If you are in the process of planning your first trip to Poland and are unsure of where to begin, this article is the best place to start. I spent more than 2 weeks traveling around Poland, hopping from city to city, and had the opportunity to visit some of the most beautiful sights in the country.
Within this post, I have compiled all of my favorite places in Poland. From the colorful city of Warsaw to the fairy-tale-like medieval castle of Malbork, here are the 10 best places to visit in Poland.
1. Warsaw
One of the most colorful cities in Europe, Warsaw, is probably where you will likely begin your journey in Poland. Despite it being the capital city, the old town, where all the tourist attractions are located, remains one of the most charming and vibrant areas in the country.
The old square is one of the most important landmarks of the city, with a spacious walking area surrounded by medieval towers, colorful traditional architecture, and beautiful churches. All of these are connected by cobblestone streets that lead to the Old Town marketplace.
- Day Trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau and Wieliczka Salt Mine from Krakow including Lunch (10 hours)
- Auschwitz & Birkenau: Live-Guided Tour with Transportation and Hotel Pickup (7 to 8 hours)
- Zakopane Tour and Thermal Hot Bath Pool with Krakow Hotel Pickup (11 to 12 hours)
While at the square, be sure to check out the Sigismund's Column, the Royal Castle, and St. John's Archcathedral. You can easily spend 2-3 hours just walking around Warsaw Old Square and discovering all the beautiful medieval structures the city has to offer.
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For the best viewpoint in Old Town Warsaw, you can't go wrong with the Taras Widokowy tower, where you will be able to get a stunning 360° panoramic view of the old square from above. You will have to pay a bit, but trust me, the view is worth every penny.
There are also many other tourist attractions outside of Old Town Warsaw that are worth the visit, like The Uprising Museum if you are interested in the history of Poland, as well as the Wilanow Royal Palace, one of the most impressive palaces in the country.
All in all, Warsaw is highly recommended, and if you decide to visit the city, be sure to give it at least 2 full days to really do this city justice. Spend your first day in the old town and the second day exploring tourist attractions outside the old town.
2. Torun
Torun is a small, charming fairy-tale-like town located not too far from Warsaw. It is known as the birthplace of the great mathematician and astronomer, Nicolaus Copernicus, who formulated a model of the universe that put the sun at the center instead of Earth, way ahead of his time.
With its medieval architecture, baroque-style church, and its history involving knighthood, walking around Torun felt like walking through one of The Witcher novels written by the Polish author, Andrzej Sapkowski. As a big fan of the game, The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt, it was definitely a dream come true for me.
While in Torun, be sure to visit the Cathedral Basilica of St. John, the leaning tower of Torun, and if you want to learn about the Teutonic Knights, be sure to drop by the District Museum.
If you are visiting the District museum, you can also pay a bit more to get access to the tower where you will be able to see Torun from above, which is breathtaking and highly recommended. You really get to appreciate all the medieval structures in the city from up there.
Another place that is a must-visit is the observation deck across the Vistula River, near the train station where you will be able to see Torun and its well-preserved medieval walls in their entirety. Visiting the observation deck during sunset or in the early morning allows you to capture the best lighting for photos.
3. Gdansk
Gdansk is one of the most important ports in Poland, and it is the location where the first World War 2 crash happened during the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany, signifying the beginning of the brutal conflict.
Gdansk is famous for its colorful architecture along the Long Market strip, which got its name from, you guessed it, how freaking long the street is. Seriously, it seems to go on forever, which makes it a great place to stroll around and get the feel of what Gdansk is all about.
I love walking around the streets of Gdansk and admiring all the colorful houses and architecture in the city. It feels like walking in one of my favorite Wes Anderson movies, the Grand Budapest Hotel, which is like a dream for me.
Since Gdansk is an important historical location, there are many museums you can visit in the city, such as The Museum of Second World War, located a little bit outside of the old port area.
You can also take a bus to Westerplatte, an open-air museum dedicated to the Battle of Westerplatte. This location witnessed the first clash between Polish and German forces during the invasion of Poland, making it the first battle of European World War II. You can learn a lot about how that day unfolded here.
4. Malbork
Malbork has to be one of my favorite tourist attractions in Poland. Malbork is a fairy-tale-like Gothic fortress, the largest of its kind in the world, and there is just no place quite like it.
This beautiful fortress, made out of red bricks and located by the Nogat River, is a wonderful piece of history built during the Teutonic knight time in the 13th century and one of the few that still remain today.
Walking inside the fortress makes you feel like you are in the Witcher novel. The fortress truly captures the medieval, almost fantasy vibe of the typical European folk tales you often heard when you were young.
Within the castle, there are several buildings you can enter and discover on your own. Places like the old church of St. Mary, the tower, and the Great Refectory should not be missed. Be sure to allocate at least half a day to the place so you can explore at your own leisure.
5. Poznan
Poznan is the fifth largest city in Poland and one of the oldest cities out there. The city probably has one of the most colorful old squares out there with the beautiful traditional European houses of the Merchant Houses surrounding its iconic town hall.
There are also quite a lot of things to do in the city, from visiting the reddish-pink-colored Catholic church, the Poznan Fara, to the beautiful Royal Castle and its observational tower, where you will be able to get a stunning view over the beautiful Poznan Town Square.
I highly recommend spending at least one full day in Poznan and simply soaking in the city and enjoying all the history and the vibrant vibe the city has to offer.
6. Wroclaw
Wroclaw is another fun city to travel to, with plenty of things to do ranging from tracking down all the little gnome statues in the market square to learning more about the forgotten history of the city at the Museum of the Battle of Raclawice through its massive panoramic paintings.
When you walk around the Wroclaw Town Square, you will start to notice these little gnome statues scattered all around the square. There are over 400 of these fantastical gnome statues across the entire city, and it all began with protestors dressing as fairytale characters, including gnomes, to protest against the communist regime.
Many years have passed, and these sculptures of dwarves and gnomes have begun to appear all over the town square, and it has only grown since then. Now, it has become part of the city's identity and something you should look out for when exploring Wroclaw.
Another beautiful place to visit in Wroclaw is Ostrów Tumski, the oldest part of the city where you will find the beautiful Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and a peaceful vibe you won't find anywhere else in the city. It is a great place to escape from the bustling city and it is hands down my favorite part of Wroclaw.
7. Krakow
Krakow is where I chose to base myself when I was traveling in Poland, and it is by far one of the best places to travel. It offers a perfect balance between the history of the town square, the hip vibe of Kazimierz (the Jewish Quarter), and all the awesome day trips you can make from there.
I especially love Kazimierz. The area is a great place to visit, especially in the summer evening when the locals are out and about, enjoying the summer sun while conversing with one another. It is one of the liveliest spots in the city, and you can really feel the energy and creativity of the youth here.
There are many food stalls selling street food here as well. One of my favorite street foods that I highly recommend you try is Zapiekanka, a toasted open-face sandwich made of a sliced baguette, topped with sautéed white mushrooms, cheese, and sometimes ham, or as people like to call it, the Polis Pizza.
Krakow's town square is also one of the prettiest squares out there, with the spacious cobblestone square where people often congregate being surrounded by all kinds of shops and restaurants for you to indulge yourself in.
The square is also home to the iconic St. Mary's Basilica, a baroque/gothic-style cathedral unlike any cathedral you have seen before. The inside of the cathedral is breathtaking and, in my opinion, probably the most beautiful cathedral in the country.
There are also other awesome tourist attractions you should visit near Krakow Town Square like the Bugle Tower, where you can climb up to get a stunning view of Krakow Old Square from above, the Town Hall Tower, the Krakow Barbican, and the Wawel Castle.
Wawel Castle, in particular, is one of the most important landmarks in Krakow and a must-visit when you are in the city. The architecture of Wawel Castle is a mixture of Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Early Baroque styles due to the fact that it has been occupied and captured by different rulers throughout its existence. I recommend spending at least 2-3 hours there to learn why the place is so important among the Polish people.
8. Auschwitz
Visiting Auschwitz is a must for every traveler who is looking to understand the tragic event that unfolded during the Holocaust and to truly understand where the Polish people are coming from.
How the Nazis systematically exterminated a large population at once during the Holocaust is heart-wrenching, but it is important to know how low humanity can go so that we do not repeat the same mistake.
There are 2 concentration camps in Auschwitz: the original concentration camp, which has since been turned into a museum (and requires that you have a ticket), and Auschwitz 2-Birkenau, the second concentration and extermination camp where the infamous train track is located. You have to visit both, and it will take an entire day to see it all.
The most convenient way to visit Auschwitz is to go on a day trip with an organized tour, which will include all the logistics to and from Krakow, knowledgeable tour guides, and the tickets you need to get in. Alternatively, you can also visit Auschwitz with Wieliczka Salt Mine as part of a day trip, which is the next place we will recommend you visit.
9. Wieliczka Salt Mine
One of the most popular day trips to take from Krakow is the Wieliczka Salt Mine, an old salt mine located in the city of Wieliczka, 15 km away from Krakow. The labyrinth of tunnels goes as deep as over 300m underground, and inside, you will find large chambers, chapels, and even a salt lake.
One of the large chambers housed the Chapel of St. Kinga, which was made entirely out of salt. There is also a salt lake in the Erazm Barącz Chamber, which is apparently even denser than the Dead Sea!
The easiest way to visit the Salt Mine is to go with an organized tour instead. I recommend the "Day Trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau and Wieliczka Salt Mine from Krakow" tour, which will take you to Wieliczka Salt Mine as well as Auschwitz Concentration Camp as part of the day trip, hitting 2 birds with one stone.
10. Zakopane
Last but not least, Zakopane is a city located under the shadow of the mighty Tatra mountain range that straddles the Polish and Slovakian borders. The place is popular for hikers in the summer and skiers in winter, so no matter when you visit the area, there is always something adventurous for you to do here.
If you like hiking and you have a day in Zakopane, I would recommend that you go and hike the Morskie Oko trail, which should take you around 5-6 hours in total. You will have a grand view of the Morskie Oko lake.
If you don't like hiking or if it is too cold outside, then I would recommend that you book a ticket and go up the cable car to the Kasprowy Wierch where you will be able to see the mountain range from the top. Be sure to check the weather and book the ticket from their website before arriving to avoid disappointment and long lines.
More Poland Activities
That is it for the 10 BEST Places to Visit in Poland. Have we missed anything? Have you found the guide useful? Let us know in the comments below!
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to plan your trip to Poland! Here are some resources to help you get your trip going:
Are you planning to travel to Poland independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Poland
I hope you found this Poland guide useful. If you want to read more about Poland, here are a selection of articles you might like:
- Looking for a complete itinerary for Poland? 2 Weeks Backpacking Itinerary for Poland.
- Are you traveling to Poland as part of a bigger Europe trip? Be sure to check out my 3-month itinerary for Europe from Portugal all the way to Sweden.
- Packing for a trip to visit a region as big as Europe can be extremely daunting. Here's a packing guide to help you: What to Pack for Europe - The Essential Packing List.
- Want to visit Europe in winter? Better prepare for the cold. Here's a winter packing guide to help you: What to Pack for Europe in Winter - The Essential Packing List.
- Planning to visit Warsaw, the colorful capital city of Poland soon and not sure where to begin? Check out: 10 Best Things to Do in Warsaw.
- Looking for the best photo spots in Warsaw, Poland? Check out: 8 Best Photo Spots in Warsaw.
- One of the most whimsical fairy-tale cities in Poland, Torun is a must-visit place if you like medieval towns and history. Here are the 9 Best Things to Do in Torun.
- Gdansk is one of the most beautiful port cities in Europe, full of surprising things to do and see. Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Gdansk.
- If you are looking to go off the beaten path in Poland, Poznan offers a great alternative to the usual touristy spots in Poland with its unique things to do and places to see. Here are the 8 Best Things to Do in Poznan.
- Wroclaw is a vibrant alternative city to visit for those who seek places in Poland that are off the beaten path, and there are quite a lot of things to do here if you know where to look. Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Wroclaw.
- Planning to visit Krakow soon? Check out this travel guide: Top 9 Things to Do in Krakow, Poland that you should check out.
- Not convinced by my words? Here are 125 photos that will inspire you to visit Europe.
- You can also watch my Poland travel video here: "Poland Now" travel video.
- To see all the articles about Poland, visit the Poland Travel Guide page.
- Looking for a place to go after Poland? How about Lithuania, Germany, or Hungary? Visit our Germany travel guide page, Hungary travel guide page, and Lithuania travel guide page for more.
- Traveling in Europe can be cheap, really cheap. These are the 12 cheap European countries to visit.
- Looking for more travel guides for Europe? You can find more on my Europe Travel Guide page.
- Or, if you want something more specific to the region, visit our Eastern Europe Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.