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A video that makes me want to go to Poland

A lot of Poland in 5 minutes. Keep an eye on the right lower corner for the name of the place the video is showing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekz6i58kVpI

We spent 16 days in Poland and loved every minute. One of our favorites trips. We want to go again, but next time we would rent a car and drive to some of the smaller cities. We used trains last trip.

Terrific video with some great new places for me to research before my trip.... whenever it may happen. Thanks!

Thanks so much for posting this. In April of 2018, prior to a week in Prague for a Road Scholar adventure, enjoyed several days in Krakow with a full day in Auschwitz. It is a wonderful, fun city and easy for a senior woman to get around safely. Learned so much from Andrew Durman and one of his associates, thanks to RS's high praise. It was beautiful and these overhead/drone shots provide an amazing view of so many sights I would like to see a second time and several other cities on my future list.

Thanks Dave, beautiful drone cinematography! It gives a fantastic grand tour of Poland, without the need to change hotels each time lol :). Wisła is a particular favourite of mine, a real hidden gem, perfect for a relaxing summer getaway.

I would also highly recommend this drone video on Poland (no city labels though), equally beautifully, but also gives a peak at local life and perfectly captures the spirit of the Polish people: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCelkqmkxMs&t

Great video, Carlos. Thanks for sharing. I like that's it has people. not just places!

One upped again! 🙂

Welcome to the Forum! Thanks for sharing your experience in Krakow. I found it to be a pretty great place, too. Other than a day trip from there to Zakopane, it's the only place I've been in Poland. I had a trip to Gdansk and Warsaw planned for September, but I don't think any European country is going to want us dirty Americans bringing Coronavirus back into their country for a while. Delta helped me out today, changing the arrival time on my return flight to the US by 5 hours, so I can cancel my "non-refundable" ticket and get a refund.

I'm going to expand from 11 nights to 24 nights for my reboot, and I think I'm going to do something like...

Warsaw (7-8N) Bialowieza (3N) Bialystok (3N) Olsztyn (3N) Malbork* (2N) Gdansk (5-6N)

...incorporating some of the suggestions from your thread about adding smaller places.

*I liked Carlos' suggestion (somewhere) of 2 nights in Malbork (instead of a day trip from Gdansk) to allow for an early start at the castle while still seeing the "glowing red" bricks at sunset.

I found your trip reports helpful and interesting (and I have them bookmarked!). Thanks for sharing them.

Hey Dave, that's great news about your flight. Though I do feel sad about our little group dinner in Warsaw.

I'm still waiting and wondering. Well, not really wondering... to your point that it's unlikely Poland will be ready for us to visit. So really only wondering if I'll get a refund or voucher.

Your new itinerary looks terrific! I'm so glad to see you're expanding it. I've got work to do on mine, including the Marlbork overnight idea.

Three nights in Bialystok seems like a lot unless you have specific historical or ancestral reasons for being there (ok, you’ve got bialys, and Father Popielusko, and the founding of Esperanto, and the declaration of the Polish Soviet Republic from the Dzerszhinsky balcony) but still 3 nights seems like a lot.

Thanks to you and Carlos for sharing the great videos.

Dave, Thanks for the welcome. The Polish people were the real highlight of my trip. My BIL has made many work trips to Wrocław in the last several years and is is high on my list, along with Gdańsk. Hopefully they will allow us in before I'm too old to do it on my own. Glad to hear about your Delta ticket. I was very relieved with my Delta refund in March when they finally cancelled my flight for first RSE trip which had already been canceled.

Carlos, Thanks for your Poland video. Enjoy seeing all this drone footage. Also gave me another look at the Kościuszko Mound in both your and Dave's videos. My late in-laws, German heritage, lived in Kościuzko County, Indiana where the county seat is named Warsaw so I had to check it out on my visit.

I was very much looking forward to dinner with you, V, and her travel companion (husband, I think!), too.

I will say that I am finding so much to see in Poland. I would love to do a 90-day Schengen limit trip through Poland, but it's not practical at this point in my life. I'm looking at some day doing a western Poland trip (Wrocław, Jelenia Góra/Karkonosze National Park, Wisła +/- Dresden and Görlitz) and a southern trip (Kraków, Zakopane, the Bieszczady, Zamość, Lublin -- would like to work in Kielce, too).

I am really, really, really missing Fred -- I liked it when he would point out things of historical significance that I should go see.

Hi Dave, I'm really liking your redux version of your Poland itinerary. It certainly gives you the flexibility to do a deep dive in some of the larger cities and explore some extra day trip options.

I'm also glad you added 3 nights for Olsztyn, you won't be disappointed. From Olsztyn you can make a rather interesting daytrip to the Grunwald Battlefield. The Battle of Grunwald (1410 AD) was the largest battle in medieval Europe, it pitted the Kingdom of Poland and Lithuania versus the German Teutonic Knights during the Northern Crusades. The battle plays a big role in Polish national identity even today.

The atmosphere of the battlefield is really something, even though for the most part it is an open field (intentionally preserved) with a few memorials, I felt the underlying atmosphere was palpable. Adjacent to the battlefield, there is a small museum with artifacts, as well as some ruins of the original 15th century chapel commemorating the battle. As this is a bit off the beaten-path for international tourists, when I was there in 2015, all the signs were in Polish, but the shop by the entrance to the battlefield had informational brochures in English and German.

Edit to add: perhaps I am channeling a bit of my inner Fred lol!

Thanks for your comment and pointing out the Father Popieluszko memorial/statue in Bialystok. I didn't realize there was one there. I will definitely look it up! As for the number of nights, I'm outdoorsy. The nearby Knyszyń forest has some interesting looking trails for biking/hiking.

As I read your post, I was thinking, "Thanks, Fred!" At your recommendation on Judy B's thread, I have started reading God's Playground . My first thought on reading your recommendation? There is no way I'm reading a two-volume history of Poland. The more I've read, though, the more I feel like I need a good understanding of Polish history to contextualize the other things I read.

Edit: Oh, yeah... Grunwald added to the itinerary!

Thanks for the videos and information, Dave and Carlos. We also had a trip planned for Poland in September. We're hoping to take the same trip in September 2021. After watching these videos and reading these posts we may have to make a few changes to our itinerary. Since air fare might be higher it would make sense to add a few days to our trip, right?? :)

Happy to help :)

Now if you want a real adventure in history (à la Atlas Obscura), try to make a stop at the ruins of Finckenstein Palace, located halfway between Olsztyn and Malbork. Schloss Finckenstein (as it was known back then) was Napoleon Bonaparte's home during his 1807 central European campaigns. Also the historic Treaty of Finckenstein between France and Persia was signed there too. I visited in 2015 and had the whole ruins to myself to explore, not a single other tourist was there. Though you have to go to the grocery store across the street to ask them to let you in.

Interestingly, in the 1930s, Finckenstein was the filming location of the Oscar nominated Hollywood film Conquest , staring Greata Garbo, about Napoleon's romantic relationship with Marie Walewska. Unfortunately, the Soviets torched Finckenstein on their '45 march to Berlin, now the grand old ruins sit empty and overgrown, lost to history, save for the occasional adventurous traveler or two...

Ah Dave — makes sense !

Dave and CW - I'm sad that our meeting for dinner seems unlikely. I'm still holding tickets and waiting to see what Lufthansa does.

This is what you can do in the Białystok/Podlasie region: https://podroze.gazeta.pl/podroze/7,114158,26047363,podlaskie-na-wakacje-poznajcie-najbardziej-klimatyczne-miasto.html#s=BoxOpMT

I tried posting it through Google Translate for convenience but GT deleted several photos from instagram so I leave it in Polish. The places featured are: -Supraśl and Knyszyn Forest -Tykocin -Narew National Park -Kruszyniany and the Land of Open Shutters -Rajgród -Studzieniczne Lake

And short videos from Podlasie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6f-iilIT6o0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSqhzXbzNkQ

Wow, AW. Thanks for the resources and the list of sites. My guide book (the Rough Guide Poland) mentioned Supraśl and the Knyszyńska Forest, but you have given me much more to explore. The reconstructed castle at Tykocin is of interest to me due to the original castle holding Zygmunt II August’s body for over a year before his burial in Wawel Cathedral and due to Janusz Radziwiłł’s death there. The wood churches and mosque also look pretty intriguing. Those videos are gorgeous.

One again, many thanks. I welcome any more recommendations/thoughts you have — whether on the Podlasie Region or other areas.

Tykocin is a very nice day trip from Białystok, or you can stay there - the reconstructed castle is also a hotel.

Here are some other suggestions what you can see:

A nice day trip is a loop Białystok>Supraśl>Krynki>Kruszyniany (Lipka Tatars heritage-mosque, village, cuisine)> south to Road 65 and back to Białystok.

The highlight of the Podlasie region are the old wooden rural architecture and wooden Orthodox churches, and they are all over the place in the area between Białowieża and Białystok! No matter which road you take you are bound to see some. The ones that easy to see driving from Hajnówka towards Białystok (or vice versa) are in Łosinka, Narew, Trześcianka and Puchły

https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerkiew_%C5%9Bw._Aposto%C5%82a_Jakuba_w_%C5%81osince https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerkiew_%C5%9Bw._Micha%C5%82a_Archanio%C5%82a_w_Trze%C5%9Bciance https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerkiew_Opieki_Matki_Bo%C5%BCej_w_Puch%C5%82ach https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerkiew_Podwy%C5%BCszenia_Krzy%C5%BCa_Pa%C5%84skiego_w_Narwi

On the way from Warsaw to Białowieża do not miss Drohiczyn and Holy Mountain Grabarka with thousands of crosses - both very picturesque and magical places. Then you can stop by the old wooden churches in Milejczyce, Werstok, Dubicze Cerkiewne, Stary Kornin, Orla https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerkiew_%C5%9Bw._Barbary_w_Milejczycach https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerkiew_Podwy%C5%BCszenia_Krzy%C5%BCa_Pa%C5%84skiego_w_Werstoku https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerkiew_Opieki_Matki_Bo%C5%BCej_w_Dubiczach_Cerkiewnych https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerkiew_%C5%9Bw._Micha%C5%82a_Archanio%C5%82a_w_Starym_Korninie https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerkiew_%C5%9Bw._Micha%C5%82a_Archanio%C5%82a_w_Orli

There are also beautiful wooden churches in Bielsk Podlaski https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerkiew_Narodzenia_Naj%C5%9Bwi%C4%99tszej_Maryi_Panny_w_Bielsku_Podlaskim https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerkiew_%C5%9Bw._Micha%C5%82a_Archanio%C5%82a_w_Bielsku_Podlaskim

Practically all links are only in Polish, a clear indication that these places are truly off the beaten track:)

Thanks to Dave for starting this thread and to everyone who has contributed thus far. I am happily bookmarking for future reference!

Thanks for going above and beyond to provide additional information. I really appreciate the all the information you have provided (and the links!). I'm going to take a closer look at the day trip loop you suggested. Also... I had heard of a hill with crosses in Lithuania, but I did not realize there was one in Poland, too. Thanks for suggesting that... it will be cool to see.

Perhaps our trails will cross again some day! I'm pulling for things to come together for you so you can make your trip.

Nice thread on a country that I so much enjoyed and where my expectations were surpassed by a lot. We did Zakopane in the south for 3 nights. Wanted to enjoyed the mountains there and were charmed by the Morskie Oko lake and surroundings Krakow as jumped in my absolute favorite cities. Such a beauty, still not overwhelmed by mass tourism. We stayed 3 nights as well. We went to the salt mine prior to arriving, a must, and to Auschwitz when leaving, an absolute must... But we also fell in love with Wroclaw. What an Unesco beauty the city center is so pretty. We were pleasantly surprised by the food, pricing of course as so much lower than the western europe countries. People were just great. We loved every single minute of that part of our trip. I was sad to not be able to fit Gdansk and it's surroundings in that trip.

I am a history buff and when traveling it is a big part of where I go and what I see. Attached are two links, for off the beaten path, places to visit in Northeast Poland: Hochwald, Steinort Manor, and Wolf's Lair. A car is necessary to visit these sights.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kWJJFC8j8nU

https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/silent-witness-the-incredible-tale-of-a-60s-supermodel-a-german-aristocrat-a-plot-to-kill-hitler-and-a-crumbling-300-year-old-palace-4338

I thought you and CW Social might find them interesting in putting together your travel itineraries to Poland.

I thought I had posted this earlier, but there is a series on PBS (CREATE, locally) called Flavor of Poland that includes a visit to cities and regions with an emphasis on food and cooking. It might be of interest because it shows some of the cities mentioned.

Traveller99... Thanks for the info and links. Wolf's Lair was on my list, but not Hochwald or Steinort Manor. It would be kind of cool to eat in the Huntsman Mansion that was air-lifted to Gałkowo, too.

stan... Thanks for the Flavor of Poland. I watched the Podlaskie and the Warmian-Masurian episodes. I'll keep watching...

Enjoyed the video, thank you.

I have been to Poland twice and will hopefully be going back summer 2021. That video was beautiful, thank-you.

Great video! Thanks for posting.

I've been to Poland once and it's a country I'd definitely like to return to. The people I met were wonderful.

Our first trip to Europe, other than England, was Poland back in 2004. We spent nine nights in Warsaw and seven in Krakow, with a few daytrips out from each. It was the most amazing travel experience we've ever had, even after all these years.

@ Dave....If you get to Schloss Finckenstein, it was the site where Napoleon met for the second time Marie Walewska, where there was a reception and ball for Napoleon. Good that you're going to Olsztyn, you might see if the Protestant church building still exists when the town was known as Allenstein.

In 2005 we three (the Mrs, the MLI, and I) were en route from Poznan having had to transfer there from Berlin to Torun, got into conversation with these young Polish women in French (the common language among us) who told us they were going to the terminus...Olsztyn, which I have to admit did not ring a bell until she said immediately, Allenstein.

This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity.

Ultimate Poland Road Trip – 7 Summer Locations In 10 Days

Ever wanted to see more than once place in a short amount of time? A road trip is the best for this. Except I bet Poland wasn’t your first choice for a road trip! Poland has so many interesting, fun and romantic locations that all have something unique with character and history. Exploring many locations in a short amount time will allow you to immerse yourself in the Polish culture and experience life in Poland too.

Which is why an Ultimate Poland Road Trip is an experience that everyone should enjoy at least once. These 7 beautiful summer locations are all worth visiting within a 10 day route* and we hope it inspires you!

*This is a road trip I personally did with my boyfriend in June 2021, so its written with experience. All photos are our own – and we can highly recommend this route!

About Poland

Before we share about the 10 day road trip route, see here some quick info about Poland:

Population In Poland

The total population of Poland is around 40 million residents, which are spread out among the 16 administrative provinces. The largest metropolis is Warsaw, shortly followed behind with Krakow, Poznan and Szczecin.

Best Time To Visit

The weather all year round can be a bit like the rest of Europe, from weeks of rain to scorching hot summers. Weather in June is perfect for a road trip, with temperatures from 20°​c to 30°​c throughout the country. Summer period is the best time to experience Poland, but this Poland road trip itinerary is also suitable from May to September.

The main currency in Poland is złoty. With the euro conversion rate, its pretty cheap to go to Poland, especially for  10 day road trip – where we had a conversion of 1 euro to only 0.20 zł – Only a 5th of the euro!

Tip: When taking out money from a cash machine, never accept the conversion from the machine – its always much higher than your actual bank conversion charges. 

Facts About Poland

Before we go into more detail, here are 5 facts about Poland worth knowing before you visit:

• The famous dish of Pierogi is one of the most eaten filled dumplings, with Ruskie (potato and cheese)
• Poland is the 9th largest country in Europe geographically, which includes a total of 7 borders with other countries.
• Vodka has been drunk in Poland since the 11th century, which started as a medicine.
• Poland is the largest explorer of Amber, with many souvenirs being sold with this.
• There are 24 National Parks, 1,300 lakes and over 70 mountains to explore.

How To Get There & Car Rental

Flights to Poland are pretty affordable from many European countries, with flight costing as low as 15 euros for a fare if you are lucky and not that far away. Many airlines also fly to the bigger cities such as Warsaw, Poznan and Krakow, with Polish and international airlines providing direct routes.

Car Rental And Costs

Renting a car is easy from the bigger cities and airports. In Krakow for this road trip we rented from a local car hire company that allowed us to return the car back in a different city, since we were flying back from a different airport. For our rental car of 10 days, including fuel costs and cost to return it to a different location, it was only 130 euros for the whole trip. A super cheap price!

Driving Experience in Poland

In Poland you drive on the right side of the road, like most other EU countries. It’s very easy to drive in Poland, since most road signs are all the same and easy to understand. As long as you have some driving experience in general, you will have no issues driving in Poland. Just keep in mind of some local rules too, such as when driving into the old city centres of the bigger cities, many of these roads that are only allowed for residents to enter.

Poland Road Trip Itinerary

Planning a road trip in general is great to see a lot of places in a short amount of time.

Here are the main locations you can visit with this recommended Poland Road Trip:

• Mragowo (Masurian Lake District)
• Warsaw Capital City

The map of Poland shared below shows the full road trip itinerary. On google this shares that the route is just under 1600km / 994miles, which does not include any extra points of interest you may want to see along the way. Between each location mentioned, it is on average around 3 hours driving between each – which is easily doable!

First Location: Krakow

Duration: 1 night

Where To Stay: Aparthotel Stare Miasto

Start the road trip in a place that’s easy to get to from your destination, with Krakow a great place with their international airport. Arriving super early in the morning or late at night is not an issue, as there are easy connections by train or taxi’s directly to the city.

Krakow is one of the favourite places to visit as a tourist in Poland. It has a beautiful old town with market square. We can see why it’s a top visit as the city has a bit of everything . Interesting history, a huge shopping mall, a castle and of course it’s a foodies paradise for local bites to international dishes. Krakow is also perfect for a night out dancing (and to try some local vodkas!).

Fun Fact: The main market square in the old city of Krakow the largest city plaza of medieval world. 

Second Location: Poznan

Duration: 2 nights

Where To Stay: Wozna 11 Stare Miasto

Next stop on the road trip is the city of Poznan. This pretty city is the best place for drinking, relaxing on a terrace of a restaurant and eating good food while on the old market square. The late-Renaissance town hall is also on this square with is gorgeous three tiers and arches.

Other things to do and see in Poznan include the natural and history museum, exploring the local parks, getting a tour at the Polish Lech brewery, the military museum and exploring the jungle plant paradise at Palmiarnia Poznanska. For the foodies among us, there is even a croissant museum!

Fun fact: The main town hall’s clock has a few mechanical goats that butt heads at noon.

Third Location: Kolobrzeg

Where To Stay: Nad Parsętą

After already that inland road trip travelling, the next stop is at the sea! Kolobrzeg is a popular seaside location for all Polish and Germans. Kolobrzeg literally means “by the shore”, which is smart as there is of course the lovely sandy beach, which is the main reason for most people visiting. When not on the beach, you can also explore the 17th century lighthouse.

Kolobrzeg has a promenade right next to the beach for walking along before finding a spot on the sand for the day. Else it’s the perfect place for a gorgeous evening stroll. If you fancy a drink by the sea, walk up the local pier to the end for a drink at the little restaurant. Here you can look back to Kolobrzeg as the sun sets.

Fun Fact: Kolobrzeg was once a fortress under Hitlers reign during World War Two, with 90% of the buildings being destroyed during the war. 

Fourth Location: Gdynia

Where To Stay: Apartamenty Na Fali

After staying at the sandy beach location of Kołobrzeg, time to head along the highway to Gydnia as the next road trip location.

From Gdynia, you could also visit Wladyslawowo or Hel, both great places with activities like kite surfing and swimming. Else, spend all your time in Gydnia by exploring the hiking locations close to the clifs, enjoying a boat trip or shopping at the large shopping mall.

Gydnia is also known for its modernist style buildings and unlike the other Polish cities, there is not much of a historical old square to spend time at. Since the port is quite large for boats and sailors, it’s also set up for tourists. You can also explore a military ORP Błyskawica destroyer ship and the Dar Pomorzia fully-rigged sailing ship as well as the Polish National Maritime Museum.

Fun Fact: By public vote in 2008, Gdynia made it on the Monopoly Now World Edition board as one of the favourites. 

Fifth Location: Gdańsk

Where To Stay: Hotel Gdańsk Boutique

After a gorgeous night at Gydnia, it’s mandatory to check out the next destination of Gdańsk nearby. These two cities are part of the Tri-city with Sopot in the middle (also worth stopping at!). Gdańsk itself is an absolutely picturesque location with a gorgeous old town center full of restaurants and local boutiques. There are also some canals with boat trips in the area.

Reconstructed after World War Two, Gdańsk is a very popular destination for weekends away with Polish nationals and tourists. This city is also the world’s amber trade location, where you can buy beautiful amber jewellery/statues or visit the Amber Museum.

Fun Fact: Gdansk is home to the longest building in Poland, called the Falowiec.

Sixth Location: Mragowo (Masurian Lake District)

Where To Stay: Kamienica Na Nowo Apartamenty

For those who love nature, stopping at Mragowo is the perfect spot for hiking, sailing and more. The whole Masurian Lake District is picturesque for families and couples to enjoy. You don’t need a sailing license to rent one of the boats either, allowing you to reserve or pick up on the day a motor boat of your choice from one of the many boat renters.

We personally rented a boat for only 2 hours from Mikolajki – which is a great place of choice for restaurants in the area too. Preferably renting a boat for longer is actually better, as you can then sail north or south of the lake area – with the furthest destination 4-5 hours away. That way you can make a full day for the activity and allowing you to stop, enjoy your picnic and explore the combined lakes.

Our full blogpost about the Masurian Lakes and staying at Mragowo can be found here!

Fun Fact: Besides the beautiful nature, Mragowo is home to a mini Western town called Mrongoville, allowing you to explore like a cowboy visiting the shops, rodeo shows and wild west performances. 

Seventh Location: Warsaw

Where To Stay: Hilton Warsaw City Hotel

A road trip through Poland wouldn’t be a road trip without at least 1 night at the capital of Poland. Its a great place to also start your road trip, since there are some fantastic connections from everywhere to the international airport.

Highlights of things to visit in Warsaw include the 360° views from the Palace of Culture and Science, hide yourself in the beautiful botanical garden at the University of Warsaw and evening social drinks at Vistula’s Stairs. The city also has a huge shopping mall and all the restaurants you can think of. We summarised our top 10 restaurants here as well as the cutest cat cafe you just must visit if you are a kitty lover!

The old town of Warsaw is also a highlight for visiting, full of cute boutiques and local restaurants selling some delicious Polish dishes. Here you can also find the Royal Castle of Warsaw.

Fun Fact: The capital city of Warsaw holds the record of the largest parade of Hybrid cars in the Guinness World Record Books.

Check out our other Poland related posts here:

Pretty Poland: A Day Trip In Krakow Old Town

Romantic poland weekend getaway locations.

The Masurian Lakes and Mragowo

10 Best Restaurants In Warsaw, Poland

Cat Cafe In Warsaw: Miau Grau!

Kolobrzeg: Top Things To Do By The Beach!

Poland Road Trip Summary

These lovely 7 locations in Poland are the perfect spots to stop at during a 10 day road trip. What makes it so great? Each location is within 3 hours of driving and you get to have plenty of time to enjoy each location.

The locations we visited have something special for enjoying, whether it’s a museum, a botanical garden or all the delicious restaurants you can try along the way. Of course we can highly recommend to research each location yourself to make sure these locations suit your own interests – but we have no doubt you’d enjoy them all as much as we did!

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The Masurian Lakes And Mragowo: Activities And More!

I loved your pictures & might just have to add Poland to my list of places to see! Thanks so much for sharing your tips!

ANUKRATI DOSI

Poznan indeed looks so pretty and charming.

Great itinerary! My family is from Poland and so I visit often. I’ve never been to the northwest of Poland so I might use a part of this itinerary next time I visit 🙂

You sure hit some of the most beautiful cities in Poland. I grew up in Poland and lived in both Poznan and Wroclaw, so I’m happy you got to see those cities.

Poland is definitely on my list! So much history and it looks beautiful in the summer!

Re: “In Poland you drive on the left side of the road, like most other EU countries. ” –> in Poland (as in all EU countries except Ireland) you drive on the right side of the road, with the steering wheel on the left… 🙂

Togetherintransit

Thanks for spotting and letting me know. I must have wrote that part while sleepy! 🙂

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17 Useful Poland Travel Tips: What To Know Before You Go

These Poland travel tips are the result of me traveling around the country in the span of two and a half months, both as a tourist (5 cities in three weeks) and as a digital nomad (the other 1.5 months). 

This article is packed with things to keep in mind while traveling in Poland, from transportation to cultural tips, accommodations, shopping, food, money and more. There are even a few tips dedicated to what not to do in Poland!

I hope these little life hacks and tips will help you on your trip to Poland :) 

Shops are closed on (some) Sundays…

Similar to a few other Central European countries, the majority of stores are closed on Sundays in Poland. This law was enacted in 2018 and banned shopping malls, supermarkets, and smaller shops from working on Sunday. However, restaurants, bakeries, gas stations, pharmacies, and smaller stores are open.  

What I’m trying to say is, be sure to stock up on groceries and other necessities before Sunday. However, if that doesn’t work, then the next tip will be helpful. :) 

… Fortunately, there’s a workaround: Zabka!

Zabka, Zabka, Zabka… Ah, my favorite convenience chain store in the entire world! :heart emoji: 

These little stores, with their glowing green logo (sometimes with an adorable smiling frog) and convenient layout, have saved me many times when I rolled up to a Biedronka or Lidl… and realized they were closed. :Sweat emoji: 

The majority of Zabka stores are open on Sundays thanks to a loophole (you can check Google for the full story). However, be sure to double check the store you plan to go to ahead of time — right next top the Zabka logo on every store, there should be their hours of operation (i.e. 24/7 means they work all the time, 6-23/7 means they work from 6:00 to 23:00 seven days a week, etc.) 

However, it’s important to note that Zabka takes advantage of its convenience and, as such, prices are a little higher than in other stores. Then again, you can find some really delicious stuff here, including ready-made meals, drinks, snacks, and the famous Zabka hot dog. :)

 (Psst… You’ll see Zabka Everywhere!) 

Poland has a sort of cult-like obsession with Zabka, and I can definitely see why. Besides its convenience and legendary hot dogs, Zabka stores are literally everywhere. 

No joke, one time in Wroclaw I saw three Zabka stores within one block of each other. :sweat emoji: 

There are a loooot of Lofts 

While looking for a place to stay during our two month-long trip, I noticed that many apartment rentals in Poland were lofts (i.e. it’s a studio but they created an upper floor that’s accessible via ladder — see the photo above of the loft we rented in Krakow :)).

I’m not sure if this is a space-saving trick, or if it’s a remnant of industrial buildings, but be aware that you’ll need to climb some stairs (oftentimes steep!) in order to reach the bed. 

If you have bad knees and/or are afraid of heights, I recommend looking at traditional accommodations — although, after living a month in a loft apartment, you get used to it :) 

BYOS — Bring Your Own Soap in Aparthotels!

Speaking of accommodations in Poland… This is a strange travel tip, but I was very surprised that many aparthotels (apartment-like hotels) didn’t provide soap for guests. To avoid any inconveniences, carve out a few extra minutes to stop by a Lidl or supermarket after you check into your aparthotel to buy soap, shampoo, and anything else you might need.

Public Transportation is Super Convenient

One of the most helpful apps during our trip to Poland was Jakdojade, which is an all-in-one trip planner app. You can check how to get to your destination (within a city and between cities!), look at bus/tram/metro timetables, and buy tickets! Best of all, the app works in most large- and medium-sized cities in Poland. 

Traveling Between Cities is Seamless… 

I was very surprised when I learned exactly how diverse and convenient the intercity transport network in Poland was — you can find buses, trains, Flixbus, flights, ride shares, and more! 

If you prefer the romance of train travel, the state-owned PKP offers convenient and cheap rail travel around the country. For trips between medium and small cities, your best bet is FlixBus. We traveled on Flixbus about 5 times during our trip (including an international trip from Berlin to Szczecin) and were pleased at the comfort and convenience. :) 

Best of all, Flixbus has more than 250 routes around Poland — click here to see them all and buy a ticket ! 

… But be careful when buying tickets!

However, one small warning when buying tickets (especially on trains) — some cities sound very similar to each other! 

When I was booking tickets to Wroclaw, I didn’t pay attention and ended up booking tickets to Inowroclaw instead (which, by the way, is about 300 kilometers away from our actual destination). 

Thankfully, after booking tickets to the ‘wrong Wroclaw,’ I could change them on the PKP website for a small fee — but learn from my experience and don’t make the same mistake!  :sweat emoji: 

You Can Get By Without a Car

To reiterate the points above, I’d like to note that Poland has excellent infrastructure for tourists, and you can visit most places without the need to rent a car.

Even some very off-the-beaten-path places, like the beautiful painted village of Zalipie (above), can be visited via public transportation (i.e. taking the train from Krakow to Tarnow and then a bus). There are also day trips and tours that go to such places like Zalipie, Zakopane, and much more :) 

An Up-and-coming Food Scene… 

From Korean fried chicken to Ethiopian kitfo, tikka masala, Japanese dango, Ukrainian borsch, and more… Poland has it all! 

Unexpectedly, Poland has become one of our favorite foodie destinations in Europe. We found dozens of cafes and restaurants serving dishes from around the world, including traditional favorites, street food, and pop-up cafes. Who would have thought that I’d try some of the best Japanese dango and matcha tea in the city of Poznan ? :)  

…With Plenty of Local Delicacies! 

While trying new international cuisine is always fun, don’t forget to enjoy some traditional Polish delicacies as well! My favorite Polish dish is, of course, pierogi, which are dumplings with dozens of different fillings, including potatoes, meat, spinach (vegetarian-friendly!), cottage cheese, cherries, and much more. 

Other must-try dishes include golabki (stuffed cabbage rolls),  placki ziemniaczane (potato pancakes), Polish sausages, and zurek (a type of smoked soup with meat and eggs). 

Visit a Milk Bar!

Now that I’ve got your tastebuds drooling, let me tell you a little travel tip where you can find delicious Polish dishes on a budget — a milk bar!

Locally known as bar mleczny, these canteen-style restaurants are the best place to get hearty and budget-friendly Polish meals. While they’re typically self-serve and with a set menu for the day, milk bars also have a great assortment of typical Polish dishes that have that homemade touch. 

My favorite milk bars in Poland are Różowa Krowa (above) and Krówka bar in Wroclaw ; Milkbar Tomasza in Krakow ; and Jagienka in Bydgoszcz . However, each city should have at least one — check Google Maps for more info :) 

Don’t Exchange Those Dollars/Euros/Pounds!

Coming from Turkey, I was pleasantly surprised to see that credit cards are accepted everywhere. In fact, I didn’t know what paper zloty looked like until I had to find the photo above. :sweat emoji: 

After traveling to dozens of countries (some who were mostly cash-only, like Bosnia & Herzegovina , while others were almost fully cashless, like Sweden ), it was nice to not worry about searching my purse for scrunched-up paper bills to pay for a bottle of water. Just be sure to have a credit card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees! 

Remember the Three D’s: Dzień Dobry, Dziękuję , and Do widzenia

One of the things that warmed my heart was how friendly Polish people were. Every time we would walk into a store, restaurant, cafe, or Zakba, the people inside would always greet us with Dzień Dobry (good morning/day). After a week or so, we started to automatically say it,and after more than two months in the country, saying Dzień Dobry became second nature to me. :cry smile emoji:

Of course, you can also learn the three most important phrases in Polish, as they’ll be very helpful during your trip. You can say Dzień Dobry (dzen’ dob-rih) when greeting someone, Dziękuję (dzen-koo-yeh) when thanking someone, and Do widzenia (doh we-dzen-ya) to say goodbye. 

Tourist information centers are a treasure trove of information

Well, duh Luda, of course they are, you might say, but the tourist information centers in Poland are something else. Seriously, they’re over the top and filled to the brim with information, leaflets, maps, and some even have souvenirs (at much better prices than at the market!) 

Even in the fairly off-the-beaten path city of Bydgoszcz, we met one of the most helpful and friendly information center workers, who spent at least 30 minutes talking about the city in detail, what kind of day trips there are, where we should eat, along with a bunch of fun facts about the city. He even treated us to local chocolate and a handmade magnet. :) 

If you’re lost and/or want to experience Polish hospitality, then make a beeline to the nearest tourist information center. 

Go Beyond Warsaw and Krakow

While Poland may be famous for its charming historical cities, that’s not all there is to it! 

In fact, did you know that Poland has 770 kilometers (480 mi) of coastline? With gorgeous sandy beaches like Krynica Morska, Jurata Beach, or Sopot, I wouldn’t be surprised if Poland eventually becomes a popular beach destination. :wink emoji: 

Likewise, Poland also has 23 (!!) national parks, including the famous Białowieża National Park (the only park that’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Biebrza National Park (the largest national park in Poland), and Slovincian National Park (which has sand dunes!)

Be sure to visit the beaches and rugged coast of the Tricity area (Gdansk, Gdynia, Sopot), immerse yourself in the absolutely lush nature in Zakopane National Park (it’s beautiful both in winter and summer!), and enjoy the Renaissance architecture of Zamość. 

Fly to a Nearby Country

One final travel tip is to consider flying into a neighboring country (like Germany, Czechia, or Slovakia) and then make your way to Poland. You might be able to save a good amount of money and visit two countries (or more) in one trip!  

I actually took advantage of this tip during our last trip to Poland and flew into Berlin (Germany) on Pegasus (a Turkish budget airline) before taking a Flixbus to Szczecin. Thanks to this, I was able to save about 30% on our airline tickets (since there aren’t many budget-friendly ways of flying from Turkey to Poland — yet, I hope :wink emoji:) 

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I just read your blog post about Poland travel tips and I found it very informative and helpful. I especially liked the tip about Zabka stores, which I had never heard of before. I’m definitely going to keep that in mind when I plan my trip to Poland!

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First-timer's guide to Poland

Sep 29, 2023 • 7 min read

Everything you need to know about visiting Poland for the first time © Imgorthand / Getty Images

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Poland  has a long, fascinating, sometimes tragic history, played out against a backdrop of royal castles and palaces, picturesque old towns and incredible landscapes.

From the Carpathian Mountains in the south to the Great Masurian Lakes in the north, Poland is a dream destination if you’re up for an activity-driven vacation – hiking, cycling and kayaking opportunities are abundant, plus there’s skiing in the winter.

If urban pleasures are more your thing, vibrant cities such as the capital Warsaw , the atmospheric old capital Kraków , and revamped 19th-century industrial powerhouse Łódź do not disappoint. Each offers masses of cultural attractions alongside delicious dining and lively nightlife scenes – all at very affordable prices.

As Poland is a big country packed with travel possibilities, you’re sure to have questions. Here are some tips and practical advice on how to get the most out of your first trip to Poland.

When should I go to Poland?

There’s no time of the year to specifically avoid when scheduling a trip. For fine weather and the chance to join summer festivals and events such as Kraków’s Jewish Culture Festival and Warsaw’s Summer Jazz Days , come between May and early September.

Towns and cities come alive as the warmer temperatures tempt everyone outside for alfresco dining and drinking. This is peak season, too, for visiting Poland’s 23 national parks.

The countryside in spring and autumn can also be very beautiful. Winter is the quietest season, except in ski resorts such as Zakopane . Come prepared for frigid temperatures and sloshing through snow and rain.

Compensations include low season rates at hotels and plenty of excellent museums in the major cities in which to shelter from the elements. Autumn through early spring is also when performing arts institutions such as Warsaw’s Teatr Wielki and Filharmonia Narodowa run their season of top-grade shows.

How much time do I need to visit Poland?

Two, or better, three days is the minimum needed for a short city break to either Warsaw or Kraków. You won’t have enough time to cover everything, but you will be able to get a feel for these places and tick off the main attractions.

If you’re prepared to move around quickly, you could cram in more of Poland over 10 days to two weeks, adding to your itinerary metropolises such as Gdańsk (also close to the Baltic seaside resort of Sopot ) and Łódź, as well as smaller historic towns like the artists’ retreat Kazimierz Dolny and Zamość , a perfectly preserved 16th-century Renaissance town.

Have a month to spare? Now you’re talking! This will give you the opportunity to explore rural backwaters and national parks such as World Heritage-listed Białowieża National Park , home to some 800 free-roaming European bison, Poland’s national symbol and Europe’s largest land mammal; and Karkonosze National Park with its spectacular Ice Age glacier-carved landscapes.

Is it easy to get in and around Poland?

Poland is tethered to the world by international flights. The capital’s main airport is the central Warsaw Chopin Airport , with Modlin Airport , 39km (24 miles) north of the city, handling budget carriers.

Other international airports include Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport, Katowice Airport, Kraków John Paul II International Airport, Łódż Airport and Wrocław Airport . There are also excellent rail and bus links, especially with Western European neighbors, including overnight train services to Berlin and Vienna .

Getting around Poland itself is a breeze. There’s a comprehensive system of buses and trains offering both frequent services and affordable prices. For more remote parts, including nearly all the national parks, you’ll really need your own set of wheels.

Hiring a car is straightforward and the roads have vastly improved in recent years (although you will encounter some unsealed roads in the most rural regions). Major cities and towns all have decent public transport, and you can easily cover historic old town centers on foot.

Top things to do in Poland

Kraków, the former royal capital, is a stunner with its heady blend of history and harmonious architecture. At its heart are the vast Rynek Główny, Europe’s largest medieval marketplace, and the magnificent Wawel Royal Castle , on a hill above the Old Town.

But that's just the start – every part of the city is fascinating, from the former Jewish district of Kazimierz and its lively nightlife to the atomic fallout shelters of Nowa Huta .

Warsaw had to be almost completely rebuilt after WWII. The powerful Warsaw Rising Museum focuses on the darkest hours of WWII, while the Museum of Warsaw superbly documents the city's rise, fall and resurrection. Also don’t miss the award-winning POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews , and regal Wilanów Palace and surrounding lush parkland.

Toruń , a walled Gothic city on the Vistula River, miraculously escaped WWII intact. Wander through the UNESCO-listed Old Town crammed with museums, churches, grand mansions and squares. When you’re flagging, perk up with a peppery gingerbread cookie, Toruń’s signature snack, which you can make yourself at the Gingerbread Museum .

The UNESCO-listed Białowieża National Park holds one of Europe’s last vestiges of primeval forest, which you can visit in the company of a guide. The bison, which was once extinct outside zoos, has been successfully reintroduced here, although your best bet for seeing these magnificent animals is the region’s European Bison Show Reserve .

My favorite thing to do in Poland

I’m a huge fan of street art and Łódź has embraced this public form of creative expression unlike anywhere else in Poland - the city is practically one giant art gallery! There are well over 200 public works of art ranging from massive painted murals to installations involving neon, nails and porcelain tiles.

Among my favorites are Pasaż Róży, a dazzling courtyard completely plastered with mirror fragments arranged in swirling rose patterns, and Wiedźmin, a 70m tall mural designed by Jakub Rebelka on the sides of adjacent apartment blocks – it’s a homage to the Witcher series of fantasy books by Łódź-based author Andrzej Sapkowski.

How much money do I need for Poland?

Like everywhere in Europe in recent times, prices have been rising in Poland. That said, the country offers great value, especially when it comes to accommodation, dining out and entertainment. Getting around by public transport is also a bargain.

• Hostel room: 60 zł
• Basic room for two: 200 zł
• Self-catering apartment (including Airbnb): 120 zł
• Public transport ticket: 3.40 zł
• Coffee: 15-20 zł
• Sandwich: 15 zł
• Dinner for two: 150-200 zł
• Beer/pint at the bar: 12 zł

Is Poland part of the EU?

Yes, which means if you’re crossing into the country from neighboring EU countries – the Czech Republic (Czechia), Germany , Lithuania and Slovakia – there are no border formalities. However, rather than the euro, Poland’s national currency is the złoty (zł, sometimes also abbreviated as PLN) which dates back to the 14th century.

Most places accept card or electronic payments but sometimes you will need to pay in cash so it’s handy to keep some money in your wallet.

How easy is it to get online?

Very easy. Depending on your home mobile phone/internet plans, you should be able to surf the web and stay in touch using a smartphone or tablet. There are plenty of wifi hotspots and some of them are free.

What’s Polish food like?

Locals like nothing better than scoffing comfort foods such as pączki (rose-jam filled doughnuts) or a plate of pierogi , dough dumplings stuffed with anything from cottage cheese, potato and meat to blueberries or other fruits.

Traditional cooking is rustic and flavorful and can be summed up by Poland’s signature kiełbasa sausages. These are usually made with pork and various seasonings, though other meats, like beef and veal, can be added.

Beyond such staples Polish cuisine also includes hearty soups and dishes such as beef tartare. In the major cities and towns, there’s a wide choice of world cuisines alongside creative renditions of vegetarian and vegan dishes.

Editor's note: This article was sponsored by Poland NTO after the city was selected for Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2024. Sponsors do not influence a destination's inclusion in Best In Travel, which is determined solely by Lonely Planet's editorial team.

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Polish Housewife

Polish recipes served up with tidbits of folklore, customs, and history

Planning a trip to Poland

October 9, 2018 by Lois Britton 10 Comments

If you’re planning a trip to Poland, let me share some thoughts.

As I write this, it’s been almost four years since we returned to the United States after living in Poland for five years. When we left, we told friends that perhaps we would spend our summers in Poland in the future. Everyone leaves Arizona in the summer if they can! We’re both still working, so summers away aren’t an option yet.

We did, however, start saving for a return trip as soon as we’d both found jobs. $75 a week straight into the savings account. Now, some years and a few dollars later, we’ve made a return trip to Poland.

Planning the trip was enjoyable, but complicated. We ended up making a calendar of our two weeks to keep track of everything we were trying to do, and I’m pleased to say the actual trip lived up to expectations. I think this is due in part to the fact that we’ve made this trip frequently enough that we have some confidence in the arrangements that we made.

I’m sure some of you have made the journey to visit family even more times than we have and will have your tips to share. But if that’s not the case, if you’d like to visit Poland but aren’t sure where to start, here are a few things to consider to help you become a confident traveler too.

Planning your flight to Poland

A little flexibility in your travel dates can yield big cost savings. We shifted this two-week trip forward by two weeks once we started checking airfares. It reduced the price of our tickets by almost 50%. The same was true when I was planning to visit Ed in Poland on his birthday years ago. High summer fares were still in effect. Waiting a week or two to make the trip, made the flight much cheaper and gave us more money to do things with while I was there.

When selecting a flight, we like to have a two-hour layover at every stop. It gives you time to change terminals if you need to and allow for a little cushion if you’re delayed. It can be done with a shorter layover if you’re lucky. I once had a ticket that only gave me 45 minutes to change planes in Frankfurt. It meant jogging through the airport (or at least moving as speedily as a woman in need of knee replacement surgery could move) and added some stress to my day, but I made the connection.

I consider two hours an absolute minimum for the first stop when returning to the US. You’ll have to go through passport control and collect your luggage to go through customs before rechecking your bags, and this can take a while. Sometimes, two hours isn’t enough, three hours might be more comfortable.

At the other end of the spectrum, watch for long layovers. A very long layover, if you know someone in the city, can have a plus side. More than once, I’ve spent the day visiting our daughter who lives in the Bay Area when I had a 12-hour layover at SFO as I was returning to Poland. The airline was taking care of my luggage and I had time to do a little sightseeing and grab a meal with her before going through security again.

I have also avoided some long layovers because the last thing I want after 18+ hours of flying is to have a 6-hour layover in the Denver airport before I can catch my final flight to Tucson.

This is why we often fly out of Phoenix rather than Tucson. It’s a larger airport with more flights in and out. The flights tend to be cheaper, offer more alternatives, with better connections. So consider larger airports that might be a bit further away, but have much more to offer.

As for the actual purchase of the flight, we search everything to get the best price with optimal layovers. Ed is a big fan of Kayak  because he can compare so many options at once. I like to check Hotwire for a bargain. Sometimes we’ll see an airline flying our route, but something about the flights isn’t quite right, I’ll check the airline’s website and often find even better options at similar prices.

Some tickets on Kayak are being sold by travel agencies rather than the airlines. Be mindful of these, if you want to make a change you have to go through the travel agency. I ran into this on our trip. I had a very long layover and noticed that my carrier had two flights leaving for my destination, but when I asked about moving to one of the earlier flights, I was told that I would have to check with the travel agent, and I hadn’t kept their contact info handy.

Traveling from Arizona, on the western side of the US, to Poznan, it always took us three flights. Flying east, the first takeoff to the last landing was usually 18 – 21 hours. Flying west, against the Jet Stream, we could plan on 21 – 24 hours. There are a lot of things to consider.

If I was traveling with our dog , that added a whole new level of complication. It might make sense to cut the number of flights to two by traveling to Chicago and the Warsaw on LOT, the Polish national airline. Knowing that traveling the last leg in our car would be much more comfortable for all of us.

Speaking of comfortable, when I made my first trip to Poland, I found the flight across the Atlantic to be unbearable. It’s long, you’re tired, the seats are too cramped to get comfortable and sleep. The claustrophobia of being in such close quarters for so long was an enormous source of anxiety for me.

I have no qualms about flying, it’s the lack of personal space for such a long time. I asked my dentist who travels a lot what he did to cope with this. He said that he always got to the airport early and had three beers. My physician helped me find a solution that suited me better by prescribing something to help with the anxiety on long flights.

Finding a place to stay in Poland

Whenever possible, we like to stay close to the sites we want to see in a city. It just gives you more hours in the day. Again, we search all kinds of websites. For lodging, Ed likes Booking.com because you can key in whatever criteria you have, need on-site parking (not always a given), pet friendly, etc.  It’s often possible to reserve a room and still have the ability to cancel. He also enjoys the map feature because map study comes highly recommended as you’ll read below.

I suggest that you check Hotwire again for bargains although cancellations are not possible. On one night as we were passing through Berlin, we stayed at the Waldorf Astoria, a few steps above our usual hotels. It seems to be a bargain on the weekends. The same room on a weekday, $440, definitely out of our price range. The one night was a fun treat.

Have you used AirBnb?  I’ve used it multiple times in the states and have always had great results by considering the comments from previous guests. I booked AirBnB for both Polish cities on this trip. The result, very nice flats in exactly the part of town we wanted to be in, at half the cost of a 3 – 4-star hotel, and we had a washing machine in Poznan and could, therefore, pack fewer clothes. We also get the feel of a neighborhood rather than just the touristy or commercial spots surrounding major hotels. Both locations were places that I’d stay again.

There are other options for non-hotel stays. Just do a google search for vacation apartment rental in the locations you’re considering. I know people on short term work assignments who are renting furnished apartments for $40 per day.

I know many young people who find travel affordable by staying in hostels. Just a word of warning, in some situations, they only thing you’re being guaranteed is access to a bed. The room will most likely be shared with others. You may or may not have a way to secure your belongings, and the toilet may likely be down the hall.

Using your smartphone in Poland

We used to have two sets of phones, one American and one Polish. Our carrier, Verizon, now has a plan that can be added to your phone and made them usable in Europe, and I suspect that others do too. For $10 a day, only on days that you use it, we had our normal calls, text, and .5 gig of data. The $10 a day quickly adds up, but it does add a great deal of convenience.

Public Transportation in Polish Cities

The most common way to order a taxi in Poland is by way of a text message (SMS). Send the address and time of pickup. The taxi company will respond when they have a driver, sending you the make, model, and color of the taxi that will be picking you up. Taxis are very affordable in Poland, and a great way to get around. Remember the legal blood alcohol limit is .02. So if you plan to have even one cocktail or beer, don’t drive!

As for taking the bus or tram, you’ll want to use the website or phone app jakdojade . It works in multiple cities and can help you plan a trip from one address to another, even giving you a map of the routes and showing the portions that you’ll need to walk. You can also buy and validate your ticket with the app, as I did when I hopped on a bus leaving my Warsaw AirBnB and heading to the Central train station.

Uber has come to Poland! We used it multiple times. In Poznan, most rides will cost you 10 zl or about $2.50. There were often predetermined meeting points for rider and driver. The map in the app will show you where to go to be at the nearby meeting place. This was something I hadn’t experienced before in Tucson, a very car-friendly city. But I can see the need because a car can’t always get to or stop for a person on foot.

Traveling between cities in Poland

When thinking about travel from one city to another, most Americans think of a car, as in “we’ll have to rent a car or we’ll have to hire a taxi.” Remember the train! The rail service is excellent in Poland. Do look for express trains when possible. You can buy tickets at the train station (try to do this in advance if possible) or even purchase online (approximate a month in advance). We used trainline.eu and liked that they offered the ticket delivery by email rather than snail mail.

We have never used Eurail passes, but I will pass along a few tidbits. They must be purchased while you’re still at home. They can’t be purchased in Europe. You need to validate (time/date stamp) your Eurail pass when you begin using it, and be sure to make a reservation for the trains you intend to take.

Consider a bus, one of my Polish friends often takes holiday trips via motorcoach. They’re very clean and comfortable. This same friend had a rude awakening when she decided to travel via Greyhound bus on a trip to the US. Her overnight trip from Las Vegas to Tucson was not the experience she had expected.

If you do decide to drive, we found that an international driver’s license was unnecessary. Rental car companies and the police if you were stopped wanted to see your American driver’s license. We had Polish car insurance when we lived there, so now, I would probably buy the coverage offered by the car company. I don’t know that my stateside insurance will cover me overseas.

All things money-related in Poland

While Poland is part of the European Union, they are not part of the eurozone. Polish currency is the złoty, and it is divided into 100 groszy (cents); the exchange rate with the US dollar is about 3 to 4 złoty to one dollar.

In Poland, one exchanges currencies at a Kantor. You’ll spot them because they always have a sign in front of their doorway advertising their rates for various currencies. Rates vary and will be less favorable at airports, train stations, etc.

We always found it more economical and convenient to find an ATM (bankomat) and simply get some złoty. We also used our debit and credit cards to make purchases almost everywhere. When given the choice, I make my charge in złoty because I think my bank gives a pretty good exchange rate.

I’ll warn you that there is a national obsession in Poland with people paying with the correct change. It’s not that they can’t make change for you, they just prefer not to. I think it goes back to the Communist days when maybe there was a shortage of coins (and everything else). Clerks will grab coins from your hand if they see you have enough rather than breaking a bill.

Don’t let them take all of your coins because you will often encounter pay toilets in many locations (train stations and some gas stations come to mind) and will need about 3 złoty to get through the turnstile.

The links above are Amazon affiliate links, which means that if you make a purchase, Amazon sends me a few cents, thanks!

My husband, Ed, a former fighter pilot is very big on map study. The first thing he checks is how to get from where he arrives to where he’s staying, and the same thing in reverse when its time to leave.

Google Maps also points out attractions. You might find points of interest or historical significance near you by studying the map. You’ll also find nearby coffee shops and restaurants.

Check out other places you want to visit. Evaluate the distance from where you’re staying, is it a good walk? Will you need transportation?

Knowing the map, and watching our travel on it also helped us point out to a taxi driver that he’d taken us to the wrong location, same hotel name, wrong address, even though we had shown him the address on my phone.

Tour Companies

If you’d like to work with a tour company, I’m acquainted with two. They are both run by delightful people who want you to love Poland as much as they do:

Poland Culinary Vacations – as you might guess, these tours focus on food and drink. They offer tours that feature the cuisine of various regions of Poland, including a wine and spa tour as well as the Christmas markets. The trips involve some hands-on cooking classes as well as restaurant meals and cultural highlights of the area. The number of participants is limited, so it will soon feel like you’re traveling with friends.

Key to Poland – can offer assistance no matter what your interest in visiting Poland. Whether you’re after relaxation, time in nature, learning about history, culture, cuisine, genealogy, or wanting to add a bit of fun to a business trip, they’re ready to help. You can join preplanned tours or they can help you customize your own.

There are advantages to using tour companies, especially if this is your first trip to Poland. Because we lived there, we’ve scheduled our itineraries ourselves, but we’ve spent some time being lost, or not making the most efficient use of our time especially the first time we’re in a city.

I always like to take a tour wherever we are, whether we’re in the USA or abroad. I love to hear locals talk about their city and pick up an inside joke or two.

When my mother and siblings visited us in Poland, we hired a tour guide for a walking tour of the city. Even though I had lived in Poznan for years, and read all kinds of guide books, I had a better understanding of the city’s history and the people after our tour. I knew our guide would be able to give them an experience that I couldn’t.

Plan your visit to Poland!

If you’ve been thinking about visiting Poland, I hope you’ll go for it. The countryside is green and bountiful, the architecture is beautiful, and the people have a strength and history of which they should be very proud. I’m so glad that I’ve gotten to know some of it.

Pozdrawiam,

An accountant by trade and a food blogger since 2009, Lois Britton fell in love with Polish cuisine during the years she lived in Poznań, Poland. As the creator of PolishHousewife.com,  she loves connecting readers with traditional Polish recipes. Lois has a graduate certificate in Food Writing and Photography from the University of South Florida. She is the author of The Polish Housewife Cookbook , available on Amazon and on her website.

Reader Interactions

Edward Runowski

October 10, 2018 at 2:56 pm

I just returned from a month in Gdansk and Krakow, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time in both cities. Your advice is good and sound. There are a couple things I would change and/or add. For example, my last trip to Poland was marred when my prepaid apartment was rented out to someone else who was already living there. I could not afford to stay in a hotel for a month, and could not find an apartment on such notice. Because of this, I had to return home. Little did I know that my reservations made through an ‘other than’ an airline, I could not change them but had to make a new reservation. Little did I know that I would lose the $5,000 from the original reservation but had to pay for the new reservation home. I also lost the $1,000 rental fee on the apartment. I was told that I did not confirm in time, but she still kept my money. Definitely, not typical of the Polish people, as they are a very honest people. I found that I did need an International Driver’s Liscense to drive in Poland. This was told to me by the US Embassy in Warsaw. It only cost $40.00 in Phoenix and that included the photo. It would definitely be worth the money in case you are stopped by the police or need it at a rental agency. I found a rented scooter perfect for getting around, along with the transit system. After I learned the tram stops by riding from one end to another, I learned the main stops I was interested, the market stop, and different transfer points. Shortly, I plan to be a Phoenix snowbird and spend 5 months in Gdansk and the rest here in AZ. The people, the food, the country are all wonderful and worth the experience. Keep up writing the good tips. PS Next time include food/restaurant information. I loved the small family owned spots I found.

polishhousewife

October 11, 2018 at 6:58 am

Wow, Edward, I’m glad you didn’t let a bad experience turn you off from Poland in general. Here’s to hoping the next summer visit goes without a hitch!

overnight Agra tour

October 12, 2018 at 12:19 am

Poland Is Beautiful County to visit, There are Many Amazing things that we can visit like Baltic Sea its also known for its medieval architecture and Jewish heritage. Warsaw, the capital, has shopping and nightlife, plus the Warsaw Uprising Museum.

October 13, 2018 at 8:10 am

Thank you for great info. Maybe in Summer 2021 I’ll add a few miningfull comments to your blog :o)

October 13, 2018 at 2:30 pm

My pleasure, Nina. I’ll look forward to your trip report. All the best!

Golden triangle tour 5 days

October 29, 2018 at 3:37 am

Wonderful place to visit, we all love Poles, we all love their culture, we all love their complicated hardened Slavic language, we all love their food and their history, really an amazing place to visit.

Henry Collins

November 1, 2018 at 1:20 pm

Poland is a beautiful country. Definitely worth visiting

November 1, 2018 at 9:16 pm

Europe’s best kept secret!

Mary D. Mone

December 28, 2018 at 6:20 am

One more vote FOR visiting Poland. Even if you live as far as the USA, it’s still worth your time, money and your suffering the long flight over the Atlantic. I travelled across Poland last summer and it was amazing: the people, culture, nature, architecture, AND “pierogi”. If you travel in August, don’t miss the Pierogi Festival in Krakow.

September 17, 2019 at 8:12 am

I only participated in a conference in Warsaw at the New Orleans (a very luxurious place) so we only had time to drink in the bar after the meetings. Next time I should visit as well 😉

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