find multiple tourist destinations close to this village, such as the Church of Holy Trinity, Dwor w Lopusznej, Archangel Michael’s Church, and more.
- Grandeus Ridge: Willa Grandeus is a famous guest house in Poland. Walking along the ridge of this place can help you get a stunning view of the Tatras and some pretty villages of Spisz. Include this in your checklist if you wish to visit Poland in winter.
9. Gdansk
Among the best places to visit in Poland with family, Gdansk is full of incredible historical churches and elegant buildings showcasing various architectural styles. You can explore various sites on the Baltic coast or go for activities like boat trips from the port.
- Muzeum II Wojny Światowej: Opening to the public in 2017, this museum showcases the devastation caused to Poland during World War II. It has several exhibits donated by the families of the victims of the war, which can give you a better understanding of the war and the conditions of Polish citizens during this time.
- Main Town Hall: This historical monument has Dutch mannerist features and the clock tower among its highlights. It also has remarkable hall interiors, which are decorated with sculptures, coffered ceilings, marble floors, and tapestries. You can explore its unique architectural brilliance and even have awesome views of the city from the tower’s top.
- Golden House: Abraham van den Blocke designed this building in the 17th century, and it has developed as a major tourist attraction currently. Its mannerist architecture makes it stand out from other historical monuments in this area. Moreover, it attracts tourists with its intricate carvings and statues while upholding a historical significance.
10. Wroclaw
The last one in our collection of top 10 places to visit in Poland, Wroclaw, is a great one to take your family as well. You can explore beautiful bridges and parks across this city, as it is built on the banks of the Odra River. Besides Cathedral Island, a major highlight here, Wroclaw is also home to great nightlife and traditional festivals in Poland.
- Old Town Hall: You can go to this place when visiting Market Square and find a group of Gothic buildings in one place. There is also a free museum here that highlights life in Wrocław. It is also popular for the council chamber and the merchants’ hall here.
- Racławice Panorama: This building was made to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Racławice (1794). You can get a glimpse of Polish history here, and learn more about the Panorama and how it led to a wave of Polish nationalism. You can take guided tours and explore this panorama in Lviv, which stayed until World War II.
- Wrocław Cathedral: This eye-catching church from the 13th century reflects a Brick Gothic style of architecture. It was restored in 1991 after the Siege of Breslau caused its destruction.
You can find over 21 chapels inside this church as well as a dome fresco, which highlights the saint’s death and burial. Mary triptych and the oak-carved choir stalls are some of its highlights.
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