Poland is becoming the place to go, as travellers learn of the excellent food options, low costs, and out-of-this-world scenery.
Whether you like to spend your time in bars with more than 100 beers (Warsaw), wandering through an Old Town (Krakow), or getting out and about and visiting the lakes, mountains, and forests that can be found throughout the country, there’s something here for everyone.
Here are the top things to do in Poland:
Go Sailing
Head to the Northeast of Poland, and you’ll find interlinked and little-known river and lakes. From Spring to Autumn, boaters come from around Poland to paddle the Krutynia River or sail on Lake Niegocin or Lake Sniardwy. Visit the towns of Mikolajki and Gizycko and use them as a base for paddling, cycling, and sailing trips.
Party in Krakow
It’s no secret that Poles like partying, and Warsaw, Wroclaw and Poznan are filled with excellent spots to let your hair down. However no place has the buzz of the Kzimierz district in Krakow. This was the centre of life for Jewish people prior to WWII, however after the war the buildings were all neglected. Recently, cafes, clubs and bars have repopulated the area, transforming it into an ideal spot for a pub crawl. Head to Miejsce or Mleczarnia for a few drinks, or visit Alchemia for events and parties.
Visit Auschwitz
Many people mistakingly believe that Auschwitz is in Germany, but it’s actually located in Oswiecim, near Krakow in Poland. Auschwitz is the most infamous of all of the extermination camps and is now a museum and memorial. More than one million people were murdered here over four years, and if you’re in Poland you should definitely bear witness, learn, and resolve that it must never happen again.
See the Museums
While there are plenty of high-tech museums throughout Poland, you’ll find the best in Warsaw, the capital. The Warsaw Rising Museum is a must-visit and uses light, video, and sound to show the tragic uprising of the city against the Germans who were occupying the city in 1944. The museum is an excellent example of human resilience in the face of overwhelming odds, and the 3D flyover of the city after it was bombed to smithereens is confronting but should be seen.
Eat Polish Food
Many assume that Polish food will be heavy and meaty, and while you can certainly find excellent Goulash, the cuisine is famous for its novel pairings, with mushrooms, onions, apples, buckwheat and beetroot featuring heavily. Be sure to try the Polish “doughnuts”, the delicious pierogi (dumplings), goose, duck, potato pancakes and herring.
Warsaw is undergoing a revival, and along with plenty of options for Polish food, you’ll find Italian pizza, Mexican, great spots for brunch, plenty of vegetarian and vegan restaurants, and more bakeries than you can count.
If you’re planning a trip to Europe and don’t want to break the bank but also want to learn about the history of the continent during WWII, Poland is a great choice.
