Poland may only be fully appreciated when you leave your prejudice and preconceptions behind. Approach it with an open mind, avoid comparing it to others, and be sure the country will unfold its most precious aspects in front of you, teaching you perhaps to enjoy simple things and redefine your notions of beauty. Here Gothic castles, old market squares and historical tenements mingle with glossy business centers, posh restaurants, free-spirited artistic scene as well as the mostly unwanted, derelict remnants of the communist era. At the same time the countryside remains rustic and romantic, giving vent to the world-famous hospitality and appeasing a troubled mind with its unpretentious ambiance and soothing beauty. Poland is a kaleidoscope of vistas and amalgamation of traditions that altogether form a living, changing organism – imperfect, but highly fascinating.
1 Tatra National Park
With its headquarters in the bustling town of Zakopane, Tatra National Park is where the most precious, natural Polish riches find tranquil refuge. Embracing the only mountains of alpine type, which rise steeply from a high plateau and extend for approximately 64 km along the Slovakian-Polish border, the park features a diversified relief with height differences up to 1,700 m, mesmerizing streams, marvelous lakes, and myriad species of fauna and flora. Many a time will you see a chamois heading down a steep slope or a herd of deer grazing on a distant meadow. Obviously, the park enjoys huge popularity, but as a rule, the higher, the quieter.
2 Wieliczka Salt Mine
Feeling like exploring something? If yes, head for Wieliczka, the famed Polish salt mine. Not less magnificent than the Egyptian pyramids they say, the mine opens its subterranean realm of labyrinthine passages, underground lakes and enormous caverns right in front of your eyes. Let yourself marvel at the rich ornamentation in the salt rock as well as salt sculptures and even chandeliers filling the chambers with dim light. The two-hour walk through 20 chambers and winding corridors will not only quench your thirst for exploration but also boost your health with the mine’s unique microclimate. That’s what you call a treat, don’t you?
3 Malbork Castle (Muzeum Zamkowe w Malborku)
No sooner had the Grand Master Siegfried von Feuchtwangen decided to move the Teutonic Order’s headquarters to Malbork in 1309 than it became obvious the castle did not measure up to its new role. Since then, it was continually rebuilt and enlarged to end up as the most impressive brick castle in the whole Northern Europe. The history of the monumental construction is one of glory and terror, and as you walk past the myriad chambers, where friends were entertained and enemies poisoned, you are transported back to the middle ages, ideally with a guide who can add some extra flavor to this self-evident UNESCO-protected treasure.
4 Old Town of Krakow
Citizens or foreigners, everybody loves Krakow, and its Old Town in particular. The flower sellers, the myriad buskers, the quaint pubs, and the maze of cobblestoned streets seem to exist in age-old harmony. Even the crowds are not much of a nuisance. As you push your way through Sukiennice (Cloth Hall) looking for a perfect souvenir, marvel at the beautifully restored facades, gaze at the funny mimes making faces in front of the marvelous St. Mary’s Basilica, or try to decipher the countless languages you hear around, you feel you belong to this hypnotizing city and that the Polish heart pumps hot blood into your veins.
5 Lazienki Park
Once you’ve had a good look around the Royal Castle and before you get drawn into the lively atmosphere of Warsaw’s Old Town, make sure you spare enough time for Łazienki Park. Spread over 74 hectares, it is a favorite Sunday refuge for the capital’s residents and an all-year tourist attraction. Takes its name from the Palace on the Water, originally built in the 17th century as a bathhouse, today the park is sprinkled with palaces, mansions, cafes, restaurants, lakes, and theaters. Try to force the peacocks to spread their tails, feed swans from a rowing boat on a summer day, or listen to free all-Chopin recitals by distinguished Polish pianists. Łazienki Park is definitely a jewel in the country’s crown.
6 Masurian Lake District
Arguably one of the most enticing tourist areas in Poland, the Mazurian Lake District is a place where one can experience the extremes. Cut off from land, subject to the power of water and wind, you find meaning in silence, solitude and natural hierarchy. But when the night comes and your boat rocks in the harbor of a bustling port town, the uproar of collective singing and all-night revelry remind you that it’s good to be home. Of course, this duality is not reserved for sailors. One-fifth of the whole region is covered by lakes, rivers and canals situated in widely varied countryside, their banks being dotted with inlets, peninsulas, tiny islands, and aromatic forests. Everybody finds their niche here. Nobody leaves disappointed.
7 Pauline Monastery in Częstochowa
The Pauline Monastery on the Jasna Góra Hill is undoubtedly one of the three major Roman Catholic pilgrimage center across the world. It enshrines the miraculous icon of the Blessed Mother and Child Jesus, which came to symbolize the spiritual core of the nation and whose holy quality is embraced in myriad legends. The most striking example of an event when the Black Madonna came to the aid of her people was recorded in1920, when the Soviet Russian Red Army gathered on the banks of the Vistula River with the intention of conquering Warsaw. People report they had seen the Lady appear in the clouds above the capital, and the final unexpected victory of Polish troops was later dubbed the “Miracle at the Vistula.” A captivating place with a lot of emotional input.
8 Słowiński National Park
Embracing the most pristine part of the Baltic southern coast, its forests, plant cover, miscellaneous fauna and inspiring landscapes, the Słowiński National Park has been drawn on the World List of Biosphere Reserves, and one can hardly wonder why. The park is perhaps most famous for its picturesque sand dunes, the biggest in Europe, which change shape, grow, and move with the wind. Roll down this golden slide, catch a glimpse of yourself in the 4 sparkling coastal lakes, and watch eagles draw circles above your head. 140 kilometers of walking trails enable visitors to come up close with nature, and the necessary infrastructure along with watchtowers, viewing platforms, shelters and benches makes the experience particularly worthwhile.
9 Polish Jura Chain (Jura Krakowsko-Częstochowska)
Get ready for multiple attractions as the area of Jura abounds in things to do. For those who opt for a little bit of physical workout, the region offers numerous biking trails and rock-climbing spots both for beginners and more experienced climbers. Hiking? No problem! The tracks will take you among limestone rocks, remnants of 14th century fortifications built upon rocky hills as well as rich fauna and flora. The perfect season to explore Jura is probably autumn when the landscape beautifully blends the whiteness of the limestone rocks with the golden browns of the foliage and the blue sky into a breathtaking view.
10 Warsaw Uprising Museum
Visitors freeze on hearing the sounds of battle and heart beats emanating from the central highlight of the museum – an ordinary wall that in its mediocrity aptly captures the brute force and the human dimension of the Warsaw Uprising. The undertaking is there to portray the triumph of the Polish spirit over the ultimate futility of resistance subdued by the greatly outnumbering Nazi forces. Brimming with interactive displays, authentic exhibits (including a 1:1 replica of a B-24 Liberator) , photographs, love letters, and video footages, it’s a museum that’s certain to leave a mark on all visitors regardless of their historical knowledge and nationality.
11 Wawel Royal Castle (Zamek Krolewski)
A visit to Krakow is not complete without due attention paid to Wawel Royal Castle. The seat of Polish royalty between the 11th and the early 17th century, the complex is an adequate reflection of the city’s excellence and image before King Zygmunt III decided to move the Polish capital to Warsaw. A guided tour through the exquisitely decorated Renaissance interiors is an experience steeped in history and legend. Once you’ve seen the famous Szczerbiec, a sword once used to crown Polish monarchs, in the Crown Treasury and Armoury, you may proceed to the Dragon’s Den, the legendary home of a fire-spitting creature said to have wrecked havoc among the townsfolk and appeased only if a young girl was left in front of its cave once a month.
12 Southern Pier (Molo Południowe)
Gdynia is a relatively young, but quickly developing port city with plenty of modern highlights for tourists to enjoy their time around. Yet the place that lures people of all ages is the Kościuszki square with the ORP Błyskawica destroyer and the Dar Pomorza sailing frigate moored in the dockyards. A guided tour of both is a must, and if weather permits, you may also embark on the “Viking II” tourist ship, which takes passengers for sightseeing cruises around the Bay of Gdańsk in the daytime and serves as a boat-restaurant at night. Make sure you spare some time for a visit to the Maritime Museum and Aquarium, which boasts the largest collection of marine life in Poland and never fails to impress.
13 Town Square – Old Town
—žStopped the sun, moved the earth, Polish nation gave him birth”. So goes a Polish nursery rhyme dedicated to Nicolas Copernicus. To be precise, the famous astronomer was born in Toruń, a nearly eight-hundred-year-old city designated by UNESCO as the cultural heritage of mankind for its outstanding medieval layout and soul. The architectural riches of the Old Town are striking evidence of the city’s significance starting from the 14th century. And if you happen to have a penchant for gingerbread, you won’t find better than here! Toruńskie pierniczki will capture your palate’s cravings as much the city’s ambiance will captivate your heart.
14 Jaskinia Niedzwiedzia (Bear Cave) in Kletno
In your search for underground adventures make for the biggest and most spectacular cave in the Sudety Mountains. Discovered by chance during marble exploitation, the cave is commonly regarded as a prime tourist attraction thanks to its water formations that never cease to grow. High chambers, underground rivers and waterfalls as well as colorful stalactites and stalagmites are a feast to not only a speleologist’s astounded eyes. The museum inside houses remains of Pleistocene cave animals such as lions, hyena, deer and the cave’s host, the bear.
15 Książ Castle
Perched on the hill top, the Książ Castle impresses with its majesty and amazing structure. Erected in the 13th century and then repeatedly destroyed, rebuilt and reconstructed it is now highly treasured as the Pearl of Lower Silesia. A visit to the interiors is a definite must for the stylishness of the chambers includes splendid mirrors, antique chimney pieces and gilded chandeliers. Having enjoyed the castle’s baroque splendor, just let yourself laze on the picturesque terrace or in brilliant gardens located on the hills round the castle. You will find diverse plant compositions and fountains to relax you even more.
16 Bieszczady National Park
If it’s camping or endless hiking that you’re looking for, this is the place to be. This largest mountain national park in Poland is part of Europe´s largest primeval beech forest, and a well-groomed network of trails provides splendid opportunities for all sorts of outdoor endeavors. Protecting what is sometimes called Poland’s last great wilderness, Bieszczady National Park gloriously enshrines pristine nature and the spirit of the past. Welcoming peaks, extensive meadows and breathtaking panoramas mingle with adorable wooden churches, traditional shepherd households and remnants of old villages to produce a bucolic setting for mental relaxation, physical workout and spiritual recovery. Add to it the hospitality of the locals, and you’ve got a gorgeous holiday destination with a human dimension.
17 Dunajec River Rafting
Undoubtedly, this region is both a feast for your eyes and a place that allows no boredom. Set among limestone cliffs plunging into the water, the river will make you drift leisurely past abundant vegetation, scenic highland views and the Niedzica Castle towering over an enormous water reservoir and a dam. The Dunajec, which flows smoothly in a ravine among rocks, turns suddenly a few times adding a thrill to the rafting. Make sure you take some waterproof clothes just in case of a splash! And obviously a pair of hiking boots since Pieniny Mountains make a perfect mountain walk, not too steep and beautifully surrounded with splendid natural scenery.
18 Church of Peace in Jawor
The origins of the church in Jawor date back to 1648, when on the basis of the Peace of Westphalia the Lutherans in the Roman Catholic parts of Silesia were allowed to build their Evangelical places of worship. Of course, the construction fell subject to tough restrictions, and the church not only had to be erected outside the city walls and built from nondurable materials, but also stay clear from resembling a traditional sacral building. Therefore, wood, loam and straw were used to come up with an outstanding temple that houses up to 6 thousand people. No stone or iron. Nor a single nail. In 2001, the church was inscribed on the World Heritage List UNESCO, and if you look at its incredibly ornate baroque decoration, there’s no doubt the distinction is well deserved.
19 Białowieża National Park
One of the last bastions of tranquility in Poland, Białowieża National Park protects a tiny bit of a much bigger forest which straddles the border between Poland and Belarus and is the last remaining part of the extensive primeval forest which once spread across the European Plain. This magnificent cluster of gigantic, age-old trees and a major bison breeding center is a paradise for hikers, Nordic walkers, and whoever enjoys a quiet time out, with soothing vistas, sharp smells and myriad noises bombarding the senses. Guided tours into the heart of the park can be arranged by horse-drawn carriage, which is a lot of rustic kind of fun.
20 Panorama of Raclawice Battle (Panorama Raclawicka)
Called the city of one hundred bridges, Wrocław itself should be somewhere on top of both history buffs’ and urban revelers’ must-do lists. Yet much as it is beautiful and entertaining, it is something else that deserves special attention here. Every year, thousands of tourists flock to the mediocre gray rotunda to marvel at the colossal panoramic painting depicting the Battle of Racławice, during the Kościuszko Uprising. It doesn’t take knowledge of Polish history to be perplexed. Measuring 120m x 15m, the painting presents different scenes enriched with dramatic lighting and artificial terrain, taking the viewer into the center of the events and creating a feeling of an authentic experience. Unmissable.
21 Dluga Street (ul. Dluga)
Lined with outstanding Renaissance buildings, outdoor cafes, and shops, the elegant Dluga Street, together with the Long Market, once formed the Royal Route and was inhabited by the city’s most prominent figures. Today it is the favorite meeting point of tourists and local residents alike. Revealing its well-groomed facades during the day and crowded with groups of visitors eagerly taking pictures at the beautiful Neptune’s Fountain, at night those two bustling arteries of Gdańsk turn into a historical stage for a modern spectacle of light and music. Gdańsk is one of the most livable places in Poland, and the ambiance of the city’s focal point seems to be the most adequate proof.
22 Palace of Culture and Science (Palac Kultury i Nauki)
This gargantuan tower rising from the center of Warsaw may not be the most attractive monument to see in Poland, but the story behind it makes it an inseparable part of the country’s history. The mostly abhorred gift from the USSR to the People’s Republic of Poland, the Joseph Stalin Palace of Culture and Science was the tallest skyscraper in central Europe when completed, and is still one of the tallest in the continent. Its rich ornamentation combined with the Social Realist monumentality quickly inspired the citizens to baptize the Palace as ‘an elephant in lacy underwear’. Close to being knocked down when the Berlin Wall fell in ’89, it was only devoid of its patron’s “glorious” name and now serves various purposes, from housing an exhibition center to being a bustling venue for international conferences. Besides, the observation deck allows a splendid view of the whole capital.
23 Jewish District (Kazimierz)
Kazimierz, the UNESCO World Heritage Jewish Quarter of Krakow, definitely lures with its unique atmosphere of Bohemia artistic life and mouth-watering local dishes. Once an autonomous Jewish town and major European center of the Diaspora, it still echoes the intricacies of Christianity and Judaism in its numerous monuments. Take a stroll along its picturesque narrow streets to admire the stately buildings of the Old Synagogue and St. Catherine Church as well as the Town Hall or the St. Stanislav’s Sanctuary. Don’t miss one of the oldest European Jewish cemeteries, Remuh, either. For those seeking a bit of light-hearted entertainment, street festivals and performances can be enjoyed along with the bustling nightlife!
24 Chopin’s Manor House in Żelazowa Wola
Żelazowa Wola, March 1st, 1810. Little did Mr and Mrs Chopin realize that one day their newborn son would change the shape of music and his name would be known to virtually everyone in the world. The village may not be easy to track, but those who want to find out what lies at the heart of Polishness will certainly not regret a Sunday visit to the manor. Brimming with priceless memorabilia, surrounded by hectares of beautifully landscaped parkland, and permeated with Chopin music performed by the most distinguished pianists from the world over, Żelazowa Wola manor is the highly aesthetic and romantic element on your Polish agenda.
25 Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum
One can hardly call it a tourist attraction. Nor should you go there just because it befits to do it. The 3 million victims of the largest of Nazi Germany’s concentration camps don’t need high attendance records. What they need is a moment of reflection on what happened and what should be done so that this tragedy never occurs again. A visit to Auschwitz is a test in humanity that not everybody is prepared to take, an experience that should ideally stay with you for the rest of your life, making you a more complete individual and a messenger for peace.
