The Ultimate Travel Guide around Poland

The Ultimate Travel Guide around Poland

The best trip around Poland.

Why should you visit Poland? Because during one trip you can see the mountains and the sea, because we have huge amounts of lakes and meadows. Because Poland during the holiday season is simply magical and in order to love it, you need to get to know it.

So what woud you like to see in Poland?

Go to the beautiful sandy beaches, where you can spend the whole day and in the evening go out to the city and eat delicious fish?

Spend time in a large modern city with a rich history, or do you prefer to admire old tenement houses in the former capital of Poland?

Do you prefer walking around the city, looking for the hidden street art or shop at one of the best shopping centersAnd maybe you would like to spend an active holiday walking on the Polish mountains or sailing around one of the many Polish lakes?

In Poland, we have it all!

 

Inspiring Poznań

Poznan is located in central-western Poland. It also has a beautiful main square, full of beautiful streets and tenement houses, where you can see the ”Poznanskie Koziolki” at 12.00 every day. From friends living in Poznań or from those who visited Poznań, we always hear positive opinions. They always say: ” you must see Poznań!”

Poznanskie Koziolki

One of the attractions of the Poznań City Hall are the two fun goats, which at 12.00 every day, leave the central turret and for a minute they squirt their horns together. The Town Hall itself is a Renaissance building where “hejnal” is played from the tower every day.

Inside there is the Museum of the History of the City of Poznań. The first floor is the most representative level of the town hall. You can visit such rooms as the Great Hall, the Royal Hall or the Court Room. It is worth seeing the town hall not only from outside, but also discover what is inside.

Stary Browar

It was built in 1867 by a German brewer. After the Second World War, it was taken over by the state-owned enterprise, but after 1980 it slowly fell into ruin. In 1998 it was bought by Grazyna Kulczyk – current owner.

Today Stary Browar is one of the most beautiful shopping centers not only in Poland, which is also confirmed by the opinions of tourists from around the world. There are over 200 stores. This is a mandatory place to go to during a trip to Poznan.

 

St. Martin Croissants

A good reason to visit Poznań is rogal świętomarciński. Traditionally prepared in the capital of Wielkopolska on the occasion of St. Martin, which is celebrated loudly on November 11, on St. Marcin in the center of Poznan.Tradition dates back to the pagan times.

The croissant is prepared from semi-puff pastry, filled with white poppy seeds, with the addition of sugar, biscuit sponge crumbles, nuts, raisins, candied fruit and almond flavoring.

 

Old slaughterhouse and flea market

Stara Rzeźnia – Old slaughterhouse is located in the northern part of the city center within Garbary Street.

In recent years, the Old Slaughterhouse is mainly known from the stock exchange of antiques and second-hand goods. Cultural events and beer markets are also organized there.

 

 

Palm House Poznan

The Palm House was established in 1910, initially cacti and tropical plants were presented there. It was quite badly damaged during World War II. Currently, about 1,100 plant species, 170 fish species and about 50 species of aquatic plants are in the aquarium.

 

Amazing Wroclaw

Wroclaw is located in the south-west of Poland. It is a colorful, vibrant city that is worth visiting for many reasons.

Do you want to drink a delicious local beer on the market or maybe you would like to actively spend the day looking for 400 gnomes located in the city center? Check out what interesting things you can see in Wroclaw!

 

The Main Square that never sleeps

In the first steps, our legs should guide us to the Main Square. This is the main part of the Old Town, where there is also the Town Hall with the Świdnicka Cellar.

The market is not only the main, but also the most beautiful place in Wroclaw, which delights and invites you to enjoy its attractions, both during the day and at night. Then you can sit in a nearby cafe and enjoy the beautifully lit view of charming tenement houses.

 

Ostrow Tumski

Ostrow Tumski is called the Pearl of Wroclaw – the oldest, historic part of Wrocław. Many buildings were destroyed during World War II, but today you can admire many beautiful monuments, and above all the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and the church of St. Cross. Strolling around Ostrow Tumski, we will surely find the famous Tumski Bridge, called „bridge of lovers” – full of padlocks.

 

Places less known but equally attractive

Wroclaw Neons – it is recommended to take an evening walk around the city. In the yard at Ruska 46C you will find a nice collection of Wroclaw neons. It is absolutely worth visiting.

Or maybe you like street art?

Take a look at the yard at Roosevelt Street, the so-called Gallery of Local Murals.Colorful fish, blue oceans, paradise garden, dogs and cats, dinosaurs, own poems and portraits, beloved football team – there is a place for everything on a 250-meter-long painting, which is on the side of the yard on tenement houses.

Everyone should have a go at searching for all Wrocław Dwarfs that are located in the old town. Some can not be found, others are difficult to overlook. There are about 400 of them. The first gnomes appeared on the walls of the city in the eighties, as a sign of protest against the political system back then. Currently, they are the ”city’s visiting card”.

 

Magical Krakow

Krakow is one of the oldest and undeniably the most beautiful cities in Poland. A city with historical significance, unique history and the former capital of Poland. It is one of those cities full of monuments and interesting nooks that can be visited for weeks.

Must-see places in Krakow are Wawel, Rynek Krakowski and the salt mine in Wieliczka. If you like the history of II World War, then you should also visit former concentration camp in Oswiecim.

 

The Wawel Royal Castle

We should book an entire afternoon to visit the Wawel Royal Castle. This is a unique place where time stops. The Wawel Hill looks beautiful regardless of the season and weather. A trip to Krakow can not do without this place. From the Wawel Hill you will be able to admire the panorama of the Vistula river and the modern part of Krakow. We leave the Wawel Hill and descend to the Bulwary on the Vistula. There is a Wawel Dragon waiting for us every 10 minutes fire-breathing.

 

The Krakow Market and the Mariacki Church

The Krakow market among tourists is known as the starting point for every trip to the old city. It is worth coming here in the summer, then the whole market is surrounded by summer gardens. At night I recommend going out to the city and visiting the clubs and pubs located at the market, where the atmosphere is amazing!

 

Wieliczka Salt Mine

The best proof that it is worth to visit the Wieliczka salt mine is that it was one of the first to be included in the list of world cultural and natural heritage of UNESCO. This place combines centuries-old Polish culture and modernity in one. During the journey through the amazing mine rooms, we will have the opportunity to learn about history, as well as see many amazing and adapted halls, tunnels and chambers.

 

Former German concentration camp Auschwitz

The former concentration camp Auschwitz is located about 70 kilometers from Krakow. Symbol of Nazi crimes, the place of execution of Poles, Roma and Jews, as well as many other nationalities. Despite the passage of time, this place continues to depress and makes us reflect on the cruelty of man towards man. Visits take place with organized groups, along with a guide telling the story of the camp. It is difficult to hear about all the cruelty that occurred.

 

Zalew Zakrzówek

Zakrzówek is an old quarry that was flooded in the early 90s. Karol Wojtyła (Pope John Paul II) worked in this place in the 1940s, and the plaque commemorating this period rests on the bottom of the lagoon. You can watch it, because Zakrzówek is also one of the most attractive diving sites in Poland. The maximum depth of the lagoon is 32 meters.

 

Tatry, Bieszczady or Karkonosze? Explore the Polish mountains

Do you like mountains? Do you prefer high mountains with snow-capped peaks or rather rarely visited areas by tourists? In the Polish mountains, everyone will find something for themselves.

 

Bieszczady – located on the south-eastern edge of Poland

Beautiful trails, forests and meadows. Bieszczady is pure nature, you will not find asphalt roads leading to peaks or horse-drawn carriages for lazy tourists. You will see the forest, feel the rain or summer storm, dip your feet in an icy stream. The Bieszczady Mountains are particularly impressive with mountain pastures that create a beautiful landscape. The distances that we can see from Połonina Wetlińska or Tarnica (the highest peak in the Bieszczady Mountains) make an electrifying impression. If you are looking for peace and quiet, you want to see the real wildness of the mountains and rest from the crowd of tourists, definitely choose Bieszczady.

Tatry - located in the south of Poland, it is the highest part of the Karpaty mountains and one of the most picturesque mountains in Europe

The Kościeliska Valley is certainly one of the most recognizable places in the Polish Tatry. It owes great popularity not only to the picturesque views of the nearby peaks and the richness of nature, but also to the ease of the trail, which attracts here countless tourists. From Wierch Porońca it is the most convenient access to Rusinowa Polana. The road is prepared even for the needs of disabled people. From the very beginning, we have been accompanied by panoramas of the High Tatry, and from Rusinowa Polana there is the most beautiful view of the Tatry.

Karkonosze – Located in the south-west Poland

Karkonosze, in comparison to other mountains in Poland, constitutes a very unique area. In this landscape, we can observe the combination of a typical mid-mountain landscape with alpine elements. Being in the Karkonosze Mountains, it is worth visiting some of the most popular tourist resorts – Karpacz and Szklarska Poręba. Another must-see during the trip in Karkonosze are the waterfalls. The Karkonosze range is famous for its large number, they are beautiful, typical mountain waterfalls. We should also see the so-called ”Pilgrims” (1204 m above sea level), which are one of the largest and most interesting rock formations in these mountains. We can find pilgrims in the south of the village of Borowice, on the eastern part of the Silesian Ridge.

 

Mazury, the land of a thousand lakes

If you didn’t have enough of water and sand yet, it’s definitely worth going from Gdansk to Mazury, in the south east of Poland.

The distance between Gdańsk and the town of Mikolajki in Mazury is around 250 km.
Why is it worth going there? 
Mainly because of the beauty of this region and a huge number of lakes. The largest is Śniardwy and the longest is Jeziorak. Lying in the south of Giżycko – Niegocin is the third largest.
If you like active holidays, you should try sailing. It is the biggest and the best attraction in Mazury. In every port you can rent a boat or a yacht and sail out to the lakes. If you do not have a sailing license, canoeing is as equally attractive.The river flows through a landscape and water and forest reserve, the current is very slow, the river is shallow and full of natural curves that create a beautiful landscape. As a starting point you should visit the town of MikolajkiGizycko or Olsztyn – the capital of Mazury.

 

Northern Poland – Gdansk and Sopot

Gdansk

Gdansk is one of the oldest cities. It witnessed many historical events that influenced the history of Poland, including the outbreak of the Second World War or the beggining of Solidarnosc. The city is located in the Baltic Sea, which makes it even more attractive.

It is worth visiting the entire old town above all, starting from the Royal Way. The Royal Road is the road from the old city gate to the Motława River. It is also the main street of the Old Town, famous for Polish kings who during the tour of the city paraded along its length. Some of the main attractions along the way are the Golden Gate, the House of Torture, the Prison Tower and the Fountain of Neptune.

Before going for a walk, it is worth reading something about the history of Poland, but it is also a good opportunity to admire the beautifully reconstructed buildings, some from the 14th century. If you like museums, you can visit the Amber Museum, World War II Museum or the European Center of Solidarity.

 

100cznia – Artistic center

Leaving the Gdańsk Główny station you can easily see colorful containers against the background of the shipyard landscape. This is not an accidental construction, but a perfect example of creative use of potential and revival of dead spots in the urban space.
There is a bar, a tattoo studio and design shops. There is also a beach and a garden with pouffes and deckchairs, a workshop space and a thriving music scene.

100cznia is open from May to September

 

Street Art – Mural in Zaspa

In the Zaspa district of Gdańsk, you can admire 59 large-format paintings that adorn the entrances to the staircases and the top walls of the blocks. The works were created by artists from various parts of the world. There are also no murals that directly refer to the history of Poland and Gdańsk.

 

Sopot

If you want to relax on the beach, choose Sopot – a city located 12 km on west from Gdansk. Sopot is also worth visiting mainly due to the beautiful pier, long sandy beaches and beautiful old lighthouse or the historic Grand Hotel.

Torpedownia Babie Doly

About 20 km from Sopot we can find Torpedownia – a former torpedo assembly hall with equipment for trial shooting, built on the bottom of the reservoir, a few hundred meters from the shore. It was the center of the German torpedo research centers built in Poland during World War II.

The easiest way to get to the torpedo boat is by boat, motorboat, floating banana or whatever else. It is not reccommended to go into the object itself and stepping on it because it is in a really bad technical condition. Many people walk around it, but it’s probably not worth risking.

 

Warsaw – Capital of Poland

Warsaw has a very interesting and turbulent history. It was robbed by the Swedes, disappeared from the political map of Europe during the partitions of Poland and was completely destroyed during the Second World War. Currently Warsaw has a lot to offer, starting from modern buildings, ending on rebuilt old tenement houses.

Mandatory places to visit are the Old Town and the Palace of Culture and Science.

 

The Old Town

The Old Town is mainly the Castle Square with the Royal Castle and the Barbican (the pre-gate of the Nowomiejska Gate). Also old beautiful tenement houses – mostly from the XV-XIX centuries, which after the Second World War were reconstructed.

 

The Palace of Culture and Science

It was built after the II World War as a gift from the Russian authorities. It is worth getting the elevator to the 30th floor and admire the panorama of the city. You can also take a rest, as there are sun loungers all over the floor. Poles say that the Palace of Culture looks like a rocket. What do you think about it? 

 

The Botanical Garden

The next place is a Botanical Garden located on the roof of the University of Warsaw library. This is one of the largest roof gardens in Europe. This Warsaw roof garden spans over 1 hectare! Three top gardens (on the roof and bottom – at the entrance) are connected with each other by charming bridges, footbridges and paths. However, from the observation deck you can admire the beautiful panorama of Warsaw.

 

Łazienki Królewskie

A walk around Łazienki Królewskie is highly recommended. Łazienki Królewskie is a palace and garden complex in Warsaw founded in the 18th century by Stanisław August Poniatowski. The Palace on the Water and the statue of Fryderyk Chopin – these are the attractions that have become symbols of the city. This place is very popular in the summer, when piano concerts are organized at the monument of Fryderyk Chopin.

 

Pool on the 43rd floor

On the 43rd floor of the Intercontinental tower you can find a swimming pool with a view of Warsaw. Ticket for the whole day is 150 PLN so around 30 €. You can admire the capital’s panorama while resting on the sun loungers or in the pool.

 

So where do you think you will be heading to? Are you looking to go to the modern city or enjoy the history of the older one, or maybe the mountains and the sea side are calling your name? Let us know in the comments below! When you have decided where you want to make your next career move, visit our job opportunities in Poland.

We hope you have enjoyed reading our travel guide around Poland, who was written by our guest blogger Dominika Girtler.

"My name is Dominika and I am passionate about traveling, exploring new places and I love taking photos. I was infected with travel by parents, and a few years ago, my friends and my boyfriend ”refreshed” my passion again. I would like to invite you to my Instagram where by the photos I tell stories about interesting places in Europe and in the world."

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