Poland has many places to visit, historical sights, and impressive architecture. Poland has a history that dates back almost a thousand years, has castles and palaces in every corner of the country, and amazing landscapes.
Discover the most beautiful places to visit in Poland:
Places to visit in Poland By area, Poland ranks 9th in Europe and 69th worldwide. Polish culture has a rich history dating back a thousand years, with influences from both the West and the East. Today, these influences are visible in the country’s architecture, folklore, and art. Poland is the birthplace of many famous people around the world, such as Pope John Paul II, Marie Curie, Casimir Pulaski, Tadeusz Kosciuszko, Nicolaus Copernicus, Frederic Chopin, and others.
Despite suffering so much destruction during World War II, Poland remains a fascinating place to explore. In the old towns, with their cobbled streets and beautiful architecture, the buildings from the communist era are combined with the truly enchanting Gothic churches. Fantastic restaurants can be found everywhere you go and lively places are abundant, even at night.
Once home to a thriving Jewish population, Poland’s cities are now home to poignant memorials and monuments to the victims of one of the greatest tragedies of the 20th century, with many visitors heading to places like Auschwitz to pay their respects and learn about past atrocities.
Tourist attractions in Poland
Krakow
Krakow, one of the oldest cities in Poland, was already inhabited in the 7th century. Despite the destruction of World War II, Krakow’s Old Town still retains its stunning medieval architecture. Wavel Castle and the historic district of Kazimierz, also known as the Old Jewish Quarter, in the area are both designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Krakow is one of the most important places to visit in Poland.
Krakow is home to around 40 urban parks, including the 19th-century Planty Park, which covers an area of 21 hectares and forms a green ring around the city center, and the Lasek Wolski Forest, which offers hiking and cycling trails, just a few minutes from the city center. On rainy days, Krakow’s 28 museums are the main tourist attractions, especially the Wawel National Art Collection, where visitors can also see period furniture, a massive collection of Flemish tapestries, royal jewels, and a collection of arms and armor that dates back to the 15th century.
Several major attractions are located outside the city. Notable points of interest include the world’s oldest salt mine Wieliczka, the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps, and the Tatra Mountains.
Tatra Mountains
The Tatra Mountains and National Park form a natural border between Slovakia and Poland, although most of the mountain range falls within Slovakia. Since both countries are part of the EU, it is now possible to travel between the countries with ease.
The Polish part of the park has over 270 kilometers of hiking trails. The highest mountain in Poland, Rysy, is located in the Polish Tatra. In addition, the park is home to over 600 caves, with the Wielka Sniezna limestone cave system being the longest (23 kilometers) and deepest (824 meters).
The Tatra Mountains have waterfalls, streams, and mountain lakes. Lake Morskie Oko is the largest lake in the park. Located deep in the park, it can only be reached after a two-hour hike through hills and a thick forest of Swiss pines.
Ojców
The small town of Ojcow, just 16 kilometers from Krakow, is the gateway to the Ojcow National Park. Poland’s smallest national park, with an area of only 21.46 square kilometers, Ojcow is heavily forested and home to towering limestone cliffs, over 400 caves, and two river valleys. More than 500 species of butterflies live in the park. In spring and summer, they fill the flowery paths and valleys and create a beautiful sight.
The Eagle’s Nest Trail, Poland’s most famous tourist and hiking trail, connects 25 castles and watchtowers, including the Renaissance castle at Pieskowa Skala and the ruins of a Gothic castle, both within the park’s boundaries. There are also two museums in the park, including a branch of the National Art Collection.
Warsaw
Poland’s capital was left in ruins after World War II; almost 85% of its buildings had been reduced to rubble or systematically destroyed by Nazi forces. As soon as the war ended, the city embarked on a massive effort to rebuild its historic center using its original plans. As a result, the Baroque and Renaissance merchant houses you see today are perfect replicas of the originals.
Although the Second World War also caused the loss of collections held by museums and palaces, the city is still home to more than 60 museums today. In addition to art and history museums, Warsaw also offers some unusual options, including the world’s only poster museum, a museum dedicated to the Warsaw Uprising of World War II, a Neon Museum, and a caricature Museum.
The National Museum, which chronicles the history of the city, is also home to the largest collection of paintings in Poland – including several works of art that came from Adolf Hitler’s private collection.
Warsaw may not have as many parks as Krakow, but Lazienki Palace and its formal gardens make up for it. This 18th-century palace is surrounded by 76 hectares of urban forest and is home to a planetarium, open-air theater and more.
For an outdoor adventure, head to Krakowskie Przedmiescie, Warsaw’s best architectural street. Old houses, monuments, the Presidential Palace and the Polish Academy of Sciences are all within walking distance of each other. Warsaw is one of the most important places to visit in Poland.
Bialowieza Forest Reserve
The largest remaining section of the primeval forest in Europe that once covered much of the continent, the Bialowieza Forest Reserve has certainly earned its place as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The forest is located on the border between Poland and Belarus and covers an area of more than 1,400 square kilometers.
The small village of Bialowieza is in the forest, and so is the open-air Museum of Wooden Architecture – windmills, wooden huts, a tiny wooden chapel, a barn and even a banya (sauna). The reserve is also among the most beautiful places to visit in Poland.
Wroclaw
The city of Wroclaw was not always Polish; over the centuries it was transferred from the Kingdom of Bohemia to Prussia to Germany. Wroclaw has only been officially part of Poland since 1945, after the end of World War II changed some of the border lines in Europe.
The Lubomirski Museum is a good place to visit to learn more about the city’s history – the museum covers the invasion of the city by Nazi and later Soviet Union forces, as well as a number of events from World War II. The Wroclaw City Museum complements this history with an overview of Wroclaw over the past 1,000 years.
The oldest area of Wroclaw is the 13th-century Main Square, which includes St. Elizabeth’s Church and the Old Town Hall. Just a few steps away is the Pan Tadeusz Museum, with multimedia exhibitions dedicated to Polish customs.
Those exploring on foot can look for Wroclaw’s gnomes – over 350 small bronze elves can be found throughout the city, hiding on corners, on pavements and on lampposts.
Usedom Island Since 1945, this island in the Baltic Sea has been legally divided between Poland and Germany. Nicknamed the “Island of the Sun”, Usedom is a popular holiday destination for both countries.
White beaches, soft sand, seaside resorts are the main attractions, but the island is also home to a private botanical garden (open only in the warm months), the remains of the Karnin Lift railway bridge (now designated as a historic symbol of engineering in Germany), and the Mausoleum and Dannenfeldt Cemetery. Lakes, nature reserves and manicured gardens are also spread around the island.
Gdans
Located right in a bay on the Baltic Sea, the ancient city of Gdansk is home to Poland’s main seaport. Most of the old part of the city, known as the Royal Road, dates from the 17th century and is beautifully preserved. Some of the main structures here include the City Gates, the Prison Tower and a number of merchant houses.
Gdansk is also home to the world’s largest brick church, St. Mary’s, as well as the star-shaped Wisloujscie Fortress and Gdansk’s Port Nowy Lighthouse.
Although Gdansk was not directly affected by the war, the World War II Museum is one of the best historical museums in the country. It features several vehicles – including a Polish Sherman tank and a German DKW motorcycle – as well as artefacts, documents and photographs relating to the war and the Holocaust.