Places to visit in Poland

Discover the wonders of Poland on a journey through UNESCO heritage cities, medieval castles and beautiful natural parks for an unforgettable experience.
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From majestic medieval castles to bustling modern cities, from peaceful primeval forests to the sandy beaches of the Baltic Sea, Poland offers an incredible variety of experiences for every type of traveller. Its rich history thousands of years old is harmoniously intertwined with a dynamic and innovative present, creating a unique cultural mosaic.

Whether you are a history buff, art lover, gourmet in search of authentic flavours or simply in search of breathtaking scenery, Poland has something to offer everyone.

Krakow

Kraków, the ancient capital of Poland, is a city that looks like something out of a medieval fairy tale. Its beating heart is the Market Square (Rynek Główny), the largest medieval square in Europe. Surrounded by elegant Renaissance and Gothic palaces, this square is dominated by the majestic St. Mary’s Basilica, famous for its wooden altar, a masterpiece of Gothic art.

Not far from the square stands Wawel Castle, a symbol of Polish history and identity. This royal fortress, overlooking the Vistula River, houses a magnificent cathedral where kings and national heroes rest. Its sumptuous interior, adorned with Flemish tapestries and Renaissance works of art, recounts centuries of Polish history.

Art lovers should not miss Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Lady with an Ermine’, on display at the National Museum in Kraków. This Renaissance masterpiece, considered one of the most important female portraits in the history of art, attracts visitors from all over the world for its enigmatic beauty and technical mastery.

The Jewish quarter of Kazimierz offers an insight into Poland’s rich pre-war Jewish culture. With its historic synagogues, bohemian cafés and kosher restaurants, Kazimierz is now a vibrant cultural centre celebrating the rebirth of the Jewish community in Poland.

Warsaw

Warsaw is the capital of Poland and an extraordinary example of resilience and rebirth. Almost completely destroyed during World War II, the city was rebuilt with such fidelity that it has earned UNESCO recognition. The Royal Castle and the Old Town (Stare Miasto) have been meticulously reconstructed, offering visitors an authentic experience of pre-war Warsaw.

The Palace of Culture and Science, an imposing Stalinist-style skyscraper, dominates the city skyline. From its rooftop terrace, there is a breathtaking view of the modern metropolis stretching as far as the eye can see.

For music lovers, a visit to the Chopin Museum is a must. Located in the Ostrogski Palace, this interactive museum offers total immersion in the life and work of the famous Polish composer.

Gdańsk

Gdańsk, overlooking the Baltic Sea, is a city that enchants with its Hanseatic architecture and millennial history. The Royal Street (Ulica Długa) and the Long Market (Długi Targ) are the beating heart of the city, with their colourful façades and elaborate decorations reminiscent of the former wealth of this trading port.

The symbol of Gdańsk is the Neptune Fountain, a magnificent Renaissance sculpture dominating the Long Market. Not far away, St Mary’s Basilica stands imposingly, offering visitors a panoramic view of the city from its tower.

To understand Poland’s more recent history, a visit to the European Solidarity Centre is essential. This modern interactive museum tells the story of the Solidarity movement and the fall of communism in Eastern Europe.

Wieliczka Salt Mine

Just a few kilometres from Krakow is one of Poland’s most unique attractions: the Wieliczka Salt Mine. This underground labyrinth, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a veritable city carved out of salt, with a history dating back to the 13th century.

Visitors can explore over 3 kilometres of tunnels, admiring salt sculptures, underground lakes and even a chapel carved entirely out of salt. The Chapel of St Kinga, with its salt crystal chandeliers and bas-reliefs telling biblical stories, is an absolute masterpiece of salt art.

The mine also offers halotherapy treatments in its underground sanatorium, exploiting the beneficial properties of salt air for respiratory health.

Malbork

Malbork Castle, located in northern Poland, is one of the most impressive medieval fortresses in Europe. Built in the 13th century by the Teutonic Order, this massive red brick complex is the largest Gothic castle in the world.

Visitors can explore the three main parts of the castle: the High Castle, the Middle Castle and the Low Castle, each with its own unique characteristics. The castle museum houses a rich collection of medieval weapons, armour and amber jewellery.

Particularly impressive is the evening tour, when the castle is illuminated, creating an almost magical atmosphere that takes visitors back in time.

Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains

The Tatra Mountains, located on the border between Poland and Slovakia, offer some of the most spectacular scenery in the country. This mountain range, part of the Carpathians, is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, with hiking, climbing and skiing opportunities.

Zakopane is the main starting point for exploring the Tatras. This picturesque mountain town is famous for its Zakopane-style wooden architecture and lively folklore traditions.

One of the highlights is Lake Morskie Oko, a magnificent alpine lake surrounded by imposing peaks. Reached by a picturesque hike, it offers breathtaking views that amply reward the effort.

Wroclaw

Wroclaw, with its many bridges and river islands, is often called the ‘Polish Venice’. The heart of the city is the Market Square (Rynek), one of the largest in Europe, surrounded by colourful buildings and dominated by the Gothic Town Hall.

One of Wroclaw’s most characteristic attractions are its bronze gnomes. These small sculptures, scattered throughout the city, are a playful tribute to the anti-communist resistance movement ‘Orange Alternative’.

Cathedral Island (Ostrów Tumski) is the oldest part of the city, with its imposing Gothic cathedral of St John the Baptist. At night, when the gas lamps are lit by hand, the atmosphere becomes particularly atmospheric.

Auschwitz-Birkenau

The Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, located near the town of Oświęcim, is a place of deep reflection and commemoration. This former Nazi concentration and extermination camp, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, serves as a powerful reminder of the horrors of the Holocaust and a tribute to its victims.

The emotionally intense visit includes the prison blocks, gas chambers and crematoria. The museum houses an extensive collection of personal items that belonged to the victims, testifying to the scale and horror of what happened here.

Despite its sombre nature, a visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau is considered a moral duty for many, a way to honour the memory of the victims and to ensure that such atrocities are never forgotten or repeated.

The Baltic Sea Coast

Poland’s Baltic Sea Coast offers over 500 km of sandy beaches, picturesque coastal towns and a rich maritime history. Sopot, with its longest wooden pier in Europe, is a popular seaside resort, famous for its belle époque charm and lively nightlife.

The beaches of Łeba are famous for their impressive shifting dunes, which create an almost desert-like landscape unique in Europe. The nearby Słowiński National Park offers the opportunity to explore this extraordinary coastal ecosystem.

The Baltic coast is also famous for its amber, the ‘stone of the sea’. In Gdynia, the Amber Museum offers a fascinating insight into the history and processing of this fossilised resin.

Poznań

Poznań, one of the oldest cities in Poland, is a perfect mix of history and modernity. Its heart is the Old Market Square (Stary Rynek), dominated by the Renaissance City Hall. At midday, two mechanical kids appear on the clock tower, enchanting tourists and locals alike with their daily ritual.

The city is also an important university and technology centre. The Porta Posnania Interactive Heritage Centre offers an innovative multimedia experience that tells the city’s thousand-year history.

Poznań is famous for its rogale świętomarcińskie, crescent-shaped cakes filled with almond and poppy paste, traditionally prepared for St Martin’s Day.

Katowice

Katowice, the capital of the Silesian region, is a city that has managed to reinvent itself, transforming itself from an industrial centre to a vibrant cultural hub. Its mining past is celebrated in the Silesian Museum, housed in a former mine shaft, which offers a fascinating insight into the history and culture of the region.

Katowice’s architecture is an interesting mix of styles, from modernism to Soviet brutalism. The Concert Hall of the Polish National Symphony Radio is a masterpiece of contemporary architecture with perfect acoustics, making it a must-see for music lovers.

The Nikiszowiec district is a hidden gem of Katowice. This residential complex for miners, built in the early 20th century, with its characteristic red brick buildings and inner courtyards, offers a unique insight into working-class life in the early 20th century.

Szczecin

Szczecin, an important Baltic Sea port, is a city rich in history and maritime charm. The Castle of the Dukes of Pomerania, rebuilt after World War II, dominates the historical centre and hosts interesting exhibitions on the history of the region.

The Wały Chrobrego (Chrobry Terraces) offer a spectacular walk along the Oder River, with views of the harbour and some of the city’s most impressive buildings, including the National Museum and Maritime Academy.

Szczecin’s Central Cemetery is surprisingly one of the city’s most fascinating attractions. At 170 hectares, it is the third largest cemetery in Europe and is more like a nature park, with a rich variety of rare plants and historical monuments.

Lublin

Lublin, located in eastern Poland, is a city with centuries of encounters between different cultures. Its picturesque historical centre, with the Krakow Gate as its focal point, is a labyrinth of cobbled streets and old buildings.

Lublin Castle, with its Gothic chapel decorated with Russian-Byzantine frescoes, is a unique testimony to the fusion of Western and Eastern cultures. The castle also houses the Lublin Museum, which tells the rich history of the city.

Lublin has been an important centre of Jewish culture in Poland for centuries. The Yeshiva Chachmei Lublin, once the largest Talmudic school in the world, is now a museum that tells the story of Lublin’s Jewish community.

The city is also home to major cultural festivals, including the Carnival of Magicians, which turns the streets of Lublin into a stage for magic and illusionist performances.

Toruń

Toruń, the birthplace of the famous astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, is a perfectly preserved medieval jewel. Its historical centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers one of the best examples of Gothic architecture in Poland.

The Copernicus House, now converted into a museum, offers a fascinating insight into the life of the great scientist. The Old Town Hall, with its panoramic tower, dominates the market square, surrounded by picturesque merchant houses.

Toruń is also famous for its pierniki, traditional honey-spiced biscuits. A visit to the Gingerbread Museum allows you to discover the history of this local delicacy and even participate in a baking workshop.

Białowieża National Park

The Białowieża National Park is a natural treasure of inestimable value. This primeval forest, the last remaining in Europe, offers visitors a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in a pristine ecosystem that has remained virtually unchanged for thousands of years.

The park is famous for being home to the last population of European bison in the wild. These majestic animals, once on the brink of extinction, now thrive in this protected forest. Visitors can observe them in their natural habitat through guided hikes or by visiting the breeding reserve.

In addition to the bison, the forest is home to a rich biodiversity, with over 250 species of birds and numerous rare mammals such as the wolf, lynx and European beaver. Birdwatchers will find a true paradise here.

Map

Insights

Kraków

Kraków

Immerse yourself in the magic of Krakow, a UNESCO heritage city famous for its majestic castle, Gothic churches and the largest medieval square in Europe.
Warsaw

Warsaw

Discover Warsaw, a city nestled on the Vistula River and capital of Poland. In addition to the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it offers many places of historical interest.
Wroclaw

Wroclaw

Discover Wroclaw, a delightful city with a magnificent medieval square and a Gothic cathedral in its beautiful old centre. And don't forget to take a river cruise!
Gdansk

Gdansk

Explore Gdansk, a port city rich in history with typical Hanseatic architecture. Don't miss the beautiful riverfront and its fascinating old town.
Poznań

Poznań

Poznan combines millennial history and modernity. It offers a picturesque Market Square, a historical cathedral, interesting museums and a lively imperial quarter.
Katowice

Katowice

Explore Katowice, a former Silesian industrial centre that has become a vibrant city with modernist architecture, innovative museums and a new cultural quarter.
Zakopane

Zakopane

Zakopane is the gateway to the Tatra Mountains. It offers skiing, hiking, folk culture and unique traditional mountain architecture.
Lublin

Lublin

Lublin blends medieval and Renaissance history with student vibrancy. It offers unique attractions and rich gastronomy, as well as being an ideal base for exploring the region.
Malbork

Malbork

Malbork, Poland's medieval jewel, offers a journey back in time with its imposing castle and fascinating old town.
Łódź

Łódź

A former industrial city reinvented as a cultural hub, Łódź offers a mix of textile history, contemporary art and eclectic architecture.
Gdynia

Gdynia

Gdynia, one of the three components of the Triple City, offers modernist architecture and a lively cultural scene.
Sopot

Sopot

Sopot is an elegant seaside resort with Art Nouveau architecture. It offers relaxation, culture and lively nightlife on the picturesque Baltic Riviera.
Christmas markets in Poland

Christmas markets in Poland

Discover the magic of Christmas markets in Poland's most beautiful cities. Stalls with traditional handicrafts and gastronomic specialities guarantee a perfect Christmas atmosphere.
Częstochowa

Częstochowa

Częstochowa is famous for the Jasna Góra Sanctuary and the icon of the Black Madonna and is Poland's main pilgrimage centre.
Tatra Mountains National Park

Tatra Mountains National Park

A majestic mountain range between Poland and Slovakia, the Tatra Mountains offer breathtaking scenery, hiking for all levels and quaint mountain villages.
Szczecin

Szczecin

Szczecin, a Polish gem on the Oder River, captivates with its Castle of the Dukes, Chrobrego Terrace and Gothic Cathedral. History and nature come together in this unique port city.