Paid Partnership: Respect My Region partnered with Radical Storage on this feature about Poland.
You’ve made your way around the United States. Maybe you’ve been all the way over to Japan. Now’s the time to think about visiting central Europe. Poland is one of the best destinations to set your heart on.
How many travel destinations are currently on your bucket list? Most people have about two or three places they’d really like to visit. And then there’s the real wanderlusters among us who have crammed upwards of 20 or more places that they’d like to see!
But once you’ve started making your way through your bucket list, it can start to run a bit dry. And if you’re someone who’s in the market for a new destination they haven’t really thought about before, you’ve come to the right place.
After all, it’s got thousands of years of history to explore, and every town and city is packed with the unique European culture that comes positioned in the heart of Central Europe.
And if those aren’t reasons enough to pique your interest, we’ve got a few more for you down below. Here’s why Poland should be the next destination to go on your dream travel bucket list.
All of the Big Cities in Poland Have Something Special
If you’re going to Poland for the first time, it’s tempting to want to take 3 to 4 days visiting Warsaw, its capital city.
When you’re visiting a country for the first time, being in the capital is a great way to orient yourself, get access to reliable public transport, and there’ll be no trouble in finding a hotel or hostel that suits you.
But when you’re in Poland, venturing outside of Warsaw is strongly recommended. There are so many other big cities throughout the country, and they all have something special to see.
Kraków
Home to the gothic St Mary’s Basilica and the 700+ year old Wawel Royal Castle (which is also one of the biggest art museums in Europe) – and that’s just a couple of things you’ll want to check out!
Plus, you can easily get from Warsaw to Kraków by train, which takes about 3 hours on either leg. You can simply make a day trip of it! And when you get into town, check out where to store your bags in Kraków when you step off the platform at the station, and then explore to your heart’s content.
Wrocław
If you have time for another day trip, you can hop on the train at Kraków and once again, be in Wrocław around 3 hours later. And when you get there, you’ll find so much urban beauty on display.
There’s the old town to get lost in, and when you’re done stopping through cafes and restaurants around Market Square, you can head over to Ostrów Tumski. Otherwise known as Cathedral Island, you can go on a sightseeing tour to discover all kinds of different architecture and history.
The Food is Deliciously Unique
Polish cuisine often gets overlooked compared to some of Europe’s more internationally recognized food scenes. But once you’re in Poland, you’ll finally be able to try out traditional Pierogi and Borscht, and sweet treats like Pączki (polish donuts). Many travelers end up appreciating these dishes far more once they try them locally.
You can even go on a food tour!
If you’d like to try as many Polish dishes as possible, there are quite a few food tour operators that run throughout the big cities, and sometimes in and out of the smaller villages too.
Many food tours run several hours and often combine tastings with cultural or historical context. You may even get to make some traditional Polish food yourself, as these tours often come with classes too!
The Architecture is Incredible
Polish architecture is a distinctive mix of medieval, gothic, renaissance, and post-war architectural styles. There’s also a widespread renaissance influence throughout the country, which itself is wonderfully beautiful.
In fact, the architecture is one of Poland’s main draws. There’s so much detail and color to see, as well as amazing hidden gems in the form of statuettes, grotesques, and even strange gnomes.
There are Some Incredible Natural Sights
It might surprise you to find out, but Poland is home to over 20 national parks, with quite a few amazing natural landscapes to see in between.
We have to start with the Crooked Forest, which is one of the most spectacular natural sights in all of Europe. The otherwise normal pine trees within the forest have all curved near the roots and grown outwards, leaving the trees incredibly crooked. The unusual tree formations have attracted curiosity from visitors and researchers for decades.
There’s also the Gubałówka Mountain, which has a funicular railway that carries you all the way to the top at a slow and relaxing pace. And once you’re up there, you’ll have views across the entirety of the Gubałówka Mountain Range and the nearby town of Zakopane.
And if you end up anywhere near the coast, there’s also quite a few beaches you can enjoy! Especially popular during the summer months, Sopot Beach is a great place to cool off when it’s too hot to stay in the city center.
Poland Could Be the Next Best Destination for You
It’s not quite as big as its neighbors in Germany or Ukraine, nor other European countries like Netherlands, France, Sweden, and Denmark, but Poland does have something special.
Many travelers describe Poland as an accessible and welcoming destination, especially for visitors exploring Central Europe for the first time. Cafe culture and walkable city centers also make it easy to slow down and spend time exploring at your own pace.
The public transport is pretty reliable in all major cities, and there’s great links between Poland and most other European countries, so you could even go on a bit of a backpacking tour while you’re in central Europe.
For travelers looking for a destination that combines history, food, architecture, and outdoor scenery, Poland continues to stand out as one of Europe’s more underrated options.
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Editorial Note:
This article contains paid partnership references and is intended for informational and travel editorial purposes only.
