9 Must-visit Destinations in POLAND for Travel Lover

Photo: Regent Travel.

Besides medieval Mecca’s like Gdansk and Kraków, or urban hotspots like Warsaw, you can also travel outside the cities to a Poland that feels unspoiled by time. Enjoy the mountains or the sea and every outdoor sport you can imagine.

Let discovery top 9 breathtakingly beautiful places in Poland!

1. Wroclaw

Pronounced VRAHTS-wahv, Wroclaw is the fourth-largest city in Poland. Built in the medieval period, the city covers several islands and maintains several beautiful bridges and stunning architecture. Wroclaw has been busy racking up recognition lately.

Photo: flickr

According to The Crazy Tourist, in 2015 it was named one of the “Best Cities To Live” by Mercer consulting company; and due to their high living standard, it’s classified as a global city by GaWC. In 2016 the city will become the European Capital of Culture as well as the World Book Capital. Those who know Wroclaw best will tell you not to miss Salt Market Square, Centennial Hall (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), or St Mary Magdalene Church (13th century).

2. Warsaw – the capital of Poland

Warsaw is probably the most famous city in Poland. No wonder – there is only one capital of that country, but Warsaw is also special for many other reasons.

Old Town in Warsaw. Photo: Discovery Cracow.

There are a lot of interesting monuments in Warsaw, such as the Royal Castle, the historical Old Town, the Royal Wilanów and the Royal Baths Park. Warsaw is also a great place for shopping, clubbing and long, nice walks as there are many squares and colourful streets there, as cited by Discovery Cracow.

You will be surprised at how many interesting and open people are living in Warsaw. This city is also full of exciting events, concerts and shows and the unique mixture of post-communist buildings and modern architecture will certainly impress you!

3. Krakow

Photo: Touropia.

Krakow might be described as a rag to riches city since it went from being a seventh-century village to the second most important city in Poland, is known for its cultural, artistic, academic and economic activities, Touropia cites.

During World War II, the Nazis herded Jews into the Krakow Ghetto where they were later sent to concentration camps; the movie Schindler’s List centred around one man’s efforts to save the ghetto residents from extermination. Located on the Vistula River, this former Polish capital is easy to get around, since Krakow's attractions radiate out from Old Town, considered the best Old Town in the country.

4. The marine Tricity – a place to visit!

Poland can boast of a long coastline of the Baltic Sea. Thanks to that all Polish families have a huge variety of lovely beaches to spend their free time.

Gdańsk, Gdynia and Sopot are the cities you definitely should visit. Together they form the unique and famous Tricity.Anyway, sand and saltwater are not the only things you can find in the North of Poland.

Each city is different and has a lot to offer. People love the special, calm climate and the freshness of the air there. Tricity surprises with a lot of interesting events, especially in summer.

All three cities are well connected, so you can book a hotel in one of them and enjoy the charms of Gdańsk, Gdynia and Sopot almost at the same time!

5. Malbork

Malbork has one thing that attracts most of its visitors, but that one thing is pretty incredible. Malbork Castle stands at the top of the list for all people travelling to Poland.

Photo: flickr.

Stunning both inside and out, this UNESCO World Heritage Site completed in 1409 is Europe’s largest Gothic castle. Also not to be missed is Skwer Esperanto, located just past the ruins of the old city walls. Within this park are commemorative stones placed by well-known international speakers, all of them honouring Ludwig Zamenhof and the world language he created.

6. Poznan

Photo: flickr.

Student travellers wanting to meet their Polish peers might want to visit Poznan, long known as an academic centre and home to Poland’s third-largest university. The city hosts many international events, including the Malta International Theatre Festival that takes place every summer. Major sites are easily accessible by strolling the Royal-Imperial Route, a walk set up especially for tourists. Athletes may enjoy a visit to the artificial lake of Malta, home to a ski slope, ice rink, and swimming pools.

7. Szczecin

This small coastal town is definitely off the beaten track (at least for non-Germans). Szczecin is a mix of several cultural and architectural influences from several different ages.

Photo: flickr.

Reconstruction has been long and difficult here which means that you’ll find German-era Art Nouveau buildings alongside modern steel and glass buildings – both of which are alongside crumbled and overlooked ruins from the war. You’ll want to stop at Bismarck Tower and the National Museum located primarily in the Landed Gentry House. And finally, there’s the Ducal Castle, home of the dukes of Pomerania-Stettin for roughly 500 years.

8. Highlander culture of Zakopane – Beauty of Poland

At the opposite end of Poland, you are going to find the beautiful and monumental Tatra Mountains. There is a small town in the middle of them called Zakopane.

Winter in Zakopane. Photo: discovery Cracow.

Zakopane is the most famous mountain town in Poland. Almost every Pole was there at least once!

What can you do there: go skiing, participate in a traditional feast, admire the original architecture, listen to positive highlander music, try the unique taste of oscypek (Polish smoked sheep cheese).

9. Torun

Torun, located on the Vistula River, is best known, perhaps, as the birthplace of Copernicus, but it’s just as well known for its old market place and Gothic town hall that the National Geographic Polska put on its list of the 30 most beautiful places in the world. As Torun escaped bombing during World War II, the city still boasts numerous buildings that date back to the Middle Ages. Construction on the town hall started in the 13th century, with many churches, including the Cathedral of SS. John the Evangelist and John the Baptist, dating back to the 14th century. This church is a must-see for travellers interested in Gothic paintings and sculptures, and Baroque altars.

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