Best things to do in Poland
Many of Poland’s cities have been through a process of major reinvention, opening flashy new museums, laying out new parks and brushing up their heritage with a spate of renovation. But there’s awesome nature too, from the drifting dunes of the Baltic coast to the magnificent mountain chains that mark the country’s southern borders.
Viewpoints and panoramas
Kraków’s Kościuszko Mound: For breathtaking views of the city, climb this grassy mound built in honour of Polish national hero Tadeusz Kościuszko; on a clear day, you can even make out the Tatra Mountains.
Gubałówka Hill: At the summit of Gubałówka Hill the panorama of the Tatras’ jagged peaks to the south is quite splendid.
The best districts
Ulica Dluga, Gdańsk: A stroll down one of Poland’s most beautiful set-piece streets will take you past a string of opulent townhouses, recalling the mercantile dynasties that once made Gdańsk great.
Praga, Warsaw: Praga retains its gritty sense of otherness; cobbled streets and former factories contribute to a post-industrial aesthetic, and the area’s cafés and pubs still seem a touch more underground than those elsewhere.
Kazimierz, Kraków: The old Jewish quarter of Kraków, now the centre of a burgeoning bar scene, buzzes with visitors day and night.
Museums
European Solidarity Centre, Gdańsk: Commemorating the Solidarity protest movement of the 1980s, this museum is an absorbing and inspiring tribute to non-violent revolutions everywhere.
POLIN Museum, Warsaw: This fine building takes the fittingly dramatic form of a four-storey cube rent down the middle by a huge, cave-like fissure. Inside, slogan-like captions fill entire walls, and models and reproductions bring past epochs to life.
Zajezdnia History Centre, Wroclaw: One of the finest of Poland’s new-generation history museums, providing numerous insights into social, cultural and family history alongside the hard narrative of political events.
Parks and gardens
Łazienki Park: Known as the Royal Baths Park, this is the most elegant of Poland’s urban parks, crisscrossed with oak-lined promenades.
Oliwa Park, Gdańsk: Surrounding the cathedral complex is the old palace park, an appealing spot with exotic trees, hanging willows and a stream meandering through the middle.
Historical monuments
Wawel Castle, Kraków: One of the most striking royal residences in Europe and a potent source of national and spiritual pride.
Wooden churches: An age-old form of folk architecture still preserved in rural corners of the country. One of the most incredible examples is at Kwiatoń in the Beskid Niski.
Malbork Castle: The Teutonic Knights lorded it over northern Poland for over 200 years, and this rambling complex of fortifications is their most imposing monument.
Oliwa Cathedral, Gdańsk: A remarkable sight, its towering main facade combines twin Gothic brick towers peaked with Renaissance spires and dazzling Rococo stuccowork to striking effect.
Day trips in the region
Katowice: The ugly duckling of Polish tourism is suddenly its brightest up-and-coming star thanks to a post-industrial cocktail of repurposed coal mines, new museums, lively nightlife and big-hitting festivals.
Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum: The infamous Nazi death camp, on the outskirts of Oświęcim, is a compelling memorial to man’s inhumanity.
Silesian mines: Upper Silesia's industrial heritage has been put to good use at spectacular show mines such as the Guido coal mine at Zabrze and the Museum of Silver Mining at Tarnowskie Góry.
Activities for families in Poland
Poland is a fantastic destination for families, with activities that cater to all ages. From beach days and other outdoor adventures to hands-on learning experiences, there’s plenty to keep everyone entertained.
Beaches: Poland’s Baltic shores are characterised by miles and miles of white sand, perfect for lazy family outings. Join the crowds in chic Sopot, or stroll the endless strands of Łeba or Hel.
Castles: What kid doesn’t love exploring a good castle? And here in Poland they come in all shapes and from all epochs. Malbork is perhaps the best known, although the hillside-hugging Pieskowa Skała, the abandoned Krzyżtopór and the refined aristocratic seat of Książ all possess an undeniable aura of their own.
Interactive museums: One of Europe’s boldest hands-on family attractions is the Copernicus Science Centre in Warsaw. If you’ve got kids, it’s worth a visit to the city for this alone.
Free things to do in Poland
Holidays to Poland offer plenty of free activities, making it an affordable destination for budget-conscious travellers. From cultural events to scenic walks, you’ll find ways to enjoy the country without spending a złoty.
Night of the Museums (Noc muzeów): In mid-to-late May, museums and galleries all over Poland open up in the evening for free, generating an atmosphere of cultural carnival.
Free events: On Midsummer’s Eve (Wianki) in towns and cities across Poland, the night is traditionally celebrated by virgins throwing wreaths into rivers while bonfires are lit on the water’s edge.
Nature and outdoor activities in Poland
For many, it’s the wide range of outdoor pursuits Poland has to offer that constitute the country’s chief lure. Most obvious of these are the hiking opportunities provided by the extensive national parks, but there’s skiing, fishing and rafting too.
Hiking: Poland has some of the best hiking country in Europe, especially in the mountainous Tatras region, which offers anything from easy-going valley-bottom strolls to calf-straining high-mountain scrambles.
Skiing: Poland’s mountainous southern rim provides some good skiing opportunities, seized on, in season, by what can often seem like the country’s entire population. The best and most popular ski slopes are in the Tatras, the highest section of the Polish Carpathians.
Fishing: A hugely popular activity, especially in the outlying regions of the country. The best fishing areas include the Mazurian lakes (pike and perch), the Bieszczady, notably the River San and its tributaries (trout), and the southeast in general.
Rafting: Tourists have long been rafting down the waters of the River Dunajec; a two- to three-hour rafting trip provides a gentle and thoroughly enjoyable version of the experience.
