Places to See in Poland

Looking for interesting places to visit in Poland?

If Poland stands out for one thing, it’s got to be beautiful architecture, great castles, pretty squares, lovely parks and its many UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Torun's Old Town (pictured).


Poland is simply a breathtaking country, and not just culturally. Poland’s countryside is beautiful, and there over 20 national parks scattered throughout the country such as the Ojców National Park, just north of Krakow.

Poland is one of my top ten vacation spots in Europe, and no matter where you go in the country, you’ll fall in love with every bit of it!

Here it’s some of the top places to visit during your vacation in Poland:

Torun

Torun is located north of the country and a few hours drive northwest of Warsaw. If you love watching beautiful buildings, Torun is filled with stunning gothic churches and houses.

Torun’s old town is a gem to stroll and it’s not surprising that this part of the city has been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Torun’s old town is actually one of the most beautiful medieval towns with the best preserved city walls in Europe.

You’ll love marveling at the city walls and the impressive and colorful facades while on a walking tour.

A few interesting places you don’t want to miss in Torun are the Old Town Hall museum, the house of Nicholas Copernicus, the ruins of the Teutonic Knihgts castle, Dąbski Palace, Klasztorna Gate and Torun Cathedral.

If you’re visiting Torun on a short trip, Torun Cathedral and the house of Nicholas Copernicus are two of the most interesting places to visit in Poland, and two attractions worth passing by.

Krakow

Krakow is, without a doubt, the heart of Poland and one of the top eastern European cities to visit because of Krakow’s stunning historic buildings, palaces, sculptures, theaters and churches.

Krakow is one of the oldest cities in Europe, and one of the best places in Poland to soak in Polish culture and marvel at authentic Polish architecture.

Krakow’s historic center is one of the most interesting places to visit in Poland and it’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Krakow’s historic center includes the Jewish Quarter and the Old Town which is the most lively and vibrant parts of Krakow.

Day and night, Krakow’s old town is a joy to walk because of the pleasant atmosphere, many side-walk cafes, beautiful buildings, pubs, clubs, horse-drawn carriage tours and museums.

A few museums worth checking out while in Krakow include the Krakow National Museum, the Old Theatre Museum and the Archdiocesan Museum.

Lastly, if you’re looking for a compelling experience, you can take a side trip to infamous Auschwitz Nazi camp, outside of Krakow.

Katowice

Katowice is located northwest of Krakow, around 50 minutes drive, and it’s a great place to visit if you’re looking for day trip opportunities from Krakow.

Katowice is characterized by high rise tall concrete buildings, churches, many squares and many monuments such as the statue of John Paul II.

Katowice is a cultural city filled with many art galleries, cinemas, museums, theaters and parks such as Silesian Central Park, which boasts a zoological garden, a planetarium and amusement park.

The Silesian Museum and the Upper Silesian Ethnographic Park are two of the top attractions and two of the most interesting places to visit Poland.

The Upper Silesian Ethnographic Park, in particular, is one of the best attractions in my opinion as it’s an open-air museum that recreates a typical 18th century polish village, including water mills and wind mills. An amazing place!

Warsaw

The city of Warsaw is truly one of Poland’s hidden gems and one destination you can’t afford to miss during your vacation in Poland.

Warsaw is characterized by its soviet style architecture, many churches, palaces and monuments depicting war times.

Warsaw’s Old Town is the heart of the city and one of the most interesting places to visit in Poland because of the vibrant atmosphere and amazing landmarks such as Warsaw Fortress and its impressive defensive walls.

A few other interesting places in Warsaw include the Palace of Culture and Science, the Royal Castle Museum and Namiestnikowski Palace.

The Palace of Culture and Science is a cool place to visit because of the observation platform; while the Royal Castle is simply a breathtaking place to visit because of the stunning works of art and beautiful furnishings.

Gdansk

A visit to Poland wouldn’t be complete without exploring Poland’s Baltic coast, and what better place to base yourself than Gdansk?

Gdansk is one of the most popular cheap summer destinations in Europe. Gdansk doesn’t only boast many beautiful buildings and exceptional architecture but also interesting history, as the first shots of World War II rang out in Gdansk.

If you’re a history buff, you’ll love taking one of Gdansk history tours and visiting the Roads to Freedom Exhibition to check out war memorabilia like old black and white photos.

Some of my favorite places to visit in Gdansk are the SS Soldek museum ship, Crooked House and Gdansk Harbour which boasts a massive 500 year-old crane. There are many attractions worth checking out in Gdansk, so you’ll need two days at least to explore it all.

Best Beach Towns in Poland to Visit

A visit to Gdansk can easily be the highlight of your vacation in Poland so, be sure to add it to the list of interesting places to visit in Poland.

Gdansk is also a popular place to base a vacation in Poland because of the city’s ferry connections to southern Sweden. There is a daily ferry connection to the Swedish port town of Nynashamn, which is located 50 minutes drive south of Stockholm.

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Looking to getaway to Bratislava Slovakia this year?

Must see places in Eastern Europe

The capital city of Bratislava is definitely one of the top Eastern European cities to visit, and it's popularly known for being home to the impressive Danube River running through the city.


Bratislava is also known as a crossroads city between the cities of Vienna Austria, Brno Czech Republic and Budapest Hungary.

Best time to visit

There isn’t a bad time to visit the beautiful capital city of Bratislava, although if you want to avoid the big crowds, avoid late July and early August.

One of the best times to have a better experience in Bratislava it’s in late spring and late August.

If you can travel during this time, you’ll enjoy fewer crowds and cheaper hotel accommodation.

Having said this, during the summer season you’ll find great airfare deals from many airline companies offering many charter flights to Bratislava during this time.

Bratislava Airport Transportation

The city of Bratislava is serviced by the M. R. Štefánik Airport, which is just 4 miles from the heart of the city center.

The airport has the modern amenities you’d expect like duty-free shops and restaurants. Once you land in M. R. Štefánik Airport, the airport transportation options consists of airport shuttles, car rental, trains, taxis and buses.

If you’re not too much in a rush, and want to save a bit of money, I would suggest getting the bus (No. 61), which will take right into the city center.

If you’re planning on renting a car to get around in Bratislava, I would also suggest renting from one of the city’s car rental companies rather than from the airport itself because they tend to be fairly pricey.

Getting around in Bratislava

The city of Bratislava has adequate and affordable public transportation system that consists of buses, trams and trolley buses which make getting around Bratislava and enjoyable thing to do.

Things to do in Bratislava: Outdoor Activities

Recreational Activities

One of the best places to enjoy some fun outdoor activities it’s at Zlate Piesky recreation area.

The recreation area boasts an artificial lake where you can enjoy beach activities like swimming, paddle-boating, fishing and canoeing.

The area also has a few accommodation options like hotels, and campgrounds right by the lake where you can spend a couple of days.

Danube River

Admiring the majestic Danube River from the city’s bridges is a sure nice thing to do, but you’ll certainly enjoy taking a tour ride along it.

One of the most popular trips you can take along the Danube River includes taking a trip to Vienna Austria, or Budapest Hungary.

Things to do in Bratislava: Places of Interest

The main point of interest in the city, it’s Bratislava's Old Town district which contains most of the city’s important landmarks and main attractions.

A bus tour is a popular way to explore the city, but one of the most enjoyable ways to experience the city’s attractions is on a walking tour (guided tour).

Attractions in Bratislava’s Old Town

Bratislava City Museum

The Bratislava City Museum (Múzeum Mesta Bratislavy) is an excellent place to find out more about the early history of the city.

Church of the Assumption

If you’re interested in baroque architecture, the Church of the Assumption (Kostol Nanebovzatia Panny Márie) is a must during your tour of the city.

The church actually got destroyed twice due to fires, but the church still features the original vault made in the late 15th century.

Old Town Hall

The Old Town Hall (Stara Radnica) is the oldest building in the city and a popular focal point for many tourists. The Old Town Hall now serves as a walking museum where you can see old dungeons and old weapons.

Slovak National Gallery

If you’re interested in art, the Slovak National Gallery features a beautiful collection of art ranging from the 13th century to the present.

Bratislava Castle

The Bratislava Castle (Bratislavský Hrad) is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the city offering spectacular views of Danube River, and visiting it it’s one of the most popular things to do in Bratislava.

You can tour the inside of the Bratislava Castle and see the rooms, halls with beautiful paintings and a well that is said to be bottomless.

Things to do in Bratislava: Shopping

One of the best things to do in Bratislava is to visit one of the city’s many open-air markets to mingle with the locals.

At the open-air markets, you’ll be able to get cheap local produce, as well as bargain items and souvenir gifts that you can take back home.

A few flea-markets worth mentioning include: Trnavské mýto Market, and Centralne trhovisko Market.

If you’re looking to enjoy a retail experience, the city center has a few small shopping malls like the Aupark shopping mall where you can shop around.

However, to get a full shopping mall experience, you need to head a bit further out of the city.

For instance, Avion Shopping Park and Palace Shopping are just located 5 miles east of the city, near the Nove Mesto neighborhood.

Things to do in Bratislava: Nightlife & Entertainment

Bratislava is one of the most popular destinations in Europe for stag parties, but that is not to say that the nightlife in Bratislava isn’t sophisticated.

Depending on your mood or your scene, there are nightlife spots to suit all. For instance, if you’re looking to hit the club and bar scene, head to Mlynska Dolina which is a popular hang-out spot amongst students.

For a trendier hang-out, head to Laurisnka where you’ll find many small bars offering live music entertainment, as well as Latin clubs like the popular Malecon.

One of the biggest nightclubs in the city is perhaps Remix which plays mainly dance and trance music.

Things to do in Bratislava: Events & Festivals

The city of Bratislava boasts many fun events and festivals throughout the year. However, if you’re traveling to the city between June and August, you can catch many of Bratislava’s summer cultural events.

Other popular events happening in the city include:

Bratislava Music Festival

The Bratislava Music Festival is one of the top cultural events in the city happening in late fall. The event features ballet and opera shows performed by famed Slovak soloists and music productions.

Bratislava Jazz Days

If you love jazz, you may want to make your trip to Bratislava coincide with the Bratislava Jazz Days which happens in early October. The event brings some the best international jazz musicians.

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