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In the heart of Central Europe lies the second largest Slavic nation of Poland. The country is one of the lesser-known locations getting popular with travellers looking for a surreal experience. Poland is the perfect place for a vacation with your family and friends, for it has a lot to offer. The country is home to impressive wonders ranging from snow-clad mountains to tranquil beaches. These are further coupled with rich history and mouthwatering delicacies found nowhere in Central Europe. We have compiled a list of the top 20+ best things to do in Poland while on Vacation that you can follow.
20+ Best Things To Do In Poland
Traverse The Auschwitz Museum
The Auschwitz Museum is a reminder of the Auschwitz Concentration camp, set up by Nazi Germans during World War II in Poland. The museum speaks of the horrors the people of Poland had to suffer at the hands of the Germans and also one of the popular Poland attractions. The museum is a significant memoir of the history and the struggles that the Polish people went through for the sake of their country. There is a reason why it ranks in the list of best things to do in Poland.
Location: Więźniów Oświęcimia 20, 32-603 Oświęcim, Poland
Best time: May and October
Entry Fee: Entry is Free (charges for guide)
Pro Tip: Book an English speaking guided tour for the best experience
Tread The Beskids
The Beskids or the Beskids mountain is a very popular place to visit in Poland popular among hiking and trekking enthusiasts. The mountain lies in the Carpathians mountain range in the south of the country, home to several wonders. The Beskids offer its visitors a unique dive into the natural beauty that the natural landscape of Poland has to offer. The mountain ranges are home to many historical architectures preserved over the ages with the location ranking high up in Best things to do in Poland.
Location: Carpathians mountain range, Poland
Best time: May and October
Entry Fee: Open for all
Pro Tip: Book a guided trekking tour for the best views
Step Out In The Gdansk Old Town
The next on the list of 20+ best things to do in Poland brings us to Gdansk Old town. The town is one of the best and the most bewitching Poland tourist places in the country. Gdansk Old town is home to structures that emanate beautiful German and Scandinavian style architecture. These architectural marvels are remnants to the town’s long and rich historic blend of the various cultural and ethnic crossovers.
Location: In the northern part of the Śródmieście district
Best time: May and October
Entry Fee: Free (a tour across the town is gonna cost you)
Pro Tip: Book an English speaking guided tour for the best experience
Trudge The Tatra Mountains
One of the prominent locations for trekking and witnessing the panoramic views of Poland are the Tatra mountains. The trek to the awe-inspiring parts of the mountains is roughly a 230 km long stretch, which is a long haul and one of best things to do in Poland. But the views from the top of the mountains are one that should not be missed. Tatra mountains on both the Polish and Slovak sides are home to several ski resorts that are perfectly designed for the long winter months.
Location: Eastern Carpathian mountain range
Best time: May and October
Entry Fee: Free (pay for a tour)
Pro Tip: Book an English speaking guided tour for the best experience of the region
Drive Through The Masurian Lake District
Central Europe’s most popular and well-known lake districts lie in Poland at the Masurian Lake District. The lake is a hot spot among locals and tourists looking for an adventurous time and a popular Poland attraction. The lake attracts water sport enthusiasts from different countries around the globe for several activities like boating, canoeing, angling and many more. The surrounding areas of the lake are appropriate for bikers and nature lovers.
Location: Polish Pojezierze Mazurskie, lake district
Best time: May and October
Entry Fee: $ 5 (extra for guided tours)
Pro Tip: Book an English speaking guided tour for the best experience of the region
Take A Tour Of The Malbork Castle
One of the 20+ best things to do in Poland is to take a tour of Malbork Castle. The castle is one of the largest in the world and is one of the most prominent and popular structures in all of Poland. The castle is an integral symbolic structure that holds a special place in Polish culture and a the best place to visit in Poland. The reason behind the importance is that Polish locals take pride in the structure which stands strong as a symbol of resilience. As it was at this castle in 1410, that the Polish and Lithuanian armies had the biggest battle in medieval history and the Polish army emerged victorious.
Location: Starościńska 1, 82-200 Malbork, Poland
Best time: May and October
Entry Fee: $ 10 (includes audio guide) (Mondays entry is free)
Pro Tip: Which month you choose, go in the evening to catch the light and sound show
You can also read: 20+ Most Fascinating Things To Do In Germany
Witness the Mighty Bison In The Bialowieza Forest
The Bialowieza forest is home to one of the largest mammals that call Europe its home, the European Bison. The bison are often referred to by the locals as the kings of Puszcza Bialowieska. The forests are home to roughly eight thousand five hundred of these giant hairy bovines. As in the early 20th century, they were nearly pushed to the brink of extinction due to excessive hunting. But thanks to local conservation efforts, their number seems to be bouncing back.
Location: Podlaskie Voivodeship, Poland
Best time: May and October
Entry Fee: $ 20
Pro Tip: Visit the forest’s reserve area for a guaranteed view of the European Bison
Stumble On The islands In Wroclaw
Popular things to do in Poland bring us to the islands in Wroclaw’s old town that lie spread across the numerous islets on the Oder River. The wonderful and beautiful islets are linked with each other by a series of arched bridges, that add to the region’s beauty. The beautiful bridges, the cobblestone streets and the gothic style churches bring about the best medieval setup there is in a Poland tourist place.
Location: Wyspa Piasek, Wrocław, Poland
Best time: May and October
Entry Fee: N/A
Pro Tip: Book an English speaking guided tour for the best experience of the region
Snowboard In Zakopane
One of the 20+ best things to do in Poland is to visit the popular tourist attractions of Poland. One such location is the well-known winter resort or a summer getaway in the heart of the Tatra mountains, Zakopane. The location is home to several natural wonders like waterfalls, alpine forests, snow-capped peaks, mountainous lakes, quaint towns and many more natural wonders. Making the destination a special one for travellers planning their trip to the country of Poland.
Location: Southern Poland
Best time: May and October
Entry Fee: $ 2
Pro Tip: Take and dip at the Bania thermal baths for a rejuvenating experience
Stop By A Milk Bar
One of the most exciting parts of a voyage to a foreign land is the opportunity to savour new and exciting dishes and beverages. Poland as a tourist attraction takes this trend a little further and makes it super affordable. Across Poland, one would find small establishments called ‘Milk Bars’. The reason behind setting up these small eateries was to allow local Polish workers quick access to affordable meals with their limited wages. Over the years these ‘Milk Bars’ have become guardians of the Polish cuisine, which is as authentic as it gets in these home style eateries.
Location: Multiple locations across Poland
Best time: May and October
Entry Fee: Free (you only pay for the food you order)
Pro Tip: Make sure to try their local homemade soups
Unwind On The Hel Peninsula
Contrary to its name Hel Peninsula ranks on top of the best things to do in Poland. The location is one of the most mesmerizing places in Poland that is a haven for beach lovers. The location is home to a long stretch of golden sandy beaches with lush green dunes in the backdrop and a well known Poland tourist place. The Baltic sea further enhances the serene wonders of the peninsula, with a small fishing town at the helm of the peninsula jutting out into the sea.
Location: Pomerania province
Best time: May and October
Entry Fee: N/A
Pro Tip: Scuba dive around the coastal wonder and witness the rich marine life
Roam Around Krakow Old Town
The next activity on the list of 20+ best things to do in Poland is to roam around Krakow Old town. The city is one of the better-known destinations in south Poland and is known for its rich history both popular and menacing. Krakow is one of those cities in Poland that takes you on an adventure through its streets and wins you over with its gothic style architecture. While topping the charts of places to visit in Poland.
Location: Southern Poland
Best time: May and October
Entry Fee: N/A
Pro Tip: Avoid travelling during peak season for the best experience
Try reading: 20 Most Fascinating Things To Do In Belarus
Scout The Slowinski National Park
The next activity on the list of 20+ best things to do in Poland brings us to Slowinski National park. The region is an important tourist destinations in Poland and is known for its famous sands of time. Slowinski National Park lies along the Baltic coast of Northern Poland and lies in the Pomerania region. The park is popular for several of its seaside wonders like peat bogs, meadows, woods and a lake system. But the most important feature of the park is the moving dunes found only in Poland, in all of Europe.
Location: Pomerania province
Best time: May and October
Entry Fee: $ 2
Pro Tip: Hire a bicycle for the day to reach the park
Drift Away In The Streets Of Warsaw Old Town
On the list of the 20+ things to do in Poland, a tour of the streets of Warsaw is certain to be on the cards. The city is home to cobblestone streets made after World War II, in an attempt to restore the city to its former glory after the destruction caused during the war. The city’s cobblestone streets and gothic structures serve as a doorway back into the medieval ages.
Location: Warsaw, Mazovia Province, Poland
Best time: May and October
Entry Fee: N/A
Pro Tip: Book an English guided tour for the best experience
Witness Old Poland In Zalipie
A trip to the small village of Zalipie is one of the best things to do in Poland. The village is a very popular location among travellers looking to explore the colourful side of Poland. The village is home to small houses that have walls and stoves decorated with tiles depicting floral imprints of different colours and sizes. The houses also portray designs ranging from crepe paper flowers, paper cut designs and hay spiders.
Location: Dąbrowa County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship
Best time: May and October
Entry Fee: Different tour packages
Pro Tip: Don’t forget to click some pictures, with you next to them
Spend Some Time At The Chapel Of Skulls
One of the 20+ best things to do in Poland visits the ‘Chapel of Skulls’ or ‘Kaplica Czaszek’. The church lies a kilometre to the north of Kudowa Zdroj and is one of the most intriguing destinations in Poland. The church is home to the skeletal remains of over three thousand people. Which were collected by a Czech priest, Vaclav Tomasek and J. Langer, the local gravedigger. The collection includes over twenty thousand bones, of which only a few adorn the walls of the church. While the rest of them stay hidden in a crypt in the basement of the church.
Location: Czermna district of Kudowa
Best time: May and October
Entry Fee: $ 180 (for a guided tour)
Pro Tip: There is no photography rule inside the chapel
Wander Around the Crooked Forest
The next activity on the list of 20+ best things to do in Poland is to pay a visit to Poland’s crooked forest. The area is a grove of over four hundred of these pine grove trees, that take a unique curve at the trunk region just above the ground. The reason behind this unique incident has been several different myths and beliefs. But, to date, no scientific explanation has been made about this unique occurrence.
Location: West Pomerania, Poland
Best time: May and October
Entry Fee: N/A
Pro Tip: Take a selfie while you are seated in the natural tree chair
Visit The Upside-Down House
One of the unique things to do in Poland when on a vacation to the country, is to visit the Upside-Down house. The structure was designed by Polish Philanthropist Daniel Czapiewski, with the house originally created as a piece of art. The Upside-Down house was a reference to the communist era in Poland. Over the years the art form has become a popular tourist attraction, attracting tourists and locals alike.
Location: Szymbark
Best time: May and October
Entry Fee: $ 12
Pro Tip: Do not forget to take a picture of the house from the backyard
Also read: Top 15+ Best Places To Visit In Moldova For The Perfect Family Vacation
Explore The Warsaw Gasworks Museum
The next best thing to do in Poland is more to do with travellers with an acquired taste, willing to explore the weird and the unknown. The Warsaw Gasworks Museum is a wonderful place to explore the history of the Warsaw Gas Company. The factory was built back in 1888 and later became a museum in 1977. The museum was known for the production and metering of gas and gas lamps from the 19th to the 20th century.
Location: Warsaw, Poland
Best time: May and October
Entry Fee: Free
Pro Tip: Not a fascinating place for kids
Take A Pilgrim To St. Mary’s Basilica
On the list of 20+ best things to do in Poland, the next activity in line is a visit to St. Mary’s Basilica. The church is one of the most influential and imperative structures that stands as a mark of Polish history and architecture. Every hour, trumpets are played from the towers of the structure and come to an abrupt end in the middle of the piece being performed. This is an act, and it is an iconic representation of the war which saw trumpeter taking an arrow to the neck, abruptly stopping the piece that he was performing.
Location: Kraków, Poland
Best time: May and October
Entry Fee: $ 2.35
Pro Tip: Visit the church near the completion of the hour for a surreal experience.
Go To See The Warsaw Uprising Monument
To conclude our list of 20+ things to do in Poland, we bring you to the Warsaw Uprising Monument. The monument is a reminder of the atrocities and cruelty that were faced by the Polish people in 1944 at the hands of Hilter led German forces. The Warsaw Uprising Monument is a structure of massive importance for the Poles who lost their lives in the uprising. You would witness pictures of ancient Warsaw of how it looked before the war and after. A true mark of the resilience and dedication shown by the Polish people in the face of complete annihilation.
Location: Warsaw
Best time: May and October
Entry Fee: $ 6 (Tuesdays closed)
Pro Tip: Catch the short 3D film for a quick dive into history.
