The Polish tourist places in this article will make you realize that “there is such a versatile and vibrant destination in the heart of Europe”. So, where to go in Poland? Lets’ check out our suggested top places to visit in Poland, must-see places in Poland with the list of 30+ best places to visit in Poland as follows!
- What to buy in Poland? — Top 13+ souvenirs & best things to buy in Poland
- What to do in Wroclaw? — 13+ cool, must see & best things to do in Wroclaw
- Wroclaw travel blog — The fullest Wroclaw travel guide for first-timers
- Warsaw 1 day itinerary — How to spend a day in Warsaw & what to do in one day trip in Warsaw?
- Poland travel tips — +15 what & things to know before going to Poland
Poland has long been known as a country with a rich tradition and history, in addition to a rapidly growing economy over the years. Beneath the glitzy surface lies a culture rooted in Eastern hospitality and deep communal values, and fascinating reminders of the land’s tumultuous past are everywhere. In addition, Poland is also a land of considerable natural beauty, with pristine lakes, beaches and mountains, creating a nice contrast to the nation’s harsh history.
However, Poland has not received much attention from the traveling community around the world, so there are quite a few tourists. This also gives you the opportunity to easily have authentic local experiences.
Use our travel guide to plan an economical trip to Poland! Now, let’s learn new pieces about Polish tourism with best places to see in Poland below!
Some useful tips to Traveling to Poland on Your Own Before Departure Time (# best places to visit on poland)
To make your independent trip to Poland smoother and more convenient, we quickly take note of the following useful information.
Means of transportation when traveling to Poland (# best places to visit on poland)
There are many airlines operating flights from Vietnam to Poland, but unfortunately there are no direct flights, but must transit at one or two points.
Some airlines such as: Emirates, Vietnam Airlines, Thai Smile, etc. All have flights to Warsaw with flight times of 15 hours or more.
You can depart from one of Vietnam’s three international airports: Noi Bai (Hanoi), Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City) and Da Nang (Da Nang city) and land at Warsaw International Airport Chopin Airport (Lotnisko Chopina w Warszawie)
In Poland, buses and trams are the most popular means of public transport to get around in each city. Only in Warsaw is there a metro system.
You can explore Poland’s charming old towns and beautiful Tatra Mountains with a Eurail pass. In addition, renting a self-driving car to comfortably explore Warsaw is also a good idea.
Necessary amenities when traveling to Poland on your own
To share impressive moments from the colorful city of Warsaw to the fairy-tale medieval castle of Malbork, prepare a 4G SIM Card or 4G Wi-Fi pocket device in Europe in advance to stay connected anytime, anywhere! These utilities will help you save a lot on international roaming costs.
Book a hotel room when traveling to Poland on your own
You don’t need to worry too much about hotels in Poland, because the accommodation system here is very affordable. You can find hostels in Kraków and Warsaw, or really comfortable and private hotels all over the country.
Besides, you can experience staying in campsites. But the camping location is usually quite a distance from the city center, and is not necessarily cheaper, but it is guaranteed to have excellent facilities.
Whether you choose a budget accommodation, or pamper yourself at a luxury resort, visit Klook’s booking system or Agoda or Booking and apply an exclusive discount code to help you save more.
Famous Polish Tourist Destinations and Best places o visit in Poland For You
Poland is often seen as a stereotypical and boring travel destination. However, that is not true! Take a tour around this country to discover majestic national parks, cities with candy-colored houses, 14 UNESCO world heritage sites, beautiful beaches, or picturesque small villages, folk art, and some natural wonders.
Wieliczka Ancient Salt Mine, Wieliczka
Wieliczka salt mine operated from the 13th century until 2007, located 327m underground and has many stairs that will help you burn some energy. Guided tours typically last 2.5 hours past salt lakes, caves and the beautiful Queen Kinga Chapel, giving you the feeling of moving towards the center of the Earth.
Auschwitz concentration camp – Birkenau Museum, Oswiecim
Located on the outskirts of Oświęcim, Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp was the place that detained and tortured hundreds of thousands of political prisoners established by Nazi Germany. A visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau will be an indescribably emotional experience. You will be amazed by the size of the camp located near the entrance to the memorial and museum.
Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork, Malbork
You can find Europe’s most splendid castles in all their glory and charm in the ancient town of Malbork. Don’t forget to stop by the castle and fortress of Malbork, a massive medieval structure on the banks of the Nogat River founded by the Teutonic Knights.
Crooked Forest, Gryfino
Located just outside the small town of Gryfino, the crooked forest is considered a mysterious natural wonder. This forest has had more than 400 pine trees since the 1930s, but they are all bent north at an angle of nearly 90 degrees at the base. Regardless of the cause, this is definitely a great place to go hiking in the solitude of nature.
Cathedral Island (Ostrów Tumski), Wrocław
This stunning island is one of the oldest areas in Wrocław, surrounded by the Oder River. This place has many outstanding monuments such as: Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (restored after World War II), or the Collegiate Church of the Holy Cross and St. Bartholomew. For those looking for solitude, head to the Wrocław University Botanical Garden in the north of the island.
Tatra Mountains & Tatra National Park, Slovakia and Poland
Divided by Slovakia and Poland, the Tatra Mountains and Tatra National Park are the best places to explore Polish nature, with more than 100 alpine lakes and many waterfalls and hiking trails. Don’t leave here without visiting Morskie Oko, the largest and most beautiful lake in the Tatra mountain region, and experiencing the 23km hike to the highest peak in Poland: Rysy.
Zakopane Town, Małopolska
Nestled at the foot of the majestic Tatra Mountains, the town of Zakopane is a popular year-round vacation destination. In winter, residents and tourists flock to Zakopane to surf, ride, ski, drink mead, or attend festivals. In the warmer seasons, they often hike through the Tatra Mountains, cycle through National Parks, enjoy thermal baths, enjoy local specialties and pamper themselves with spa treatments.
Zalipie Village, Małopolska (# must visit places to visit on poland)
This ancient village in Poland is known for its habit of painting intricate patterns on everything, which is sure to be a highlight across your social media realms. The tradition of painting wooden houses originated with an early female resident who painted her house with floral designs. Now, every year they organize house decoration competitions in the village (come in June to witness this colorful event).
Masuria Lake District, Masuria
Located in the area from the lower Vistula River to the Lithuanian border, the Masuria Lake District is the most popular tourist destination of Europe’s lakeside areas, with more than 2,000 lakes connected by a system of canals and large lakes. Masuria attracts people who come here to find peace in small villages nestled in the forest, participate in boating, canoeing, or cycling to explore nature.
Usedom Island, Germany and Poland
Located on the border between Germany and Poland, Usedom is an island loved by many tourists for its soft sand beaches and exciting tourist activities. This beautiful island is also known as the “sunny island” because of its incredible number of sunny days. You’ll find restaurants, hotels, spas, outdoor music festivals, fashion events, and abundant seafood. If you like shopping, buy in Poland for cheaper prices.
Amazing Warsaw Tourist Attractions
Founded around the 12th century, the capital Warsaw was largely destroyed during World War II. After that, this city was compared to a phoenix rising from the ashes, standing up spectacularly.
Today, Warsaw has become a thriving historical and cultural center, complete with skyscrapers, an old town with a strong Eastern European style, along with extremely attractive historical sites and monuments.
Palace of Culture and Science
The Palace of Culture and Science is one of the tallest and most recognizable buildings in Warsaw that can be seen from almost anywhere in the capital. The building is home to great city views from the observation deck, movies with cocktails, free ice skating in the winter, and dancing the night away at the club. During the summer there are also many outstanding events, from festivals, concerts, to theater performances and film screenings.
POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews
This museum is filled with Poland’s epic history and presents a journey through 1,000 years of Polish Jewish history from the Middle Ages to the present day. You will find answers to questions such as: how did Jews come to Poland? Why did Poland become home to the largest Jewish community in the world? Why was it no longer one, and how was Jewish life revived? All will be answered through eight exhibitions in many different forms.
Fryderyk Chopin Museum
Chopin’s genius is considered a source of Polish national pride, and the Fryderyk Chopin Museum was dedicated to the composer and virtuoso pianist of the Romantic Period.
The museum is located in a 17th-century palace, which is also home to the Fryderyk Chopin Institute. You will admire a collection of about 7,000 artifacts, including images of his left hand, his death mask and many different pianos. Part of Chopin’s legacy has become a World Heritage Site recognized by UNESCO.
Old Town Market Place
This market dates back to the 13th century, was destroyed by the Nazis during World War II, but has been restored to its original appearance. Today, the old town market is home to many cafes and restaurants, street art and many souvenir stalls among the medieval, Gothic and Renaissance architecture that coexist in the city square.
Just a few steps away, the Adam Mickiewicz Museum of Literature pays homage to Poland’s most famous poet and writer.
Łazienki Park
Łazienki Park is a verdant oasis in the center of Warsaw, where one can rest admiring nature and escape the hustle and bustle of the city. This park and palace complex was once the summer residence of King Stanisław August and today has many different functions: museum, venue for cultural, scientific, and entertainment events. Concerts often take place at the foot of the statue of world-famous composer Fryderyk Chopin.
Worth visit places in Kraków, Poland
Kraków, the second largest city in Poland, offers a scene straight out of a fairy tale. In Kraków you will see many medieval churches, Renaissance castles, Baroque buildings and houses, Art Nouveau-styled theaters and many other worth to visit monuments.
In addition, thanks to the density and diversity of bars, pubs, clubs and restaurants, Kraków bursts with youthful vitality, especially during the warm seasons.
Wawel Royal Castle
Wawel Royal Castle combined with Wawel Hill forms the most important historical and cultural site in Poland. For centuries the residence of Polish kings and a symbol of the Polish state, the castle now houses one of the country’s leading art museums. Its permanent exhibitions show the appearance of the royal residence during the Renaissance and Baroque periods.
Kraków Old Town and Main Square
Dating back to the 13th century, the Main Square in the Old Town in Kraków is the largest medieval square in Europe and one of the main tourist attractions in Poland. The square is surrounded by historic townhouses, ancient buildings, palaces and churches. The center of the square is the Kraków Cloth Hall, home to large-scale museums, cafes, restaurants and many market stalls for arts and crafts.
Saint Mary’s Basilica
This unique building is a Gothic church dating from the 14th century, just a few steps from the Main Square, famous for its unique 80m high wooden altar crafted by VeitStoss. The most popular thing about the basilica is the trumpet signal broadcast from the top of the two taller minarets, broadcast hourly to all four locations around the world. Visit the church and you will know why the signal ended so unexpectedly!
Kraków Kazimierz Jewish Quarter
Jews first began arriving here in the 14th century, living in an isolated area known as “Jewish Town” until the 19th century when Kazimierz was incorporated into the Stradom district. Jews participated in the town’s expansion as investors, architects, and construction contractors. After the disappearance of almost all of its Jewish population during World War II, Kazimierz fell into decline, and it was not until the mid-1990s that the area began to revive.
Oskar Schindler’s enamel factory
Oskar Schindler, an ambitious German businessman and member of the Nazi party, took over an enamelware factory in Kraków, using available Jewish forced labor. Schindler’s initial motive may have been money, but he later began protecting about 1,200 Jewish workers without regard to the cost.
The factory now owns two museums. Part of the building was converted into the Museum of Contemporary Art in Kraków, while the office and much of the old factory floor is a branch of the Historical Museum of the City of Krakow.
Wrocław Tourist attractions, Poland
Wrocław, the capital of the province of Lower Silesia, is a tourist gem for wanderlust souls, home to a huge Old Town built on several islands connected by more than 100 bridges. In addition to its unique location, Wroclaw also amazes with its wealth of Gothic, Baroque and Art Nouveau architecture. An extremely complex history, combining German, Bohemian, Austrian and Polish cultural influences, has left its mark on the atmosphere of Wrocław.
Wrocław Old Town
Visiting Wrocław Old Town is the first thing you should do when exploring this wonderful medieval city. Here, you will slowly walk through the fascinating history of Wrocław, whose multicultural heritage is expressed by the beautiful diversity of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture in the urban fabric. You can sit and sip coffee at a small shop while people have fun in one of Europe’s largest main market squares.
Wrocław’s Japanese Garden
Located in the city’s largest Szczytnicki Park, the Japanese Garden is a green destination in an ancient space in the heart of Wrocław, established in the early twentieth century. The garden takes on a different look each season, the only lasting feature being its Japanese architecture. Szczytnicki Park, and all of its gardens, are heritage-listed.
Centennial Hall
The Centennial Hall is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the places worth seeing in Wrocław. Originally, Centennial Hall was part of Germany, where exhibitions, concerts, theater and opera performances as well as sporting events were held. Today, the building has been renovated with the most attractive collections of contemporary art in Poland. In addition, Centennial Hall is also famous for Europe’s largest multimedia fountain.
Wrocław Zoo
Wrocław Zoo is Poland’s oldest and largest zoo, where you can see a number of wild animals living in their natural environment, and is the only aquarium in the world. Afrykarium introduces species that live in aquatic environments in Africa. Besides, you can cycling on the trail that runs along the periphery of the riverside zoo. This lush corner of the city is loved by many residents and visitors.
University of Wrocław
The main building of the University of Wrocław is part of a complex built in Baroque style, serving as a museum.
One of the must-sees is the richly decorated Baroque hall, Aula Leopoldina, with ceiling frescoes, gilded stucco, sculpted cherubs and portraits of the university’s founding fathers.
Also stop by the Oratorium Marianum, the school’s music hall, and the Math Tower – the former Astronomical Observatory.
Poznań Tourist Destinations You Should Not Miss
Located in western Poland, Poznań is a city with an interesting mix of old and new, perfect for a weekend getaway. The city is relatively small but has its own identity, dialect and customs. You can easily find quite a few attractions and countless interesting activities when visiting Poznań.
Poznań Goats Clock Tower
Located in the heart of the old market square is Poznań’s former Town Hall, topped by three turrets with a clock tower in the middle. When the time approaches noon, many people will gather to wait for the bell to ring, watching two iron-clad goats slide out and face each other. This mechanical showdown began in 1551, when mechanical goats rammed each other twelve times to mark the hour. The image of the Poznań Goats Clock Tower became a symbol of Poznań.
Croissant Museum
If you like croissants, then going to Poznań is a good opportunity to enjoy it, because here they take this humble pastry to the next level. And the locals are so passionate about this croissant that they even opened a museum dedicated to it!
The museum is located right in front of Poznań’s former Town Hall. This place often organizes baking classes and tasting delicious, spongy croissants, especially St. Martin has been baking in Poznan’s kitchens for more than 150 years.
Lake Malta
Poznań has a few green lungs, but in terms of entertainment nothing compares to Lake Malta. This large artificial lake is surrounded by forests, promising fun for the whole family. Here, you’ll find a zoo, an ice rink, a ski slope, a regatta, a water park, and a cute little train that runs from one side of the park to the other.
St. Anthony of Padua’s Church
This is a colorful 17th-century church located on the Przemysł hill slope, west of the main market square.
The most interesting thing here is the beautiful Lady of Poznań chapel and the intricately carved altar. Additionally, you can go down into the cellar to see a miniature model of the former Poznań and learn more about the city’s history.
Poznań Royal Castle
This beautiful royal residence was built in the 13th century and reconstructed after World War II. Today, inside the castle is the Museum of Applied Arts, where you can enjoy views of the old town from the castle tower as well as go see exhibitions. If you visit the castle without going into the museum, it is completely free.
What Do You Know before Traveling to Poland?
Poland is a country in Central Europe and borders 7 other wonderful countries, promising to be the start of your exciting European adventure.
Many people believe that Poland is a backward, poor land with rusty factories, smoky cities and a gloomy native population after being invaded and destroyed many times in the past. But not! Today’s Poland has a vibrant metropolis that combines medieval architecture, diverse cuisine and culture, inspiring history and gentle people.
The picturesque cities of Kraków or Gdańsk will compete with the energetic capital Warsaw. While in other places, forests, rivers, lakes and hills will bring joy in the fresh air. And what else is interesting? Let’s continue to explore with us!
Do I Need a Visa to Travel to Poland?
Since 2007, Poland has become one of 26 European countries present in the Schengen agreement regulating freedom of travel between member countries, so tourists who want to travel to Poland need to have a Schengen visa.
Normally, you are allowed to travel in Poland and other Schengen countries for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period.
The processing time for a Polish tourist visa will not exceed 15 days, however in some exceptional cases it may take 30 days, as the Polish embassy may have to consult with other Schengen consulates. Therefore, to avoid any delays in the issuance of your Poland tourist visa, you should apply as soon as possible, but no earlier than three months before you travel to Poland.
According to our experience, to increase your chances of successfully applying for a Polish visa, you need to determine the purpose of your trip, length of stay, and choose the most suitable visa type to fully prepare the corresponding documents. The more complete your profile, the higher your success rate.
Besides, when entering Poland, customs officers may ask again some information such as: What is your purpose of visiting Poland? How long do you plan to stay in Poland? Where will you stay in Poland? Etc. You should clearly understand your itinerary to avoid trouble.
Which season is the best to travel to Poland?
The best time to visit Poland is May, June or September, October, when it is still warm and tourist numbers are lower. That’s when you can enjoy the best hiking conditions and explore some of Poland’s wonderful cultural and historical sites.
In contrast, winter in Poland is quite harsh and tourism services almost stop operating. Therefore, you should not travel to Poland this season, unless you are planning to go skiing or participate in other winter activities, such as Christmas fairs.
The journey to explore Poland with interesting historical stories is still waiting for you.
The post first appeared on Klook Vietnam and was translated by Living Nomads. If you find any images or text that belong to you, please contact us, so we can credit you or give us permission to use them. Thank you very much!
Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Warsaw you can refer to
- Fryderyk Chopin’s Concert Ticket in Warsaw Old Town
- Warsaw Hop-On Hop-Off City Sightseeing Bus Tour
- Private Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport (WAW) Transfers for Warsaw
- Best of Warsaw Half Day Tour
- Frederic Chopin Evening Walking Tour in Warsaw
- Warsaw Off the Beaten Path Half Day Tour
Are you looking for more top things to do in Poland: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Let’s check it out here.